The Best Things to Do in North Bay, Ontario

Things to Do in North Bay: Downtown North Bay

Despite being a city of a little over 50,000 people, North Bay maintains a small town feel, especially with its adorable downtown core. There are brightly painted buildings, colourful murals, and historic shops lining its main street.

North Bay has such a cute atmosphere that it's often selected as the backdrop for Christmas and holiday movies. In fact, you can take an entire self-guided tour of holiday movie hot spots in town.

Whether you're scoping out scenes perfect for a Hallmark card or shopping until you drop, here are my favourite things to do in downtown North Bay.

Shopping in Downtown North Bay

There are quite a few lovely shops and boutiques in downtown North Bay. One of my very favourites is The FARM, Main Supply Refillery and Goods, and The Culture Club bakery and coffee shop.

I mention all three of these small businesses together because they exist in three separate spaces that are all attached by interconnected rooms. One space showcases fashion, art, stationary, jewelry and more.

Another room is a refillery with eco-friendly bath and body products, candles, tea, and handmade gifts. The Culture Club at the back of Main Supply Refillery is a small grocery store with locally made products, as well as a little coffee bar.

There's a "secret" entrance into The Culture Club from the back alleyway where you'll also discover some bright and vibrant street art.

October's Meta is another shop I really enjoyed. It's a magical place! They sell witchy products, tarot cards, crystals, incense, home decor, and loose leaf tea. You can also order tea (hot or iced) made by the cup.

There's a tree in the middle of the shop. The owner once experienced a time of homelessness, and even once slept under this tree when it was on an outdoor city street. When the tree was set to be chopped down by the city, they salvaged the tree to be preserved inside the shop.

There are some other shops in North Bay's downtown that you may enjoy, like Stix and Stones Yarn Boutique and Creative Learning Toys.

Street Art Tour

Explore North Bay's open air art gallery of murals and works of public art! There are quite a few works scattered throughout the downtown core and beyond.

I suggest wandering around, being careful to not miss those narrow alleyways and back alleys that might have some hidden works of art.

North Bay has a self-guided street art tour via Driftscape, though there are even more that aren't included on the map. Use it as a reference to start but continue to wander on your own to see even more colourful murals.

North Bay's Waterfront

North Bay is positioned on the edge of Lake Nipissing, the fifth largest lake in Ontario. Its average depth is only about 15 feet, so it's actually quite shallow, with plenty of white sand beaches.

You can't visit North Bay without going for a stroll down by the waterfront. It's one of the best things to do in North Bay. There are beautiful gardens and a lengthy paved pathway, perfect for walking or biking.

After you've fully experienced downtown North Bay, walk to the edge of the waterfront. Gaze out to the waves crashing on the shore and the deep blue waters that extend to the horizon.

Chief Commanda II Cruise

For a unique experience in North Bay, hop on board the Chief Commanda II to cruise around Lake Nipissing. It's a 320-passenger vessel with three decks offering indoor and outdoor spaces.

Relax indoors at the dining tables with large, panoramic windows or head outdoors on all three decks for a better view. In fact, the top deck is completely open with seating and standing room. This is where you'll catch the best glimpses of the surrounding scenery.

I took an afternoon Manitou Islands Scenic Cruise. We sailed around the five Manitou Islands, learning about the history of the islands (did you know that they're reportedly haunted?).

There's a fully licensed bar on board, as well as a BBQ lunch. I ordered a veggie burger and fries for lunch, which was really tasty.

Towards the end of the sailing, the captain invited the guests to try their hand at sailing the boat. It actually looks like a big pirate ship wheel and was quite fun to steer towards the shore.

I was originally booked for the Sunset Cruise with a 3-course dinner that was sadly cancelled due to high winds. I'd love to return to experience the sunset sailing. The sunsets in North Bay are quite brilliant and I'm sure they look simply stunning from aboard Chief Commanda II.

North Bay Museum

North Bay Museum is a waterfront attraction that demonstrates and preserves the past and present history of North Bay. It's located within the historic Canadian Pacific Railway station.

There are several rooms spanning two floors with insightful and interactive exhibits that are great for kids and adults alike.

Exhibits at the museum includes a permanent installation about the history of North Bay, and another permanent display on the second floor called "Main Street, North Bay".

The first floor exhibition dives deep into North Bay's history, including the Nipissing people, railway history, the lumber trade, fur trading, military history and more. The second floor has a small scale recreation of North Bay's downtown from the 1920s to 1940s.

North Bay Farmer's Market

North Bay Farmers Market is a celebration of locally grown produce and locally made products. It takes place on Wednesdays and Saturdays in the summer, and on Saturdays in the winter.

The outdoor farmers market happens within the parking lot outside of the North Bay Museum (100 Ferguson St) and it's located at 222 McIntyre St W in the winter.

There are dozens of market booths with fresh fruits and vegetables that are in-season, freshly baked bread, handmade creators, and even some live music, too. It's a fun community event to attend every week to shop and mingle.

Hiking in North Bay

There are no shortage of hiking trails in and around North Bay. There are waterfalls, conservation areas, and parks showcasing the heritage of Indigenous Peoples.

I'll highlight three places that I visited on my trip to North Bay, though there are even more beyond these ones to discover if you find yourself with more time.

Duchesnay Falls

Just a short drive from downtown North Bay lies a spectacular collection of hiking trails and one pretty incredible waterfall.

Duchesnay Falls is a majestic cascading waterfall where the gently flowing waters of Duchesnay Creek weave over the rugged rocks of the Canadian Shield.

There are trails that follow either side of the creek, so you can witness the waterfall from multiple angles. There's nothing like seeing Duchnesay Falls from multiple vantage points with your own eyes.

Laurier Woods Conservation Area

Can you believe there's a preserved natural space right in the heart of the city? Laurier Woods Conservation Area offers 250 acres and 10+ km of hiking trails within North Bay itself.

The trails meander through the forest around sizable wetlands that are home to a wide array of flora and fauna. Laurier Woods is a provincially significant wetland, as well as a prominent home for migrating birds.

On some occasions, the Friends of Laurier Woods host guided walks, usually on the first Saturday of each month for a couple of hours. These are free to attend and they're a great way to learn from community naturalists.

Miskwaadesi

Not quite a hike, but a peaceful park, be sure to take a stroll to the Miskwaadesi Amphitheatre on your trip to North Bay. This park is a joint effort between the North Bay Indigenous Friendship Centre and North Bay-Mattawa Conservation Authority.

Miskwaadesi is a place to sit quietly and soak up the nature all around you. The turtle at its focal point is a main component of Anishinabek creation stories.

It's fantastic to have an Indigenous space like this one within walking distance of the downtown core. This is a place of connection to the land and a serene space for everyone to enjoy.

Take a Photo with the North Bay Sign

When in North Bay, you need to get a commemorative photo to prove you were at the point labeled as the "Gateway of the North"!

The Gateway Arch was first constructed in 1928 and spanned Lakeshore Drive (then, Highway 11B) to welcome visitors to the city.

Nowadays, it sits within a local park at the edge of the parking lot, making it a safe place to snap a few pics. The name "Gateway to the North" cemented North Bay's geographical location as a connector between the north and sound, as well as east and west.

North Bay is officially known as the "Gateway City" for many decades, and this sign is an important symbol of that messaging and title.

Where to Eat and Drink in North Bay

Naturally, I wanted to find the best restaurants, coffee shops and breweries while in North Bay. As someone who follows a vegan diet, all of these establishments are vegan-friendly.

Gateway City Brewery

Gateway City Brewery is an award-winning craft brewery in North Bay. It's a fun spot to gather your friends, taste delicious beer, and even play some pinball machines. I love that they have beer flights. Sometimes there's life entertainment, bingo nights, and all you can play pinball.

Blendz Smoothie Shop

Blendz Smoothie Shop is a 100% vegan cafe featuring plant-based and dairy-free treats and drinks. They offer handcrafted meals made from scratch, including bowls, burritos, sushi and bagels. They have an extensive smoothie menu, too. I loved my Peach Perfect smoothie and peanut noodle bowl.

Marigold Flavours

Marigold Flavours is an Indian and Thai restaurant in the city, and I was also excited to see that they're participating in Taste the Bay. This is an exciting way to try special Prix Fixe menus at restaurants around the city. I tried the cauliflower appetizer, the vegan tikka masala, and a vegan carrot cheesecake as a set menu, which was so delightful.

Gd2Go

Gd2Go is North Bay's place to be for healthy fast food on the go. They offer fast and convenient ordering with a vast menu of healthy dishes and options for those with dietary restrictions, like vegan and gluten-free. Their coffee is delicious and they have a whole front counter display of vegan and gluten-free sweet treats.

My Thai Palace

My Thai Palace is an authentic Thai restaurant in North Bay. If you follow a vegan diet like I do, be sure to ask them for their separate vegan menu. My vegan pad Thai was full of flavour, and I loved the fried tofu appetizer to start. I'd love to return as the entire menu looked so good, it was hard to choose!

Twiggs Coffee Roasters

Twigg Coffee Roasters is a small chain of local coffee shops in North Bay, Sturgeon Falls and Sudbury. Their coffee is roasted daily in-house, and they also offer a menu of fresh baked goods and meals prepared from scratch.

Opera Bakery Cafe

Opera Bakery Cafe is a sweet little coffee shop and bakery on the main street of downtown North Bay. They're a mainstay in the community, established back in 2009. I ordered an iced Americano that hit the spot!

Where to Stay in North Bay

In North Bay, the best place to stay is The Finch Beach Resort. Located on the shores of Lake Nipissing, The Finch features four unique cottages on its own private beach.

These are two and three bedroom cottages, perfect for the whole family or groups of friends. I stayed at cottage #5, Gordon, a three bedroom cottage with retro vibes.

Gordon has its own private porch with a barbecue and seating area. Inside, there's a gas fireplace, record player, vintage-styled kitchen, bathroom with a bathtub/shower and locally produced bath products.

There's also a lakeside barrel sauna that everyone is welcome to enjoy. At the beach, feel free to borrow the kayaks or canoe with lifejackets or play some lawn games.

In the evenings, it's the best place to enjoy postcard-perfect sunsets. I really loved watching the kite surfers drift across the lake and even leap high into the air at times.

Looking for more places to stay? Use the handy map below. Enter your travel dates for more accurate information. Click each property to learn more and book your stay.