1. Creemore Picnic
Everything is tailored for the perfect déjeuner sur l’herbe: try the tamarind chicken baguette ($7.95), a selection of French cheeses or the butternut squash soup (perfumed with thyme, it’s a fall favourite). TIP: Call ahead for a customized basket, complete with gingham blanket ($20 per person for a rented basket, up to $250 if you want to keep all the gear). 179 Mill St., 705-466-2002, 1-866-810-9883.

2. Dovetail Interiors
Interior designer Tricia Jeffrey’s emporium favours the kind of furniture (decadently minimalist) you’d fi nd in a W hotel: cushy oyster-coloured sofas ($1,700– $2,200), armoires the shade of bittersweet chocolate ($2,800–$4,500) and leathercovered benches ($250–$1,000) that double as coffee tables. A pretty selection of hurricane lanterns brings a more provincial spirit. 172 Mill St., 705-466-3647.

3. La Maison Française
Barbara Simpson helps dress local piedsà- terre with Provençal linens and a winsome selection of country furniture, such as sturdy pine hutches from Quebec’s Eastern Townships ($2,000–$4,500). She also stocks her shop with more exotic fi nds: 120-year-old Chinese rice baskets ($180) fi nd new purpose as dramatic plant holders. 3 Caroline St. W., 705-466-6361.

4. Chez Michel
The fanciest reservation in a pot pie kind of town, this two-year-old bistro comes courtesy of chef-owner Michel Masselin (born in Normandy, he grew up in Provence, landing here by way of Australia, Toronto and Collingwood). The place is faithful to bistro with classic dishes (duck magret, steak au poivre) and a laidback aesthetic (local artworks dot apricothued walls). 150 Mill St., 705-466-3331.

5. Affairs
This recent émigré to Mill Street (it used to be tucked away on a side road) seduces the most indifferent sweet tooth with an embarrassment of goodies and languid country charm. Tantalizers include killer butter tarts, brownies and anisette biscotti (from owner Norma Panzine’s Italian grandmother’s recipe). 148 Mill St., 705-466-5621.

6. Creemore Clock & Watch Company
A ticking symphony of clocks awaits in this nostalgic time gallery (the passing of time can seem lulling or panic inducing, depending on your mood). Nancy and John Durrant pack the store with hundreds of hand-painted grandfather clocks (many with 200-yearold wooden gears), pocket watches, music boxes and cuckoo clocks. TIP: John, a certi- fi ed horologist, can get even the most hobbled piece ticking again. 2 Elizabeth St. W., 705-466-3152.

7. Creemore Springs Brewery
Some towns have plazas or cathedrals; Creemore’s proudest landmark is its brewery—its arrival 19 years ago revived the town’s economy. The brewery’s premium no-preservatives lager is made in copper kettles, using water from a nearby spring and spicy hops imported from the Czech Republic. Visitors tour the immaculate facility with a gratis cold brew in hand. 139 Mill St., 1-800-267-2240.

8. Mad River Pottery
Before Paul Vorstermans moved in with his kiln 26 years ago, this gallery was a creamery, and before that a bustling hotel that welcomed farmers coming to town to deliver grain and hogs. The place is decidedly more tranquil than it once was. His creations range from the delicate (porcelain bowls with gold-painted edges thin as lace) to sturdier dishwasher-friendly stoneware. 113 Mill St., 705-466-2756.