Activities

Harmony Acres Campground throughout the Season

April, May, Mid June

Harmony Acres Campground welcomes spring as the shorter dark days of winter turn into longer ones of spring  and warmth returns to the sun. The stillness of winter melts with the snow as tree saps flows and the campground forest wakes up from the birds that begin their migration home. Our great forest becomes full of sounds on the return of nesting birds and the nearby wetland is a cacophony of frogs, toads and whippoorwills. Spring rains release a profusion of wildflowers, orchids and ferns along all hiking trails.

• Campground Activities: camp opens; birding begins, hiking in leaf barren forests, dark skies & meteorite showers, photographic extravaganza, and engage in the wildlife sound identification as animals compete for recognition
• Area Activities: Maple syrup Festival, Wild flower/Orchid festival, Easter, Earth Day & Victoria Day Holidays

The town of Tobermory opens with anticipation for the coming tourism season; shops are busy with new merchandise while bears ramble out of their dens after a long winters nap.  Parks Canada’s visitor center opens full time and they complete their maintenance on the trails to the Grotto and Half Way Log Beach. Snow is gone from the Bruce Trail. Remember to book your parking spaces at these locations now in order to get your spot.

June, July, August, mid September

Summer at Harmony Acres Campground brings the privacy of lush forests, blue skies, sparkling waters, long hot days and warm nights. Our guests will find their experiences ‘in the water’, ‘on the trails’, ‘through the air’ or the ‘ultimate relax’ hanging around in a hammock or mesmerized by the flames of a campfire.

• Natural Activities: kayaking, canoeing, paddle boarding, scuba, snorkelling, free diving, swimming, plant identification, hiking, golfing, vistas from sunrises to sunsets and cliffsides
• Wellbeing: rejuvenation within Mother Nature and Nature’s gym – rock climbing to rock rambling, sunbathing on the shoreline soaking up the energies of a million years of waves beating the cobblestone beaches, swimming and invigorating ‘spa’ dips into Georgian Bay.
• Culinary: local fresh summer foods – farmers markets and gardens tours enroute offer edible wilds and organic preserves, as well as garden plants
• Area Activities: Listed above are places to see and venture to, local activities and experiences from 5 mins to 1 hour outside the gates of Harmony Acres Campground.  Annual events such as Chi Chee Maun Festival (June), Canada Day have fireworks that echo between the islands; Homecoming Street dances and Country & Western Jamborees in Lion’s Head, back country roads to explore hidden heritage settlements and Indigenousness Celebrations of Cape Croker, Saugeen and Manitoulin Island.  Staying longer…then inquire about the hidden natural gems to explore along the Georgian Bay Shoreline.
• Dare to be playful or restful at Harmony Acres Campground: Walk trails through our forest and connect to the Bruce trail or cobble stone beaches.  Bike trails to Georgian Bay, swing in a hammock on your site or on the patio and from your lounging repose observe a variety of butterflies and bees busy in the gardens. Be amused by hummingbird duels, tweeting, twittering and flittering of birds at feeding stations. Begin your daily check in with family and friends on WIFI in our library lounge as you sip your morning beverage and as evening arrives and the sun is ready to set watch the horses play in the field. The swallows forego their daytime swooping for bugs over to the night shift of the little bats.

September, October

Autumn at Harmony Acres Campground is signalled by the cooler crisp air and intoxicating earthy scents as summer transitions towards winter. It is a perfect time to enjoy the outdoors as the natural world remains active, comfortable temperatures envelop you in our forest of a kaleidoscope of colours that instinctively appears.

• Natural activities: flocks of birds and butterflies are in fall migration, Parks Canada trails become less crowded, early autumn swims to enjoy the last warm waters of the season, foliage photography, storm watching over Georgian Bay and Lake Huron.
• Culinary: Fall market gardens & preserves, mushroom foraging, Thanksgiving get-togethers,
• Area Activities: fall fairs, hiking festivals, challenging runs, galleries & souvenir shops have great ‘end of season’ offers, and with children back in school there is a calm around the harbour while tour boats continue their treks to Flower Pot Island and feature the vista of colour along the shoreline to the Grotto.

Dare to be playful at Harmony Acres Campground: warm days still great for hiking in our forest as the autumn leaves float through the air, the mist on your face from the waves at Driftwood Cove beach will make you to feel exhilarated, Breathe in the change of seasons, watch for the flotillas of Arctic birds in migration, kick around the leaves in the campground and enjoy the warmth of your campfire as the cooler night airs descend. We enjoy presenting to you the palette of autumn colours from the golds to auburns in the tree tops and the melting blues as water meets sky; from fading greens of field to the shades of grey on the escarpment cliff faces.  Harmony Acres Campground during this season encourages the artist in you to explore your talents whether it is brush to canvas, pencil to paper or through the lens of a camera.

February, March

As winter ice coats the rocky escarpment shorelines, blankets of pure white snow descend on Harmony Acres campground.  Winter on the Bruce offers up an very unique experience that few people seldom get to experience. The air is fresh and at times exhilarating, while the atmosphere is peaceful … so white and still. The sun is bright but cool. The only sounds are that crunching of your footsteps over a frozen landscape as you can see Jack frost busy painting everywhere.  The horses are sporting their thick hairy coats and the local wild birds that remain hidden all year are in full view at our feeding stations. The winter colours of their feathers stand out brilliant to the snow background and the ever friendly chickadees hitch a ride on your toque.

• Natural Activities with little snow: winter hiking, dark skies extraordinaire, northern lights, winter photography
• Natural Activities with lots of snow: cross country skiing, snow shoeing, sledding, ice diving
• Area Activities: small town parades (December) winter carnivals and Groundhog Festivals (February), Family Day. In winter the grocery store, the liquor store, the post office, the gas station and a couple of restaurants remain open with limited hours.

Dare to be playful at Harmony Acres Campground by making snow angels, a snowman or a snowball fight. The night skies have clarity not seen during the other seasons and the stars have a brilliance gifted by the Milky Way, as the Northern lights dance on.  Campfires under snowflakes with a hot drink and story telling gives our guest a very unique experience where the only comments to your conversations may be the hooting of the local owls or the calling of the coyotes.

Our library lounge has resource books that help to identify the animal tracks of the local denizens in our winter woodlands.  Unwind in the warmth or curl up in front of our wood stove fireplace as flames dance; play cards or boardgames with your friends or simply laugh about your days winter adventures before you snuggle under heavy blankets in your tent or one of our cozy sleeping cabins.