23 researched places across 5 pockets — restaurants, shops, schools and parks.
A standout downtown spot using fresh, local ingredients for contemporary fusion dishes — from a fried turkey schnitzel sandwich to spicy shrimp spaghetti.
Local pick: Fresh, local contemporary plates
A casual fine-dining restaurant on King Street with French and Italian-inspired plates — ricotta gnocchi, lobster risotto and a thoughtful wine list.
Local pick: Lobster risotto and gnocchi
A homey café and bakery in downtown Bowmanville — daily lunch specials, freshly baked scones and butter tarts, perfect for brunch.
Local pick: Brunch and a fresh butter tart
The Highway 2 plazas through Courtice serve the growing community with casual restaurants, cafés and takeout.
Local pick: Quick family meals on the highway
The restaurants, pubs and cafés along King Avenue in the heritage village of Newcastle — a charming small-town dining strip near the lake.
Local pick: A meal on the heritage main street
The cafés and small eateries of Orono village — a relaxed country stop near the park, fairgrounds and arena.
Local pick: Coffee in the country village
One of Ontario's finest heritage main streets along King Street — independent shops, cafés, restaurants and the host of Bowmanville's beloved Apple Festival and Maple Festival.
Local pick: Boutiques and the Apple Festival
The big-box retail centre off Clarington Boulevard and Highway 2 — grocery (Metro at 243 King St E nearby), department stores, restaurants and services for all of Clarington.
Local pick: One-stop big-box shopping
The Highway 2 plazas serve the Courtice community with grocery, pharmacy and everyday services on the Oshawa border.
Local pick: Everyday errands on Highway 2
The heritage shops of Newcastle village along King Avenue — independent boutiques, a bakery, services and the small-town centre near Bond Head.
Local pick: Heritage storefronts and the bakery
A working 1840s grist mill in the hamlet of Tyrone — a country store and bakery famous for fresh cider, donuts, butter tarts and old-fashioned milled flour.
Local pick: Fresh cider donuts at the 1840s mill
A Kawartha Pine Ridge DSB grade 7–12 secondary school (opened 2005) on Clarington Boulevard, serving Bowmanville, Courtice and Clarke.
Local pick: A modern grade 7-12 school
A long-established Kawartha Pine Ridge DSB public high school serving Bowmanville, with strong academics, arts and athletics.
Local pick: The town's historic high school
A Kawartha Pine Ridge DSB public secondary school on Nash Road serving the Courtice community on the Oshawa border.
Local pick: Courtice's home high school
A Kawartha Pine Ridge DSB public secondary school serving Newcastle, Orono and the rural east of Clarington.
Local pick: The east Clarington high school
A Peterborough Victoria Northumberland Clarington Catholic DSB secondary school serving Clarington's Catholic families in Courtice.
Local pick: Clarington's Catholic secondary
Clarington's main recreation complex on Highway 2 — arenas, a curling rink, banquet halls and program space, and a hub for community events.
Local pick: Hockey, curling and community events
A Lake Ontario provincial park on the Clarington lakeshore — a sandy beach, camping, the McLaughlin Bay area and waterfront trails through coastal habitat.
Local pick: Camping and the lakeshore beach
A legendary road-racing circuit in the rural north of Clarington — host of major motorsport events since 1961, with a 4 km track, karting and a driver-development centre.
Local pick: Race weekends at historic Mosport
Orono's village park, outdoor pool and adjacent fairgrounds and arena — home of the historic Orono Fair and the heart of the country village.
Local pick: The Orono Fair each Labour Day
Newcastle's recreation complex with a pool, arena and program space, near Bond Head and the village's lakeshore parks.
Local pick: Lane swim near the lake
A public art gallery in a restored 1900s mill on the Bowmanville Creek — exhibitions, classes and creekside grounds in a heritage setting.
Local pick: Art shows in a historic mill
A community recreation centre and library serving Courtice — a pool, fitness centre and program space for the growing west-end community.
Local pick: Pool, fitness and the library