London's best beaches
Summer in London can be hot, humid and, at times, horrible without access to a sunny beach. With two great lakes within a half-hour to an hour drive away there is no point in
spending your summer days sweating on your couch while watching reruns in your underwear. So batten down the hatches and set sail to one of these beaches near London or a
little further for the adventuresome for a day, afternoon or night or weekend.
Sauble Beach: Located on the shores of Lake Huron, Sauble Beach is one of the best summer getaways in all of Ontario. With a sandy beach stretching over 10 kilometres long, Sauble Beach has no shortage of room for visitors. Sauble Beach has also been compared many times to the beaches of the Mediterranean resort areas and was recently awarded Blue Flag certi cation.
Grand Bend: The water is warm, the sand is hot and this beach has more than enough scantily clad bodies to go around for every people watcher. Whether you pick up a volleyball match, visit shops along the strip or hit up Coco's or Gables, Grand Bend is like a college-student's summer dream come true.
Pinery Provincial Park: Just down the road from Grand Bend with 10km of sandy beach, Pinery Provincial Park is a great place to spend a quiet, nature- lled day in the sun. Besides a great beach, there is camping within the park, ten di erent hiking trails and a 14km bike trail. Rental kayaks are also available on site.
Ipperwash Beach: Although the provincial park of the same name is closed, Ipperwash Beach o ers a massive stretch of sand, water and sun and is a popular destination for landlocked Londoners.
Fanshawe Lake: Fanshawe Lake was created in 1952 when Fanshawe Dam was built to divert oodwaters that plagued the city and is currently the home to the National Rowing Team.
Rondeau Provincial Park: This peninsula park features warm waters of a bay and Lake Erie and is best known as a migration stop for birds. Just an hour away, Rondeau is littered with sandbars, campsites and walking trails.
John E Pearce Provincial Park: Surrounded by the sandy cli s of Lake Erie and near the tiny town of Wallacetown, this quiet beach o ers a combination of pebbles and sand. For those who like to get naked, the Federation of Canadian Nudists have labeled this beach as one of their “clothing optional” destinations in Ontario.
Port Stanley: A long tradition of Londoners fl ock to Port Stanley in the summer to enjoy the port town on Lake Erie, which is a convenient half an hour drive away. Plenty of unique little shops can keep you interested. Try Mackie's on the Beach for their world famous Orangeade and delicious fries… and see where NHL'er Joe Thornton spent his summers working.
Long Point/ Port Dover: Famous for Friday the 13th motorcycle weekends when enthusiasts ock to the lakeside town of Port Dover. Port Dover and nearby Long Point Provincial Park, boast over a 40km long stretch of beach, and are always busy with sun seekers.
St. Mary's Quarry: Not exactly a beach, but still a popular destination the famous Quarry is Canada's largest outdoor swimming pool. The former limestone quarry has been rehabilitated for swimming. The Quarry opens to the public on the rst weekend of June and closes on Labour Day. Visit http://www.townofstmarys.com/living/aquatics.aspx?id=2102 for pool schedule.
Goderich 3 Beaches: Visit one or all of three fantastic beaches in Goderich. Bring armchairs and join the crowds who come to watch the tugboats guide a mammoth vessel into the harbour. Picnic shelters and plenty of playground equipment along a mile and a half of boardwalk invite families to enjoy a day in the sun. Enjoy St. Christopher's Beach, Main Beach, or Rotary Cove Beach, which is a sandy guarded beach that is internationally recognized as a Blue Flag Beach.
Wasaga Beach: Located on the shores of southern Georgian Bay, stroll along the world's longest freshwater beach, made up of 14 kilometres of white sand beach, swim in warm, clean waters and enjoy the panoramic mountain views across the bay.
Sauble Beach: Located on the shores of Lake Huron, Sauble Beach is one of the best summer getaways in all of Ontario. With a sandy beach stretching over 10 kilometres long, Sauble Beach has no shortage of room for visitors. Sauble Beach has also been compared many times to the beaches of the Mediterranean resort areas and was recently awarded Blue Flag certi cation.
Grand Bend: The water is warm, the sand is hot and this beach has more than enough scantily clad bodies to go around for every people watcher. Whether you pick up a volleyball match, visit shops along the strip or hit up Coco's or Gables, Grand Bend is like a college-student's summer dream come true.
Pinery Provincial Park: Just down the road from Grand Bend with 10km of sandy beach, Pinery Provincial Park is a great place to spend a quiet, nature- lled day in the sun. Besides a great beach, there is camping within the park, ten di erent hiking trails and a 14km bike trail. Rental kayaks are also available on site.
Ipperwash Beach: Although the provincial park of the same name is closed, Ipperwash Beach o ers a massive stretch of sand, water and sun and is a popular destination for landlocked Londoners.
Fanshawe Lake: Fanshawe Lake was created in 1952 when Fanshawe Dam was built to divert oodwaters that plagued the city and is currently the home to the National Rowing Team.
Rondeau Provincial Park: This peninsula park features warm waters of a bay and Lake Erie and is best known as a migration stop for birds. Just an hour away, Rondeau is littered with sandbars, campsites and walking trails.
John E Pearce Provincial Park: Surrounded by the sandy cli s of Lake Erie and near the tiny town of Wallacetown, this quiet beach o ers a combination of pebbles and sand. For those who like to get naked, the Federation of Canadian Nudists have labeled this beach as one of their “clothing optional” destinations in Ontario.
Port Stanley: A long tradition of Londoners fl ock to Port Stanley in the summer to enjoy the port town on Lake Erie, which is a convenient half an hour drive away. Plenty of unique little shops can keep you interested. Try Mackie's on the Beach for their world famous Orangeade and delicious fries… and see where NHL'er Joe Thornton spent his summers working.
Long Point/ Port Dover: Famous for Friday the 13th motorcycle weekends when enthusiasts ock to the lakeside town of Port Dover. Port Dover and nearby Long Point Provincial Park, boast over a 40km long stretch of beach, and are always busy with sun seekers.
St. Mary's Quarry: Not exactly a beach, but still a popular destination the famous Quarry is Canada's largest outdoor swimming pool. The former limestone quarry has been rehabilitated for swimming. The Quarry opens to the public on the rst weekend of June and closes on Labour Day. Visit http://www.townofstmarys.com/living/aquatics.aspx?id=2102 for pool schedule.
Goderich 3 Beaches: Visit one or all of three fantastic beaches in Goderich. Bring armchairs and join the crowds who come to watch the tugboats guide a mammoth vessel into the harbour. Picnic shelters and plenty of playground equipment along a mile and a half of boardwalk invite families to enjoy a day in the sun. Enjoy St. Christopher's Beach, Main Beach, or Rotary Cove Beach, which is a sandy guarded beach that is internationally recognized as a Blue Flag Beach.
Wasaga Beach: Located on the shores of southern Georgian Bay, stroll along the world's longest freshwater beach, made up of 14 kilometres of white sand beach, swim in warm, clean waters and enjoy the panoramic mountain views across the bay.
