Central Frontenac Launches Visitors Guide

Aug 21, 2024

Thumbs-up! That’s the reaction from early users of a new digital visitor guide. The guide, developed by the volunteers of the Central Frontenac Economic Development Committee, was launched in July as a prototype, and it’s already helping visitors create a Central Frontenac experience their way. Designed for day-trippers, short-stay travellers, campers and cottagers, the guide features local businesses, services and attractions. It’s just the kind of information that helps answer the question, what is there to do around here?

If you live around Sharbot Lake, it’s no secret that the village and its charms are practically invisible to the average traveller. You could easily drive by on Highway 7 and miss it altogether. Same with many of the other gems in Central Frontenac, whether you’re looking for a friendly place to have a coffee, somewhere to rent a canoe, or an artisan shop with unique and distinctive wares.

If it’s not that obvious where to find things, out-of-towners are apt to head on down the road and spend their tourist dollars somewhere else. The challenge is, how to encourage visitors explore the area and stay awhile?

The Central Frontenac Visitors Guide was designed to do just that. It features categories like Restaurants, Outdoor Activities, and Festivals & Events. Users can select the categories they’re interested in and create their own itinerary.

How useful could it be? Well over 100,000 people are drawn to Central Frontenac each year to experience our beautiful provincial parks and trails. If even a fraction of them used the guide to find other activities to enjoy nearby, what a boost to the local economy that could be.

To try out the guide, go to https://guide.touchstay.com/guest/bKaPBOH7Am37E/. You can easily bookmark the guide to use later, even when you’re offline – a great feature for when internet access is spotty or absent.

The guide is a brand-new take on promoting the Township, but for now, it’s a work in progress. To reach its full potential, it will need additional listings from throughout in the township, inviting local images, and lots of promotion. Is there a business, service or activity that needs to be shared? Then please contact the Central Frontenac Economic Development Committee. Its members are keen to receive submissions, build out the guide, and help visitors create an “only-in-Frontenac” experience. Please send an email, with “Visitors Guide” in the subject line, to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

When next year’s tourist season arrives, we’ll be ready.

Submitted by the Central Frontenac Economic Development Committee.