I wanted to drive north. I wanted to go to a place I had never been to before. I looked at a map and saw Lagoon City. A coastal town with winding canals? What am I looking at here, Venice? Could this be The Venice of Ontario? Only 1 1/2 hours from Toronto?
I started driving. When I arrived, I was amazed. Lagoon City is one of many towns that make up the township of Ramara. An official Canadian Resort village, it has a small town feel, mixed with a bit of Floridian vibe. Friendly people, beautiful homes and surrounded by water and boats.
Homes here are connected to 10 miles of lagoons which are in turn connected to Lake Simcoe and the Trent River waterway. It makes for an incredible sight and worthy of a walk around the town.
Don’t know anyone living in those homes…but still want to enjoy the water? You’re good, Lagoon City has you covered. There’s a great beach and even a hotel right along the water so you can stay, eat, play and swim all you like.
Of course, there are plenty of spots along all sides of Lake Simcoe to enjoy the outdoors. The water is exceptional in many spots and often very shallow. Lagoon City is one of those places that centres around those who boat and enjoy the ‘dockominium’ type of lifestyle.
For visitors, it’s an amazing side trip, a chance to see a place in Ontario that you may not have experienced before. It’s really very picturesque and worth the trip. This part of Ontario is truly a wonderland when it comes to things to see and do. There are several golf courses, Provincial Parks such as Sibbald Point and Mara, Casino Rama is in the areaand if you love ice cream, you can’t beat Kawartha Dairy, home to some of the best ice cream in Canada.
Jim Bamboulis has held several posts over the past 12 years, including National Sportscaster, Food Host and Writer, Talk Show Host, Olympic Researcher and Travel Film-maker.
Born and raised in Toronto, Jim learned early on that the combination of travel and food meant ultimate living. Combining his insatiable creative spirit and desire to document his travels, Jim took his unshakable travel bug and set off to explore. Add the fact that Jim also grew up in a Greek household and he learned that not only does Mom always make the best meals, but as importantly learned the importance of understanding and appreciating the countless beautiful cultures and the integral role food plays in every corner of the World.
In August 2009, Jim founded Travel Mammal, a site that brings together his travels and experiences (both good and terrifying) with the hope that others are inspired to share their own. We are all storytellers, especially when it comes to travel and food. He urges everyone to be inspired, explore and love the world and the people that share it with us. Or in other words, Live to Travel and travel to live!
