The Bruce Adventure Passport is an annual scavenger hunt that people can participate in for free in order to try to win prizes. Every year there are new locations that may be in small towns, at businesses, along trails, or down some dirt roads. You may have to take a detour, take a hike but it will definitely require you to drive from place to place throughout Bruce County. Be prepared to spend time and gas money in order to complete each passport.

The adventure has gotten much easier through the years and we miss the first few years that required participants to do a bit more thinking. Now they give you a map and the GPS coordinates to each location. Needless to say we still often spend a few days each year, if we are camping up in the area, going to each place. We have found some great spots through the years for hikes, picnics and even shopping.

Below are some of the stops in the 2011 Bruce Adventure scavenger hunt.

One of the spots highlighted a wildlife area that gives people canoe access to the Rankin River.

Sometimes there are signs the give you an additional step to find the box or even detours.

The next clue sent us down this beautiful gravel road, through some amazing rural areas of the county.

It led us to this old church fascade and the clue sent us on a small walk.

Not too far along we found the box on the side of a tree among all the dandelions. Inside the box is a unique punch specific to the stop. The box also contains the cards in case you need another one.

After leaving the church we ended up in a small town we probably would have never taken the time to stop in. The stop was in a small park with a beautifully manicured flower garden.

We then headed up Highway 6 all the way to Tobermory and the Big Tub Lighthouse right on the tip. It was a beautiful day to have a picnic on the rocky shores over looking the bay.

Another one of the clues took us to Wiarton and the Bluewater Park that we had often visited to picnic at and to let Maya go for a dip.

The next stop was a wonderful discovery that would take us back to the stop again in the future. Hoity Toity Cellars, just outside of Mildmay, was a lovely stop to pet the family dog, play with sheep and do a taste test. Great wine and ciders!

Some of these stops end up at tasty locations. We’ve found family markets with fresh organic food, out of the way ice cream shops, wine and more.

Another great find on the Bruce Adventure trip was this nature trail that lead through a beautifully shaded woods and featured some wonderful spring flowers. We found a variety of violets, trillium, orchids and mushrooms along the way.

So, if you’re looking for a driving trip to some locations in the Bruce county, consider picking up the Bruce Adventure pass. It starts in the spring and ends in the fall, giving participants lots of time to complete at least the minimum number of stops to enter. Send in your punch card early enough and you might even get a free t-shirt!

For more details or to find out where to pick up this year’s pass, go to their website!