York Region Cycle Tour: Butter Tart Ride (Newmarket, 17 km)

The Butter Tart Ride is perfect for a casual family-friendly bike ride through Newmarket. The route is only 17 kilometres long and winds through  Newmarket on quiet streets and pathways. 

• York Region Printable Map with Cue Sheet and Points of Interest
• MapMyRide
• Strava
• RidewithGPS

It begins and ends at the Newmarket Riverwalk Commons. Here, there is a Farmers’ Market every Saturday with food and free live entertainment. Just a block over, you can visit Main Street, a historic street with lots of coffee shops, ice cream stores, and eateries. This is an excellent place to refuel before your ride or grab something refreshing afterwards. Make sure to stop by Maid’s Cottage for homemade butter tart, the namesake of this ride.

Along the route, you’ll find lots of beautiful parks and lakes to stop and rest at.

This is a great ride for those looking for an easy ride through town. If you’re looking for a shorter route, just do the Nokiidaa trail on the West side of the route. You will still pass through scenic Fairy Lake Park and see the shops on Main Street.

Enjoy and always remember to use a bell on trails with pedestrians! 

Greenbelt Route launches Aug 16th: York Region highlights

Last week, I was fortunate to join 130 cyclists from cities across North America to participate in the Great Waterfront Trail Adventure - Greenbelt Edition.  The Greenbelt Route, a 475 km cycling route from Northumberland County to Niagara Region, has now launched.  I rode the two days through York Region and had a fantastic cycling adventure exploring the countryside and it's communities along the way.

"After three years of planning alongside the Waterfront Regeneration Trust and in collaboration with 27 partner communities, the official launch of the Route is a spectacular milestone. More than 1,100 signs are up, the Route is mapped, the website is live, and all in time for last week's inaugural six-day ride celebrating 10 years of Ontario's Greenbelt." 

http://www.greenbelt.ca/greenbelt_route_making_headlines_2015

• Learn more about what the Greenbelt Route in York Region
• Tales from York Region: Five things to do along Greenbelt Route
• Landmark sign erected along Greenbelt Route in King
• Tips for riding the Greenbelt Route

Here are a few highlights:

Whitchurch-Stouffville

• Right in the heart of Memorial Park is the Whitchurch-Stouffville Leisure Centre (a good rest stop)
• Stouffville Main Street offers many shopping opportunities as well as food stops like the Earl of Whitchurch Pub
• Galluci Winery is directly on the Greenbelt Route, on Ninth Line, as is Timber Creek Golf and Family Fun Centre
• The Route passes Musselman's Lake with a ice cream shop, Belgian Chocolates as well as Fishbones Restaurant, with a patio overlooking the lake.

Aurora

• As you cross Hwy 404 along St. John's Sideroad, look for the horses roaming the fields
• As you approach Industrial Parkway, the Nokiidaa Trail continues south past the Aurora Arboretum.  This is where the Greenbelt Route intersects with the future Lake to Lake Route.
• As you pass by the provincially significant McKenzie Marsh wetland on the Nokiidaa Trail boardwalk link, look for turtles, herons, and other wildlife.

Newmarket

• Take a detour north along the Tom Taylor Trail another 2km for the historic Main Street Newmarket with lots of shops and restarants such as Cachet or Hungry Brew Hops, or cool off in the fountains at Riverwalk Commons.
• Cross Yonge Street along Savage, and connect with the John F. Smith Trail to Mulock.

King

• Be prepared for some hills along 19th Sideroad between Bathurst and Keele.  You'll pass by Thornton Bales Conservation Area as well as the Koffler Scientific Reserve at Jokers Hill.

• I stopped for lunch at the Kettleby bakery.  A sleepy and picturesque little community with a great park at the end of the main street.  Holland Marsh is directly to the north.
• Round the Bend Farm is a short detour on Jane St, south of Lloydtown-Aurora Road.
• In Pottageville, I recommend a stop at Pathways to Perrenials, which is like an oasis.  The Blossom Cafe is open from 11am - 3pm and is staffed by a professional chef.

• Schomberg has a nice Main Street with some unique shops and restaurants.  Sheena's Kitchen, the Schomberg Pub, and the Grackle Coffee Company are among them.

A few more photos: http://www.waterfronttrail.org/pictures-from-2015-gwta-day-3

Cycling in the Greenbelt allows you the opportunity to enjoy its beauty and bounty:  Rolling hills, scenic landscapes, farm fresh food, and welcoming people.  Adventure awaits!

More York Region Bike Month highlights

Bike Month 2015 has come and gone, but I had some memorable cycling experiences.  Here are a few more photos from some events in York Region that I participated in.

York Region Pedalpalooza - Tom Taylor Trail in Newmarket

Myles from Spoke O Motion set up some bike demos.  A quality bike makes such a difference in your cycling experience.  I rode my first tandem and fat bike!

Tom from Bike Sports showed off some different types of bikes including an electric bike.  Going faster and further with some power assistance makes me want to use a bike for more trips.  Pat from Smart Commute was there with her new e-bike.

Vaughan Bicycle User Group hosted two rides.  The Napa Valley Bike Lane celebration went from Sonoma Park to McMichael Gallery in Kleinberg.

Hydro Corridor trail south of Sonoma Park

Odette checking the map on the William Granger Greenway

The other Vaughan BUG ride was a Peter Rupert Bike Lane Celebration.  Starting from Walmart at Major Mackenzie / McNaughton, we biked south on Peter Rupert/Confederation to Hwy 7 with a stop for refreshments at McDonald's, and back north on the Bartley Smith Greenway.

I participated in the Toronto Bike Network's Dim Sum Ride.  The ride was led by Fred (who I previously met at Bike to Work Day Newmarket), and had about 10 cyclists.  We started at Finch Subway Station and headed north to Markham for an authentic chinese cuisine near Pacific Mall.

Finch hydro corridor in Toronto

Locking our bikes before lunch

Bike Month York Region had many other events, like bike valets at festivals, charity rides, mountain bike races, and kids bike camps. 

I'm all geared up for more cycling through the summer!

Here's another video to get you inspired to ride your bike.

York Region Bike Month Highlights in Pictures

Bike Month is a celebration of cycling, with events through the month of June.  Here are a few highlights:

Bike lane celebration - Napa Valley community ride (June 4th)

Safe Cycling Campaign Kick-Off (May 14th)

 Bike Rodeo at Family Fun Day (May 23)

Bike to Work Day, Newmarket (May 25)

Grab your bike and explore your city on two wheels!

Check out the My York Region Cycling Stories series for inspiration.