The Best of the Triangle: Behave Like a Local
| 
| 
When you make the decision to come to Wasaga Beach; whether as a tourist, or seasonal / full time resident, there is a lot more to the area than the beach itself. While the sand and shores may be what attracts people to Wasaga Beach, it's important to talk about the wide range of other things that you can do once you are here. It amazes me when I speak to residents who still are not aware that they can take a helicopter ride, or rent mountain bike equipment (no you don't have to shell out hundreds or thousands to enjoy a few days of mountain biking!), or try zip-lining at Scenic Caves. The options are varied especially if you enjoy exploring.
May 8th, 2012 was Media Day at Blue Mountain. This is becoming an annual event. The good people of Blue Mountain, in conjunction with Theatre Collingwood, Scenic Caves and La Scandinave Spa put together a remarkable day of fun to showcase to media folks just some of the things there are to do here in the Georgian Triangle. For the folks who don't know this area very well, the "Georgian Triangle" is the name for - you guessed it, a triangular area of land which happens to include Collingwood, the Town of the Blue Mountains and Wasaga Beach. I know some locals who cringe when you say "Georgian Triangle" because these towns can be a bit competitive at times. Forget that. I don't care about competition. I only care about what is fun, and relevant for the people who visit this website. Let's face it, after years of quietly complaining about it, Wasaga Beach still has no indoor theatre, no bowling alley, no indoor tennis courts, very little in the way of "fine" dining and entertainment has been whittled down to the barest essentials. Our Jazz in the Park concert series which happens every Tuesday at the RecPlex is good but they've featured virtually the same bands for about a decade now. That's fine if you are a newcomer but for people who are aching to see new and exciting new saxophonist or a steamy hot blues singer may have to consider other options.
What does a discerning jazz lover, an adrenaline junkie, or a couple just who want to take in a movie during a rainy evening do? 
Well, you do what the locals do. You enjoy Wasaga Beach AND area. It's all here. We have an indoor theatre just 15 minutes away in Collingwood. There is fantastic Jerk Chicken is 6 minutes away near Stayner, and the most breathtaking vistas of Georgian Bay can be found at the top of the mountain. Although some people will want to shush me for speaking about the things that are available just outside the borders of Wasaga Beach, it makes no sense to tell people we have it all when we don't. The goal - at least for me is to make sure that visitors and residents learn about the entire area so that they can indulge their desire for horseback riding if that's what they enjoy; or, visit the Eucalyptus steam room and Thermal pool at La Scandinave Spa. You might enjoy watching planes land in Edenvale while ordering lunch at the Fud restaurant. There are all sorts of farmer's markets and antique stores dotted throughout the entire area.
And while we have some pretty decent golfing and hiking opportunities in Wasaga Beach, you can't play tennis if it is raining hard - unless you enjoy being soaked through to the bone and trying to serve soggy balls to your tennis partner. Wasaga Beach has grown quite a bit in recent years but there is no denying, it's still a small town. To speak of Wasaga Beach without mentioning the opportunities which exist only minutes away is doing a disservice to all. And I would say the same if talking about a visit to Blue Mountain during ski season. Any such visit can only be enhanced by knowledge of the entire Georgian Triangle area.
I took some photos during the media day event and I hope you will take the time to look at them. You can also visit the Facebook Page I have set up for this website where I make quick announcements which don't warrant a full article here.
Don't hesitate to call or email if you are looking for suggestions of things to do. While I can't answer some questions - especially about things like cottage rental availability (please stop calling about that), I can help to suggest a nice restaurant based on your individual tastes. These things do exist here in Wasaga Beach - or just outside the beach.
And just so I don't get angry letters from people who think I am disrespecting Wasaga Beach, let me also say that none of these towns has it all. Blue Mountain, beautiful as it is - doesn't have 14 km's of shoreline. Stayner, Elmvale, Creemore and Collingwood have interesting and historical main streets with wonderful little entrepreneurial storefronts, terrific antique, custom furniture shops and more, but they don't have the cool breezes of the Nottawasaga River or the Provincial Park which stretches from one end of town to the other. We should admit once and for all that the Georgian Triangle is a collection of inter-dependent towns, and that is just the way I like it. It doesn't matter if you can't find it here - so long as you can find it.
If you want to think like a local, your day might begin with breakfast at the Georgian Circle in Wasaga Beach where they serve up breakfast which is befitting of King Henry VIII followed by a visit to Starbucks on 1st in Collingwood for a double-tall, very dry cappuccino before heading to Creemore Springs Brewery for a tour. All of these things are close, really close. You might spend your Thursday at the flea market near Elmvale before visiting Fiona's Scottish Bakery for some home baked apple turnovers and home made meat pies; Mr. Norm's Nephew, Wasaga Dairy or Lorna Doon's for ice cream and then head to the Galaxy theatre in Collingwood to see the latest movie - don't forget the popcorn! Your weekend might include a foam party during the summer months at the Dyc, Karaoke at the Beacon or Stud's Lonigan's or a trip to Blue Mountain to catch a live band in the Village at Blue or at the Casbah in Collingwood.
My point is that if you behave like a local - all the things you want and need are here. The goal is always to enjoy the best of life and your surroundings and you can't do that if you put blinders on, stuff your fingers in your ears and sing "la, la, la, la" like the Lancombe Lady from the old Mad TV skit.
Enjoy it - all of it; the Elvis festival, Wakestock, the Creemore Copper Kettle Festival, Beachfest, Stayner Heritage Days, Kitefest, Elmvale Maple Syrup Festival plus a full range of events at Blue Mountain.
Remember to take a look at the Events page, and stop by the Facebook group and/or Twitter page to be alerted of new articles.
| < Prev | Next > |
|---|
