Your guide to planning the perfect day trip in Canada this summer
What to know and pack before you hit the road
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Summer is slowly winding down, which means that it’s the ideal time to explore with one last vacation or a quick day trip outside the city before the hustle of back-to-school season begins.
Living in southern Ontario, there are so many quaint towns and rugged landscapes worth visiting, but with a jam-packed schedule, I’m often more inclined to microadventures – a term coined by British author and adventurer Alastair Humphreys in his book of the same name.
Humphreys describes a microadventure as “an adventure that is short, simple, local, cheap – yet still fun, exciting, challenging, refreshing and rewarding.” The New York Times also described them as “perspective-shifting bursts of travel closer to home,” which can be taken to mean anything from a backyard campsite to an early-morning hike to a swim in your local lake.
Recently, I went on a microadventure of my own with a Cadillac Lyriq EV, an electric vehicle with an impressive 505 km all-wheel drive range that’s perfect for quick jaunts outside the city. I turned to travel writer Stephan Petar for tips on planning the perfect day trip.
How to begin the planning process
While spontaneity is a great way to get off the beaten path, many day trips can benefit from a little planning. Petar suggests starting by doing some research on local areas with interesting historical facts or a seasonal event that piques your interest.
“I [like to] find a town that either has an interesting history, an event happening or is known for something in particular. For example, I went to Goderich because of its Walt Disney connection,” he says.
“Sometimes I’ll do a day trip with the intention of doing a ‘hop’ – a bar hop, donut shop hop, cafe hop, antique hop, etc. It’s a great way to support the local economy and really hone in on a specific experience that the city can offer.”
Keep things flexible
Having a plan is a great place to start your day trip, but it’s also important to leave room for flexibility in your schedule, says Petar. Since most day trips are within-province or just a short drive away from home, having a “there is always the opportunity to go back” mentality allows you to just go with the flow.
“Not putting pressure on [yourself] to visit certain things and just wandering allows for a more enjoyable exploration of the area. You can take your time and focus on things as they come,” he adds.
What to pack for a day trip
Whether you’re travelling by car, bus or train, the quick nature of a day trip means you shouldn’t have to bring too many things with you to enjoy yourself. That said, Petar has a few recommendations for your next microadventure.
“When travelling alone, my must-have is a book and either a blanket or a seating pad. You never know what dreamy cafe or patio you’ll want to sit at or if you’ll find a park to relax in,” he notes.
“When travelling with others, I always bring a bunch of reusable bags and cash. There is always a charming street with boutique stores or antique shops, and purchasing goods is almost inevitable.”
For those who like to come prepared, we also suggest bringing:
- A backpack with space to store new purchases and your must-haves from home.
- A water bottle to stay hydrated. I love the Takeya Actives Insulated Stainless Steel Bottle because it’s leakproof and easy to throw into a backpack.
- Snacks for the journey. “I’ll bring a snack for the trip to the destination, but I no longer pack snacks for the day. There will always be a local grocery store nearby should you want to do an impromptu picnic or find a snack for the way back,” says Petar.
- Sunglasses and a hat for sunny days, or a rain jacket/umbrella if there’s a chance of showers.
- An external battery pack to keep your phone fully charged.
- A camera (either your phone or a digital/film camera) to capture the day.
- Car-friendly toys to keep kids entertained.
- A road trip-ready playlist – my go-to is the Coastal Drive playlist on Spotify.
My day trip in action
When it came time to plan out my own day trip, my husband and I set out on a microadventure to Milton, Ont., at the height of strawberry season. We started the day picking berries at the Andrews Farm Market and Winery with a couple of friends and their toddler, and chose the spot since it offered activities for everyone in our group.
Top tip: Andrews Farm Market and many other pick-your-own farms now offer reservations online. This little bit of planning can save you a long lineup upon arrival, letting you enjoy more of your day doing activities and less time spent waiting in lines.
We set out bright and early and stopped for a coffee in our neighbourhood – a must for any road trip in my opinion. Not only did hitting the road before 9 a.m. reduce our traffic time, but we also were able to avoid picking berries during the hottest hours of the day; the Canadian Cancer Society recommends reducing your time in the sun between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.
Caffeinated and on the road with the essentials (backpacks, water bottles, hats and plenty ofextra sunscreen), we arrived at our first destination to meet up with our friends. The first stop once we passed through the farm’s gates? The playground, followed by a quick walk through the farm’s petting zoo.
Picking strawberries was next on the itinerary, and once we’d all gathered our fair share of berries, we set up a picnic lunch in the shade that happened to coincide with naptime. On this trip, we chose to stick to the farm’s hot dog stand for lunch, but chip trucks are another one of my favourite ways to grab a meal on a road trip. After all, there’s nothing like a fresh plate of poutine to lift your spirits after a day of exploring.
Once we’d all had our lunch and rested up, we hit up the farm’s market shop and winery before heading out. I loved exploring the assortment of treats made from in-season fruits and stocked up on a few bottles of unique fruit wines, like the Raspberry Rouge and Strawberry Fields varieties.
Before heading home, no trip to Milton would be complete without a stop at one of the many trails located in the region’s local conservation areas. We parted ways with our friends and hit Rattlesnake Point for a short hike along the Vista Adventure Trail. The 1.5km trail is the shortest and easiest in the park (others are also available if you’re interested in a 3km or 9.4km trip instead), and leads to Trafalgar Lookout, where you’ll get stunning views of the surrounding hills.
Like the farm, reservations to the conservation area are not required but are recommended. If you book online, you can reserve your spot and save money on gate fees. For the most flexibility, choose one of the time slots that let you enter the area any time between open and close, or 8:30 a.m. and 9:00 p.m.
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