For nearly 60 years the French River Trading post has been a key stop for travelers along Highway 69. Located 45 mins south of Sudbury and just over 3hrs north of Toronto, the aptly named “French River” Trading Post is located in the municipality of French River, Ontario. Once a small motel and souvenir shop, it has now flourished into a one-stop Ontario hospitality business.
What they Offer:
- Souvenir Shop featuring quality Canadian made products, and local First Nations crafts
- Specialty Fudge and Ice Cream
- Hourly visits with the Hungry Bear and the Blueberry Hound (mascots)
- Beautiful Scenery
- Ease of access (directly on highway 69)
Our Experience:
My first step when looking into a new destination or attraction is to look at the companies website. I was somewhat disappointed with French River Trading Post’s site as it had not been updated in a while, and needed some tlc. However, I was happy to find this coloring sheet in the ‘Kids Corner’ that was good for one free kid’s ice cream cone upon completion.
When we first arrived, our first stop was the souvenir shop which conveniently houses the famous fudge factory. We were greeted warmly and surprised at all the eclectic and quality products available. From furs to artwork the walls were lined with items sure to make any Canadian feel warm and fuzzy inside.
Located in the middle of the shop is the Fudge Factory. The employees were very courteous, and the selection of fudge was extensive! They also offered us a taste test, to help us decided which flavor we were going to purchase. It came wrapped in a simple yet aesthetically pleasing package, after it’s weighed, and was every bit as delicious as we had hoped!
We headed outside to have our treat and wait for the hourly appearance of the Hungry Bear and the Blueberry Hound. It was a little disappointing that only the Hungry Bear was there but the mascot was very friendly, and interacted perfectly with all the children who were present.
The scenery on the grounds was beautiful, very clean, and accented well. It had a very authentic feel and showed the owners and staff members’ pride in their business.
Our last stop before heading home was the restaurant. It was clean, bright, and perfectly decorated. We didn’t order any food, but did grab the kids’ free ice cream cones. Next time we will definitely be staying for a meal!
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