Things to Do in Lake Huron, ON Resort Towns
Visiting Grand Bend, Goderich, Blyth, and Sauble Beach, Ontario
Jun 28, 2009
Many residents of Ontario head to Muskoka for the summer, but the resort towns along the Lake Huron shore offer diverse summer activities that provide opportunities for ecotourists, theatre-goers and antique-hunters alike.
Grand Bend
Grand Bend, located 2 1/2 hours west of Toronto, caters to the camping crowd, as witnessed by the panoply of beachwear and t-shirt shops crowding its main street. Grand Bend has a bustling nightlife, including several bars that are close to the beach:
- Cocos Hotel, 62 Main Street, 519-238-5140
- Gables, 5 Main Street, 519-238-2393
- Growling Gator Bar and Grill, 86 Main Street, 519-238-1300
- Riverbend Bar and Grill, 26 Ontario Street South, 519-238-6919
- Dave's Clubhouse at Oakwood Inn Resort, 70671 Bluewater Highway, 519-238-2377
Pinery Provincial Park
One of the most popular attractions in Grand Bend is Pinery Provincial Park that rests on the shores of Lake Huron. With a 10-kilometre beach that stretches along the lake, the park has 1,000 camping sites, including 400 hydro hook-ups, as well as 10 nature trails. Canoes, kayaks and bikes can be rented on site. For more information on Pinery Provincial Park, read here.
Goderich, Ontario
Located about 30 minutes north of Grand Bend, Goderich is called "the prettiest town in Canada," probably due to the configuration of its downtown. The octagonal centre of town contains the Huron County Court House. Streets containing specialty and antique shops, as well as restaurants, shoot out from the octagon like spokes on a wheel. The area is referred to as the "outdoor shopping mall." The town also features:
- Rotary Cove Beach, which has 400 metres of boardwalk, washrooms, concession stand, free parking, and supervised swimming from July 1 to August 31;
- The Goderich Flea Market, which sells antiques, crafts, tools, trading cards and baked goods. The market, located on the south side of Courthouse Park, operates every Sunday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. from Victoria Day to Labour Day.
Blyth Festival
The community of Blyth, located 10 minutes east of Goderich, showcases the Blyth Festival. Operating for 35 years, the Blyth Festival is a community-based professional theatre that promotes solely Canadian plays. Visitors may wish to enjoy a traditional country supper offered by many local women's and church groups before the play. The Blyth Festival is located at 423 Queen Street, Tel.1-877-862-5984.
Sauble Beach
Sauble Beach, located near Bruce Peninsula, is primarily a resort town that sports an 11-kilometre beach, allegedly the second longest freshwater beach in the world after Wasaga Beach. A number of sandbars keep the water close to the beach at warm temperatures. The following attractions are within minutes of the town:
- Sauble Falls Provincial Park, 1-888-668-7275, sits at the base of the Sauble River and has 152 campsites with 53 hydro hook-ups. Camping is available on the east section of the park, with many sites banking the river. Canoes and paddleboats are available for rent.
- Bruce's Caves Conservation Area, 237897 Inglis Falls Road, Owen Sound, 519-376-3076, takes visitors to another time as they view cave formations from wave action of post-glacial Lake Algonquin 7,000 to 8,000 years ago.
The Bruce Trail
The Bruce Trail provides public access to 800 kilometres of hiking trails along the Niagara Escarpment, a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve. Running from Toberymory to Niagara Falls, the Bruce Trail can be picked up at several points near Sauble Beach. For more information on the Bruce Trail near Sauble Beach, read the Bruce Trail Sydenham Section here.
A trip to the Lake Huron, Ontario shores provides families and individuals with an affordable vacation amidst breathtaking beaches. Whether camping at Pinery Provincial Park in Grand Bend, hiking on the Bruce Trail near Sauble Beach, or attending a play at the Blyth Festival, tourists will enjoy discovering the series of uncongested resort towns that are spotted along the shore.
For things to do in Stratford, read here.
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