Whether you are a local or you are coming from Toronto or beyond, the Town of Caledon always makes for a great day trip. However not many people realize that Caledon is much more than just a town – it’s a unique assortment of villages and hamlets each with their own distinctive characteristics and offerings. In the “Day Trip to Caledon” blog post series, we will be sharing some specially designed trip ideas to help you plan your next visit to Caledon!

First Stop: Cheltenham

Cheltenham has many great tourist attractions for history buffs and nature lovers alike. To start off the day you might want to take an educational tour of the Great War Flying Museum, a one-of-a-kind local heritage attraction. The museum may be small, but it is packed with unique artifacts and preserved aircraft from WWI. The volunteers and staff are also extremely knowledgeable – you can be sure to learn something new after visiting this museum. Conditions permitting, the aircraft will even be flown on the days the museum is open. The museum opens seasonally from the Victoria Day long weekend in May until the Labour Day weekend in September. Please check their website to learn more about their hours of operation and upcoming events.

After your stop at the museum, you can head over to the famous Cheltenham Badlands for some scenic views. The Cheltenham Badlands are one of the most recognizable and visited natural heritage landmarks in southern Ontario. It was first formed at the base of an ancient sea over 450 million years ago. Presently, the landscape of rolling red rock makes for the perfect photography location. In addition to being highly instagrammable, the Cheltenham Badlands can be an opportunity for you to go hiking, dog walking, or birding along the Badlands Trail and neighboring Bruce Trail. Please note: reservations are required to access the Cheltenham Badlands. Visit the CVC website for additional information.

Next Stop: Inglewood

After your eventful morning, visit Inglewood to take things at a slower pace. To recharge, you can take a break at Coywolf Coffee, a cute little café that has gained a lot of notoriety in just a year of operation. Coywolf Coffee has a large variety items for a small coffee shop with popular items such as apple fritters, sausage rolls, sandwiches, specialty coffees, and lemonade. When visiting, be on the lookout for special events as the coffee shop regularly hosts paint nights, holiday markets, and more.

After your coffee break, do some exploring of the historic village by taking a Self-Guided Heritage Walking Tour and visiting the Inglewood Antique Market. The Town of Caledon has designed detailed self-guided tours for eight historic villages under the Heritage Caledon Walking Tour Series, which includes Inglewood. After completing your tour head over to the Inglewood Antique Market for a blast into the past. The Inglewood Antique Market is the perfect place for finding unique items such as antique jewelry, china, glass, furniture, books, home décor, vintage fashion, and more.

Last Stop: Caledon East

To end off your day, head down to Caledon East – a small village with a great selection of u-pick farms and restaurants to choose from. Before eating dinner, check out Rock Garden Farms to pack-in one last adventure for the day. At Rock Garden Farms you can purchase fresh produce, baked goods, fresh flowers, and pick-your-own strawberries. Nearby Rock Garden Farms you will find many nice restaurants including the Villa Caledon Inn, a great option if you are looking for Italian or Canadian cuisine – plus it has a beautiful outdoor patio which is perfect for the summer.

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Whether you follow this day-trip itinerary step-by-step or use it as a source of inspiration to plan your own visit, you are bound to have a good time as Caledon may be minutes away … but it’s a world of difference.