Have you ever encountered a moment that seemed to last forever? Where your attention was hyper-focused and something almost tangible hung in the air around you, a gentle invitation to be fully present and celebrate the magic of the moment? 

In Ontario’s Highlands, we invite you to slow down your summer and savor those timeless moments that never seem to come when you’re rushing through the airport to get to your connecting flight or struggling through a crowded lobby of a hotel, desperate for a moment of peace and quiet. 

This summer, find that feeling again in Ontario’s Highlands’ wild spaces, its quiet country roads, rushing rivers, and hushed landscapes, all holding their breath for that interminable moment to come again.

Feel Small Beneath Big Skies

When you’re looking down at the curve of the horizon spread out below, your world takes a pause to savour the moment. Plan a hike to an epic lookout and take in the silence and majesty of nature with every step. 

The 'highlands' in Ontario's Highlands offer breathtaking views, including two lookouts that also happen to have the same name - Eagle’s Nest Park in Bancroft you will catch your breath at the beauty of the world laid out before you, while Eagle's Nest Lookout in Calabogie invites you to embark on a challenging hike with a sweet and timeless reward at the end. 

Insider's Tip:

If you are coming from Toronto area, the observation tower at Sir Sam's Ski/RIDE gives you a stunning view of Haliburton Highlands from the top of the ski hill (chair lift rides available on weekends in July and August). Bask in the stillness of this epic spot; bring a picnic with you to savour the moment and the day more fully. 

Capture the 'Fish of a Thousand Casts'

When it could take you a thousand casts to catch a fish while fly fishing, you’ll notice time slows more and more with every cast of your line. Learn to fly fish from Algonquin Fly Fishing or book a guided fishing excursion with them on the Petawawa, Madawaska, or Ottawa Rivers, and watch the sun ripple on the water while your line sails back and forth, back and forth, before touching lightly on the water. 

Insider's Tip:

Spend the night at Whitewater Inn in Beachburg and get up and do it all over again the next day. Bring your bike with you (or borrow one from the inn) and book one of their half-day or full-day Valley Cycling Tours. Remember to leave your watch at the inn!

Slow Down with Farm Life

Try out a slower pace of life on a working farm, where the rooster sets the schedule for each day. Waken with the sun and take part in the daily chores of farm life with an overnight stay in the three-bedroom farmhouse at Ottawa Valley Farm to Fork and help them feed the farm animals. You can also book a stay in a belle tent on the 215-acre farm at Killara Station and pet horses, goats, pigs, and meet Edward the Emu. 

Insider's Tip:

While you’re in the area, book a visit to Brooker’s Cider to see their farm and sample what an unadorned and refreshing cider tastes like, from ground to glass. 

Step into the Wild Spaces

Have you ever stood in a lush forest, transfixed by the beauty of the moment? Spending time in nature is an invitation to take a deep breath and really be there. Ontario’s Highlands is known for its wild spaces, like the 100 square kilometres of untouched wilderness near Bancroft that is Land’escapes.

Stay present in the moment on a backcountry camping trip here, where you won't need to stress about the details, they will provide you with a tried and tested itinerary and all the equipment and supplies you will need for a backcountry adventure. 

Insider's Tip:

Centre yourself with a spiritual and natural guided experience at Gaia’s Den near Harcourt. Their Spirit of the Waterfalls guided shamanic journey takes you through a private and isolated series of private waterfalls. Bring a swim suit and immerse yourself in the moment here. 

Turn Back Time

Before there was the internet, cell phones, or Google maps, life moved at a slower pace. It was much easier to feel like time stood still when there were no virtual meetings on the agenda and you had hours and hours of time ahead of you.

Embrace the slower pace of the past at Petawawa Heritage Village, a live action museum staffed by volunteers dressed in period costumes and featuring a blacksmith shop, general store, railway station, schoolhouse, and more. Learn about the Canadian internment camps built in this region during World War I and World War II. 

Insider's Tip:

Near Madoc, the O’Hara Mill Homestead is another authentic heritage museum that features a blacksmith shop, carpenter shop, old schoolhouse, and more. Take a self-guided tour of the homestead and access building information on your phone. 

Experience Forest Therapy

Have you heard of forest therapy? This guided therapeutic practice is scientifically proven to benefit your health, increase your immune system and improve overall feelings of happiness. Finding Your Way Adventures' forest therapy experience offers a full nature immersion at various locations across Ontario's Highlands that provide you with invitations to connect deeper with your senses to heighten your nature experience. 

Expect to encounter to plenty of opportunities to bask in the moment. 

Insider's Tip:

Beyond forest therapy, Finding Your Way Adventures also offers itineraries for wilderness adventures where all you need to bring is your sense of adventure. Check out their full list of itineraries here.

Fishing
Stargazing
Camping