(Updated December 2024)
With the holidays fast approaching, it’s time to start choosing the perfect presents for your friends and family. In recent years, we’ve started to hear a new refrain—your hard-earned money is better spent on experiences than things. Do those on your list really need another pair of socks or the latest tech gizmo? Or would a new experience to look forward to when we can all get back to travelling ultimately hold more value? BruceGreySimcoe is home to a wealth of unique experiences. Learn to cook with wild edibles, sky dive over the world’s longest freshwater beach, take a cycling tour through Simcoe County or gift them a subscription to a virtual concert. We’ve put together a great list of experiences—divided by outdoor, cultural, food and bucket-list—that we hope will help you find the perfect experiential gift for the special people on your list.
The Great Outdoors
If those on your list are lovers of the great outdoors, these experiences are for them. From afternoons spent on Georgian Bay to mornings spent hiking along the Niagara Escarpment, there’s an outdoor experience in BruceGreySimcoe that they’ll be happy to see under the tree.
OSM Adventure Travel
Based in Collingwood, Ontario, Kevin at OSM Adventure Travel specializes in small group tours that will keep you safe and help you experience adventures you might not tackle otherwise. Gift the angler on your list a
Guided Ice Fishing Experience or buy them a
Collingwood Adventure Voyage summer fishing experience to look forward to next year.
Eco Adventures on the Bruce Peninsula
With a range of tours available that feature knowledgable guides and the added perks of benefitting the Bruce Peninsula Biosphere Association, Eco Adventures are a cool gift idea. From Journey to the Winter Grotto, their Owl Prowls and their NIght HIkes,
find all their tours here.
Gift them a Bruce Trail Membership
Chances are if you've visited BruceGreySimcoe you've hiked a section of the Bruce Trail. Why not give the gift of a Bruce Trail membership - help support the trail and give your loved one a way to connect with fellow hikers in a local club like the Beaver Valley Bruce Trail Club, The Blue Mountains Bruce Trail Club, the Sydenham Bruce Trail Club or the Peninsula Bruce Trail Club.
Why not Wye Marsh?
For outdoor lovers, a membership to the Wye Marsh is a wonderful gift. This beautiful nature preserve offers trails year-round for snowshoeing and hiking as well as abundant wildlife viewing opportunities. Purchase a membership online. Wye Marsh's Snowshoe Eco Tours also make a great gift. Find out more right here.
Gift them an Ascent Aerial Park season's pass
Have a thrill seeker on your list? Then an Ascent Aerial Park season's pass would make a great gift! Pass holders gain unlimited access to 30 high-ropes challenge elements, Canada’s first Zip Coaster, three 30ft vertical rock walls and the JUMP experience from 35ft. Buy online right here.
The Gift of Skiing and Snowboarding
Whether they are looking for downhill skiing and snowboarding or cross country, there are some amazing resorts across the region you can treat your loved ones to. Consider buying them a season’s pass, a gift certificate or even rentals at a local resort. Remember that in 2020, those with season's passes will be given priority at most resorts and it's key to book ahead/call ahead. Hardwood Ski and Bike offers adult and youth programs that would make a great gift, Scenic Caves Nordic Centre and Highlands Nordic all offer season's passes. For downhill consider Blue Mountain Resort, Horseshoe Resort, Mount St. Loius Moonstone or Snow Valley Resort.
Get them on the water with a Diverse Rentals gift card
A gift card from Diverse Rentals is great way to say happy holidays. Located just outside Penetanguishene and right on the water, Diverse Rentals gift cards can be used for any of their captained tours like the Sunset Cruise to Gin Rocks or their Midland Boat Tour or towards rentals like SUP rentals, pontoon boat rentals and even floating water mat rentals. Find out more about their gift cards here.
Fabulous Food and Drink Experiences
For the foodies on your list, we’ve put together some of the most delicious experiences across the region. From sampling local beer, wine and cider to learning to cook with wild edibles, there’s something for every food lover.
Give a Progressive Aboriginal Cuisine Experience with Zach Keeshig's Nagaan
Chef Zach Keeshig's Nagaan dining experience has found a permanent home in downtown Owen Sound. With his 9 Course Tasting Menu as the cornerstone experience, Keeshig will also be offering pop-up launches and take out specialties. Book your reservation today.
Pair your Outdoors with some Delicious Aprés with Free Spirit Tours
Free Spirit Tours offers some great tours that combine the outdoors with local beer, wine and cider. Their Hike and Wine Tours, Snowshoe and Wine Tours and Snowshoe and Cider tour and their Shoe and Brew tour that combines snowshoeing and a stop at Sidelaunch Brewery - all make fun gifts. For an even more unique option, gift theme The Wild Edibles Experience with Barefoot Brian—a foraging experience that will teach them a ton about eating off the land.
Support local restaurants with FeastOn Vouchers
Have a culinary fan on your list? Give them an Ontario Culinary FeastOn Voucher that will allow them to dine at a local FeastOn certified restaurant of their choice. You can purchase the vouchers here and find a list of locally certified establishments here including Casero Kitchen Table, Casero Taco Bus, The Flying Chestnut Kitchen, TK Ferri Orchards, The Bruce Wine Bar and The Common Stove, Windlee Farms Maple Syrup.
Give them a hands-on baking experience with Red Hen Artisinale
From sourdough to bagels and decorative pies, croissants and pasta, Lauren Hambleton will share her wealth of baking knowledge at these
unique baking workshops. Located at her studio in Priceville. Want a private workshop? Round up 8 to 10 of your friends and reach out to set up a date.
Buy them the experience of dining Down Home with Sumac & Salt.
The duo behind the beloved Sumac & Salt have opened an on farm restaurant in the heart of Grey County. Join them for their blind tasting menu which highlights the best of local and sustainable farming within Grey. They also offer an all Ontario beverage list to accompany the meal. Only offering 16 seats on Friday and Saturday they fill up quickly. To book head to their website www.sumacandsalt.com or email hannah@sumacandsalt.com
Treat them to a cooking class at The Gate
With Chef Jonathan Gushue and Chef Phillip de Montbrun at the helm, The Gate in Flesherton is offering monthly themed cooking classes. Enjoy a full meal while also learning all about that month's cuisine from two award-winning chefs. DM them on their Instagram account to book or visit Open Table to reserve a dinner at this new Grey County gem.
Cultural Treats
Give the gift of a Cultural Program at Cape Croker Park
A new suite of Anishinaabe cultural programs launched at the Cape Croker Park gives visitors a unique opportunity to learn more about the Anishinaabe culture in the beautiful setting of Cape Croker Park. With new year-round offerings, choose from Neyaashiinigmiing and Stories of the Land, Anishinaabe Arts and Ginebek Miikaans and check the website for upcoming offerings.
For the Artist on Your List
Upwards Art Studio in downtown Owen Sound runs an incrediible lineup of art classes and workshops under the guidance of Ameila Kraemer. From after school art to paint nights and private parties, you'll find an art experience for everyone on your list.
The Imagination Studio in Clarksburg offers some amazing small group workshops from batik to painting as well as family painting studio sessions. The Southampton Arts Centre also offers a wide range of art classes for kids and adults to embrace their inner artist.
Buy a Museum Membership that works in all 3 Counties!
BruceGreySimcoe is home to several great musuems but did you know if you buy a membership to either the Bruce County Museum and Cultural Centre, Grey Roots Museum and Archives or the Simcoe County Museum, you get acccess to all 3 facilities! The Orillia Museum of Art and History also offers annual memberships. Museum memberships make a great family gift!
Give the Gift of Local Theatre and Live Music
Why not pick up a pair of tickets for many of the upcoming live theatre and live music shows across our region as a unique holiday gift. From Meaford Hall to The Roxy Theatre, Midland Cultural Centre, Heartwood Hall and the Orillia Opera House, there are many great shows on the horizon. For lovers of larger live music events, consider giving tickets to this summer's Mariposa Folk Festival or Boots and Hearts at Burl's Creek Event Grounds.
Give the Gift of Film
The Blue Mountain Film Festival takes place May 29 to June 1, 2025 at the Blue Mountain Village. Why not give the cinema buff on your list a Holiday 2 pack or a Holiday 6 pack with passes to screenings at next year's festival? Buy them online quickly and easily
Bucket List Experiences
If you still haven’t found the ultimate experience on our list, we’ve saved some truly bucket list items for last.
Fly the BruceGreySimcoe skies
For the person on your list who’s done it all, consider a sightseeing flight with your bubble at Owen Sound Flight Services or check out Collingwood's Big Blue Air helicopter tours.
Take them Skydiving in Wasaga Beach
Last but not least, give them a gift they will never forget: A skydiving experience above the world’s longest freshwater beach with Skydive Wasaga Beach. Get all the details here.
More BruceGreySimcoe Gift Ideas
Find more fun and inspiring gift ideas: