Tourism London - Index

Tourism London - tourismlondon - Index

GRAND BEND
Take Richmond St. North (Hwy. 4)
out of the city past Hwy. 22. Continue
north for about 50 km. At
Exeter turn left (west) onto Hwy.
83 and follow to where it ends at
Hwy. 21. Turn left (south) on Hwy.
21 and proceed for 3 km.
Despite a winter carnival that is
growing in stature each year, Grand
Bend has always been known and loved
as a quintessential summer town. With
good reason. A 400-metre beach
of white sand hugging the shores of
Lake Huron is a powerful magnet that
attracts people of all stripes. Just
strolling the beach in bare feet is one of
those simple pleasures in life that holds
appeal whether you’re two or 82.
The Bend, as it is affectionately
known, is particularly irresistible for kids.
The town boasts an array of summerthemed
shops and stops, including two
mini-golf centres, a games arcade, clothing
shops and every type of food that kids
love to devour. From July 25 through to
October 28, kids will love cornstalk maze
and family fun at the Grand Bend Maize
Place. And every Sunday from May to
October, thousands of bargain hunters
flock to the popular Pinery Antiques Flea
Market on Highway 21 between Grand
Bend and the Pinery Provincial Park.
The park itself, a jewel in the Ontario
Provincial Park system, provides respite
from the crowds. Here families come to
enjoy camping, cycling and picnics and
the quieter, more natural aspects of the
beaches, dunes and surrounding forests.
Adults are drawn to Grand Bend
to take in summer theatre at the Huron
Country Playhouse, or to break par 70
at the 18 holes of Oakwood Inn Resort.
Auto-racing enthusiasts take in racing
at the Grand Bend Motorplex or Grand
Bend Speedway. Those 18 and over
can also learn to skydive at the Grand
Bend Sport Parachuting Centre.
The Lambton Heritage Museum,
just south of Grand Bend, has a small
pioneer village and numerous displays
including a top-notch collection of
agricultural machinery and the largest
pressed-glass collection in the country.
For more information, call
1-888-338-2001 or visit
www.grandbendtourism.com
BAYFIELD
Take Richmond St. North (Hwy. 4)
out of the city past Hwy. 22. Continue
north for 60 km. and turn
left (west) in Hensall onto Hwy. 84
until it ends at Hwy. 21. then turn
right (north) and Bayfield is
16 km. ahead.
If Grand Bend is a town of summertime
exuberance, then laid-back Bayfield
is its perfect counterpoint. Both towns
are built on Lake Huron and both swell
in population as the temperature soars
and the vacationers arrive. But the flavour
of each town is distinctly different and
they tend to attract different crowds.
Maybe it’s Bayfield’s big shady
trees making a canopy over the cinder
sidewalks or maybe it’s the cottage-like
shops with their colourful gardens, but
the town exudes a delicious unhurriedness.
Perfect for sauntering down the
main street, lingering in an outdoor café
and browsing in the many boutiques.
The shops are a major drawing card.
Not only in the goods they carry (antiques,
china, gardening gifts, clothes, jewelry,
pottery, art), but also that there are
shops geared to a variety of price ranges.
If you’re looking for an unusual or oneof-a
kind item, you may well find it here.
There’s a very long legacy of hospitality
in Bayfield. The Little Inn of Bayfield
has been serving dinner guests and overnight
visitors for more than 150 years.
The Albino Hotel, a storied country restaurant
and pub, has been in business for
more than a century. The Red Pump Inn,
with its elegant building, restaurant and
gift boutique, has become a well-loved
institution within a few short decades.
Americans seem particularly drawn to
Bayfield, largely due to the Bayfield Yacht
Club and the excellent moorings here.
The beach is somewhat eclipsed by those
of nearby Goodrich and Grand Bend,
which makes it an absolute haven if you’re
looking for something quieter. Do yourself
a favor by stopping by this peaceful oasis.
For more information, call the Bier’s
tourist booth at 1-519-565-2499
(summer only) or visit
www.town.bluewater.on.ca
GODERICH
Take Richmond St. North (Hwy.
4) out of the city past Hwy. 22.
Continue north on Hwy. 4 for
60 km. to Clinton. Turn left (west)
at Clinton onto Hwy. 8 and
Goodrich is 20 km. ahead.
For decades Goodrich has declared
itself “The Prettiest Town in Canada”
and it’s undeniably true that the
town, perched on the bluff overlooking
the splendour of Lake Huron,
is well blessed in natural gifts.
The harbour here is deep enough
to handle the major ships of the Great
Lakes. The lighthouse built in 1847
is not merely a piece of history—it’s
still beaming to recreational boaters
and commercial ships 24 hours a day.
Shipping has been an integral part of
Goodrich history and the Marine Museum
captures it all. It seems only fitting that
the museum has been built in the cabins
and pilothouse of a former freighter.
But the lake alone does not a town
make. And this 19th-century town is delightfully
different thanks to a history of
talented architects and planners as well as
those who have strived to preserve their
works. Unlike other towns, Goodrich does
not have a straight main street. Instead,
the downtown is built in an octagon with
the shops surrounding a park and the
court house. All summer long, visitors
can enjoy musical concerts, plus their
famous farmers’ market on Saturdays and
a flea market Sundays, all held outside.
One of the town’s most visited spots
is the elegant Huron Historic Gaol. Goodrich
also has the good fortune to have
the Huron County Museum with exhibits
of shadow boxes from Victorian days and
a life-sized main street from the 1800s.
Today, there’s a good chance that you
have a Goodrich product in your house.
Sifto Salt Inc. mines half of Canada’s rock
salt. While visiting Goodrich, you can find
overnight accommodation at one of the
area’s many B&Bs and motels, or the
historic Ben Miller Inn.
For more information, call
1-800-280-7637 or visit
www.goderich.ca
LONDON VISITOR–45