I love a road trip and the idea that it is all about the journey. It’s hard to anticipate where the road will take you. But, that is the point. Driving in the moment, it’s easy to follow that sign at the side of the road inviting you to turn left and drop in for honey.
The magic and the memories happen in the unfolding. This autumn gather friends or family and take a road trip to see the fall colours and enjoy the bounty of the harvest season along the Apple Pie Trail.
Few people have heard of the Apple Pie Trail or know that apples have been a part of this rolling landscape for more than 150 years. The area produces 25 percent of Ontario’s apple harvest.
The best way to enjoy this delicious part of the province is to take to the road. The Apple Pie Trail app is the perfect companion to navigate the back roads of Georgian Bay’s apple country with confidence. Learn more about the app in Adventure Easy as Pie.
HISTORY
Queen Ann’s lace and goldenrod wave by the roadside as I drive along the last remaining section of the original Royal Mail road. It blows the mind to think that the road has been bringing travelers to the area since 1835.
The first apple trees were planted in 1846 in the Beaver Valley. Today, 4,000 acres of trees grow recognizable favourites like MacIntosh, Spy and Gala as well as some lesser known varieties like Paula Red, Honeycrisp and Cortland.
THE SIGHTS
The Apple Pie Trail is about more than just apples. You’ll find a harvest of artists, artisans, vineyards, cideries, specialty shops and places to enjoy local fair - from baked goods, honey, cider (both sweet and hard). Along the way, you may discover the answer to the age old question: What is a chop suey bun?
Where there are apples, there must be cider. And you’ll find plenty of both sweet cider (non-alcoholic) and heritage cider, which has between 6 and 7.5 percent alcohol content. With more than eight cideries on the trail, you’ll find plenty to taste.
For a full experience of pairing food with cider, start your tasting experience at Coffin Ridge. You may recognize the name - Forbidden Dry Cider - or the iconic gnarled tree from the shelves of LCBO.
Coffin Ridge’s property slopes away from the hospitality area, giving you a view over vineyard, forest and Georgian Bay beyond. It is a perfect perch to sample cider, perfectly paired with artisan cheeses, breads, local charcuterie and seasonal fruit and vegetables. The patio is open Thursday to Sunday.
Coffin Ridge offers a flight of three ciders for $11.50. Narrowing your choice from the menu of five ciders, may just be the hardest thing you do on the trail. Try cider master Joel Loughead’s craft cider on offer. It is a limited edition that changes and can only be purchased onsite by the glass or by the growler.
Recently, I tried the craft cider with Haskap and Honey. What’s a Haskap berry? According to my server: haskap berries, originally from northern Japan, taste like a blueberry and a raspberry had a baby. The berry is now grown here on Georgian Bay.
The berries, co-fermented with local apples produce a vibrant pink cider. Sweetened with local wildflower honey the flavor is tart on the tongue. Food changes the flavour profile dramatically. I paired the cider with some of the local artisanal charcuterie off the vintner's platter and found salt smooths the tartness and lets a buttery honey flavour step forward. The combination is magic in the mouth.
Wind your way back towards Meaford and Thornbury. Stop in at Grandma Lambe's. You’ll find apples for every occasion as well as artisanal items like soaps, preserves, honey and of course frozen apple pies. There is even an entire freezer of gluten free baked goods.
In the Beaver Valley, you’ll find Grey and Gold. This cidery, about five-minutes south of Thornbury produces award-winning organic heritage cider. Owner and cider maker David Baker offer dry ciders fermented with organic local apples and no added sugar.
Here, you’ll find interesting blends, like Bruce the Spruce, a cider fermented with spruce tips. It’s like sipping a pine forest. Likewise there are blends called Johnny Fennel Seed which tastes like liquorice and another made with wildflowers picked on the property. Enjoy tastings in a laid back farm environment, $1 each or free with a purchase.
A little further down the valley you’ll find the Beaver Valley Cidery. The cidery offers a number of flavoured ciders blended with cranberry and field berries as well as pear cider. Their classic cider is called Flagship, a blend of five heritage apples. Cider maker John Mott has created a limited edition cider called Russet Redux. A double fermenting of his Flagship cider produces a champagne like cider.
Tastings are $5.00 for a flight of three ciders. Both Grey & Gold and Beaver Valley Cidery are drop in only. No food is offered on site, so eat in Thornbury or bring something to snack on.
DAY TRIPS
Step off the trail for unique ways to enjoy the glory of the season.
Agora: Path of Light at Blue Moutain
Ever imagined what it might be like to talk to the forest? Or walk with the north wind? Let Agora: Path of Light help you reconnect with nature through the language of light. This interactive experience through three kilometers of trails takes you through a dark path into another world.
Experience Agora: Path of Light and step into a poem come to life. Feel what it is like to whisper through the trees as the north wind does. Five other installations let you explore North Wind, Dream, Wisdom, Water and Fire. Grow, play and explore to find your way through this enchantment of light, colour and sound. This night-time adventure runs through to October 25th. Cost $29.
Wild Edible Experience in Heathcote
You’ve seen them in your local park or backyard, but did you know that you can eat many plants we call weeds . Join Barefoot Brian (Brian McLellan-Tuck) for a cup of white cedar tea, a source of vitamin C, and an expert-led foraging walk on The Wild Edible Experience.
The tour is good for people of all ages and fitness levels, says Brian. Approximately 80 species of plants on the property can be foraged for food or medicine. . “It’s cool to see people get really excited to be learning and when they say ‘I have that in my backyard,’” says Brian.
Depending on the season Brian will introduce you to the flavour of the Oxeye Daisy, a roadside wildflower with a leaf, perfect in a salad. Or the tartness of the ground cherry. “It’s like a candy that comes in its own wrapper,” says Brian.
The tour takes about two hours and costs $40 per person. Book in advance through Free Spirit Tours. Shoes optional.
WHERE TO STAY
Make your base camp Blue Mountain Village or Collingwood. The Apple Pie Trail app connects you to village hotels. However, for more diverse choices and price-points, check out Airbnb and search for accommodation in the Blue Mountains for the best results.
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