Where you live is about a lot more than just the actual home itself. Your surroundings - and what they offer - are as important as the bricks and mortar house you live in.
One of the first questions that those from outside our region ask us "just what is there to do in the Waterloo Region?" The answer is a lot. While we don't have the space to tell you about it all here we can offer and overview of some of the best things to do, and some of these even long time residents may not have experienced for themselves yet!
Learn More About Area History
The Waterloo Region is home to many interesting historical places, including:
The Joseph Schneider Haus Museum: This museum is a restored 1816 Mennonite farmhouse that offers visitors a glimpse into life in the early 19th century.
Doon Heritage Crossroads: This living history village offers visitors a chance to step back in time and experience life in rural Ontario in the early 1900s.
The Mennonite Story: This museum offers a fascinating look at the Mennonite heritage in the Waterloo Region and beyond.
St. Jacobs Schoolhouse Theatre: This historic schoolhouse, built in 1867, is a beautiful example of the architecture of the time and is now used as a museum and community center that offers great entertainment all year round.
These are just a few of the many historical places to visit in the Waterloo Region , offering a unique and fascinating look at the area's rich heritage.
Explore the Region's Farmers' Markets
The Waterloo Region is home to several farmers' markets, offering locally-grown produce, fresh baked goods, and handmade crafts from regional artisans. These markets provide a unique shopping experience, connecting customers with local food producers and artisans, and supporting the local economy.
Here are a few of the notable farmers' markets in the Waterloo Region:
Kitchener Market: Established in 1875, this is one of the oldest farmers' markets in Canada. It offers a wide range of products, including locally-grown produce, baked goods, handmade crafts, and much more.
St. Jacobs Farmers' Market: This is one of the largest year-round farmers' markets in the region, featuring over 140 vendors selling a variety of products, including locally-grown produce, artisan cheeses, handmade crafts, and more.
Elmira Farmers' Market: This market is held every Saturday from May to October, offering fresh, locally-grown produce, baked goods, and handmade crafts.
Cambridge Farmers' Market: This market is open year round and features a variety of local vendors, selling produce, baked goods, crafts, and more.
In addition to these markets, there are several others in the region, offering a unique shopping experience, supporting local agriculture, and promoting community engagement. Whether you're a local resident or just visiting the area, visiting one of these farmers' markets is a great way to experience the vibrant food and craft scene in the Waterloo Region
Take in Some Great Art
The Waterloo Region is home to a thriving arts scene and several notable art galleries. Here are a just a few that are worth mentioning:
The Kitchener-Waterloo Art Gallery (KWAG) - This world-class gallery is dedicated to promoting contemporary and historical works of art, with a focus on the art of Canada. It is located in downtown Kitchener and is known for its cutting-edge exhibitions and thought-provoking programs.
The Clay & Glass Gallery - This gallery is dedicated to contemporary ceramics and glass art, and features a variety of exhibitions, workshops, and special events throughout the year.
THEMUSEUM - This multidisciplinary cultural space features a wide range of exhibitions, including contemporary art, history, and science. It is located in the heart of downtown Kitchener and is a must-visit for anyone interested in cutting-edge art and culture.
The Button Factory Arts - This community arts organization offers a wide range of programs and exhibitions, including visual art, music, dance, and more.
These are just a few of the many art galleries in the Waterloo region of Ontario, each offering its own unique perspective on the arts. Whether you're an art lover or simply looking for something interesting to do, these galleries are well worth a visit.
Enjoy the Scenic Beauty of the Grand River
The Grand River is a historic waterway in the Waterloo Region. It is the longest river entirely within the province of Ontario and is a major source of recreation, tourism, and economic activity in the region. The Grand River winds through the rural landscape, passing through our cities, towns, and villages along its journey to Lake Erie. The river is well known for its scenic beauty and diverse array of wildlife, including species of fish, birds, and mammals.
The Grand River is a popular destination for a range of outdoor activities, including fishing, boating, camping, and hiking. The river also attracts tourists from around the world who come to enjoy the breathtaking scenery, visit the many parks and natural areas along its banks, or explore the rich cultural heritage of the communities along the river.
One of the key attractions of the Grand River is the Grand River Conservation Authority, which manages the river and its watershed, providing opportunities for education, recreation, and protection of the environment. The organization operates several parks and nature reserves along the river, offering visitors a chance to experience the natural beauty of the region.
In addition to its natural beauty, the Grand River is also a critical source of drinking water for communities in the region, providing high-quality water to tens of thousands of residents and businesses. This, combined with its rich history, cultural significance, and recreational opportunities, makes the Grand River a key part of life in the Waterloo Region
Meet Some Animals
The Waterloo Region of Ontario is home to several zoos and animal parks that offer a fun and educational experience for families and animal lovers. Some of the popular ones include:
African Lion Safari: This is a drive-through animal park that allows visitors to get up close and personal with over 1,000 animals from over 100 different species, including lions, zebras, giraffes, and many others.
Eby Farmstead: This family-owned petting zoo features a variety of animals, including goats, sheep, rabbits, and miniature horses, as well as a playground, picnic area, and pony rides.
Cambridge Butterfly Conservatory: This is a tropical butterfly conservatory that offers visitors the chance to observe over 2,000 exotic butterflies from around the world.
Take a Hike
No, we are not being rude, merely suggesting you enjoy one of the best ways to get some great time in the outdoors in our area, no matter what the season.
Some of you may already be familiar with at least some of these, others, especially those new to the area or just in the process of planning a move here, this is hopefully useful information, as we are going to take a look at some of the best trails in the Waterloo Region.
Petersburg Bush
Distance: 3.3 km
Elevation Gain: 102 meters
Route Type: Loop
This is a ‘lighter traffic’ trail that is primarily used by walkers and runners of all skill levels. It’s one of the shorter trails in the area but with its gentle slopes is considered nice and kid friendly and it’s also rather wide, making it great for a socially distanced outing. One word of warning. It can be rather buggy in places in the summer, due in large part to heavier tree cover, so make sure you wear insect repellent as well as sunscreen when you head out.
Sudden Regional Forest Loop
Distance: 3.2 km
Elevation Gain: 88 meters
Route Type: Loop
This is a dog friendly trail (as long as they are on a leash) that’s resplendent with wildflowers in the spring and summer. It’s also a very varied trail, as it offers lots of different terrain. Big paths, small paths, boardwalks, steep hills, swamps, and ponds, it has them all, and is as good for birdwatching in places as it is for running or walking
Drynan Tract
Distance:
Elevation Gain:
Route Type:
Love to linger by a lake? Then this is the trail for you. Known as an easy trail that’s both kid and dog friendly (as long as the latter are leashed) There are pretty ponds, lots of fauna and even remains accessible in the winter for hardier walkers and runners to enjoy.
The GeoTime Trail
Distance: 4.6 km
Elevation Gain: 131 meters
Route Type: Loop
Want some fascinating, educational opportunities to go along with your fitness efforts? then head out to the GeoTime Trail.
The GeoTime Trail traces the City of Waterloo’s expansive geological past through informative signs along the route. Each meter of this 4½-kilometer trail marks one-million years of geological history. Every millimeter represents 1,000 years.
The trail teaches us – and our kids – where geological periods start and end, when different biological organisms appeared on Earth and when major catastrophic events took place. It also features a sundial where you can learn how to tell the time the very old-fashioned way.
This trail is of particular pride to the Waterloo Region. It opened in 2007, coinciding with the region’s 150th anniversary, the University of Waterloo’s 50th anniversary and the 150th kilometer of trail in Waterloo. It was also the first of its kind in Canada, and was outlined in the Canadian contributions to the UNESCO-sponsored international Year of Planet Earth in 2008. Not only that, but it’s also a lot of fun to traverse, which is always the most important thing!
As local residents we enjoy many of these things ourselves. And speaking of locals, for those hoping to buy or sell a home in the Waterloo Region, our local knowledge proves invaluable.
Not just when it comes to market conditions, but also when discussing what neighbourhoods are really like to live in, the realities of local commutes, the best places to eat and drink, the local employment market and more. Want to learn more about buying or selling a property with Team Pinto? Contact us today and let's chat.