Located about 30 minutes west of Collingwood, Meaford is a delightfully surprising, hidden treasure. The “new” municipality of Meaford is an amalgamation of the former Town of Meaford and the surrounding townships. The rolling hills in the rural countryside remind me of a classic English countryside with their rocky crags and pastoral farmlands and, as the area produces close to one-quarter of Ontario 's total apple harvest, the orchards provide breathtaking beauty in the spring and a plentiful bounty each fall. The urban part of Meaford features quaint neighbourhoods and an authentic “Olde Ontario ” downtown. Meaford offers more public access to the waterfront than most other towns in the area and has a fantastic harbour which is a must to see. Meaford won an award as the " Prettiest Town in Canada " in its class as a part of the National Communities in Bloom Competition. Every October, the town celebrates the apple harvest with the Scarecrow Invasion & Family Festival when thousands of scarecrows line the downtown and residential streets. Meaford boasts wonderful parks, lookouts and conservation areas with miles of hiking and cycling trails. The Bogner Marsh is an easily accessible natural wetland habitat for a variety of upland birds and animals and is a magnet for environmentalists, birders and those who love to be close to nature.

In Meaford, the pace is slower and the days seem longer. Life is simpler here.

Population: 10,400

Official web site: www.meaford.ca