It’s not an understatement to say that Northern Ontario is vast. After all, it covers almost 90% of Ontario’s landmass and is bigger than Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Maryland, Delaware and the District of Columbia combined. Given all this, it’s not somewhere that you’d readily think of when planning a weekend getaway. But you’d be wrong. It’s time for a Terrace Bay Getaway!

Across the North there are charming villages, towns and cities just waiting to treat you to a fun-filled two- or three-day “staycation” – or longer. One such area is the North Shore of Lake Superior, a stunningly beautiful section of the famed Lake Superior Circle Tour.

Let’s make this a couple’s getaway, departing from Thunder Bay. Terrace Bay, 218 kms to the east, is our destination but not before we’ve sampled some adventures along the way. This is not a trip that will require a lot of pre-planning but booking your accommodations in advance is a must as rooms fill up quickly in the summer on the North Shore (I suggest Drifter’s as it has a popular restaurant onsite and offers suites). You will also want to check with the Aquasabon Golf Club to make sure there are no tournaments on; otherwise, there are no tee times and usually no waiting to tee off.

A stop at one of the amethyst mines just east of Thunder Bay will get the trip off to a great start. Once revered as the “jewel of the gods”, amethyst is the official gemstone of the province of Ontario. For many, it symbolizes good luck, love and happiness. There are several amethyst mines in the area, with one of the best-known ones being Amethyst Mine Panorama. Created about a billion (yes, that’s 1000 million) years ago, Amethyst Mine Panorama offers visitors the adventure of mining for amethyst across a five-acre site.  What you find is yours to keep for just $5 a pound and you can also shop for handcrafted amethyst jewellery and souvenirs.

All that rockhounding and shopping has probably given you an appetite so plan a stop for lunch just up the highway in Nipigon. You can’t go wrong with Ducky’s Diner, renowned for its many variations on a fried chicken sandwich (try the Legally Blonde), its massive home-made burgers and its pizzas with freshly made sauces and crusts.

Terrace Bay is only about an hour away. When you arrive, you’ll have many options to stretch your legs and walk off that lunch. Start by getting your bearings—and some exercise—by climbing to the top of the Terrace Bay Lighthouse, located near the Simcoe Shopping Plaza. This 50-foot replica of the historic lighthouse on the Slate Islands offers a panoramic view of the town, Lake Superior and the Slates themselves from a walkway around the top of the structure.

Spend the afternoon at the Aguasabon Golf Club, where, as mentioned, you can tee off at your convenience. The course has a nine-hole layout featuring striking scenery that borders the winding Aguasabon River and skirts the Terrace Bay Beach on Lake Superior. Its signature hole is number seven, a short par-4, dog-legging to the right and boasting a beautiful view of Lake Superior and the Slate Islands.

You can freshen up back at Drifter’s and then head downstairs for dinner before dropping in to the Slate Island Brewery to celebrate a great first day of your getaway.

Boasting views of its namesake from the patio, Slate Island Brewing Company makes the town and land surrounding it an integral part of the brewing process, using Lake Superior water as a base to experiment with unique flavour profiles. At any given time, you’ll find local rhubarb in your beer or maple syrup and honey from the region. Slate Island Brewing Company is part of the Lake Superior Circle Tour Ale Trail.

Related Article: 5 Reasons to Visit Slate Island Brewery

A sound night’s sleep awaits you as you dream of tomorrow’s adventures. You won’t have to go far to fuel your engines in the morning as Drifter’s is known for its tasty breakfasts. Then, more outdoor adventures await you on the Casque Isles Trail.

Casque Isles is a 53 km trail that connects the towns of Rossport, Schreiber and Terrace Bay. It was first built in 1976 by a volunteer crew from this region and is maintained by the dedicated volunteers of Casque Isles Hiking Club. It’s known as one of the top ten hikes in all of Ontario.

A highlight of the trail is Aguasabon Falls which came to life in the late 1940s, through the Aguasabon Hydro Development that created a source of hydro-electric power for the soon-to-be Township of Terrace Bay and the local pulp mill. The project established a dam at the north end of Long Lake to redirect water southward and away from Hudson Bay, where the water traditionally flowed. As a result of the diversion, Hays Lake just North of Terrace Bay enlarged to massive proportions and the spillway created the falls you will see today.

Related Article: A History of Aguasabon Falls and Gorge

Next stop is the beautiful sandy Terrace Bay Beach with its pavilion, visitor information centre, gift shop and illuminated walkway. After you explore the amenities, settle into a Parks Canada Red Chair and take the time to savour the view of the world’s largest freshwater lake, as the sound of the waves lulls you into a state of relaxation.

There are more dinner options available in town and just down the road in Schreiber including Asian, Italian, fast food, country style and more. For a nightcap, head back to Slate Islands Brewery to toast your Terrace Bay getaway.

Heading home the next morning, you will want to take the time to explore some of the other attractions you spotted on your way east including the Nipigon Lookout, the Red Rock Interpretive Centre and Ouimet Canyon! Take in what you can and put the others on a list for your next Terrace Bay getaway!