Day Away Bus Trip: Castles Close to Home

May 27, 2010

The WCMA’s Day Away trip for 2010 begins with a delightful countryside drive through beautiful Waterloo Region and Perth County highlighted by unique country castles and a delicious lunch. Both sites we are visiting are known locally as “Castles”; each tells and interesting story of their place and time and both display unique historic collections.

The morning starts with a scenic drive to the St. Marys Museum in St. Marys, Ontario. This valued community Museum is located in a lovely old home situated on a hilltop, within a park. Constructed of locally quarried limestone in 1854, it was by far the largest home on the small village of log shanties. Almost immediately it became known as the Castle in the Bush. It has been the home of the St. Marys Museum since 1959. In 2007 the Museum completed capital upgrades to add accessible space for public use and to improve the care of the collection.

Lunch follows at the popular and charming Woolfy’s restaurant just outside St.Marys. The meal features pasta with grilled chicken, local asparagus, cherry tomatoes basil pesto sauce served with homemade foccacia bread. Dessert will be Pavlova with fresh fruit sauce and cream, tea and coffee. Vegetarian arrangements can be made.

The afternoon continues on to Baden to visit Castle Kilbride , a National Historic Site. Built by the “flax king”, James Livingstone in 1877, this Italianate style mansion was home to the Livingstone family for three generations. The Castle today is the most important historic building in Wilmot Township. The site offers a new and unique experience for visitors of all ages. The Castle has been restored and refurnished in Victorian splendour with scrupulous attention to detail.

Cost for the trip:
$52.00 for museum members
$56.00 (for future museum members!)

The charter air-conditioned coach this year is again through Red Car Transportation Services and will include a Guelph pick-up (as necessary) at 8:00 am from the Wal-Mart parking lot, followed by an 8:30 am departure from the Museum. Space is limited; please reserve early to ensure a seat!