Main Street Unionville: 5 Reasons to Make the Trip

Posted : October 1, 2013

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.

Main Street Unionville is a picturesque street lined with historic buildings, boutique shops, restaurants, spas and salons.
A visit to this wildly popular street in Unionville, Ontario is like a stepping back in time and for some, it’s like walking onto a movie set.

Here are 5 reasons your family should be planning a trip to Markham’s Unionville suburb:

1. Amazing Dining Experiences

The dining scene on Main Street Unionville is diverse and sure to please even the pickiest of young eaters in your family.
Looking for some tasty Indian food? You’ll find it at Ambiyan.
Italian food lovers can fill their bellies at one of several restaurants – La Grotta, Il Postino, or Unionville Co. Restaurant.
There’s Mexican food, sushi, Mediterranean and classic pub food too.
Main Street Unionville Old Country Inn Restaurant
Having dined at many of these restaurants one time or another, I can say that the majority of them, if not all are kid friendly.
Our family’s current obsession right now is Old Country Inn – a restaurant specializing in Austrian food.
This restaurant calls a 140 year old house home and serves up what our kids say is the best schnitzel in the world. They ate their schnitzel so fast I couldn’t didn’t have a time to snap a photo.
Here’s a picture of what I had for lunch. Perfectly breaded, generous portions, DELICIOUS.
Main Street Unionville Old Country Inn
During the week the crowd is a bit older but on weekends, families with kids seem to take up a good portion of their dining room.

2. Soak Up Some Art & Culture

Main Street Unionville hosts many multicultural events and festivals year round.
Explore exhibits from Canadian and international artists at Frederick Horsman Varley Art Gallery or The McKay Art Centre.
Main Street Unionville McKay Art Centre

3. Relax at Toogood Pond

If you are looking to escape the busy-ness and noise of the city, head to Toogood Pond.
Located steps away from the Varley Art Gallery, it’s a great place for families to get some R&R.
Families fish (license needed) and picnic there in the summer and skate on the pond in the winter.
The 33 hectare park is surrounded by tall trees and is stunning once the leaves start changing colour in the fall.
There’s walking trails and a bridge for families who want to do a bit of exploring.
4. The Sweet Stuff
If you have kids, you know they can sometimes be about the sweet stuff.
Main Street Unionville has no shortage of shops that can satisfy their sweet tooths.
Main Street Unionville Old Firehall Confectionery
Old Firehall Confectionery is full of handmade goodies.
Truffles, chocolates, cupcakes, fudge, ice cream, marshmallows on a stick, macarons and candy apples are some of the things you can find there.
If you’re too full, you can always skip dessert and watch them make fudge from scratch.

5. It Really Does Look Like a Movie Set

Main Street Unionville is beautiful year round and in my opinion the most breathtaking in the fall and winter.
It’s not surprising why many families make the visit here every week (did I mention it’s very dog friendly?) and why it’s been on TV and the big screen so many times.
Fans of the TV show Gilmore Girls might recognize this building from Season 1.
Main Street Unionville Gilmore Girls
Here’s a hint – it’s Stars Hollow’s local diner.
If you plan to visit Main Street Unionville soon, make sure you bring your appetite, some good walking shoes and your camera!
 
Cheryl is founder of Kids On A Plane – a blog dedicated to family travel in North America and the Caribbean. When she’s not on a plane, you can find her exploring York Region and the GTA with her two young children and husband.
 

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