The Bay of Quinte is a Z-shaped narrow inlet, about 100 kilometers in length located on Lake Ontario's north shore. It is also in the middle of Ottawa and Toronto and is surrounded by lush and rolling landscapes and farmlands, typical of a rural travel destination in south-eastern Ontario. Belleville city here sprinkles an urban touch to this scenic and vast bay.
The Bay of Quinte also has many travel attractions and fun things to do for visitors, which has made it to be dubbed, Ontario's best-kept tourism secret, and a travel gem in Canada worth visiting.
Attractions To Visit At The Bay Of Quinte
The Bay of Quinte has many attractions for visitors to tour.
Glanmore National Historic Site
Opened in 1973 as a museum the Glanmore National Historic Site exhibits artifacts that capture Belleville region's history, to the present, plus the lives of Glanmore's original residents.
The museum has about 20,000 of these artifacts displayed, and some date back to as early as 1780.
Glanmore National Historic Site artifacts include rugs, 19th-century Chinese and Japanese cloisonné, marquetry furniture, European clocks, archival documents, decorative and framed works of art, and others. This museum is open year-round but closed on Mondays and holidays.
Entry Fees (Per Person)
- Adults $8
- Seniors & Students $6:50
- Children (5-12) $4:50
- Children Under 5 (Free)
Quinte Museum of Natural History
The Quinte Museum of Natural History (QMNH) displays exhibits that help people to understand, appreciate and be wowed by the natural world around them. It educates people on natural sciences, fosters discovery, and inspires stewardship of nature and environmental stewardship.
QMNH also hosts exhibits on the earth's fossil record and the biodiversity of Ontario and the Bay of Quinte. At QMNH there are dinosaur skeletons and diplodocus skulls, and triceratops.
QMNH's opening hours of are from 10 am to 5 pm, from Wednesday to Sunday, and tickets can be booked online.
Entry Fee (Per Person)
- Adults $6 Plus Tax
- Children under 5 Years (Free)
Recreational Activities At The Bay of Quinte
Recreational and fun activities await visitors at the Bay of Quinte.
Water Activities
Paddling, Rowing, And Kayaking
Paddling, stand-up paddle (SUP), rowing, and kayaking are done at the scenic Moira and Trent rivers.
While paddling down the Trent river visitors appreciate the lush and scenic beauty of Quinte West, the bay, and the Trent Port Marina. This is an ideal way to spend summer days. The Trenton Rowing And Paddling Club has equipment for rowing and paddling for visitors to hire.
During the fall, paddling down the Moira River which is surrounded by lush vegetation is the ideal tour for birders. Adventurous water lovers can also whitewater canoe on the fairly ravenous rapids of Moira River, courtesy of the Wilderness Canoe Association that offers these tours.
The Bay of Quinte's North Shore has waterfront spots and patios where visitors picnic or see the attractions here. These spots are at Greater Napanee, Belleville, Quinte West, and Brighton. Renting these water recreational equipment costs $20 per hour onwards.
Outdoor Activities
The Bay of Quinte is endowed with natural attractions where visitors indulge in outdoor recreational activities.
Horse Riding
Quinte West's beautiful and lush scenery can be appreciated on horse rides through the guided trails here. Fina Vista Farm in Stirling Ontario offers horse rides on the backs of Paso Fino horse species and private lessons on their 100-acre farm.
Nature trails explored on these rides consist of forested pathways and rolling landscapes. To get details on these horse rides visit the Farm's website.
Horseback riding is the ideal fall adventure at the Bay of Quinte.
Trail Rides Cost (Per Person)
- First Time Riders with little experience $65/hour and $85/Two Hours
Hiking The Bay of Quinte Trails
The Bay of Quinte has multiple nature trails and rustic landscape routes mixed with urban trails, that visitors hike. Some of these hiking trails include:
- Conservation Area on 760 Trenton Frankford Road, Quinte West trail, takes hikers to the Bleasdell Boulder estimated to be 2.3 billion years old and is among the North American rocks moved by glaciers.
- Conservation Area And Outdoor Recreation Centre on 384 and 381 Thrasher Road, Belleville trail, is a 500-meter ecology boardwalk, that crosses a wetland. This area is an ideal destination for photographers too.
- Conservation Area on 30 Golf Course Road, Quinte West trail, gives the highest elevation to view the lush and beautiful Quinte countryside.
- Menzel Centennial Provincial Park on Roblin Road, Greater Napanee has 3.5-kilometer trails, with wide paths and boardwalks that weave through marshland, and a beautiful Mud Lake.
- Conservation Area on 1331 Pinewood School Road, Brighton has 17 kilometers of trails, crossing through 179 hectares of the landscape. Its trails are suited for beginners, families, kids, and advanced hikers.
- Conservation Area on 441 Front Street, Quinte West, has trails for walking, hiking, cycling, and viewing wildlife. It also has a boat launch with access to Trent River and the Bay of Quinte to the south.
Shopping At The Bay Of Quinte
The Bay of Quinte has several shopping outlets and these include:
- Side Hustle Market: This artisans market in Belleville sells local, crafted, vintage, handmade, and second-hand goods from the region.
- Belleville Farmers Market: This farmers market sells local foods and products that include honey, maple syrup, cheese, mushrooms, oils, jams, soaps, and baked pastries.
- Grill Orchards: This farm has apple orchards and visitors are allowed to stroll and pick them. They can also buy corn and tasty pastry treats.
Stroll The Vibrant Belleville Downtown District
Belleville Downtown District along the Moira River has nearly 200 shops, galleries restaurants, boutiques, fitness and wellness centers, agencies, and entertainment spots housed in historic buildings. This downtown district is quite vibrant, and performance art events are common throughout the year including live music.
There is also a soup-tasting contest event that spices up the casual downtown stroll for visitors. This is a tour to include in the travel itinerary while visiting Canada.