Disconnect from the buzz of city life with a day trip to Uxbridge. Only an hour northeast of Toronto, Uxbridge is the ideal destination in Durham Region to reconnect with yourself and with family!
One of the best ways to disconnect from our busy lives is with a book. Books, whether they’re fairytales for the wee ones or epic sagas for the grown, offer a unique opportunity to be transported a world away and step away from the everyday.
Getting lost among the pages of a book can help us put aside our daily stresses and explore the wonderful world through words. People have been telling stories for eons. Through the art of storytelling, we can find a sense of pure bliss and entertainment like no other. Many of us have browsed the shelves of our favourite bookstore and discovered that special book that holds a special place in our hearts.
In the small town of Uxbridge, you can reconnect with the written word and be carried away to a spellbinding place. That place is Blue Heron Books! For over 30 years Blue Heron Books has inspired and delighted visitors and locals alike. This independent bookstore is the perfect place to plan your day while exploring downtown Uxbridge on your own or with loved ones.
Step inside Blue Heron Books and browse their wooden shelves filled with a wide range of titles and genres. There’s a book for everyone in this award-winning bookshop!
One of the most popular things to do in Uxbridge is the Anne & Maud Experience! For those who aren’t aware, the beloved Canadian author Lucy Maud Montgomery wrote half of her novels just north of Uxbridge. Visitors can browse the many books by LM Montgomery at Blue Heron Books. Or you can pick up a copy of the Anne of Green Gables Cookbook, written by Kate Macdonald – LMM’s granddaughter – that’s filled with recipes from the series.
As one of the stops on the Anne & Maud Experience trail, Blue Heron Books has a few fun and creative ways to channel your inner writer! You can pen a letter to your kindred spirit with their custom Anne stationery, grab a selfie with the Anne-themed photo booth, or pick up a free craft kit (available while supplies last). The Anne & Maud Experience is a great way to introduce your children to the classic Canadian book series.
After you’ve chosen your book and had a little Anne of Green Gables fun at Blue Heron Books, walk in the footsteps of LM Montgomery and explore more of downtown Uxbridge.
Head two doors down for a refreshing summer drink and light lunch at the Tin Restaurant & Caffé. Don’t wait to start reading your new book, enjoy a little reading while you eat. Browse the many creative and unique boutiques and shops downtown after your meal. Plus, don’t forget to pop into Little Thief Bakery for a sweet treat like one of their amazing doughnuts!
Along with an array of books, Blue Heron Books is a community hub with a long list of fun and engaging events that are fit for the whole family. So, if you’re looking for more fun activities head back over to Blue Heron Books. Throughout the summer they offer a reading program, a North Durham PRIDE event on June 28, as well as their annual Find Waldo event in July!
The iconic Where’s Waldo books have been a favourite of kids and the kids at heart for over 30 years! A fantastic family friendly activity, Where’s Waldo, offers a scavenger hunt through downtown Uxbridge. Waldo will be hiding in 25 different stores in town and participants can win cool prizes! Plus, there’s even a wrap-up party taking place on August 2 at Blue Heron Books.
Beyond the summer fun, Blue Heron Books has plenty of upcoming events this fall! In September it’s local food month, with a tasty event featuring a cookbook author creating a dish using local produce from Uxbridge. At the end of the month is the Uxbridge Celebration of Arts Books & Authors Night. For over 30 years, this event showcases the town’s incredible and diverse talent through a variety of forms. This year there will be four authors taking the stage at Uxbridge Music Hall, including Alissa York, Michael Crummey and more.
The biggest bookish event, The Book Drunkard Literary Festival, also takes place in the fall. Hosted by Blue Heron Books, two-time Libris Award winner for best bookstore and one of Stuart McLean’s top 13 bookstores in Canada, the festival celebrates books with a variety of events. Over the years it has brought some of the book world’s greats and continues to grow every year. This year it will bring 20 different authors to Uxbridge, including personalities such as Brent Butt, Mary Berg, Emma Donoghue, Rick Mercer and others. Tickets are on sale now! https://bookdrunkard.com/
Start writing a new tale, with an escape from the hustle of daily drama in Uxbridge. Rediscover your love of reading in one of the most bookish and charming small towns in Ontario. Relax and reconnect with yourself or with loved ones at the coolest bookstore in the province! Make this summer a chapter filled with memories to last a lifetime!
