Home Town of Farley Mowat

Farley Mowat, writer and environmentalist, was a long-time resident of Port Hope until he died in 2014. A monument to the author named “Boat Roofed House” or ‘Viking House” is located on the east side of the Ganaraska River, near Walk Bridge over the river. It is a reproduction of a boat-roofed house mentioned in his book ‘ The Farfarers’ (1998).

Using 30 tones of quarried limestone from the Madoc area, a local dry-stone waller built this 25-by-8-foot house with a double-ender boat doubling as a roof.

The literary giant, known for his vivid stories set against a backdrop of the Canadian wilderness, had a monument erected in 2006 on a piece of private property (20 Catherine St.). It was moved to the new place in 2016. 

Olympus Burger

Recommended by JENNA REID

Canadian Living magazine ranked Port Hope, Ontario’s Olympus Burger at #1 on its list of the 10 best burgers in Canada. Greek-themed eatery serving creative burgers in a casual, contemporary blue-&-white space.

Ganaraska Fishway

The Ganaraska Fishway is a pool and weir style consisting of a concrete channel ninety feet long and five feet wide. Baffles divide the area into nine pools. The fish – trout and salmon – negotiate each jump or level at their leisure until they have cleared the dam; approximately twelve feet altogether.

The fishway is used practically year-round although the most popular times are the spring and fall. Rainbow trout spawn in the spring. The brown trout and pacific salmon species (coho and chinook) however spawn in the fall.

Lavender Fields

Recommended by ANDREAS PEDIAS

If you want to see the blooming fields of lavender, you have to visit in July. The bloom is short, and the best time is between the 2nd- 3rd week of July to see the most intense colour and experience the amazing buzz of thousands of Honeybees.

The fields will close for two weeks from August 1st to August 15th to allow us to harvest, process and prune our plants.

St. Mark’s Anglican Church

As the oldest church building still in active use in the Diocese of Toronto, St. Mark’s has a long and fascinating history. The wooden frame church was built between 1822 and 1824 and dedicated to St John the Evangelist in 1828.

In 1959, H.M. Queen Elizabeth II and H.R.H Prince Philip were guests at the home of first Canadian born Governor-General Vincent Massey, a long-time parishioner of St Mark’s. They joined the congregation for Morning Prayer at St Mark’s on July 26. Massey was burred here in 1967.

Bibelot | Gift Shop

Recommended by JANN

Bibelot: (pronounced bee’blow) is a boutique specializing in small objects of beauty, curiosity and rarity. Some of our favourite lines include Sid Dickens Memory Blocks, Belle De Provence and Lothantique soaps & creams from Provence, The Thymes classic collections for both home & body, gorgeous sterling silver jewellry from Mexico, specialty gift and cookbooks, the great Kitchen Papers from the States, Jellycats,  kitchen linens – and now! – chic fountain pens from LAMY, Platinum and Conklin, along with other assorted art supplies…

Oh – and the best greetings cards anywhere – truly! 

Port Hope Fair

Recommended by CARIN AVERY

Port Hope Fair is the oldest fair in this region, three days of fun in September. Check out all the exhibits, animal competitions, midway, vendors, and so much more.

We celebrate 1831 as the founding date for the Port Hope & District Agricultural Society. Early fairs were like farmers’ markets where one could sell produce rather than just exhibit it. 175th-anniversary celebrations took place throughout 2006.

Festival of Lights and Trees | Candlelight Walk | Santa Claus Parade

Recommended by KEVIN NARRAWAY

What once began as a small-town Port Hope Christmas Tradition in 1997 has now grown from a few trees raffled on the main stage of Capitol Theatre – to the extravaganza it has become today. Dozens of decorated trees and wreaths amid thousands of lights lining Capitol entrance and lobby during Capitol Christmas and Festival of Lights and Trees.

Capitol Christmas opens during the CandleLight Walk and prior to the Port Hope Santa Claus Parade.

The Candlelight Festival is a part of the holiday kick-off weekend in Port Hope taking place the day before the annual Santa Claus Parade. The Walk begins at Walton & Pine Streets (155 Walton St.)

The annual Port Hope Santa Claus Parade is a spectacular cavalcade of festive sights and sounds featuring a host of exceptional bands along with floats from many local businesses, clubs and community groups. Location: Ridout Street, Walton Street, Queen Street.

The Little Station: A Centre for Contemporary Art

Critical Mass: A Centre for Contemporary Art is a Port Hope-based not-for-profit arts organization. It was founded in 2012, by Aurelie Collings, Liz Parkinson, Fiona Crangle and Sarah Jacob. Together they gathered a group of curators, artists and art supporters dedicated to bringing cutting-edge contemporary art experiences to the residents of Port Hope.

In 2018, they opened the Little Station on Lent Lane in beautiful downtown Port Hope. Built in the 1850s, this historical railway station has been rehabilitated, reimagined, and repurposed as a hub for community arts engagement.

Paddleboard on East Beach

You can find paddleboard and SUP yoga if you visit the Port Hope’s East Beach. You can experience stand-up paddleboarding. It has its roots in Hawaii.

Haute Goat

Recommended by JENNA REID

Haute Goat Farm is a breathtaking 200-acre farm where you can discover the magic of our Nigerian Dwarf Goats, Huacaya Alpacas, Exotic Chickens, Icelandic Horses, Apiary, Tornjak Livestock Guardian Dogs and our big, silly mule named “Lucy”.

Fisher’s Selfie Spot

Photo by DON AUSTIN

A beautiful art on the Ganaraska River.

Two metal sculptures were installed along the Ganaraska River in August 2019. Port Hope Marketing and Tourism commissioned the artwork with the goal of creating selfie spots.

The artwork was created by Rok Capuder who is a blacksmith, carpenter, musician and metal artist.