Throughout the year a variety of local events take place. To see more details please click on our
events calendar.
There are lots of things to do and see during your stay at The Village Inn. Click on any linked name under a category to see more detailed information.
Art Galleries
Art Gallery of Peterborough
Buckhorn Wildlife Art Festival & Sale
Gallery on the Lake
Whetung Ojibwa Centre & Art Gallery
Cruises
Lift Lock Cruises
Festivals & Fairs
Bancroft Rockhound Gemboree
Havelock Country Jamboree
Lakefield Jazz Art & Crafts Festival
Lakefield Literary Festival
Little Lake Musicfests
Peterborough Festival of Trees
Peterborough Snofest
Beverage Stores
Beer Store
Liquor Store (LCBO)
Fun Activities
Irwin Inn Riding Stables
Kawartha Downs Harness Racing and Slots
Kawartha Nordic Ski Club
Lakefield Trail
McLean Berry Farm
Peterborough Lift Locks
Wild Water and Wheels
Gift Shops & Specialty Stores
Adventure Fitness
Cottage Toys
Craftworks
Garden Style
Jack and Jill Crafts
Juniper Imports
Kawartha Candle Company
Ken Simmons Antiques
Lakefield Flowers and Gifts
Lakefield Furniture Exchange
Lakefield Station Bookshop
Lockside Trading Company
Nutty Chocolatier
Pine Tree Trading Post
The Antique Shop
Town & Country Marine
Tribal Voices
Village Florist
Wellington Street Images Limited
Wild Rock Outfitters
Young's Point General Store
Golf
Katchiwano Golf & Country Club
Six Foot Bay Golf & Country Club
Wildfire Golf Club
Kennels
4 Paws Pet Lodge
DueNorth Pet Care
Museums & Historical
Canadian Canoe Museum
Hutchison House
Lang Pioneer Village
Peterborough Centennial Museum and Archives
Music & Theatre
4th Line Theatre
Peterborough Festival of Lights
Showplace Peterborough
Parks & Zoos
Petroglyphs Provincial Park
Warsaw Caves Conservation Area
Riverview Park and Zoo
Real Estate
Re/Max Eastern Realty Inc. Lakefield
Resorts
Pine Vista Resort
Tourism
Kawartha Lakes Associated Chambers of Commerce
Peterborough & the Kawarthas Tourism
Peterborough & the Kawarthas, Ontario, Canada
Welcome you
Peterborough, Ontario is situated in the heart of the Kawarthas on the banks of Otonabee River and surrounds beautiful Little Lake. Located only 90 minutes northeast of Toronto, Peterborough and the Kawartha Lakes combine the cosmopolitan feel of urban life with eye-catching rural beauty.
More than a century ago, First Nations people named the region surrounding modern-day Peterborough "Kawartha" -- a Mississauga word meaning "bright waters and happy lands". It still remains a fitting description of the area today as visitors will see why Outdoor Canada Magazine recently named Peterborough and the Kawartha Lakes one of Canada's Top 10 places to live and fish.
Year round, visitors seeking a variety of unique experiences will discover that Peterborough and the Kawartha Lakes offer a multitude of exciting and diverse opportunities. The Trent-Severn Waterway passes through the large hydraulic-lift lock, a major landmark in Peterborough. Learn all about how the locks work in the visitor center and see a working model.
In Peterborough visitors will find first-rate accommodations, restaurants for all tastes, conference facilities, unique places to shop, live music, theatre, heritage --such as the National Canadian Canoe Museum, -- cultural events and a wide range of sporting and recreational opportunities. A premier event is the Peterborough Summer Festival of Lights - awarded Attractions Canada No. 1 Provincial Cultural Event in 2001. The festival is a series of free concerts presented every Wednesday and Saturday evenings in July and August in downtown Peterborough on the shores of Little Lake. Take the water taxi at the bottom of King Street, or rent a kayak or canoe to discover the area from the water -- from downtown, go to the beach, the marina, the waterway locks, the parks, or the Festival of Lights. Or rent a bicycle and take a close-up relaxed tour of the area on cycle trails, including the Trans-Canada Trail.
Discovering the area's many picturesque communities and lakes is an adventure with a wide variety of possibilities. Agricultural fairs and exhibitions, antique shops, artist studio tours, native galleries, rural experiences, hiking and cycling trails, wilderness wonders for canoe, kayak, and camping, boating the Trent Severn Waterway, fishing for pickerel, bass and carp for example, visiting parks such as Warsaw Caves, Serpent Mounds and Petroglyphs, skiing and snowmobiling -- these are a few examples for the touring motorist or outdoors lover.
Peterborough in figures
The Greater Peterborough Area has a population of about 130,000 people. About 74,000 people live in the City of Peterborough.
Peterborough's most prevalent ethnic origins are English, Canadian, Irish, Scottish, German, Dutch, Italian, Polish, Aboriginal and Ukrainian.
Arrival
The Peterborough Municipal Airport is located about 6 km southwest of downtown Peterborough, on County Road 11. The Airport has the longest paved, lighted runway between Ottawa and Toronto with approximately 31,000 aircraft movements per year.
For more information call (705) 743-6708
Toronto International Airport is located 140 km (90 miles) southwest of Peterborough.
By car, Peterborough can be reached via the four-lane divided Highway 35/115.
Distances
Montreal 450 km (279 mi)
Ottawa 270 km (167 mi)
Stratford 265 km (164 mi)
Thunder Bay 1390 km (861 mi)
Toronto 135 km (83 mi)
Windsor 490 km (303 mi)
Winnipeg 2070 km (1283 mi)
Parks and protected areas
Petroglyphs Provincial Park 
Location: 55 km northeast of Peterborough off Northey's Bay Road (11 km from Hwy. 28) This 1,643 ha size park comprises the largest concentration of aboriginal rock carvings in North America. Chiseled into white marble rock face 1,200 years ago, the 900 petroglyphs depict turtles, snakes, birds and humans. There are hiking trails trough the surrounding forests, wetlands and rocky ridges.
For more information call: 705-877-2552
Emily Provincial Park
Location: Northwest of Peterborough. Take Hwy 7 west and drive north on Country Road 10 for 5 km. Emily Provincial Park is on the left side of the road. This 83 ha size park is located on the shores of Pigeon River and offers countless water recreation opportunities including fishing and paddling. The park offers access to the famous Kawartha Lakes. Walk along the elevated boardwalk and see an osprey nest or enjoy two beaches with warm shallow water. Renting equipment is available. There is a total of 299 campsites available.
For more information call: 705-799-5170
Warsaw Caves
Location: On the south side, of Caves Road, off County Road 4, just north of Warsaw. Well-known for its limestone caves, this popular conservation area has a 13-kilometre trail system and family campground. A great bird-watching area. Great place for hiking, spelunking (caving), canoeing, fishing and swimming. The sand beach and shallow Indian River provide a safe swimming area for children.
For more information call: (705) 745-5791
Trent-Severn Waterway
Whether you are in a houseboat, outboard or canoe, your are in for some magnificent cruising on the shimmering waters of the Trent-Severn Waterway. It stretches 386 km (240 mi.) from Trenton on eastern Lake Ontario to Port Severn on Georgian Bay. The Trent-Severn winds through a myriad of islands and lakes. You will pass numerous communities, forests and fields on your way.
For more information call: (705) 742-2251
Jackson Creek Kiwanis Trail
Location: Jackson Park in the City of Peterborough The Jackson Creek Kiwanis Trail is a four kilometre walking/cycling trail, situated on an abandoned C.N. Rail bed that extends from Jackson Park in the City of Peterborough to Ackison Road in Smith Township. The trail is excellent for walking, jogging, and cycling in the summer months, cross-country skiing and snow-shoeing in the winter, and nature viewing all year long.
For more information call: (705) 745-5791
Things to do
Trent Canal Cruises
Based in Peterborough, The Liflock Cruises have always been a favourite for guests of the Village Inn, from relaxing 2 hour excursions to full dinner cruises, explore the historic Trent Severn and Peterborough at the same time, on the water.
Stony Lake Cruises
The picturesque beauty of Stony Lake is second to none, so enjoy it first hand with Stony Lake Cruises while you are staying at The Village Inn. Lunch and dinner cruises available, or book one of our "Couples Getaways", where several interesting and fun options are offered.
Further cruise options in the back yard of the Village Inn.
Kawartha Voyageur
Kawartha Lakes Boat Cruises
Peterborough and Lakefield Garden Route
Gardening is the most popular recreation in the world, The Village Inn knows this, which is why we suggest you explore our Garden Route of The Kawarthas. While strolling through beautiful gardens and shops, gathering expertise and great suggestions, you will be exploring the Kawarthas at the same time.
Garden Route brochure click here.
Historical Walking Tours
Come and join the Trent Valley Archives team for a historical look at the different sides of Peterborough, and it’s history. Historical walks that will illustrate the glory days and the not so glorious days of colourful Peterborough Ontario. Ghost walks, music history, pub crawls ... and all of the above. Drop by Trent Valley Archives and plan on stepping back in time.
Walking Tours brochure click here.
Christ Church Community Museum
Lakefield's history, like many Ontario communities can be found in its churches. Christ Church Museum is no exception, definitely put it on your list, to take a tour when you are at The Village Inn. It's right across the street.
First Nations History
Canada's First Peoples have and still play an integral role in the fabric of the Kawarthas (a First Nations term for Shining Waters). Visualize this influence personally by enjoying an afternoon at Peteroglyphs Provincial Park. Easy walking/hiking in a pristine forest until you arrive at the 600-1000 year old native petroglyphs.
Biking and Hiking Trails Abound
Link to online source/maps also maps available at Front Desk of The Village Inn. Complimentary secure bike storage on site at The Village Inn.
Wineries Complimentary tastings available at each, just check with Sherry Brundle to make an appointment.
Kawartha Country Wines
Kawartha Country Wines, located in the heart of the Kawarthas, is dedicated to vinting a wide variety of fruits into elegant wines. The square beam log cabin which houses the winery and gift shop was constructed in 1866 by one of the original pioneer families.
Oak Heights Winery
Oak Heights is a small craft winery with a passion for making great wine! Being BIG has never been our goal, but producing some of the best wine Ontario has to offer sure is!
Our passion has driven us to approach things a little differently. We've taken an old dairy farm, where the cows have since gone and planted our grape vines. The first determined souls to grow a winery in the rolling Northumberland hills, where winters are harsh and all the nay-sayers said it couldn’t be done, we’ve done it - we are the little winery that COULD!
So while stayng at The Village Inn of Lakefield, come visit us in the beautiful rolling hills of Northumberland County, just minutes from the picturesque village of Warkworth! Wine is always ... best enjoyed with friends!
Unique Shopping while at The Village Inn
Whetung Ojibwa Crafts and Art Gallery
Whetung Ojibwa Centre offers a spectacular collection of Indian crafts as well as fine art, sculpture, masks, leather work, clothing, jewelry, music, and books from across Canada and right here at home. It is possible to spend literally hours browsing through these rooms.
Lockside Trading Company
Lockside began in1987 with the purchase of the historic Young family homestead in the community of Young's Point, Ontario (built in the 1850's). It was originally the lockmasters house at Lock 27 on the Trent severn Waterway, and the home of the The Stoney Lake Navigation Company a steamboat company that offered transportation for the area.
Bigley's Shoes
Bigley Shoes & Clothing has been a family run business since 1911! We feature one of the largest selections of shoes (over 40,000 pairs) in Eastern Ontario for men, women, and children - but we are much more! We have recently added one more store to our fashion centre, making it possible to shop in 8 stores under one roof! You will find dozens of well-known quality clothing lines for ladies & men and over 10,000 fabulous swimsuits in our amazing Swim and Cruise shop! Take in the new gleaming hardwood floors and sparkling chandeliers as you explore our newly renovated ladies wear department.
Lakefield Offerings
Right from the steps of the Village Inn, Lakefield offers an interesting combination of boutique shops and services. Spa services, fashion, fine dining, gourmet chocolate and fudge, are all available within a short walk from the Inn. Please visit our local
Chamber of Commerce for a list of what services are available at your fingertips.
All guests of the Village Inn will receive a packet of discounts for participating shops and stores.
Lang Pioneer Village Museum
Step back in time and experience personally what life was like for early European settlers in the Kawartha Lakes Disctrict. Lang Pioneer Village offers a wide range of sights and sounds that will give the visitor unique insight into our past. Visit Lang’s website, for seasonal events and programs. About 20 minutes or so from the Inn.
Peterborough Centennial Museum and Archives
Location: 300 Hunter St. East
The museum presents the heritage and culture of Peterborough and area. The collection consists of over 22,000 artifacts - including an impressive collection of 19th and 20th century textiles, costumes, coverlets and quilts. The Museum has an extensive collection of furniture, military artifacts, recreational artifacts, ceramics and appliances.
For more information call: (705) 743-5180
Art Gallery of Peterborough
Location: On the shore of Little Lake beside Del Crary Park Started in 1974, The Art Gallery of Peterborough presently numbers 1,004 pieces mostly of living Canadian artists. There is an emphasis on works on paper - drawings and prints. There was also given particular attention to the work of artists who live in the Peterborough region or who have had a connection with it.
For more information call: (705) 743-9179
Canadian Canoe Museum
Location: 910 Monaghan Rd. Canoes represent thousands of years of Canadian history, which comes alive in this museum. Learn about Aboriginal, French and British cultures and how the canoe played an important role in the development of Canada.
For more information call: (705) 748-9153
Whetung Ojibwa Centre - Curve Lake Indian Reserve
Location: About 34 km north of Peterborough. Take Water Street North to Buckhorn Road to Curve Lake Road. This 400-hectare Curve Lake Indian Reserve is home to about 900 Ojibway people. Within the reserve that has been established in 1825 you will find the Whetung Ojibway Arts & Crafts Gallery. The main building houses a gift shop and art gallery where visitors find a display of authentic arts and crafts from across Canada, acknowledged as some of the finest in North America. Lunch is available. Don't miss to sample some of the traditional Native Indian food.
For more information call: 705-657-3661
