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A nice place to visit
Many Uxbridgians would agree this township is a nice place to visit. And it's our opinion it is becoming nicer all the time.
In the last few years, the town of Uxbridge has seen some fine restaurants opened: The Tin Mill, Frankie's Ristorante and the revamped Don on Main, to name some. The old 66 on Brock has become Harlow's, with an engaging ambiance and weekly entertainment.
The commercial section along Toronto Street South is booming, with new stores and plazas being constructed apace and more in the works.
An already hectic cultural scene also is becoming more crowded, as is borne out by last year's 100 Years of Anne celebration and the Trails in the Valley weekend a coupe of years ago. Both the Lucy Maud Montgomery Society and the people behind Trails are talking of making these semi-regular events.
The Music Hall already is solidly booked for weekend events well into the latter half of this year.
On top of that we have the annual Highlands of Durham Games, the Kids of Steel Triathlon, the Fall Fair, Steam Threshing Days and the list goes on.
The hockey and soccer organizations in town regularly bring in large numbers of people for weekend tournaments and new golf courses such as Wooden Sticks and Wyndance are attracting golfers from all over.
There's just one problem. There is nowhere for out-of-town visitors to these venues to stay once they arrive, except for a few bed-and-breakfast operations. Any visitors contemplating an extended stay - or even a two to three-day stay - now have to find accommodation in Port Perry, Markham or Newmarket. That's taking tourist dollars out of our town. But, more than that, it's taking visitors' focus away from Uxbridge.
There are rumblings that Uxbridge's downtown revitalization could include some kind of “boutique” hotel some years down the road. But we contend that now is the time for Uxbridge Council and staff to vigorously pursue the establishment of a hotel - or even a good-sized motel - in town. It seems to us there are several ideal locations in town for a Holiday Inn or a Best Western to set up shop.
We can't help but feel a hotel would thrive in this community and, in so doing, would help the community to thrive. It's one thing to tell the world how much Uxbridge has to offer. It's quite another to tell the world it can only come for the day.
