St. Marys (Ontario) Travel Guide — Things to Do, Food & Hotels
town in Ontario, Canada
About St. Marys (Ontario)
The first settlers arrived at the junction of the Thames River and Trout Creek, southwest of Stratford in the early 1840s, attracted by the area's natural resources. At the new town site, the Thames River cascaded over a series of limestone ledges, providing the power to run the first pioneer mills and giving the community an early nickname: Little Falls. The arrival of the Grand Trunk Railway in the late 1850s increased the growth; the community became a centre for milling, grain-trading and the manufacture of agriculture-related products. In the riverbed and along the banks, limestone was close to the surface and could be quarried for building materials. Many 19th-century limestone structures survive: churches, commercial blocks, and private homes. They have given St. Marys its nickname:
Top Attractions in St. Marys (Ontario)
Explore the best things to see and do in St. Marys (Ontario):
- ★Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame
- ★Grand Trunk Trail
- ★Heritage buildings
- ★Opera House
- ★Public Library
- ★Riverview Walkway
- ★St. Marys Junction Railway Station
- ★St. Marys Museum
Where to Eat in St. Marys (Ontario)
Must-try local food and restaurants:
- 🍴Sunset Diner
Where to Stay in St. Marys (Ontario)
- 🏨Riverside Bed and Breakfast
- 🏨Westover Inn
St. Marys (Ontario) Travel Guide Sections
Our comprehensive guide covers 11 sections including: