If you’ve landed on this page, you’re looking for things to do in Gravenhurst, ON. I’m lucky that I have an Aunt & Uncle that spend their summers in Gravenhurst. I visit them lots so I’ve gotten to know Gravenhurst and the surrounding areas well. In this local guide, I cover some of my favourite Gravenhurst activities and things I would highly recommend doing on your next visit to Gravenhurst. Enjoy!
What to do in Gravenhurst, Ontario
Take A Boat Ride On A Muskoka Steamship
When you’re on the Muskoka wharf, you’ll see the Muskoka Steamships. There are two incredible boats that you can book a ride on one – the Segwun & Wenonah II. It’s such a great way to see the beauty of the Muskokas from the water. The boat tours are around 2 hours long and you’ll get to see the gorgeous landscape of large rocks and trees, islands, beautiful cottages and some stunning boats. The boat itself is pretty incredible to explore. They also have more themed crusies available like a pirate themed cruise for younger kids, ‘sip & sample’ cruises where you get to taste some of Muskokas local beer and wine. They have dinner and concert cruises and a few other seasonal cruises to choose from. Taking a cruise on one of the Muskoka Steamships is definitely an activity we recommend when you’re visiting Gravenhurst and looking for things to do.
Visit Sawdust City Brewing Co.
Sawdust City Brewing Co. is one of our favourite small town Ontario breweries to explore. Depending on what time of year you’re visiting, you can sit on their patio or there’s plenty of space inside. It has cool brewery vibes, a very local feel, down-to-earth servers and if you’re there on a Saturday night they’ll likely have live music. They also have a few other events like trivia and bingo nights and even open mic nights.
What’s the address of Sawdust City Brewing Co?
- 397 Muskoka Road North, Gravenhurst, Ontario
Things To Do In Gravenhurst: Do Some Local Shopping
Another great thing to do in Gravenhurst is to check out the local boutiques and gift shops. There are so many awesome Gravenhurst stores to explore. If you’re looking for an iconic Muskoka sweater for a souvenir, make sure you check out Footprints On Muskoka. You can stroll the main street – Muskoka Road, and then head to the wharf for even more shops to explore including one of our all-time favourite shops – The Shipyards Muskoka Marketplace.
High Tea At Blue Willow Tea Shop
The Blue Willow Tea Shop is a really cute place located right on the Muskoka wharf to enjoy an afternoon high tea experience. We do recommend that you book ahead though because it can get quite busy!
What’s the address of The Blue Willow Tea Shop?
- 900 Bay St., Gravenhurst, ON
Go To The Muskoka Wharf
One of my favourite things to do in Gravenhurst is walk the boardwalk at the Muskoka wharf. Not only is it such a beautiful waterfront, but there are restaurants and more local shops to explore. You can grab a coffee, stroll the boardwalk and then stop for lunch. It’s the perfect afternoon, in my opinion!
Visit A Local Coffee Shop
Gravenhurst is home to some great local coffee shops. Newest on the scene is Sugar & Spice Café. This adorable place is super cute inside and has lots of patio space to sit and enjoy your coffee. The owners, a retired couple, are so nice and super friendly. Our interaction with them and their excitement for this new endeavour they’ve started is enough to make us come back again and again to support them.
What’s the address for Sugar & Spice?
- 195 Muskoka Rd North, Gravenhurst, Ontario
Enjoy Events At The Muskoka Wharf & Around Gravenhurst
Gravenhurst has so many events that run through the summer and into the fall. A few of our favourites are the extreme ski show, live music at the restaurants on the wharf and the antique boat show. The Town Of Gravenhurst has put together a really user-friendly events calendar so you can easily find what’s happening around Gravenhurst. Some of the events we’re excited to check out next summer are Forró Brazilian salsa lessons outside on the wharf and dock yoga.
Enjoy Lake Muskoka By Boat
If you’re experienced in boating and would like to head out and enjoy Lake Muskoka by boat, we highly recommend it. It’s so much fun to spend time tubing or wakeboarding on the lake. Muskoka Boat Rentals has so many boats, sea doos, and tubes to choose from and they’ll help you find exactly what you need for a fun day on the water.
Enjoy Live Music On The Barge
The Town Of Gravenhurst puts on an incredible summer series of live music on the barge every Sunday night at 7:30pm. You don’t need to buy a ticket for this event but they do ask for a donation of any kind to help keep the concerts going. It’s a pretty incredible venue. The stage is located out in the water and you sit on the grass hill looking out onto Gull Lake. It’s a pretty incredible place to enjoy live music!
Where is Music On The Barge In Gravenhurst located?
- Gull Lake Rotary Park on Third St., Gravenhurst, ON
Visit The Gravenhurst Farmer’s Market
The Gravenhurst Farmer’s Market is a great place to shop for local produce, baked goods, artisan products, and gifts. If you’re visiting in 2024, the road around the wharf has been under construction so the farmer’s market has moved to Gull Lake Rotary Park but it is normally located right near the wharf.
When is the Gravenhurst Farmer’s Market?
- Wednesdays from 9am to 2pm
Go To A Concert At The Gravenhurst Opera House
Seeing a concert or theatre performance at The Gravenhurst Opera House is such a unique experience and one we highly recommend. This smaller venue was built in 1901 so it has that rustic charm to it. From the outside it’s a stunning building full of character, and the inside is a beautiful one story venue. You can’t help but notice the incredible wood ceiling details.
Eat At The Local Restaurants
There are lots of great restaurants in Gravenhurst to enjoy a meal at. Depending on what you’re in the mood for, you can enjoy a traditional breakfast at Bethune’s Bistro on the main street. My aunt and uncle who spend their summers in Gravenhurst absolutely love Essence Of Spice for authentic Indian food. Or if you’re in the mood for a meal with incredible views, I recommend heading to the wharf. Our top choices are Dock Of The Bay or if you’re in the mood for pizza, Boston Pizza is always a great option. The service is awesome and the last time we were there they had an incredible pianist playing live for our entire meal.
These are some of the top things to do in Gravenhurst, ON that I recommend. I’ll keep adding to this list as I discover more great activities in Gravenhurst.
