Bowmanville Travel Guide

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' You can walk along the raised "Cat Walk" and wind your way through the tree trunks as they poke through the walkway.
Within this grove reside the various predator species living at Bowmanville Zoo. From the big cats through wild canines the wild wood provides a large natural landscape for the predators to live, learn and play.'

Here you can se Caesar, the lion from The Ghost and the Darkness, and Billy, the white bengal tiger from the TV series Animorphs.

The zoo now a trolley car that visitors can ride through the lion exhibit.

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The Bowmanville Zoo is Canada's Oldest Private Zoo, established in 1919.

Adults (19 and over) $17.26 $2.24 $19.50
Seniors (65 and over) $14.60 $1.90 $16.50
Youth (13 - 18) $14.60 $1.90 $16.50
Children (3 - 12) $11.95 $1.55 $13.50
Children under 3 are admitted FREE.

May 10:00 a.m. 5:00 p.m. Daily
Weekdays in June 10:00 a.m. 5:00 p.m.
Weekends in June 10:00 a.m. 6:00 p.m.
July 10:00 a.m. 6:00 p.m. Daily
August 10:00 a.m. 6:00 p.m. Daily
Weekdays in September 10:00 a.m. 4:00 p.m.
Weekends in September 10:00 a.m. 5:00 p.m.
October 10:00 a.m. 4:00 p.m. Weekends Only Until Thanks Giving

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One of Bowmanville's highlights is the Mosport International Speedway on Hwy 57. We go to the Lemans race every year that is usually held on Labour day weekend. It's a fun filled weekend of watching racing and mingling with the drivers in the paddocks. It is very often that you can actually stand next to the race cars and have a conversation with the crew and the driver.

There are some great places to park yourself for this weekend. Some people even bring scaffolding to get a better view. This is a campground as well so bring your tent or RV and spend the weekend.

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The Visual Arts Centre of Clarington is in Bowmanville. It houses art of all types of media inside and has some displays outside, as well. See my travelogue for more pics.
It is open Tueday-Sunday from 11 am until about 4-5 pm except Thursday, when it is open until 8pm. Sunday it is open from 1-4 pm.
The building it is housed in is an historic old millhouse. Outside are several scultures and other durable multi-media exhibits.
It is very interesting and worth a look-see.

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Espresso Legato is another coffee house my friend Bill and his wife, Jo-Anne frequent. It is also on King Street in Bowmanville, on the same side The Coffee Table is, and a couple of blocks away, also.
Espresso Legato is a very comfy, relaxed place. They offer the usual assortment of coffees, lattes and espressos. They also have a good assortment of teas for the tea drinking crowd, such as myself. Although I admit The Coffee Table has a better selection.
Espresso Legato has a nice assorment of cakes, pies and pastries. They also serve sandwiches and bagels.
They are a better value than Timmie's or the other chain places. It is a more cozy and homey atmosphere, than what the chains offer.
They also feature folk music on weekend evenings. Call number below for upcoming events.
This is a great place to hang and read the morning paper or decompress after work or a day on the road. I hope you will stop in and try it some time, it will be worth the trip!

Favorite Dish: I was impressed that they serve bagels with hummus, not very many places do that. It's usually cream cheese or butter. I urge you to try it, if you want a lower-fat, cholesterol-free alternative to dairy products on your bagel. Of course they have the cream cheese, but they offer the hummus as another choice.
I also have had cakes and cookies from here and they are very, very good! And a good price, too! You won't spend a fortune to have your cake and coffee!

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There are two coffee shops I've been to in Bowmanville, both are very nice and are slightly different, so it is worth going to both of them.
The Coffee Table is at one end of the block.
The owner, Rose Turner, was in when we visited last. I'm not a coffee drinker but Rosie had some Cream Earl Grey tea that was simply marvelous! I didn't take that home, but bought a box of Gunpowder Green Tea that is simply fabulous.
My friend, Bill, says he goes here because he can't make coffee at home that turns out as good as Rosie's. Way to go, Rose!

The Coffee Table offers the usual assortment of coffee, espressos, lattes, etc. They also have a very fine assortment of teas they offer by the cup to drink on the premises or to take home in packages.
What makes this shop different from other coffee houses is that they offer a wide varitey of chocolates and candies in addition to cakes and pies. These can be consumed on premises or taken home.
They also offer some sandwiches and Thursdays are Chili nights!
It is a very comfortable place, it is decorated more like a kitchen than a shop. There are various seating arrangements for groups or individuals. It definitely has more charm and coziness than Timmie's or the other chain places and is priced slightly less expensive than they are. So it is a better value. I'd much rather go here than Timmie's any day! If you try The Coffee Table, I'm sure you'll give the chain places up, too!
The Coffee Table is open every day but Sunday, right now.
They advertise a book store, but it is not very evident. Rose wants to have a little art gallery in the basement and show and sell a local artist's work, that is changed every month or so, but that hasn't gotten started yet, perhaps it will by the time you visit.

Favorite Dish: Thursday is Chili day!
I hear it's good, maybe next trip I'll try it.
The Tea and Coffees are great!
So are the chocolates!
Great place to kick back and relax, VERY relaxed atmosphere!