Come and Experience all things MAPLE on the sweetest route in Ontario's Lake Country and Springwater. We invite you to join our media tour to discover, taste, see, smell and shop the TAP INTO MAPLE route!

This is the second year for Ontario's Lake Country and Springwater to join together to celebrate all things maple! Tap into Maple was developed to entice visitors to the region for a self-guided tour of the most popular eateries, resorts, events, sugar bushes, museums and shops. Every destination along the route - all 29 of them - has something to do with maple, the quintessential Canadian flavour.

Ontario's Lake Country is surrounded by lakes and waterways that draw many visitors during the warm summer months and ski hills and trails that drive the winter traffic. One of our goals was to increase visitation to the region in the spring and showcase that we truly are a four season destination. Tap into Maple was created to do just that and we want to share it with you and your readers.

As an invited member of the media, we would like you to join us for a one day tour showcasing some of the stops along the Tap Into Maple route. This experience is being offered on Tuesday, March 10, 2015. Come and join us, to discover all things maple.

You will be provided with your own Tap into Maple passport and multiple samples of what is offered along the route. This is a tentative itinerary which includes a breakfast and the overview of the production of maple syrup at Shaw's Maple Syrup, our historic downtown Orillia, including an iconic bakery - Mariposa Market, Apple Annie's store delicious maple fudge, The Orillia Museum of Art & History, and an appealing lunch is planned with a taste of maple syrup. Then a stop at a farm fresh market - Hewitt's Farm Market, another producer along the route, and a visit to the quaint village of Coldwater including a giftware shop - The Christmas Villager. Hope you saved room for some dessert, a sampling of maple buttercream chocolates from Chelsea Chocolates and some maple granola from Nicholyn Farms.  One more sugar shack stop at Lalondes Sugar Bush and a final stop and return to the Simcoe County Museum.

Transportation will be provided for media leaving from the Simcoe County Museum in Midhurst in the morning and will return at the end of the day. Bring your camera to snap some photos of the various Maple offerings, and take home some memories of your day, filled with various items all related to Maple to share this sweet route with your readers.

Spaces are limited.  To reserve your spot for this Maple filled day, please contact Jennifer Whitley by Thursday, February 26 at 4pm. A full schedule of all stops and activities will be provided to those that register. Please advise if there are any food allergies.

Tap Into Maple can be experienced in many ways. You can savour maple through food at various restaurants, you can delve into the history of maple syrup production at one of the region's museums, you can stay at a local hotel or resort offering maple-infused packages or you can attend one of many events that will offer a unique maple flavour. The route can be enjoyed by all, including families and couples, and there are packages and stops to suit all.

The Tap Into Maple passport provides information on maple-themed events and the 29 destinations on the Tap into Maple route. Visitors bring the passport along or can pick up at any of the participating locations to get special discounts and free treats - and get a stamp at each stop. When they have at least three stamps, they can submit their passport for a chance to win one of three prize packages. The grand prize includes an overnight stay at Forks in The Trail B&B and a small basket filled with local maple products, the second and third prizes are baskets of goodies from local businesses participating and include local maple products.

We hope you can join us and Experience the Tap Into Maple route. For more information on the tour and for transportation options from Toronto, visit www.TapIntoMaple.com and www.OntariosLakeCounty.com. 

JENNIFER WHITLEY
Marketing Manager
Ontario's Lake Country
22 Peter St S Orillia, ON L3V6H2
705-325-9321
jennifer@ontarioslakecountry.com