The campground
We stayed at a really amazing campground during our trip. I would even say it was one of my favorite campgrounds I have ever stayed at. Our campsite was huge and private. It was also very well shaded. There was so much to do within the campground that you could never leave the campground and be fully entertained. There was a petting zoo, a pool, and pond for kayaking and paddle boating, multiple parks, a small island in the middle of a pond with hammocks, and so many paths to walk and explore. I would have to say that my favorite place was the petting zoo because I have a huge passion for animals so I was with the goats, cats, and sheep quite frequently during this trip. Many of my best memories from this trip happened at the campground where we stayed. I got to relax and read so many books while laying by the fire or on the hammock island which was so nice. Another crazy thing that happened was when a stray dog showed up at our campsite one morning. He was a really friendly pup and I'm so thankful that the campground had extra dog kennels. My dad and I walked him up to the kenneling area at the front of the campground where they happily held him until his owners came for him. I loved this campground so much and would highly recommend staying here if you are booking a camping trip to Tobermory.
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Here is a link to the campground website: http://www.tobermoryvillagecamp.com/index.php
The Grotto
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The Grotto is a beautiful natural attraction on the Bruce Peninsula. It is a very popular stop in Canada so I would highly recommend waking up early to beat the crowd. It was about a 30 minute drive from our campground and I have to admit that I was not a happy camper when my mom woke us up at 6:30 to get ready to go snorkeling in freezing cold water. I am so glad that we did. When you first get there, you have to go on a decent hike to get to the water, so make sure that you prepare and bring the right shoes. Also I strongly recommend renting or bringing your own wet suit because the water is so so so cold. If I did not have a wet suit, I definitely would not have gotten in the water. Another thing that I recommend bringing is an underwater camera or a GoPro because the Grotto is one of the most beautiful things I have ever seen! The nature is so pretty at the Grotto. Everything from the water to the rocks and animals who call the Grotto their home. The water is crystal clear blue and even if the water was absolutely freezing, snorkeling in the underwater caves was an amazing experience. This experience made me appreciate clean water so much more than I ever had before. Many of the lakes in Ohio are dirty and this made me aware of the problem of water pollution in America.
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When I went to the Grotto, I discovered a very adventurous side of myself that I did not know I had. Depending on how adventurous you are feeling, the Grotto has a lot of great rock climbing opportunities. I really enjoyed getting out of comfort zone and climbing the rocks. It definitely was a little scary but looking back, I am so thankful that I pushed myself because I got to take some really cool photos and see some really cool nature that I would not have seen had I just stayed in the main area.
Here is the link to an informational website about the Grotto Bruce Peninsula National Park: explorethebruce.com/explore/the-grotto/57/
Flower Pot Island
The Fathom Five National Marine Park Flower Pot Island is something that I think everyone who goes to Tobermory needs to experience. This national park is absolutely beautiful in every single way. The "flower pots" are gigantic structures made out of rock that had been weathered away by wind, rain, and the waves. You can see in the pictures to the right just how massive these things are. There are 3 on the island and it is a big treck to get to them. Going to flower pot island is definitely an all day adventure. You can only reach the island by boat. Back in the town of Tobermory there are plenty of different options for boating companies that will take you directly to the island. My family decided on a glass bottom boat that took us over 3 shipwrecks. The water was so clear that you had no trouble seeing the ships that had sunken years ago. I recommend this boat trip because it was so amazing to see the big boats at the bottom of the lake. Finally when you get to the island about 45 minutes later, the adventure begins. The best decision I made on this day was wearing rain boots! This is not necessary as long as you have a good pair of tennis shoes but wearing rain boots allowed me to adventure into the water and get to the flower pots without getting my feet wet.
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Flower pot island is so beautiful and it was one of my favorite things that I experienced in Canada. By the time we got back to our campground after a long day of exploring the island, I was wiped out and definitely needed a nap. If you ever go to Tobermory, you need to experience flower pot island because it is just amazing. The nature is absolutely stunning. Plus it made for some really cool pictures as you can see in the slideshow.
Here is a link to a website for the flower pot island: flowerpotisland.ca/
Other adventures
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There is plenty to do in the town of Tobermory other than the two main attractions the Grotto and Flower Pot Island. Shopping was a big part of our trip. There are tons of small locally owned businesses in the area and it was really fun being able to talk to the shop owners and get their perspectives on the town. My personal favorite shop that we visited was The Sweet Shop in downtown Tobermory by the harbor. I could be biased because I have a really big sweet tooth but the candy and ice cream we bought from this shop were really good! We also found a really neat general store that had just about anything you could imagine from puzzles to camping equipment. Tobermory is full of unique little shops that give you a peak into what life is like in the small town. Another one of my family's favorite shops was a family owned bakery that we definitely stopped at too much. The food was just too good to resist so we kept going back! Every day they had fresh made tarts, donuts, quiches, and even pies. On our way out back home to America we stopped at this bakery one last time for our breakfast.
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We went kayaking on Cypress Lake which was really fun! There are plenty of canoe and kayak rental places around the lake if you don't have your own boats. On the day we went, it was really overcast which was nice because it wasn't to hot or cold. Right next to our campground was a ropes adventure course. I did not do this but my dad and brother did and they loved it! It was a little too adventurous for me but I am glad they had fun. Even if you are not into the large tourist attractions of Tobermory, you will NOT be bored in this town. There is something fun to do everywhere you look in this small town full of life.