The Bruce Peninsula Explorer

Janet Arnett is the former campus manager of adult education at Ontario’s Georgian College. She is the author of Antiques and Collectibles: Starting Small, The Grange at Knock, and 673 Ways to Save Money.

The Bruce Peninsula is a narrow arm of land jutting into Ontario’s
Lake Huron/Georgian Bay. It has the small city of Owen Sound at its base
and the Fathom Five National Marine Park, at Tobermory, at its peak.

Armitage divides “the Bruce” into eight areas, each of which can be
visited in a day or explored in more depth over a longer period. For
each of the eight areas he presents a mixture of local and natural
history, geography, photo opportunities, shopping (especially crafts and
antiques), and a dining guide. All this is laced together with anecdotes
and bits of background. The narrative for each of the eight trips keeps
in mind the interests of hikers, history buffs, photographers, birders
and wildflower enthusiasts, gardeners, canoeists, bicyclists, antiques
and crafts collectors, and those who simply enjoy exploring back roads.

Directions for finding the various spots of interest range from precise
to vague to sloppy. For example, we’re told to visit an award-winning
potter before driving away from a cemetery (it’s unlikely the potter
has set up shop in the cemetery). However, by accepting the
just-wandering-about spirit of the text and consulting the accompanying
maps, readers should find that all becomes clear.

The text is friendly, informal, and easy to read; though it would have
benefited from professional editing. The book’s design is
inappropriate for its intended use as an on-the-road reference. It is
also visually unappealing, with lots of fuzzy little black-and-white
photos and amateurish drawings adding nothing but clutter.

The information will be of interest to anyone vacationing “on the
Bruce” or who is thinking of moving to the area.