Midland (Ontario) Voyage Tips and guide

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Midland is a town in Simcoe County, Ontario on the shores of Georgian Bay. A beautiful area for a vacation by the water, it draws many tourists, particularly in summertime.

As of the 2016 census, its population was 17,000.

Historically, Midland was an English-speaking community while neighbouring Penetanguishene had a large French-speaking population. The communities reflect the heritage of both founding peoples; Midland has a rich history dating back to the first settlers in Ontario, who came and lived among the Huron aboriginal people in the 1600s.

As early as AD 800, the Huron settled in semi-permanent villages in the area. The young French translator, Étienne Brûlé, was the first European to set foot in the area, some time between 1610 and 1614.

In 1793, John Graves Simcoe, the first Lieutenant Governor of Upper Canada, visited the area and saw its potential as a naval base. He wanted to use the bay to shelter warships to protect British interests on lakes Huron, Erie and Michigan. Beginning in 1814, the British-Canadians built the Penetanguishene Road to provide the area a land route to Barrie and Toronto, as it was previously accessible only by water transport along the rivers or across Georgian Bay.

The town of Midland was founded in 1871 when the Midland Railway selected the sparsely populated community of Mundy's Bay as its new terminus. At that time the railway ran from Port Hope to Beaverton. The line to the town was completed by 1879. Settlers, attracted by the convenience of rail service, soon began to move into the area. The village thrived based on Georgian Bay shipping and the lumber and grain trade. Light industrial companies have established themselves in the area and tourism in the southern Georgian Bay area also contributes to the economy.

The climate is nearly the same as much of Southern Ontario and has balmy summers and chilly winters. Thunderstorms, hailstorms, snowstorm, lake effect snow, and freezing rain are also commonplace for this city.

Midland is about a 30-minute drive north of Wasaga Beach and about 145 km (1½ hour) drive north of Toronto on Highway 400, before heading west for 16 km on Highway 12 at Waubaushene. Travelers can also arrive traveling south on Highways 69 and 400 travel south from Sudbury, before heading west on Highway 12 at Waubaushene. Travelers can also arrive from Orillia by heading west on Highway 12. A branch of the Trans-Canada Highway passes through the area, traveling between Sudbury and Kanata (near Ottawa) on Highway 69 and 400, then Highway 12, then Highway 7, then Highway 417.

• Simcoe County LINX. Transit bus service from Barrie and Orillia. (updated Dec 2021)

• Ontario Northland. Service from Toronto and Sudbury to Coldwater, 25 minutes outside Midland. Transfer to Simcoe County LINX or a taxi from here. Passengers from North Bay can transfer to Simcoe County LINX in Orillia (Lakehead University). (updated Sep 2018)

• Rural and Community Connection. Thursdays only, service from Port Severn, Honey Harbour, Bala, Gravenhurst, and Bracebridge. (updated Sep 2022)

• Mid-Pen Transit. Transit bus service in Midland and Penetanguishene. (updated Jan 2022)
• Busy Bee Taxi Midland, +1 705-526-2424
• Central Taxi Midland, +1 705-526-2626

• Sainte-Marie among the Hurons, 16164 Highway 12 East, ☏ +1 705 526-7838. May 19-Oct 7: open every day 10AM-5PM; Apr 30-May 18 and Oct 8-Nov 2: open M-F 10AM-5PM. A recreated 17th-century French Jesuit mission headquarters, the site of the first European settlement in Ontario. It is now a living museum depicting missionary life in the 17th century. Leashed pets permitted. Late May-early Sep: adults $12.00, seniors (65+) $10.00, students (13+) $10.50, youth (6-12) $9.25, children 5 years and under free; about 20% less in spring and autumn. 

• Martyr's Shrine, 16163 Highway 12 West, the only national shrine outside of Quebec. It is a Roman Catholic church commemorating the Canadian Martyrs, eight missionaries from Sainte-Marie who were martyred during the Huron-Iroquois wars; it also operates as the Huronia museum. Pope John Paul II held a pastoral meeting at this site in September 1984.
• Fred Lenz murals, various locations including King Street, Midland. Most of the murals were painted by now deceased artist Fred Lenz. The largest, depicting a meeting between a local native and Jesuit Missionary Jean de Brebeuf, is on the silos overlooking the main harbour. This work was completed by Lenz's sons following his death in 2001.
• Huronia Museum & Ouendat Village, 549 Little Lake Park. Late May to mid-Oct: daily 9AM-5PM; rest of the year: M-F 9AM-5PM. It features a replica of a “pre-contact” Huron/Ouendat village, including a lookout tower, wigwam and a full-size longhouse. The museum also features an exhibit gallery featuring tens of thousands of historic artifacts ranging from photographs, native archaeology and art by members of the Group of Seven, and others. (updated Sep 2018)

• Wye Marsh Wildlife Center, 16160 Highway 12 East, ☏ +1 705 526-7809, fax: +1 705 526-3294. Year-round interpretive centre with trails (including cross-country ski trails). The huge marsh habitat provides cover for many trumpeter swans, black terns, least bitterns, beaver, porcupine, mink and river otter. The trumpeter swan is considered a symbol of Midland and a large statue of one has been erected by the harbour. 
• The Butter Tart Festival is held annually in early June. The day after the Butter tart festival is the Butter Tart Trot, a 5-km fun run for older people and a 2.5-km run for children under 5 years old.
• Power and sail boating is very popular, and there are marinas and a sailing club based in the town. The town has easy access to the relatively sheltered waters of south eastern Georgian Bay. Among the marinas nearby are Bay Port Yachting Centre on the northwest side of the bay, and Wye Heritage Marina along the southeast shore. There is also good fishing.

• Midland Antiques Centre, 640 Balm Beach Rd E, ☏ +1 705-245-7927. Daily 10AM-5PM. 20 vendors. Antiques and collectibles, vintage records, comics, die cast, toys, retro treasures. (updated Sep 2018)

• 44.74805-79.883171 Explorers Café, 345 King St (just past the theatre), ☏ +1 705-527-9199. Tu-Th 5PM-9PM, F Sa 5PM-10PM. Beautiful restaurant owned by explorers. Mains $19-35. (updated Sep 2018)
• Mom's Restaurant, ☏ +1 705-527-0700. Steaks, schnitzels, prime rib, pastas, fishes. Breakfasts $8-15, lunches $11-16, dinner mains $13-27. (updated Sep 2018)

• Cellarman's Alehouse, 337 King Street, ☏ +1 705-526-8223. Su-Th 11:30AM-11PM, F Sa 11:30AM-midnight. Many beers on tap, pub food. (updated Sep 2018)
• Flynn's Traditional Irish Pub, 96 Main Street, ☏ +1 705-355-4782. Su-Tu 11AM-11PM, W 11AM-midnight, Th-Sa 11AM-1AM. Classic Irish fare, food & drink specials, live music, pub quiz, dart league, and pints. (updated Sep 2018)

• 1875 A Charters Inn Bed and Breakfast, 290 Second St., ☏ +1 705-527-1572, toll-free: +1-800-724-2979. Victorian inn, bilingual francophone, Wi-Fi, parking, veranda and patio. $150-200. (updated Sep 2018)
• Super 8, 1144 Hugel Ave. (Hwy 12 to Hwy 93 north), ☏ +1 705-526-8288. Check-in: 3PM, check-out: 11AM. Limited-service hotel, breakfast included, indoor sport pool, hot tub and fitness room. $110. (updated Sep 2018)
• Midland Inn & Suites, 720 Prospect Blvd,, ☏ +1 705-245-1166, toll-free: +1-855-566-2320. Free hot breakfast, free hotel-wide Wi-Fi, free parking, microwave and fridge From $110. (updated Sep 2018)
• The Shamrock Motel, 955 Yonge St, ☏ +1 705-526-7851. Free Wi-Fi with every room, coffee maker in rooms, fridge and microwave, smoking & non-smoking rooms available, air conditioning, BBQ, playground. From $85. (updated Sep 2018)

• Penetanguishene
• Awenda Provincial Park is one of the most beautiful parts of Georgian Bay shore, with sand, cobble and boulder beaches in sheltered Methodist Point Bay. They are signs of a glaciated past.

Routes through Midland

END ←

W  E

→ Waubaushene → Orillia

Routes through Waubaushene

Sudbury ← Parry Sound ←	N  E	→ → Orillia → Peterborough
END ← Midland ←	W  E	→ Orillia → Whitby
Sudbury ← Parry Sound ←	N  S	→ Barrie → Toronto