Parry Sound

Surrounded by the rugged beauty of Georgian Bay, the small town of Parry Sound is a logical base for exploring the region’s 30,000 Islands – under sail or by one of the daily cruises. From the mid 1800s onwards, the lumber industry was the town’s raison d'être until other industries, including tourism, took hold. Its history comes to life in the West Parry Sound Museum. The region’s breathtaking vistas – from vivid sunsets to rocky shorelines and the pink granite of the Canadian Shield – have inspired countless artists, including Canada’s famed Group of Seven. Every summer, the internationally acclaimed Festival of the Sound – a celebration ...

Surrounded by the rugged beauty of Georgian Bay, the small town of Parry Sound is a logical base for exploring the region’s 30,000 Islands – under sail or by one of the daily cruises. From the mid 1800s onwards, the lumber industry was the town’s raison d'être until other industries, including tourism, took hold. Its history comes to life in the West Parry Sound Museum. The region’s breathtaking vistas – from vivid sunsets to rocky shorelines and the pink granite of the Canadian Shield – have inspired countless artists, including Canada’s famed Group of Seven. Every summer, the internationally acclaimed Festival of the Sound – a celebration of fine music, from classical to jazz – draws thousands of eager concertgoers. Plenty of interesting eateries, art galleries, bookstores and boutiques keep visitors and locals happily occupied. As well, Parry Sound sits on the 230-kilometre (143-mile) multi-use Park-to-Park Trail, offering outdoors’ enthusiasts a marvelous way to experience the beauty of Georgian Bay country.

About the Expert

Joanna Ebbutt is the author or editor of three Insight Guides to Toronto and Canada, and coauthor of Off the Beaten Track: Western Canada. She has been writing about travel for three decades, including chasing the aurora borealis in Northern Ontario.