Paddle your own canoe, kayak on the Grand River with Bingemans, Grand Experiences

   One-Tank Trip for June 1/19

   (c) By Jim Fox

   Take a “grand adventure” padding a canoe or kayak down a lazy river.

   You can combine canoeing, kayaking and camping with a partnership between Bingemans of Kitchener and Grand Experiences Outdoor Adventure Co.

   It happens on the Grand River, the largest watershed in southern Ontario that starts as a stream in Dufferin County and flows 280 kilometres to Lake Erie.

It’s a fun time getting out on the Grand River.

    This watery jewel running through southwestern Ontario is a great source of recreation including fishing, boating, paddle sports and swimming.

   It remains largely tranquil even as it flows through the urban areas of Kitchener, Waterloo, Guelph, Cambridge and Brantford.

   The partnership adds more river attractions to its camping and entertainment options, said president Mark Bingeman.

   The family-owned facility is a multi-use amusement park, campground, conference and event centre and catering service.

   Grand Experiences is a leading outfitter offering paddling and hiking adventures on the Canadian Heritage River.

    Choose your adventure

   The Grand River packages range from a few hours to a few days.

   There are two-hour canoe and kayak rentals to a two-day canoe camping trip on a self-guided adventure.

   The day trip is a “fun adventure paddling, enjoying the forested riverbanks and river wildlife.”

   There’s a guided youth trip that “leaves civilization behind” for three hours paddling along a gentle section of the river and watching for great blue herons, ospreys, mallard ducks, turtles and white-tailed deer.

   There is also a self-guided, two-hour excursion for youth groups paddling on calm waters.

   As well, beginners can sign up for a half-day session to learn how to paddle and then spend time at Bingemans’ Big Splash waterpark.

   Also offered are two-hour corporate adventures and a “Paddle & Play Corporate Experience” that includes time on the river, a catered meal at Bingemans’ Boston Pizza and other attractions from paintball to mini-golf.

   Back at Bingemans, there’s a heated wave pool, Spray ‘n’ Play, for kids with waterslides and the waterpark.

   FunworX is year-round with a three-level indoor playground for children with an arcade and ropes course.

   The camping resort has 480 sites for tents, trailers and RVs, seasonal camping and log and container cabins.

   Along with Boston Pizza, there are 28 lanes of 10-pin bowling, billiards, ping pong, outdoor beach volleyball, food trucks and banquet and catering facilities. Details at bingemans.com

   Just add water

   View the canoes that the late Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau and singer-songwriter Gordon Lightfoot, 80, paddled.

   They’re at the Canadian Canoe Museum (910 Monaghan Rd.) in Peterborough.

   It houses a collection of 600 iconic canoes, kayaks, paddled watercraft and related artifacts.

   The museum is currently raising $65 million to build a new facility beside the Peterborough Lift Lock and the Trent-Severn Waterway.

The Canadian Canoe Museum has a collection of 600 iconic canoes, kayaks and paddled watercraft.

    It’s been called a “cultural asset of national significance” by Canada’s Senate and holds events and programs throughout the year. canoemuseum.ca; 1-866-342-2663

   - National Canoe Day on June 23 will be marked at the Muskoka Discovery Centre (275 Steamship Bay Rd.) in Gravenhurst.

   Starting at 9 a.m., there will be a “celebration of the history of the canoe and its importance in the settling of the town of Gravenhurst.”

   The centre highlights the history of steamships, wooden boats, resort hotels and aboriginal and early settlers. realmuskoka.com

   - National Paddling Week, June 8 to 16, will “encourage as many Canadians to get into a canoe, kayak or onto a board to be counted.” paddleweek.ca

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Jim Fox can be reached at onetanktrips@hotmail.com

For more One-Tank Trips: http://1tanktrips.blogspot.ca