Grafton

Visit Grafton for an Ontario vacation to relax and renew. You’ll find yourself in spa country here with four of Northumberland County’s most sought-after health and wellness retreats, each tucked into the peaceful, rural landscape. Located in the large municipality of Alnwick/Haldimand, you’ll also find a strong sense of Ontario history here. Alderville First Nation is located in the north of the municipality near Rice Lake  (More on Rice Lake here). Grafton is located in the south, very near Lake Ontario, about 130 km (80 mi) east of Toronto and west of Kingston. Take in lakeshore breezes and get a wonderful view of Lake Ontario. Discover fresh Northumberland eats, find great Ontario antiques, and hike or cycle to your heart’s content.

Here are some highlights to help you plan a relaxing vacation or your next Great Northumberland Road Trip:

Spa, Glamp & Try Mindfulness

• Escape to the hills at Ste. Anne’s Spa, named Canada’s top destination spa. Stay the night in the historic, castle-like inn or charming cottage accommodations. Relax in the luxurious outdoor hydrotherapy pools. Day packages are also available.  
• Try an Ayurvedic approach to wellness in natural surroundings. Treatments such as Shirodhara, Pada Abhyanga, and Kizhi massage can be found at Northumberland Heights Wellness Spa & Resort, a hilltop retreat with overnight and day spa packages.
• Try a truly glamorous form of camping at Whispering Springs Wilderness Retreat – one of Canada’s top-notch glamping retreats. Have a gourmet breakfast basket delivered to your safari or treetop tent. Enjoy the creature comforts (like fluffy towels and a king-sized bed) while focusing on your health and well-being.
• Register for a mindfulness workshop with Sally Staples Transformational Nature Connection at her beachfront retreat near Grafton. A Chopra Vedic Educator for Ayurveda, yoga and meditation programs, Sally offers guided, immersive experiences such as forest therapy, or meditation along the property’s scenic shoreline. Retreats can be a day or more, with accommodations booked off-site by Sally.

Note: Due to the strong focus on individual wellness, the above are adult-only destinations. 

Discover 1800s History & Ontario Antiques  

• You’ll find 1800s settlement history all around you here. The hamlet of Grafton was populated by settlers from the new United States looking for land. By the late 1870s, Grafton had several taverns and inns, a cheese factory, a blacksmith, and a train station. 
• Feel like a historic stroll? Try Grafton’s self-guided walking tour featuring 22 unique buildings.
• Browse through the antique, book and gift shops at the 1812 Heritage Shops. This Ontario heritage building actually dates to 1820 and at one time housed a barber shop, a post office, and a general store. 
• Want to scout for other Ontario antiques? Check out this map of antique stores in Northumberland County and the area.
• Visit the Barnum House Museum to see a stylish home built in the early 1800s. Take a pic in front of this Ontario Heritage Trust home, and get a sense of the building’s history through its interpretive signage out front. Eliakim Barnum, a U.S. settler and landowner who built the house in 1819, was influenced by American architecture. It’s also interesting that the home’s neo-classical style shows elements of Greek architecture. 
• Stop by The Grafton Inn & Café for a quick coffee or treat to-go. It was built in 1833 to replace a log building, and restored in the early 1990s. The small west wing was added later on, and was once used as a telephone exchange.
• History buff alert: In the 1800s, David Rogers, who eventually settled in Grafton from the U.S., was one of the first political figures to propose anti-slavery legislation for Upper Canada. 

Hike, Cycle & Enjoy Lake Ontario Views

• Relax along the water at Nawautin Shores Nature Sanctuary – a 5.3 ha (13 acre) wetland area sheltering a wide variety of wildlife including deer, fox, beaver, rabbits and birds. Take the trail to reach the quaint covered wooden bridge (great for a photo). You'll also find several ponds and a pebbly beach along the Lake Ontario shoreline.
• You don’t have to be an experienced cyclist to take a ride along the Great Lakes Waterfront Trail. Pedal at your own pace along a flat surface. In many spots you’ll be shaded by a canopy of mature trees. This portion of the Waterfront Trail is quiet with some stone beaches along the way.
• If you want a longer (and more hilly) ride, you can try the Shelter Valley Cycling Route, a 50 km (31 mi) loop, starting and ending in Grafton. On this ride you’ll pass orchards and farms, take in some unforgettable views, and can also stop in at the Nawautin Shores Nature Sanctuary.
• Have a canoe, kayak or SUP? There’s easy water access for watercraft at the boat launch and rest area at Wicklow Beach. Or maybe have a refreshing swim, or just sit by the shoreline there. You’ll find a sand and gravel beach with about 1000 m (1,093 yd.) of Lake Ontario shoreline.

Golf in the Northumberland Hills

• Northumberland County's gently rolling hills have helped to shape a number of great golf courses – two of them located minutes from Grafton. 
• Book a tee time at Shelter Valley Pines Golf Club for a relaxing day of great golf over 18 holes. This par 68 course also has a fully-licensed restaurant. 
• Only have a few hours? Try the smaller Shelter Valley Creek Golf Course with a very manageable, and enjoyable, 9 holes of play (par 29). It also has a practice green and driving net.

Taste Fresh Ontario Eats 

• Get a really great taste of Ontario at the Lass & Ladle where gourmet goodness melds nicely with local, country fare. Shelves are stocked with Northumberland products (BBQ sauce, jam, honey, maple syrup and textiles, just to name a few.) Glass-fronted freezers are full of soups-to-go with great blends like Curried Sweet Potato. Order a lunch special (everything from smash burgers to power bowls), or start your day with a steaming tea and fresh-baked scones served by food entrepreneur Terry Carruthers.
• Stop in for coffee and a savoury or sweet treat at The Grafton Café (check hours, located in the west wing of The Grafton Inn). You can get a breakfast or lunch special (like a toasted western or satisfying BLT) served fresh for the road. 
• Ste. Anne's Spa is noted for its fresh, creative cuisine. But even if you don't stay at the inn (or dine there with a day spa package), you can get a taste of some of its inspired sweets, granola, meals-to-go, coconut ice cream and tasty bread at Ste. Anne's Bakery (certified gluten-free). Or stop by the seasonal Academy Hill Grill, popular across Northumberland County for its fresh take on food truck eats. Both can be found on Academy Hill Road.
• In the fall, you can head to Moore Orchards for a visit, just 6 km (3.7 mi) from Grafton. This family farm is proud to offer high-quality apples, pressed cider, and apple cider vinegar, and other fruits in season. While you’re in Ontario apple country, you may want to check out other apple orchards here.) 

Stay in Grafton

• Take a look at our Accommodations Directory for other places to stay in the Grafton area, including cottages, campgrounds and B&Bs.