With summer coming to an end, a day trip is the best way to enjoy the last few warm days of the year. And Guelph is the perfect destination for a final hoorah before bidding farewell to our summer.

Guelph is surrounded by beautiful greenery and with fall just around the corner, you will have the opportunity to see leaves changing into breathtaking colours for the upcoming season. The city seems to love it there have endless parks and conservation sites, as well as incredibly popular restaurants and shops to stroll through. Also known as “the Royal City”, downtown Guelph is full of buildings that take influence from the Victorian era- you’ll be able to visit and see buildings that are more than a century old! There isn’t a shortage of things to do in Guelph and it’s the perfect blend between adventure and comfort.

Bready of not, here I crumb!

Polestar Hearth is our first stop upon arrival! We’re fuelling up for the day by visiting this community supported bakery, known for their tasty bread and baked goodies. Walking in you’ll be surrounded by the amazing smell of freshly baked loaves, and the sight of delicious pastries.

The options for bread seem endless- ranging from traditional whole wheat sesame bread, to trendy cinnamon raisin bread. I opted for the country style loaf, which pairs perfectly with beef stew. The crispy outer layer of bread is a stark contrast to the warm and fluffy inner layer you’ll find upon taking a bite. Don’t forget to also take a look at their rosemary focaccia and limited time apple crisp babka that’s available!

Along with the bread, the cinnamon swirl is a must-have at Polestar Hearth. I love cinnamon in the fall- and so, filled with a thick layer of cinnamon sugar, this warm and fluffy swirl is the best way to start off any day in Guelph. I also opted for the apple cinnamon hand pie. The sweetness of the cinnamon, paired with the tartness of the apple and the flaky crust, makes this a staple at Polestar Hearth during fall time. These goodies are great as a grab-and-go treat as you head off on your next adventure in the city of Guelph.

Let’s “take a hike”

The best part about the end of summer is the amazing weather we experience. Not too hot and not too chilly. There’s no time better than now to enjoy a scenic hike- and no place better than Starkey Hill Conservation Area. This hike is approximately 4km long and is a loop trail, located southeast of Guelph.

I personally found the hike to be moderately challenging, but definitely worth the bug bites. I would recommend packing bug spray, a water bottle and sunscreen.

The trees are just starting to change colour and the views were absolutely stunning. I loved being able to sit on the benches along the trail, meditate and enjoy the calmness nature provides. The conservation area also includes such diverse ecological environments, including forested slopes and expansive wetlands.

I would highly suggest downloading the iNaturalist app- this is a unique way to document and identify the plants and animals you encounter along the hike. There is an incredibly helpful community of enthusiasts on the app that will also help you learn more about the environment you are in and confirm your predictions about the plants and animals you come across.

Time to “check out” some books

And to end off our day in Guelph, our last and final stop will be The Bookshelf in downtown Guelph. This unique location provides… not one, not two, but three services. A bookstore, a theatre, and a restaurant/bar.

My personal favourite was the bookstore. It included an amazing selection of new and classic books for both adults and children, as well as stationary, games and entertainment, and my personal favourite- cookbooks. I spent hours perusing through the shelves, finding unique novels to add to my “to read” list, and just enjoying the relaxing atmosphere. The Bookshelf was the perfect way to end off this fun day trip to Guelph!

There are so many amazing things to do in the city of Guelph, and it’s the perfect destination for your next day trip. With summer coming to an end, enjoy the last bit of sunshine by visiting this “Royal City”