Nature
With its rolling hills, bluffs of trees, and bucolic farms, Perth County is one of the most beautiful regions in Ontario, and St. Marys, with two rivers flowing gently through its heart, is one of the county’s jewels. In this regard, the Cottage on the Thames is ideally situated: a five-minute walk down Thomas Street brings you into the open country, where you can ramble for miles along a country road with the Thames on one side and fertile fields on the other. You’re sure to see an abundance of flora and fauna, including herons and hawks, and you’ll hear innumerable songbirds, and maybe spot some deer. Another nature walk is the Grand Trunk Trail which runs for over a mile between Thames Road and James Street North, and features a
panoramic view from the Sarnia Bridge. More advanced hikers might tackle a section of the sixty-mile Avon Trail which starts in St. Marys and runs all the way to Conestogo. Wander down to the old quarry, and you can see fish suspended in its thirty-feet-deep, crystal-clear water. Watch for groundhogs and muskrats, and enjoy the dozens of species of wild flowers.
Architecture
St. Marys is popularly known as Stonetown, thanks to the nearby limestone quarries that, in the nineteenth century, provided the material for so many of the community’s beautiful buildings and bridges, over forty of which have been designated Ontario Heritage Properties. Indeed, according to a Toronto Star journalist, St. Marys boasts “some of the finest old limestone buildings in the province.” Another journalist writing for the Toronto Star echoed this sentiment:
“This beautiful little town lovingly referred to as Stonetown reflects the town slogan, inscribed on its historic water tower: St. Marys: the town worth living in. I feel I have ventured into the past, even before crossing the bridge and passing the water tower. The streets are lined with beautiful old stone houses and the sandstone townhall towers over me like a medieval castle. I expect the women to be wearing gowns that sweep the ground and men in top hats, tipping them in greeting, but modern cars line the streets and people wearing the latest fashions greet me with a pleasant ‘Good morning.'”
St. Marys’ splendid architectural heritage has also been noted in travel articles appearing in the Globe and Mail and the Winnipeg Free Press.
An excellent way to explore the architecture and history of St. Marys is through the Historical Narrated Walking Tour which runs on Saturday mornings at 11am, from July 7 to August 25, from the Town Hall at 175 Queen Street East.
You can find out more about St. Marys’ fine buildings by visiting some of the following links:
Sports and fitness
There’s a wide variety of recreational and athletic activities available in St. Marys, and most of them are free.
Summer, spring, and fall
- Golfing at the St. Marys Golf and Country Club or the River Valley Golf and Country Club.
- Kayaking and canoeing in Trout Creek, or at the Wildwood Conservation Area.
- Power boating at the Wildwood Conservation Area.
- Indoor swimming at the Pyramid (a salt-water facility).
- Outdoor swimming at The Quarry (Canada’s largest pool) or the Wildwood Conservation Area.
- Fishing at Wildwood Conservation Area, at Thames Quarry, or Trout Creek.
- Baseball at Teddy’s Field or the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame.
- Walking along the Riverview Walkway or along Thomas Street and Line 5 into the open country.
- Hiking on the mile-long Grand Trunk Trail or the sixty-mile-long Avon Trail.
- Lawn bowling at Lion’s Park.
- Tennis at the outdoor, lighted, public courts just across from the Lind Sportsplex.
- Soccer at Meadowridge Park or Southvale Park.
- Competing in the River Road Run.
Winter
- Curling at the Lind Sportplex/Curling Club.
- Cross-country skiing and snowshoeing on the Avon Trail, along Riverview Walkway, or along Thomas Street and Line 5 into the open country.
- Toboganning on the fenced hill at the corner of Thomas Street and Park Lane.
- Winter tube sliding at River Valley Golf and Tube.
- Indoor swimming at the Pyramid (a salt-water facility).
Antiques
| Eclectic Treasure 128 Queen E, St Marys 519-284-8117 O’Hara Antiques 615 Queen St E, St Marys 519-284-3887 Stratford Antique Warehouse RR #4, 2977 Forest Road, Stratford 519-272-1872 Gregory Connor Antiques 7 York Street, Stratford 519-273-4165 Hidden Treasures Antiques 432 Erie Street, Stratford 519-273-1940 Antiques In Time 45 York, Stratford 519-272-0411 Yesterday’s Things & Books 351 Ontario Street, Stratford 519-271-5180 Adlon House Antiques 24 Woodstock N, Tavistock 519-655-2686 Shakespeare Antique Centre 2 Fraser, Shakespeare 519-625-8842 | Jonnys Antiques 10 Shakespeare S, Shakespeare 519-625-8307 Waterloo County Antique Warehouse 805 King Street North, Saint Jacobs 888-843-9929 Miller JC Antiques Ltd. 8 Foundry Street, Baden 519-634-8951 St Jacobs Antique Market 8 Spring, St Jacobs 519-664-1243 Artefacts Architectural Antiques 46 Isabella S, St Jacobs 519-664-3760 Lucan Architectural Antique Market 277 Main, Lucan 519-227-0407 Dale’s Antique Market 10410 Lakeshore Rd, Grand Bend 519-238-2880 Mr Haneys Market 269 Main, Lucan 519-227-0202 |
The Cottage on the Thames 