Midland is town on the southern shore of Georgian Bay. It is quite accessible from home at around 2 hours drive. We have pondered a visit for quite some time.

Most Canadians study the history of the Midland area and the community works hard to keep history alive. Midland is the site of the first European settlement in Ontario during the explorations of Samuel Champlain. The story is quite tragic as the local indigenous nation made an alliance with the newcomers hoping to improve commerce and defense. The reality was that the diseases such as smallpox and measles spread throughout the nation eventually decimating their capacity to defend themselves. Check out Wikipedia here for more information.

Sainte Marie Among the Hurons

This is a reconstruction of the original French settlement. You will see from the photos that it is a very careful job for which you should plan at least 2 hours of exploration time.

Martyr’s Church

This church can be seen from Sainte Marie Among the Hurons. It is considered a monument to the lives of 8 Jesuit priests that lost their lives in the successful attacks on the local indigenous nations. Not lost on those that discuss these things, is the fact that their demise is a direct result of their mere presence in the local community.

Wye Marsh Wildlife Centre

This is a wonderful facility with excellent hiking, the network of trails converge on a boardwalk that takes you to the middle of the swamp. Look out for a great bird sanctuary too. Well worth a look if you are nearby and have time for a single stop on your way elsewhere.

Penatanguishene

North of Midland by about 5 km is the town of Pentang(uishene). The town is home to a maximum security prison and a large hospital for the criminally insane so the vibe is quite different from Midland which is very visitor friendly. North of the town is Champlain Road which winds its way through beaches, bays and docks. In the town proper, is a fine waterfront park offering kilometers of easy walking.

Friday Harbour

We prepared for an 1.5 hour boat ride but it was cancelled so we left for home early. I had heard about Friday Harbour which is south of Barrie in Innisfil on the Lake Simcoe shore. With no idea what to expect, we were surprised that it was something of a “rich and famous” colony. There is a clearly defined restaurant and shopping area and the walking is quite pleasant. That said, Friday Harbour is jarringly different from the surrounding communities.

This trip generated quite a number of photos. Click here for the slide show, which will take nearly 15 minutes to view; or, click on the photo below for the photo album.