Parry Sound: The Bay & Beyond
Nestled on the rugged shores of Canada’s largest fresh water archipelago and part of the UNESCO-designated Georgian Bay Biosphere Mnidoo Gamii, the west Parry Sound district is home to some of Ontario’s best outdoor adventuring.
From guided paddle tours with Georgian Bay Tours to expeditions with Diamond Waters Sailing, to on-and-off road cycling with rentals from Parry Sound Bikes, the area is a four-season magnet for on-the-water and on-the-trails enthusiasts (snowmobiling, anyone?) And don’t forget all the fabulous golf courses, including the Ridge at Manitou Club, Seguin Valley Golf Club and Parry Sound Golf & Country Club.
From Parry Sound harbour you can set out along the region’s famous shoreline with 30,000 Islands Cruise Lines aboard the Island Queen or Islander X, or enjoy a dinner cruise on the MV Chippewa III. Get a birds-eye-view of this remarkable ecosystem during a flight with Georgian Bay Airways and take a guided island tour, or just enjoy the scenery from the float plane as you head out to lunch at the world famous Henry’s Fish Restaurant on Frying Pan Island. You can take a guided fishing expedition out of Georgian Bay Marina or spend the day visiting the makers of “Made in Parry Sound.”
Explore the stunning provincial parks located nearby, including Killbear, Massassauga, Oastler Lake, Grundy, Sturgeon Bay and French River – and take part in interpretive programming during the summer months to learn a little bit more about wildlife and ecosystems in this part of Ontario. You can also traverse the Park-to-Park Trail system – over 200kms of linking trails – and naturalist and Indigenous representatives from the Georgian Bay Biosphere Mnidoo Gamii also sometimes offer guided opportunities to explore the unique ecology area.
Downtown Parry Sound, check out the fascinating exhibits at the West Parry Sound District Museum, then afterwards head up the iconic on-site fire tower for an exceptional view of the bay, or enjoy a rest among the beautiful displays of Tower Hill Heritage Garden. Also discover the Bobby Orr Hall of Fame and the Charles W. Stockey Centre for the Performing Arts (home to great concerts, the Bands on the Bay series in summer, and the world-renowned classical music Festival of the Sound).
When you’re ready to experience some local flavor, enjoy dining at one of the many fine eateries located here. And if you’re a craft beer enthusiast then you’re in luck – the west Parry Sound district has two: Norse Brewery is located just north of town in Nobel and you’ll find Trestle Brewing Company nestled just underneath its namesake landmark, the Parry Sound Trestle Bridge, which was once painted by legendary Canadian artist Tom Thomson. And if you’re into craft spirits you’ll want to check out Legend Spirits Co., they can be found here too.
Additionally, there are many incredible marinas that dot the coast, welcoming sailors and motorboaters alike.
Be sure to explore all the municipalities of the west Parry Sound district, each with their own unique sense of place and wonderful stops along the way!
For more information on Parry Sound District – the Bay & Beyond – visit the following informative websites:
Parry Sound Tourism
Parry Sound Chamber of Commerce
Downtown Parry Sound
Absolutely Georgian Bay
Seguin Township
Carling Township
Township of McKellar
Municipality of McDougall
Township of the Archipelago
Municipality of Whitestone
Town of Parry Sound
See below for more great ideas on where to stay, where to eat and what to do in Parry Sound District – the ‘Bay & Beyond’.
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Humphrey Museum
Situated on beautifully landscaped grounds, the Humphrey Museum was built out of hand hewn logs in the early 1870s. Originally…
Situated on beautifully landscaped grounds, the Humphrey Museum was built out of hand hewn logs in the early 1870s. Originally a church, the building later became a rural one room school where many received…
Georgian Lanes Entertainment Centre
Welcome to Georgian Lanes Entertainment Centre in Parry Sound. We offer eight lanes of 5 pin bowling with…
Welcome to Georgian Lanes Entertainment Centre in Parry Sound. We offer eight lanes of 5 pin bowling with automatic scoring and a licensed sports lounge. We also have cosmic bowling and a…
Massassauga Provincial Park
Stretching along the coast of Georgian Bay from Parry Sound to the Moon River, Massassauga Provincial Park takes…
Stretching along the coast of Georgian Bay from Parry Sound to the Moon River, Massassauga Provincial Park takes in hundreds of windswept islands as well as inland forests and lakes. Accessible only…
Key Marine Resort
Nestled on the shores of Key River, featuring direct water access to Georgian Bay, Key Marine Resort has offered the hospitality…
Nestled on the shores of Key River, featuring direct water access to Georgian Bay, Key Marine Resort has offered the hospitality of this beautiful landscape to visitors for over 25 years. Whether your goal is fishing, hunting, boating or camping, we…
Key Harbour Lodge
Fishing enthusiasts are not alone at Key Harbour Lodge. Year after year families, couples and friends return to…
Fishing enthusiasts are not alone at Key Harbour Lodge. Year after year families, couples and friends return to take in all that the Georgian Bay 30,000 Islands has to offer. As well…
Park to Park Trail Association
The Park to Park Trail Association was incorporated on June 6, 2001, however the idea of having a…
The Park to Park Trail Association was incorporated on June 6, 2001, however the idea of having a regional trail network dates back several years earlier. During the summer of 1998 the…
Parry Sound Books
Parry Sound Books, established in 1988, is a fixture in downtown Parry Sound. Located at the main intersection,…
Parry Sound Books, established in 1988, is a fixture in downtown Parry Sound. Located at the main intersection, we are housed in The William Beatty Building, in what was once the Beatty…
Picnic Island Resort
Picnic Island is located in the quaint summer town of Honey Harbour on the south eastern shore of…
Picnic Island is located in the quaint summer town of Honey Harbour on the south eastern shore of Georgian Bay. We are on the inside navigational channel heading north, providing a natural…
Pleasant Cove Resort
At Pleasant Cove Resort, our four season premier fishing and vacation cottage resort is nestled among Georgian Bay’s prestigious 30,000…
At Pleasant Cove Resort, our four season premier fishing and vacation cottage resort is nestled among Georgian Bay’s prestigious 30,000 Islands, one of the best fresh water boating and fishing locations in North America.…
Riverlake Resort Cottages & Seasonal Campground
Riverlake Resort Cottages & Seasonal Campground in McKellar near Parry Sound is located just over 2 hours from…
Riverlake Resort Cottages & Seasonal Campground in McKellar near Parry Sound is located just over 2 hours from Toronto. We offer two clean, fully equipped housekeeping cottages on the waterfront, as well…
Rock Pine Resort Cottages
Rock Pine Resort Cottages in Pointe au Baril is the perfect family vacation resort located on the shores…
Rock Pine Resort Cottages in Pointe au Baril is the perfect family vacation resort located on the shores of Georgian Bay, just 25 minutes north of Parry Sound. Well appointed housekeeping cottages,…
Rockwood Resort
Welcome to Rockwood Resort. We invite you and your family to immerse yourself in the natural beauty of…
Welcome to Rockwood Resort. We invite you and your family to immerse yourself in the natural beauty of spectacular Georgian Bay. Rockwood offers 1, 2, and 3 bedroom fully equipped, well appointed…
Rolling Rock Cottages
Rolling Rock Cottages is located on Rock Island Lake, just north of Parry Sound and minutes from Pointe…
Rolling Rock Cottages is located on Rock Island Lake, just north of Parry Sound and minutes from Pointe au Baril. We are a private, family resort with a sandy beach and playground…
Sand Bay Resort
Sand Bay Resort has been family-operated Ontario cottage rental resort for more than 50 years, and we decided…
Sand Bay Resort has been family-operated Ontario cottage rental resort for more than 50 years, and we decided Georgian Bay is one of the best places to raise our family, surrounded by…
Shebe Resort Cottages
Shebe Resort Cottages is a year round resort catering to families, sportsmen, fishermen, birdwatchers, and other guests. Our lovely…
Shebe Resort Cottages is a year round resort catering to families, sportsmen, fishermen, birdwatchers, and other guests. Our lovely cottage resort is situated on the shores of Lake Shebeshekong, in Carling Township, just…