Imagine a place where you can look into the future through the cutting edge of technology and step back in time to watch a horse-drawn buggy drive by. A place that is home to vibrant urban cores, fabulous festivals, a true farm-to-table food scene, and wide-open spaces where you can cycle or walk for miles or relax and get away from it all. It’s all here to explore as new-age meets old-world in Waterloo Region!
With a population of over half a million, Waterloo Region is situated on the Halidmand Tract – lands promised to Indigenous peoples including the Haudenosaunee, Anishnaabe and Neutral People who settled these lands and continue to live here. The Region is also home to many settler populations whose unique histories are also reflected in the art, foods, businesses and festivals you’ll find here.
No visit to the Region would be complete without experiencing the St. Jacobs Farmers’ Market — the largest year-round market in Canada. Just a short three kilometers from the Market you’ll find the Village of St. Jacobs with its unique sights, sounds, tastes, and one-ofa- kind shopping, all surrounded by incredible natural bounty.
One of Canada’s oldest covered bridges is located in Waterloo Region. The West Montrose Covered Bridge – also known as the ‘Kissing Bridge’ – spans more than 200 feet across the Grand River. This historic bridge is still used by pedestrians, horse and buggy traffic as well as small vehicles, and has proved itself to be an Instagram-worthy destination.
Pamper yourself with a visit to Langdon Hall Country House and Spa in Cambridge. This Relais & Chateaux designated property invites you to escape into a world of gracious hospitality, Five-Diamond cuisine and expert spa treatments.
Waterloo Region is an outdoor enthusiast’s paradise! Winding its way through the Region is the Grand River – one of the most scenic and significant rivers in Ontario. Explore the Region from an entirely different perspective as you canoe, kayak or even tube along the Grand’s winding waterways.
Cyclists will love the many trails that connect our towns, cities and rural areas – not to mention the certified Bicycle Friendly businesses they’ll discover along the way. Mountain bikers can take a spin on The Hydrocut Trails – one of the top MTB destinations in Ontario! Join the party in Waterloo Region at our amazing array of year-round festivals and events!
Summer sizzles with the music of the Uptown Waterloo Jazz Festival and the Kitchener Blues Festival. The KW Multicultural Festival is the biggest festival of its kind in Canada, celebrating all the diversity you’ll find here. And every fall the Region is home to the largest Bavarian Festival outside of Germany, as thousands of ‘festers’ raise a stein and join in the celebrations at Kitchener- Waterloo Oktoberfest.
Whatever you’re in the mood to explore, you’ll find exactly what you’re looking for in Waterloo Region!
