Posted : November 17, 2017
Our blog is chock full of great ideas for fun things to see and do in York Durham and Headwaters. We are always adding new content and updating old posts, but sometimes you might stumble upon something from our vault. If this article has inspired you to hit the road, be sure to double-check that the featured stops in this post are still welcoming visitors.
Christmas shopping day trips can be a fun way to discover new artists and try new food and drinks. Each place you explore has its own captivating character and many are beautifully decorated for the season. We’ve found a few places in Ontario where you can soak up the festive spirit while gift shopping for the special people in your life.
Photo by: Dragonfly Arts on Broadway
SHOP ARTISANS
Orangeville is a haven for artisans and home to the Orangeville Art Group, which has a 60-year tradition of supporting local artists. A great place to gain insight into the area’s artists is Dragonfly Arts on Broadway where they display the works of over 200 Canadian Artists. They place emphasis on local talent and feature five studio artists which include Rosemarie Armstrong, a contemporary landscape artist, Beth Grant, who handcrafts beads, Joan Hope, who creates lampwork beads, Roslyn Levin, a Sumi-e painter, and Andrea Trace, who works in acrylic, and creates collages on canvas or board. You will find a showcase of handcrafted jewellery, glass, pottery, and wood items that are constantly changing and updated seasonally.
SHOP FINE FOOD
Share your love of fine foods this holiday season with local cheese and gourmet food.
Fromage Fine Cheeses and Gourmet Foods in Orangeville carries up to 60 varieties of cheese and gourmet food from area growers and producers, such as bread, gluten-free meals, honey and soups. Local favourites include a maple smoked cheddar and red dragon cheese – a Welsh cheddar containing legrain mustard seeds and a Welsh ale.
Quality Cheese Inc. in Vaughan is passionate about the cheese they create and they use the freshest milk and ingredients to make delicious cheese. They create Italian specialty cheese and cheese snack products.
Pioneer Brand Farms in King Township is an Apiary Store where you can see their bees in action and taste over 30 varieties of honey. They carry local honey, imported honey, bee pollen, maple syrup, maple butter, as well as lip balms and soaps.
Photo by: Still Water Distillery
SHOP LOCAL SPIRITS
Embrace Christmas by sharing some locally made spirits by the Last Straw or Still Water Distilleries in Vaughan with your friends and family.
Last Straw Distillery is micro-distillery that makes a classic corn-based Moonshine, a sinfully dark and smooth Blackstrap, and a citrusy light easy drinking Gin. You will find handcrafted high-quality whiskey at their bottle shop.
Still Waters Distillery is another micro-distillery that hand makes every small batch of whisky. Their whiskies include a rich, well-balanced single malt scotch, an earthy dry rye, a smooth, complex, yet sweet and earthy single malt and rye blend, and a lighter, smooth and spicy single malt and rye blend.
Find More Locally Made Spirits
When you are planning your Christmas shopping day trips this year consider stepping outside your usual holiday shopping venues, find a few new ones, and support small local businesses!
