One of the great things about summer in southern Ontario is you can have two wildly different types of lake holiday.
I’ve spent many a summer’s day in Muskoka, as well as the Kawarthas and other areas with freshwater lakes and rocky islands and deep, thick forests of maple, birch and pine. But I’ve also spent a considerable time on fine, powdery beaches that go on for miles and offer a completely different experience, including beach bonfires and glorious sunsets.
My wife and I recently rented the Sandpiper Cottage at Inverhuron Beach on Lake Huron, just north of Kincardine. As a kid who was born and raised in California and adores Hawaii, I love waking up and walking across soft, white sand dunes to get to the beach for a morning walk or a cup of coffee to watch the day begin to unfold.
We were able to do that on our recent visit to Inverhuron. Our kids and their two little ones were at our daughter-in-law’s family cottage on the beach, and we were perhaps 50 yards behind them, perched on the edge of a sand dune.
Inverhuron Beach, Ontario. Jim Byers Photo
I’m someone who revels in going barefoot for as much as the summer as I can, so it was fabulous to wake up and not have to think about wearing shoes for most of the day. I also loved looking out at the deep blue and pale, green-blue waters of Lake Huron and going for long walks on the beach
The water is quite shallow at Inverhuron, so it’s great for kids learning to swim. Being on a lake that’s a good 70 km’s across, you also get some small waves that are fun for little ones to play in.
The sailing here is excellent, but it’s usually calm enough for kayaking or paddle boarding, as well. In our week at the beach, we spotted only a few personal watercraft out in the deeper water.
The sunsets here are spectacular, which is another bonus. Grab a bottle of wine or a beer or lemonade from your cottage fridge and bring your folding chairs down to the beach for a real treat.
We took fabulous walks along the beach and then (shoes on for this part) through the forested paths of Inverhuron Provincial Park, which offers fine views of Inverhuron Beach and Holmes Bay.
Sunset on Inverhuron Beach, Ontario, Canada. Jim Byers Photo
We also played some golf, did a little shopping, went out for a couple meals and drove along the coast.
Here are some cool towns to explore, fun things to see and do and places to eat in the area.
FOOD AND RESTAURANTS
In Kincardine, the Erie Belle is famous for its fish and chips. There’s a fine patio with nice lake views. We had a nice meal at The Bruce restaurant in Kincardine some years ago.
I didn’t go, but my son and daughter-in-law said they had a very good meal at Fig Studio Kitchen in the small, inland town of Ripley.
Fire and Dough is a good, super-fast (90 seconds to cook a Neopolitan-style pie) pizza place on the main strip in Saugeen Shores.
Kincardine, Ontario, Canada. Jeffrey Eisen/Unsplash Photo
Walker House in Southampton is a good, casual spot for dining.
The area is famous for its great farmland, and you’ll find plenty of local stands bursting with fresh produce. Just south of Port Elgin, Hi-Berry Farms is one popular spot. I also enjoyed the produce tent outside the Canadian Tire store in Kincardine.
GREAT LAKEFRONT TOWNS
KINCARDINE
Somerhill Golf Club in Kincardine, Ontario, Canada. Jim Byers Photo
There’s a lovely waterfront park with tennis and pickleball and a nice beach. Lighthouse. Erie Belle serves up fine fish and chips and has a great patio with lake views. Bonus: every Saturday evening in summer they have a bagpipe parade down the main street. Just north of Kincardine is Somerhill Golf Course, a nice, nine-hole affair with some tricky greens and unexpected elevation changes. The staff is super-friendly, and it’s only $34 for nine holes and $50 for eighteen holes.
SAUGEEN SHORES/SAUBLE BEACH
Formerly known as Sauble Beach, this is a fun, kitschy (in a good way) beach town with surf shops, ice cream stands, outdoor cafes and stores selling flip flops, tee shirts, beach gear, colourful soccer balls, and more. I quite enjoy the vibe, which reminds me a bit of California towns like Santa Cruz.
PORT ELGIN
This is another Lake Huron community with a nice, walkable downtown and good shopping. The beach is quite good, as well.
The South Beach Motel in Southampton, Ontario. Photo Courtesy South Beach Motel
SOUTHAMPTON
Southampton is a particularly delightful shopping spot, with a fine kitchenware shop and an independent book store. If you want more of a hotel setup versus a cottage, the South Beach Motel and The Beach Motel are stylish, highly Instagrammable places to rest for the night.
DRIVING TRIP BONUS
The drive along the coast between Southampton and Port Elgin is delightful. The road hugs the lake and the cottages/homes are on the land side, which means you get mostly unobstructed views of Lake Huron as you roll along.
SANDPIPER COTTAGE AND INVERHURON
Sandpiper Cottage is a fine, three-bedroom cottage on Inverhuron Beach.
The cottage has two small bedrooms, one with bunk beds, and a loft that can also sleep a couple people. There’s a full kitchen and a living room area with a good-sized TV.
Sandpiper Cottage, Inverhuron, Ontario, Canada
The patio has a shady area with two chairs and a sofa, and also a table and chairs for al fresco dining for six or eight people.
There’s only a limited lake view, but you’re on the sand dunes and less than a one-minute walk to the beach.
Little ones will love the beach for swimming and building sand castles. There’s also a small park with swings, monkey bars, a teeter-totter and a small playing field a two-minute walk away. Down the road from the park you can take a delightful, shady walk and pass charming cottages and larger, lakeside homes.
Biking in Inverhuron Provincial Park, Ontario, Canada. Jim Byers Photo
Just inside Inverhuron Provincial Park (free admission) you’ll find a pretty river with marshland and walking trails, as well as a wooden observation deck. It’s a great spot for walking, biking and fishing.
The park has plenty of nice-looking camp sites, as well as a boat dock and a small playground.
If you’re looking a Canadian beach vacation, it’s hard to beat Inverhuron and the Lake Huron coast of Ontario.
