By: Jim Bamboulis

Located about 1 1/2 hours northwest of Toronto (map), Elora is a beautiful town full of history, boutiques and restaurants.

It’s also home to a great gorge with 70 foot limestone cliffs that stand tall along the Grand and Irvine Rivers. Here you’ll find everything from kayakers, tubers and swimmers. If you want to get up and see it all from above, there are several hot air balloon as well as zip line companies in the area. If you prefer to stay on the ground, then take your pick as to what activity you want to do.

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For cyclists, hikers and walkers, hit a portion of the Trans-Canada Trail which connects with the 47km long Elora Cataract Trail. The trails take you through some incredible terrain and scenery, including a descent down the gorge and to the river’s edge.

Meanwhile, for locals in and around Elora, the Elora Quarry has always been a summer go-to. For visitors to the area, it’s the newest go-to.

Located near the Gorge, the Quarry is a perfect place to spend a day on the water. The ‘old swimming hole’ is surrounded by trails and dense forest making it perfect for hiking, picnicking, barbecuing and of course, swimming.

It’s open until Labour Day so get in the car, suit up and take advantage of this beauty in Toronto’s backyard.

Watch the 54 second vlog below about what to expect.

For more information about events in Elora and surrounding area, check out this website.

Have you been? Share your experiences in the comment section below.

About me

Hey y’all. I’m Jim. Cute pic, no? That kid went on to spend 16 years in the broadcast media world before starting up Travel Mammal, a site dedicated to travel, food and cultural experiences.

Travel Mammal isn’t about the selfie or checking things off a list. It’s about experiencing both the journey and the destination. To breathe, learn and really absorb what’s around you, in the moment and experiencing in a way that is both memorable and meaningful.

Happy travels, y’all.