Ultimate Summer Staycation Guide to Guelph

Here are some summer essentials you’ll need as you work your way through our staycation guide.

1. Sunscreen
2. Bug Spray
3. Sensible Shoes
4. Sunglasses
5. Hat
6. Refillable water bottle
7. Bathing Suit
8. Beach Towel
9. After Burn & After Bite
10. First Aid Kit
    … just in case

You don’t have to spend all of your time outside, there are tons of things that you can do during your staycation from the comfort of your own home.

1. Read—Find a few good books to read while relaxing at home. Try reading a book before the movie inevitably comes out.
2. Stream a movie or binge watch a show on Netflix or Shomi.
3. Find a new recipe and make a meal at home with your friends using fresh ingredients from the Farmer’s Market.
4. Sounds of summer—You can stream music for your summer theme song without even leaving your house using apps and websites like Spotify, 8tracks, Shoutcast, CFRU, Apple Music, Pandora, Slacker, and Grooveshark.
5. Sunbathe in your backyard, remember to apply SPF 30+ broad spectrum sunscreen and to reapply every one to two hours. You’ll get a better tan if you divide the time you spend outside because this will avoid getting a sunburn.

Nothing says summer like ice cream. Whether you like hard-scooped, soft serve, gelato, or sherbet, Guelph’s got you covered.

1. The Boathouse Tea Room—Open 7 days a week until 10 p.m., you can enjoy up to 33 flavours (16 at any given time) over the summer next to the scenic Speed River.
2. Sweet—Feed your tastebuds and your nostalgia by getting some retro candy with a Kawartha Dairy cone.
3. Planet Bean—When your friends want coffee and you want gelato you know where to go. Also, obviously get both.
4. Sprinkle—Enjoy hard-scooped ice cream from a dessert food truck like a fancy adult, not some kid chasing down the ice cream truck. (Do that also though.)
5. My Kitty Cafe—For when you want ice cream but also want to look at a lot of cats.

There’s no way to beat the heat like having a refreshing swim or dipping your feet in the water.

1. Guelph Lake—Although it is a manmade beach and reservoir, many activities can be enjoyed at Guelph Lake such as swimming, fishing, and camping.
2. Canoe/Kayak Rentals—Rent a canoe or kayak at the Boathouse to cruise up the Speed River, just don’t rock the boat.
3. Interactive water feature at Market Square—Dip your toes in the Market Square fountain if you’re spending the day downtown to keep cool during the hot summer days.
4. U of G swimming pool—W.F. Mitchell Athletics Centre is open every day for length swims, recreational swims, and the hot tub. Just be sure to check the times.
5. Rockwood Conservation Area—Boasting cliffs, caves and glacial potholes; many days can be spent adventuring around the Rockwood Conservation Area by hiking, biking, swimming, or canoeing.

Sometimes you just need a little vacay in your staycay. That’s where these road trip idea come in.

1. Stratford—Just an hour’s drive from campus, those who are 29 and under can get Play On tickets for the Stratford Festival starting from just $15. If you’re more into food than Shakespeare, fear not! Stratford has a ton of restaurants for your eating pleasure.
2. Rattlesnake Point—A 35-minute drive from campus, this park in Milton offers overnight camping, hiking, yoga, rock-climbing, and geocaching.
3. St. Jacob’s Market—A 40-minute drive from campus, this farmer’s market and flea market in Waterloo is open Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays until 3 p.m.
4. Niagara Falls—A 1.5 hour drive from campus isn’t too shabby to visit one of the most beautiful places in the world. If you’ve already seen the falls, there is a lot of other stuff to do from the casino to tacky tourist attractions and strolls along botanical gardens.
5. Toronto—A 75-minute drive from campus, Toronto offers endless options for entertainment. If you’re a foodie, take advantage of Summerlicious from July 8-24 to try a great selection of fancy-pants restaurants.
6. African Lion Safari—A 30-minute drive from campus, you can visit Hamilton to see monkeys, cheetahs, and elephants, oh my!

It’s time to dig out the ol’ picnic basket and get ready to indulge in some watermelon. Here are the best places to bring your friends, family, or that special someone.

1. Riverside Park—Fun for the whole family, Riverside Park does not just have picnic areas, but also a number of hiking trails, sports fields, horseshoe pits, pedal-boats, and a merry-go-round.
2. Royal City Park—Although the area is still under some construction, Royal City Park is a gorgeous park for a picnic, and is steps away from a grocery store if you’re unprepared.
3. Arboretum—The Arboretum is the perfect place for a picnic, and only a short walk from the University.
4. Exhibition Park—Close to downtown, Exhibition Park is a great place for a picnic, and has tennis courts, baseball diamonds, a playground, and plenty of open fields to enjoy any sport when you finish your meal.
5. Johnston Green—With an abundance of greenery and field, Johnston Green is perfect for an intimate picnic, or perhaps even a picnic party.

Whether you want to fill your staycation with music, food, or art, these five festivals have you covered.

1. Festival Italiano—From July 8-10, experience a taste of Italy in Guelph with spaghetti and ice cream eating contests (not together), Bocce tournaments, and cheese roll competitions.
2. Art on the Street—On July 16, artists will exhibit their work along Quebec Street. There is plenty to do for kids of all ages at The Children’s Art Festival in St. George’s Square from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. If you can’t make it that day then check out Art in the Shops, which runs from July 11-16.
3. Hillside Festival—From July 22-24, Guelph Lake Island hosts five stages of musicians, spoken word artists, workshops, and more—a true staple of the Guelph summer experience.
4. Riverfest Elora—From August 19-21, take a free shuttle bus from Guelph to Bissell Park in Elora to enjoy music, arts, food, and culture along the banks of the Grand River.
5. Ribfest—From August 26-28, Guelph’s in for a weekend of barbequed ribs, music, cars, and more.

Avoid the sun but enjoy the outdoors as restaurant-meet-picnic on these patios around Guelph.

1. Miijidaa—What used to be The Ox, Miijidaa’s patio is tucked away from the bustle of Quebec Street and offers a unique menu based on traditional First Nations cuisine.
2. Sip Club—A patio that offers a generous amount of shade from the summer sun during the day, and a whole lot of fun at night.
3. The Albion—Make even the pickiest patio-goer happy as you can sit downstairs in the shade or upstairs and enjoy the view of downtown.
4. Baker Street Station—A sunny and open upstairs patio. The view may be a parking lot but it’s still a good time with the charm of an English pub.
5. Red Brick Cafe—For a more connected patio experience, try the Red Brick’s community table-inspired seating. Take in the fresh air with a hot or cold beverage and stick around for their delicious evening menu!

Grab a few friends and paint the town red. Guelph has a ton of options when it comes to music, movies, and games.

1. Free movies in the Square—Every other Friday at 9 p.m. you can enjoy a family-friendly movie at the Market Square for free such as Big Hero 6, Marvel’s The Avengers, and many more.
2. The Mustang Drive-In—Open every night during the summer so that you can enjoy a double dose of your favourite movies in the nostalgic drive-in setting.
3. Karaoke/Trivia nights—You can be a rockstar with a full band at Q-Ball’s You Rock! Live Karaoke, or enjoy karaoke at Van Gogh’s Ear, Shakespeare Arms, Ample Annie’s, and Squirrel Tooth Alice’s, to name a few. Or show off your smarts at trivia night at Fionn MacCool’s, Sip Club, McCabe’s, or NV Lounge.
4. Board game cafes/escape rooms—You and your friends can team up to try to escape the puzzle rooms at Exitus or Fantescapes, or perhaps a night at The Round Table to have a few drinks and play your favourite board games.
5. Live shows—There are live shows downtown almost every day of the week, so pick your poison: music, comedy, drag, dance, or theatre. Change your RSVP to “Going” on those Facebook events your talented friends have been inviting you to all year round.

The summer is filled with outdoor adventures and activities, here are just a few ideas for you to keep busy and active, even if you miss the winter.

1. Bowling—You can let your inner-Lebowski shine with a day of bowling at Woodlawn Bowl any day of the week, or enjoy the electrifying night bowling on a Friday or Saturday night.
2. Ice Skating at U of G Gold Ice Rink—If you miss winter sports then take a day to skate at the Gold Rink to cool off.
3. Skateboarding—You can skateboard in the streets, at The Ward Skatepark, or tear up Guelph’s new outdoor ramps at Silvercreek Skatepark.
4. Bike trails/hiking trails—There are over 65 kilometres of trails in Guelph to start your adventure, including: Starky Hill Trail, Speed River Trail, Eramosa River Trail, Silvercreek River Trail, Guelph Lake Trail, the University of Guelph Arboretum Trail, and many more!
5. Sports leagues—There are many sports leagues to join over the summer to remain outside and active including: ultimate frisbee, beach volleyball, soccer, and flag football.