A wilderness adventure or a quiet sojourn is just a short hour's drive east of Toronto.

It's easy to get addicted to our great fishing and boating along the Trent-Severn Waterway. It's the same whether you are snowmobiling through some of Ontario's finest forested trails in Northumberland, hiking or cross country-skiing through the Oak Ridges Moraine, motorcycling or biking some of the fantastic Greenbelt routes and exploring geocaching treks - all the while communing with nature.

First Nation peoples and Europeans were first drawn to thhis area of majestic, rolling hills because of the lakes, watercourses and abundance of fish and wild game. That heritage remains today when a fishing enthusiast casts into the weeds of a quiet bay. It's there with the first tug on the line and the pride of a catch that will become breakfast for the family just beginning the day back at the resort on Rice Lake.

Because Northumberland is sandwiched between Lake Ontario in the south and Rice Lake in the north, and is home to the forested landform left by the glaciers known as the Oak Ridges Moraine, spots untouched by civilization still remain. There are many ways to find them. Stay in an off-the-electrical-grid island retreat and take a canoeing adventure on Rice Lake. Wade into the current of the Ganaraska River with fishing rod - or a camera - to catch a spectacluar salmon or trout. Or you can charter a Lake Ontario fishing trip from the harbours at Port Hope or Cobourg and head out towards the far away horizon.

While you're here, check out nearby quaint shopping destinations, festivals, theatre, great places to stay and spectacular regional cuisine. For all this, plus friendliness and year round fun, Northumberland is your destination of choice!.

We have festivals that celebrate where we live. Enjoy an ice fort, ice slide, ice skating and ice wine during Cobourg's Winter Festival at the harbour in February. As spring approaches, make your way into the woods on a horse-drawn-sleigh. See how trees are tapped and sap is boiled as you take part in the Warkworth Maple Syrup Festival where the art of syrup making is matched by the artisans who show their talents on the main street of this unique village encircled in hills.

Dance at Alderville First Nation's summertime Pow Wow or enter their annual regatta. Discover the sand dunes at Presqu'ile Provincial Park and watch the return of migrant birds in spring or their departure, along with that of Monarch Butterflies, in the fall - or dive on shipwrecks.

Cycle up hills on quiet roads to discover spectacular views of lakes, rivers and waving fields of corn. Or hike to a stand of old-growth forest in Peter's Woods and marvel at the expanse of trilliums covering the forest floor where the sun's rays peak through.

Visit www.northumberlandtourism.com or call 1-866-401-EAST (3278) and ask for your free copy of our new Northumberland Outdoor Adventure Map offering fishing, cycling routes, trails, golfing suggestions and more.