Just an hour east of Toronto is a small pastoral hamlet that would make the perfect day trip. Nestled in Clarington, the tiny town of Orono on the southern stretch of Highway 35 is less about big-city sights and more about the charm of niche indie shops, heritage buildings and cute cafés.
Start your visit in the heart of town and stroll along Main Street, where you can buy everything from Kawartha Dairy ice cream to boutique jarred chutney and fresh apple blossom flowers. If you’re into history, the Orono Town Hall alone is worth the trip. It was built in 1898 in a Romanesque Revival style and today still hosts festivals, parades and community events.
Next up, visit the Orono Antique Market. It’s now housed in the community’s historic armoury building on Park Street and is filled with all sorts of antiques and vintage treasures, while the Main Thru Church Antique Mall hosts about 30 booths and showcases filled with collectibles, everything from glass and fine china to books, furniture and silver.
After your mid-morning stroll, stop in for a filling lunch of haddock and French fries at the Orono Country Café (which also offers delicious pie, like coconut cream and lemon meringue). Just down the street, Enchanted Crystal Cafe serves lattes, teas and baked goods inside a crystal-filled shop (try playful faves like the Honey Bee Latte, Lavender London Fog and Pistachio Rose Matcha).
For a proper nature break, head to the Sidney B Rutherford Woods Walk Park. It’s nestled right behind the village and offers the most charming forested trail system, with multiple entrances from around downtown, including Main Street and Station Street. If you’re looking for a bigger nature moment, the Orono Crown Lands are only a couple of minutes west of downtown, with about 15 kilometres of marked trails, benches, a picnic area and no admission fee. Wilmot Creek also runs through the property, with a rainbow trout run in mid-April and salmon later in the year.
If you’re staying into the evening hours, grab some takeout or a casual dinner at Twisted Pizzeria for New York-style pies as well as pasta and wings combos, while Sunny’s Restaurant is the village’s go-to spot for Chinese food (it’s been serving Orono since 1999). Before you head home, pick up some snacks and baked goods from the Orono General Store.
After exploring Orono, check out this charming lakeside town near Toronto: it was just named one of Canada’s best places to live!
