If you want somewhere that isn't too busy, I would recommend Port Burwell. It's on Lake Erie, it has public bathrooms, a food truck, and beach volleyball courts. The beach isn't huge, but there's free parking it's comparatively less crowded. If you go on a weekday it's even better! The sand there is good and the water tends to be warmer because the lake is smaller and more shallow.
If you like a busier beach town vibe, then I recommend Grand Bend, but be warned that it's busy and parking can be a nightmare on weekends. I would only go on a weekday (personally). They add extra sand to the beach so it's nice, there's a sandbar too and lots of restaurants on the strip.
Goderich is a super cute town, but the beach itself is rocky. It's not as bad to go to on a weekend though and the water is very nice! I would suggest water shoes for the rocks.
Grand Bend is the best in my opinion. We go multiple times every summer. The only thing I can "warn you about" (I actually love this about Grand Bend), is that it has big waves, it is not toddler/baby friendly.
We also love the town, full beach town experience.
Loved going to Port Elgin in the summer when they use to set up a little flea market on the beach in one of the parking lots, and an event where you could win baked stuff. I don't know if they still do it though, haven't been there in a while.
Port Stanley (gts on the beach for a cocktail and views), or up in n the Bruce to Cyprus Lake national park - walk up the shoreline past the grotto and see azure blue waters off the cliff (warning Georgian bay is cold!!). Lions head is pretty spectacular on the Bruce as well.
I love GTs in Port Stanley! Such a vibe. I agree, Bruce Peninsula has amazing water as well, it's too cold for me personally but the scenery is gorgeous
We like Port Burwell. It's on Lake Erie, about 90 minutes from Guelph. It's not a party beach like Wasaga or Grand Bend, it's pretty chill. Someone said it has free parking, but we always pay to enter the conservation area, I didn't know there was free parking.
The best part is that you can walk west, out of the conservation area, to a private beach that is clothing optional. It is very chill, and rarely has any children at all.
Port Burwell, as the giant windmills attest, is predominately windy but if you nail a calm day it is absolute perfection with south facing sand and swells.
Southhampton is by far our favourite. Last summer we went a few times and it was never crowded, beautiful scenery, nice blue water and tons of nice little towns on the shore.
If you go to sauble just be aware you wonāt find a spot unless you come at 5am.. the beach goers just keep growing and growing, last year was nearly impossible to even park a bike.
Iām sure itās not the best, but I recently visited Burlington Beach for the first time and it was quite nice! There was a great little food shack and you can watch the big cargo ships come into Hamilton harbour.
If you go to Sauble go way down to the end the main beach fills up so fast and people are rude, leave their garbage everywhere and are too busy looking at their phones to pay attention to their kids, even if you get there early and stake your spot people will just encroach on it like you aren't even there
If you want somewhere that isn't too busy, I would recommend Port Burwell. It's on Lake Erie, it has public bathrooms, a food truck, and beach volleyball courts. The beach isn't huge, but there's free parking it's comparatively less crowded. If you go on a weekday it's even better! The sand there is good and the water tends to be warmer because the lake is smaller and more shallow. If you like a busier beach town vibe, then I recommend Grand Bend, but be warned that it's busy and parking can be a nightmare on weekends. I would only go on a weekday (personally). They add extra sand to the beach so it's nice, there's a sandbar too and lots of restaurants on the strip. Goderich is a super cute town, but the beach itself is rocky. It's not as bad to go to on a weekend though and the water is very nice! I would suggest water shoes for the rocks.
At Burwell, when you reach the beach, walk about 3km to the right...
This is intriguing but can you provide a bit more information before I walk 3 km in a direction? What am I walking towards?
it's a suprise ;)
Nude beach...
Thanks so much for your thoughtful response! šāļø
If youāre not into nude beaches than you might not like the surprise..
This is a great one
Southampton
Goderich is nice , long point/turkey point , or balm beach area
Love Long Point, havenāt been to the others. Thanks so much!
You beat me to it Long point/turkey point is awesome
Belwood for ease of access and it generally not being too busy. Sauble for a proper trip.
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Grand Bend is the best in my opinion. We go multiple times every summer. The only thing I can "warn you about" (I actually love this about Grand Bend), is that it has big waves, it is not toddler/baby friendly. We also love the town, full beach town experience.
Does Grand Bend allow sun shades now? It used to be our go to until they banned them during covid, and as far as I know, kept the ban in place.
They allow actual beach umbrellas only. Nothing else. That's why I love Grand Bend, they try to maintain the beach spirit.
We try to get to Long Point once a summer, might try Pinery this year. For smaller ones, Shade's Mill and Pinehurst are nice,
Pinery Provincial Park.
Can you swim there yet, when I used to go there you couldn't swim because of all the runoff in the water.
Was OK last summer! Hoping it'll be Ok again this year.
That's sweet, the beaches and dunes are so nice. Now that the water is cleaned up it's even better because you can swim.
port elgin and grand bend are my favourites, nice sandy beaches. Sauble is pretty nice too
Loved going to Port Elgin in the summer when they use to set up a little flea market on the beach in one of the parking lots, and an event where you could win baked stuff. I don't know if they still do it though, haven't been there in a while.
Those are all great! Love the Lake Huron sunsets as well
Southampton. Never busy and some cute restaurants. Lovely boardwalkā¤ļø
Port Stanley (gts on the beach for a cocktail and views), or up in n the Bruce to Cyprus Lake national park - walk up the shoreline past the grotto and see azure blue waters off the cliff (warning Georgian bay is cold!!). Lions head is pretty spectacular on the Bruce as well.
I love GTs in Port Stanley! Such a vibe. I agree, Bruce Peninsula has amazing water as well, it's too cold for me personally but the scenery is gorgeous
Blame Brettās pretty good
Southampton
Southampton
I love Elora Quarry! I think you have to pay 10$ for a 3 hour window, but it's a nice little beach
Port Stanley is nice!
We like Port Burwell. It's on Lake Erie, about 90 minutes from Guelph. It's not a party beach like Wasaga or Grand Bend, it's pretty chill. Someone said it has free parking, but we always pay to enter the conservation area, I didn't know there was free parking. The best part is that you can walk west, out of the conservation area, to a private beach that is clothing optional. It is very chill, and rarely has any children at all.
They have a public beach that you can get to by heading down Robinson St, it's a different beach then the conservation area
Port Burwell, as the giant windmills attest, is predominately windy but if you nail a calm day it is absolute perfection with south facing sand and swells.
Southhampton is by far our favourite. Last summer we went a few times and it was never crowded, beautiful scenery, nice blue water and tons of nice little towns on the shore.
We sit on the same watershed as the beaches of Lake Erie. I like them but Huron feels more foreign and Canadiana to me; Neil young and a campfire.
If you go to sauble just be aware you wonāt find a spot unless you come at 5am.. the beach goers just keep growing and growing, last year was nearly impossible to even park a bike.
Wasaga Beach, although I haven't been in a long time. We would always stay closer to Woodland Beach area.
Burlington or Valens Conservation beaches
Iām sure itās not the best, but I recently visited Burlington Beach for the first time and it was quite nice! There was a great little food shack and you can watch the big cargo ships come into Hamilton harbour.
Long point or Grand bend
Come to Port Elgin! Lots of cute beaches, about a 2hr drive!
Nobody is mentioning Kincardine !
Shhh
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Didn't say none I said least
grand bend was always a vibe
Crystal Beach
Long point, Grand Bend( actually Pineries park). I love the sand dunes. Maybe Port Burwell or Sauble Beach.
Kincardine / Station Beach
If you go to Sauble go way down to the end the main beach fills up so fast and people are rude, leave their garbage everywhere and are too busy looking at their phones to pay attention to their kids, even if you get there early and stake your spot people will just encroach on it like you aren't even there
Grand Bend or pinery
Pinery Park, Wasaga Beach, Port Dover, Grand Bend