St Jacobs Ontario – Unique Day Trip From Toronto

Disclosure: Advertising and affiliate services, including Amazon Associates, help the cost of running my blog. Clicking ads or making purchases through affiliate links may, at no additional cost to you, earn me a small commission. I appreciate your support.

Visiting family in Ontario means being able to explore some new places. But it also means I can go back to places I know I really like. St Jacobs Ontario is one of those places. Last time we were in Ontario we took ourselves on a bit of a detour on the way to Niagara Falls to the charming town of St Jacobs. I was so enamored by the place that when we returned to Ontario I found a way to work it into our itinerary.

St Jacobs might have become a little touristy, but there’s good reason for that. You see this lovely small township, with all the shops and services flanking the one main road into and out of the town, is unique. Unique because it is a town in the largest Mennonite region in Canada.

Who are the Mennonites?

Mennonites may be easily confused and interchangeably referred to as Amish. While both communities are traditional Christian groups who often reject modern technologies, there are variances between them. In fact within the Mennonite community there are different orders and different levels of traditions and conservatism.

It’s safe to say though that Amish or Mennonite, the people of these communities lead a more traditional way of life. And yes, you’re more than likely to see a few horse and buggies around the town as the Old Order Mennonites do not drive cars.

Where is St Jacobs Ontario

St Jacobs is in the Waterloo region of Ontario and is about an hour and a half West of Toronto. The drive is mostly along the 401 Highway and is rather boring, like getting to many places around Toronto. But once you turn off you start to pass through some of the local countryside as you get closer to St Jacobs.

Unfortunately given the location, public transport is not really a viable option. It will take hours and multiple changes to get there, so not really worth it. You really do need a car to visit, but rental cars can be a cheap and easy option.

Parking In St Jacobs

This is the good news. There is plenty of FREE parking in St Jacobs. Along King Street you might be able to find some parking spots if you arrive earlier in the day. Most don’t have restrictions or at least allow long enough for the time you might want to spend there. But if that’s full, don’t worry. Head East on Albert Street E and you’ll find a big lot with free public parking.

There’s even room for horse and buggy parking along the way. This particular parking lot is right next to the river (see below for more ideas here).

Top Things To Do In St Jacobs Ontario

While the town of St Jacobs is rather small, there are a decent number of things to do. One of my favorite things about St Jacobs is just the quaint and historic looking buildings along the main street, King Street.

We have some places like this in BC where I live, the closest to the feel of St Jacobs is probably Steveston, a fishing village in Richmond. The traffic moves slowly and visitors idly wander up and down King Street perusing shop windows and looking for some good food. It’s like being transported back a hundred years.

Mennonite Story

If you really want to know more about the Mennonites, as most people who visit St Jacobs Ontario do, then why not visit the FREE museum in town. The Mennonite Story is more exhibit than museum but is a wonderful introduction to the history and way of life of the St Jacobs community.

Brewery

What small town isn’t enhanced by having its own brewery? St Jacobs is no exception. Block Three Brewing Company has some delicious beers on tap. I really enjoyed the Fickle Mistress Kettle Sour which was perfect for a summer patio drink. The beer is served at some local restaurants and even has a Biergarten in the town where you can order food too.

Traditional Shopping

Walking down King Street in St Jacobs is a risky play. You’ll get to the end of the street with way less money than you started with. That’s because there are so many amazing shops selling lots of local crafts, food items and clothing. We zig-zagged over the main street from shop to shop sampling yummy local delicacies and browsing handicraft stores.

If you love condiments there’s a shop called Taste The 4th Sense with some delicious mustard, hot sauces and balsamic vinegar. A little further down the street is Hamel Brooms, a traditional home goods stores. They have a selection of well made brooms, hooks and other adornments for the home, and even some antiques for sale.

Maple Syrup Museum

It wouldn’t be small town Canada without some homage to the gloriously sweet amber liquid for which it is most well known. No, not beer. I’m talking about maple syrup.

St Jacobs is home to a small maple syrup museum. If you ever wanted to know how this Canadian staple is made then this is the museum for you. And if you’re really a maple syrup nut, time your visit with the annual maple syrup festival in nearby township Elmira.

Pottery

If you want to keep finding locally made products, the end of King Street just before the bridge over the Conestogo river is an old mill. One of the shops housed there is a pottery shop with some beautiful work for sale. You can even see them making some of the pottery in the shop.

Why not buy a number of intricately decorated unique items to take home such as pots for jam, butter or honey, serving plates and dishes, or cups. Although some of the items are a little pricey you can tell they are handmade and worth the extra money. There are also often some sale items or seconds for a cheaper price.

Horse and Carriage Ride

We already covered that the Mennonites travel around predominantly by horse and buggy. So it’s no surprise that there is the option to take a ride yourself while you’re in St Jacobs. There are tours that will take you to a working farm in the area to see how different local products are made and you can get a feel for the farming lifestyle that is so prevalent in the Waterloo region of Ontario.

Antique Hunting

The first time we visited the St Jacobs market we discovered an antique stall on the upper level of one of the warehouse like market buildings. Here was where my vintage camera collection began. Since then we’ve added to it at a number of antique markets we’ve visited.

But it’s not just at the market that St Jacobs has some great antiques. Stop by some of the local shops in the village itself including the broom store and see what eclectic finds you can pick up.

Home Hardware

If you’re Canadian you no doubt have been to a Home Hardware shop at least once in your life. These small hardware stores can be found in most cities and even smaller towns. But did you know that it started right here in St Jacobs Ontario?

Our first visit here we saw so many Home Hardware stores and signs that we were sure the town was sponsored by the company. Turns out the company was founded in the town of St Jacobs. It’s interesting to see where such a nationally recognized brand first began.

Walk by the river

St Jacobs has a nice riverside area. Walk down to the water, check out the views and look out for local wildlife and birds. If it’s a nice day I recommend going into the town to get some snacks and make your own little picnic. Then head back to the river area and set up on the grass. There are a couple of lovely river walks to enjoy on a sunny day.

Market

The ultimate pull of visitors to St Jacobs is to the market. The market itself is outside of the main town by about 3km. Surrounded by fields, and with easy highway access, this market complex has grown into a huge affair. There are multiple buildings that house dozens of vendors with permanent stalls or outdoor spots on market days.

The market is open year round but only on select days (typically Thursday and Saturday, with days added in the summer). There are local vendors including Mennonite made products such as the widest array of jam flavors you’ve ever seen. I leave with no less than half a dozen jars of jam each time I go.

Where to eat in St Jacobs Ontario

St Jacobs has a number of amazing places to grab food. Casual dining, traditional cuisine and locally sourced items and bakeries to die for. Make sure to arrive in St Jacobs with an empty stomach.

There’s the Block Three Brewery Biergarten which has a revolving menu. When we were looking at visiting there was a Mexican inspired menu but the day we arrived they changed it to more of a Japanese themed menu. The Jacob’s Grill and Stone Crock restaurant with reasonably priced and delicious fare. Serving comfort food and light lunches, in the summer there’s an outdoor tent area you can sit outside in.

Next to Jacob’s Grill is the Stone Crock Bakery. Even if you’re full from lunch make sure to stop by here for some pastries or fresh bread to take home. They had so many things I wanted to get but I settled on a couple of items that were really good.

Bakeries not your thing? Try the Ice Cream Salon a block further away at Cedar Street. If you’re in a rush and just want some snack items (or some great things for a picnic) head to the market first. There you can get some takeaway food like sandwiches, local deli meats and cheeses, or any number of international cuisines. And jam. Don’t forget the jam!

St Jacobs for a day trip or more

St Jacobs really is a lovely place to visit for a day, or even an afternoon. But if you have time I recommend staying longer if you want to get away from the big city of Toronto. The charm of a traditional small town with great home-cooked food and an idyllic rural setting is perfect for a weekend away.

Don’t make the mistake of thinking St Jacobs is only about the market. It’s a must see place on your visit, but there’s so much more if you make sure to keep going to the town itself. I’m glad I had more time to explore on this visit and already can’t wait to go back.

If you’ve enjoyed this post leave a comment or share using the social media buttons below. Have you been to St Jacobs Ontario ? Which other small towns like this have you visited on your travels?