A girls' weekend aboard a 1972 VW named Pearl revealed that the best discoveries happen when you let a local show you their backyard.
I thought I knew the Collingwood and Blue Mountain area. I'd been there before, visited the usual spots, and figured I had a decent handle on what the destination offered. But sometimes you don't have to travel far to travel, and this trip proved exactly that.
A girls’ weekend brought me back to Ontario’s South Georgian Bay region, but the day that changed how I saw the destination started when six of us climbed into Pearl, a beautiful 1972 VW, with Becky from Breezy Wine Tours behind the wheel. From that moment, this wasn’t simply a day of sightseeing. Becky wasn’t just driving us from one stop to another; she was showing us her backyard.
Beyond the Obvious Route
What surprised me most was how much I didn't know was there. We spent an entire day with Becky, and she took us beyond the places I would normally visit. We travelled the back roads, stopped in little communities, found beautiful waterfront spots, enjoyed local food and wine, and even hand-picked flowers at a farm. I realized there is so much more to this area than Blue Mountain. Some of the best parts were places I probably would have driven right past if someone local hadn't shown us where to go.
The experience changed how I think about this destination entirely. Before, I probably would have Googled a few wineries or breweries, made reservations, and driven from one to the next, checking places off a list. What I know now is that some of the best parts of South Georgian Bay are the things between those stops. The little towns, the beaches, the flower farms, the local shops, and those unexpected discoveries that make a day feel truly memorable.
The Journey as the Destination
Having Becky and Pearl for the entire day meant we could experience the area instead of just visiting it. Part of what made our day so special was the journey between the places. The back roads, the scenery, the conversations, and the unexpected little stops along the way all added up to something you simply cannot replicate by planning from home. I now understand that the hidden gem isn't necessarily one place. It's knowing who to book to unlock the destination.
This trip reminded me of a lesson that applies anywhere I travel: sometimes the best way to experience a destination is to stop trying to plan every minute of it yourself. We tend to research the "must-dos," book the popular attractions, and build itineraries around the places everyone already knows. But having a local person show you their destination can completely change the experience. They know the back roads, the small businesses, the hidden stops, and the places that may never show up in a typical search.
Who Would Love This Trip
This trip would be perfect for people who enjoy the journey as much as the destination. Girls' weekends, couples, milestone birthdays or celebrations, or anyone who loves discovering little local places they probably wouldn't find on their own. You need to be someone who enjoys a slower day, someone who appreciates wandering through small towns, stopping for local food and drinks, finding a beach, taking the scenic route, and being open to whatever you discover along the way. It's especially great for someone who wants an experience that feels personal rather than touristy.
If you need a packed itinerary, big attractions, or constant entertainment, this probably isn't your trip. It also may not suit someone who wants to stay in one place or who sees the drive between stops as wasted time.
Having experienced it myself, I would recommend this area completely differently now. I’d encourage clients to give themselves an entire day to explore beyond Collingwood and Blue Mountain and experience the smaller towns and local businesses throughout the region.
More importantly, I now know the value of putting the itinerary down for a day and letting someone local take the lead.
I wouldn’t just send my clients somewhere and tell them what to see. I’d help them find the people who can show them what they didn’t even know to look for.
And if that happens to involve six friends, a few glasses of wine, hand-picked flowers, country roads and a 1972 VW named Pearl? Even better.
