Lost in Ontario: The Perfect Fall Weekend Getaway in Brighton, Ontario
Some of you might recall that I visited the Bay of Quinte Region over a year ago when I visited Belleville for the very first time. After one of my photos went semi viral on social media (shout out to Narcity!), it was clear that so many of you were ready to explore Ontario after being in lockdown for so long. Fast forward a year and a few months and I finally got back to the Bay of Quinte region to explore a different town: Brighton, Ontario. I was pretty excited to head back to the region to get lost in a different town that I had never been to before. I absolutely loved my time in this cute little town and in some ways I felt like I was somewhere in Upstate New York. I love when small towns give me that feeling of being somewhere completely different, even if it is only a 2-hour drive for home.
Brighton is a historic municipality that sits as the western gateway to the Bay of Quinte Region. It’s about 150km from Toronto or approximately two hours to drive. It’s a cute town right on the water and perfect for a little getaway!
For a small town, there were so many fun things to do. The main street has several boutique shops and antique stores, in addition to cafes and restaurants. It has a homey, small-town feel with Victorian-style architecture. Brighton is also known for Presqu’ile Provincial Park, which is great for spending time in nature or enjoying the incredible beaches.
Here are some of the highlights from my trip!
Waterfront views from hotel
Where to stay
I stayed in Spinnaker Suites during my trip to Brighton and just loved it. It’s located right on the water, so there were some amazing waterfront views. It was a really peaceful location and gave me the perfect escape from the busyness of the city.
Spinnaker Suites are nautical themed, with nautical touches throughout the room and common areas. It really put me into vacation mode! The room had all the amenities I needed—TV, WiFi, and a private balcony and kitchen. There’s even a fireplace which was perfect to cozy up to during the crisp fall evenings. I mostly ate out at the local restaurants during my brief visit, but it’s the perfect location to cook meals if you are staying for a longer period.
The hotel was located in a great location next to the water where I was able to enjoy the views of sailboats and swans and also a short distance from the places we visited. If you didn’t want to walk or drive, biking is another great option and makes everything easily accessible.
Spinnaker Suites makes relaxing easy by offering in-suite RMT massages (booking required). You can also just chill out beside a fire pit in their patio and garden area. It was a great place to stay and so relaxing.
What to do
Brighton is small, but there are fun things to do! I had no trouble finding ways to stay busy and explore this beautiful area. Here are some of the top activities to do in Brighton:
Visit Presqu'ile Provincial Park: This park is an oasis within itself and perfect for nature lovers. There’s even a beautiful lighthouse located at the very end of the park. Presqu’ile park has a long sandy beach along Lake Ontario’s shore in addition to marsh and meadow areas with walking trails. It’s perfect for a chill afternoon outdoors. We rented fat bikes and biked along the beach for the afternoon which was really fun and a unique way to experience the beach.
Rent bikes: Speaking of bikes, biking is a great way to see the quaint storefronts and stop in at different shops to look around. If you really enjoy biking and want to go a bit further, Brighton is connected to the Great Lakes Waterfront Trail, which is a 3600km trail that connects 155 communities in the region. While you probably won’t do the whole thing, you can cycle part of it from Brighton and explore the lake and neighbouring communities.
Visit Cricklewood Farm: This farm is located about 3km away from Brighton. It was really cool to check out because it is family-owned (in the fifth generation now!) and absolutely spectacular. I think fall was the best time to go because of the beautiful colours of changing leaves. They also have a pumpkin patch and two corn mazes to get lost in. Cricklewood Farm has over 60 different types of apples, so you better believe I picked some to bring back home with me! They also have a market with tons of seasonal, local items like ciders, jams, and baked goods.
Go shopping for local goods: There are several quaint shops and boutiques to stop in along Main Street in Brighton as well as on the outskirts of the town. I especially loved a one antique shop that I stumbled upon on my way to Cheer Farm! A lot of my home furnishings are vintage and I enjoy going to new shops to see what they have. I also really enjoyed stopping into the local boutiques, like Special Effects Lifestyle Boutique, which is a one-stop shop for home decorations and design. It’s located in a converted 1850s home, which is pretty cool too!
What to eat
Trying different kinds of food and eating out at local restaurants is always a highlight of any trip. And Brighton did not disappoint! I definitely left town with a full stomach. Here are some suggestions on what to eat in Brighton:
Local produce and goods from Codrington Farmer’s Market. The farmer’s market is just open on Sundays, so we stopped by on our way back home to pick up some fresh produce to enjoy for the upcoming week. Another spot to pick up local produce and goods is Cheer Farms, whose shop is located right on Main Street. They have an on-site bakery—which you can smell from a mile away!—and a bunch of fresh fruit and vegetables that are grown on the farm right in Brighton. Either of these spots would be great to pick up some supplies for a picnic in the park.
Lola’s cafe: In order to fuel up for a busy day of sightseeing, biking, or shopping, Lola’s was perfect to stop for a morning bite and coffee. It’s also a great lunch spot! It’s located right on Main Street and has some delicious farm-to-table meals, including vegan and gluten-free options. The coffee and pastries are amazing, too! I really enjoyed my breakfast burrito and latte.
Whistling Duck: I stopped in at the Whistling Duck for dinner on Friday evening, not long after checking in at my hotel. It has waterfront patios that overlook Presqu’ile Bay, which made for a really nice ambiance. The food was great too. I loved my French Onion Soup and wings. If you’re interested in a little local history, the name behind the restaurant is pretty fascinating too… It’s a tale of murder, the fur trade, and the sunken ship HMS Speedy. You can read all about it on their website here.
The Gables Restaurant: On Saturday night I visited another local restaurant, The Gables Restaurant. They served me the perfect dinner of Arancini di Roso and Wild Mushroom Crostinis for starters and a Risotto Funghi for my main. It was absolutely delicious. The restaurant is located in one of Brighton’s most historically and interesting houses, so it was a really unique dining experience. Their menu has a line-up of mouth-watering dishes for both dinner and a weekly brunch on Sundays.
Brighton was the perfect weekend getaway. It’s located in such a beautiful area with access to some of Ontario’s best nature. I especially loved exploring Presqui’le Provincial Park and also just enjoying the views of Lake Ontario from my suite. It’s such a quaint spot, perfect for checking out shops, getting a coffee at a cafe, and checking out some restaurants!
If you are looking for a little R&R in a lakeside town, I definitely recommend heading to Brighton. Hope this post provided some inspiration!
