St. Marys

Deep in rural southwest Ontario, on the banks of the Thames River, St. Marys is conveniently close to London and Stratford. The lovely limestone buildings of the small town reflect the elegance of the Victorian age, and have earned the community the nickname of Stonetown. Some of these homes have been converted into comfortable inns and bed-and-breakfasts. Particular buildings to note include the Town Hall, the Public Library and the former opera house. While rewarding for those with a penchant for history, there is another good reason for visitors to include St. Marys on their itinerary. Located beside a former limestone quarry that is now ...

Deep in rural southwest Ontario, on the banks of the Thames River, St. Marys is conveniently close to London and Stratford. The lovely limestone buildings of the small town reflect the elegance of the Victorian age, and have earned the community the nickname of Stonetown. Some of these homes have been converted into comfortable inns and bed-and-breakfasts. Particular buildings to note include the Town Hall, the Public Library and the former opera house. While rewarding for those with a penchant for history, there is another good reason for visitors to include St. Marys on their itinerary. Located beside a former limestone quarry that is now touted as Canada’s largest outdoor swimming pool, the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame & Museum honors 86 inductees who have made their mark on Canadian baseball – including Fergie Jenkins, a black man born in Chatham, Ontario in 1944 who rose above countless challenges, including racism, to become one of the most dominant major league pitchers of his era.

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.