Nestled between the urban hub of Toronto to its West and Kawartha Lakes Cottage Country to its East, Peterborough is a destination that combines urban development with several green areas and parks found along the Otonabee River.
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Whether exploring the city’s charming downtown district, its expansive urban parks, or one of the many Ontario small towns found throughout its countryside, Electric City promises plenty of adventure through the region’s cultural and historical attractions and picturesque scenery.
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Perfect for a weekend getaway or even just a day trip, these are the 13 top attractions and things to do in Peterborough, Ontario.
A Quick Look At The 13 Best Things to Do In Peterborough
- Explore The Shops In Downtown Peterborough
- Visit A Peterborough Museum
- Have A Picnic In Millennium Park
- Go For A Hike Along The Otonabee River
- Visit The Peterborough Lift Lock
- Attend A Festival At Del Crary Park
- Explore The World Of Reptiles At The Indian River Reptile Zoo
- Go Camping At Beavermead Park
- Travel In Time At The Lang Pioneer Village
- Take Scenic Walks Along The Trans Canada Trail
- Find A Natural Escape In Jackson Park
- Explore Exotic Wildlife At Riverview Park & Zoo
- Enjoy A Beach Day At Rogers Cove
The 13 Top Things To Do In Peterborough (Ontario)
1. Explore The Shops In Downtown Peterborough
Teeming with boutique storefronts and quaint diner restaurants, downtown Peterborough is a great destination for a weekend shopping trip. Start your day off with a delicious morning breakfast at Speak Easy Cafe, then head over to Water Street’s boutique shopping strip between Hunter and Simcoe.
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To cap off your shopping trip, be sure to stop by one of downtown Peterborough’s eclectic restaurants, where you can enjoy great food ranging from Greek at The Favourite Greek to Spanish cuisine at Fresh Dreams.
2. Visit A Peterborough Museum
From Canadian history museums to local galleries, Peterborough is home to several institutions celebrating Canadian culture and heritage. Be sure to stop by these museums for an adventure through local art and traditions.
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- Art Gallery of Peterborough: Set on the shores of Little Lake, this non-profit art gallery celebrates local artists, highlighting their works within its exhibition spaces. The Art Gallery of Peterborough offers free admission.
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- Canadian Canoe Museum: Boasting the planet’s largest collection of canoes, kayaks, and paddle watercraft, the Canadian Canoe Museum is famous worldwide and is a must-visit for tourists and locals looking to explore North America’s outdoor navigation history.
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- Whetung Ojibwa Centre: Exploring the indigenous culture of the local area, the Whetung Ojibwa Centre features an arts and crafts gallery complete with authentic cultural works and even offers classes for learning traditional artistic practices.
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- Peterborough Museums and Archives: For a more insightful look into the development of the modern city, travellers should plan a visit to the Peterborough Museum and Archives. Here, you can explore the community’s historic founders and the vibrant history of the town’s evolution.
3. Have A Picnic In Millennium Park
Set on the banks of the Otonabee River, Millennium Park was built in 2000 to commemorate the turn of the millennium. Since then, it has been a popular spot to take a stroll along the waterfront.Â
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The path connects to the Trans Canada Trail and features sculptures, benches, extensive flower gardens, and even a butterfly garden.
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While the park is a great spot to enjoy a family picnic admiring the scenic waterfront views, visitors can also grab a coffee or snack from the Silver Bean Cafe, which operates out of the property’s boathouse.
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Whether visiting for a family outing or a simple stroll along the water, Millennium Park is a great way to get out and enjoy the fresh summer air.
4. Go For A Hike Along The Otonabee River
Speaking of the Otonabee River, if you follow the water upriver to the north, you will come to the Trent University Wildlife Reserve. Protecting 1400 acres of scenic land along the river banks, this reserve promises a natural escape to the city along its 40 km of breathtaking walking trails.
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With several routes of varying lengths, this preserved region promises a fantastic adventure for hikers of all experience and fitness levels while promising ample opportunities for meditation, wildlife spotting, and bird-watching.
5. Visit The Peterborough Lift Lock
Built in 1904, the Peterborough Lift Lock is the largest hydraulic lift lock in the world and is the city’s most famous landmark today. Designated as a National Historic Site of Canada, the lift lock is designed to lift boats passing along the Trent Severn Waterway 20 metres into the air so that they can continue along the river on the other side.
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The lift lock can be visited throughout the year. During the summer months, there are channel cruises that pass through the lift, along with specially designated canoe days providing social lifts. In the winter, the canal at the base of the lift freezes over, providing one of the best skating trails in the province.
6. Attend A Festival At Del Crary Park
The city of Peterborough is known to throw some of Ontario’s best annual festivals, ranging from the famous Peterborough Folk Festival to the ReFrame Film Festival. Perhaps its most famous celebration is its Peterborough Musicfest.
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Held every Wednesday and Saturday for eight weeks in the spring, the music fest is Canada’s longest-running free concert series and has been an annual celebration in the city since 1987.
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Enjoy live music and a friendly atmosphere at Del Crary Park.
7. Explore The World Of Reptiles At The Indian River Reptile Zoo
Located just outside of Peterborough, the Indian River Reptile Zoo and Dinosaur Park are the perfect activities for families visiting the city. Open every weekend from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm, the park’s Reptile and Dinosaur Walking Trail explores the evolution of the reptilian world, starting with the dinosaurs that roamed the planet 60 million years ago.
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First opened in 1998, the not-for-profit park has grown to include over 100 animatronic dinosaurs and hundreds of their live descendant reptiles, including crocodiles, alligators, snakes, turtles, and lizards.
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Other attractions at the park include an 18-hole minigolf course, a boneyard, and a picnic area, offering plenty of fun at Canada’s only dinosaur park and reptile sanctuary.
8. Go Camping At Beavermead Park
Operated by the Otonabee Conservation Group, Beavermead Park offers beautiful outdoor adventures and camping on the eastern banks of Little Lake. The park features 18 unserviced campsites and 77 serviced campsites, each equipped with a fire pit and picnic table.Â
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The campgrounds also feature a Comfort Station complete with showers, bathrooms and a sanitary dump station, guaranteeing a comfortable retreat to the city’s natural countryside.
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What’s even better is that the park is located just a short 5-minute drive or 30-minute walk from Peterborough’s downtown core, making it an excellent spot for hobby astronomers or visitors looking for stunning natural beauty.
9. Travel In Time At The Lang Pioneer Village Museum
Featuring over 30 homes and businesses, Lang Pioneer Village transports visitors through time to a historical 19th-century village setting complete with costumed interpreters and authentic relics.
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Operating out of a 25-acre property between two historic mills – the Lang Grist Mill and Hope Saw Mill – the Lang Pioneer Village promises a guided tour through the first hundred years of Canada’s confederation.
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Meanwhile, the historical Aabnaabin Camp tells an even older tale of the indigenous stories of the Curve Lake and Hiawatha First Nations that called the land home long before European settlement.
10. Take Scenic Walks Along The Trans Canada Trail
Another great trail for hiking along the Otonabee River, the Trans Canada Trail, extends across the country and is a must-trek when visiting Peterborough, even if it is just the small portion that extends through the city.
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You can pick up the trail from several spots along the river. However, one of the most scenic stretches of the path starts from the train bridge and follows the river for a loop, crossing over the Hunter Street Bridge. This brisk walk is about 2 kilometres in length and takes about half an hour to complete.
11. Find A Natural Escape In Jackson Park
A natural oasis within Peterborough’s urban development, Jackson Park promises a soothing escape to the countryside, complete with picturesque trees, a meandering creek, and expansive green spaces for enjoying a summer walk or family picnic.
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Visitors can follow the walking trails to the park’s eastern reaches, which offer scenic vistas of open grassy areas, a pond, and the beautiful pagoda Bridge. Meanwhile, visiting families can head over to the northern area, which features a playground, picnic area, and family-friendly amenities.
12. Explore Exotic Wildlife At Riverview Park & Zoo
First opened in 1933, the Riverview Park and Zoo is one of the best and oldest small zoos in Ontario and promises a fun day with the family exploring exotic wildlife and animal species.
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The zoo is home to over 150 animals representing more than 40 different species of reptiles, mammals, and birds. It is a great place for exploring Canadian wildlife, such as otters and turkeys, as well as international species, including camels and wallabies.
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What’s even better is that the zoo is completely free to visit, making it one of the best free things to do in Peterborough.
13. Enjoy A Beach Day At Rogers Cove
There is no need to travel all the way to Lake Ontario to enjoy a fun beach day. Located just outside of the city on the northern shores of Little Lake, Rogers Cove is a family-friendly sandy beach with picnic tables, garbage cans, benches, and bathroom facilities.
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So pack up your beach gear and bathing suit and follow the Trans Canada Trail to this hidden gem. You can also stay nearby at Beavermead Park.
