Ontario Travel: Five Summer Activities for Your Family with Norma Walton

Canoeing in Muskoka

As we enter into our second pandemic summer where travel is limited, I have enjoyed rediscovering Ontario and finding places in our own backyard to savour. Our kids need to get out of the city and enjoy themselves, and we could definitely use a change of scenery. Although there’s no telling exactly what will be open this summer, here are five activities for the family that can be added to your summer bucket list.
1. Hit the beach
Some people like to spend days at the beach sunbathing; others just like to walk on the sand in the morning or evening; and children tend to spend hours frolicking in the water. This is an obvious summer activity, so I have researched three new beaches to avoid your becoming bored of visiting the same ones. Ontario is home to over 250,000 lakes so there are so many beaches to explore that you could probably choose a new one each weekend of your life and still not cover all of them. I would recommend trying these three this summer:

• Port Dover: This is almost a hidden gem, although it is a popular site for parasailing. This just adds to the fun, as you can spend hours watching the dare-devils, especially on windy days. The beaches here are lovely and the tiny town itself has a toned down resort feel, with many charming shops. If you plan a day trip here, be sure to stop into Shaw’s for ice cream. This place has been around since 1948, and it takes just one taste to see why. With over 45 different flavours, they’ve got Baskin-Robbins beat, and you’ll find some truly unique flavours including Grape, Saturday Morning Cartoons, and even a little charmer called Unicorn Toots.
• Cobourg Beach: This is a shorter drive, and a smaller beach, but still a great spot for families. Cobourg itself has tons of shops and restaurants, all with a hometown feel that families love. It’s not too touristy, although in the heat of summer, the beach does tend to fill up fast. So, head out early to claim your place in the sand.
• Sandbanks: A little further east of Cobourg, you’ll find Sandbanks Provincial Park with its own little strip of top-level beaches in Prince Edward County. This beautiful park offers both day and camp use, with three stunning beaches for swimming. Sandy lake bottoms in hand with shallow waters make it ideal for small kids. The park is home to the world’s largest baymouth barrier dune formation, which is an impressive wall of sand that the kids will love exploring.

Tubing at Deerhurst

2. Take a road trip
Our children always enjoy a road trip…as long as it doesn’t go on too long.  While some kids might be antsy, with games and activities loaded into the car, you can keep them occupied until you reach the destination. Here are three interesting Ontario road trip ideas:

• Prince Edward County: The beauty of this road trip is that it has something for everyone. Kids will love ending up at Sandbanks, while parents can enjoy the scenery of the county. I would recommend planning a Glenora Ferry ride to add a layer of unexpected fun.
• Hamilton: This might not be the first place you think of, but Hamilton has several interesting spots to visit including Dundas Peak, plentiful waterfalls, Dundurn Castle, and the Steam and Technology Museum. It’s just close enough to avoid too many “are we there yet” complaints, while providing a lot to see once you arrive.
• South Georgian Bay: This lovely road trip takes you to your choice of spots including Collingwood, Owen Sound, and the Blue Mountains. Each spot has beautiful scenery with winding roads and the Georgian Bay coastline. With plenty of beaches at Wasaga and attractions at Blue Mountain, it is worth the trip.

3. Plan an adventure
Depending on what’s open, there are many Ontario adventures to explore including:

• Inner Tubing at Elora Gorge: Consider a trip to Elora Gorge where you can rent inner tubes and mosey on down the river. It’s a great way to keep cool, look at the sites, and enjoy water in a whole new way. Be sure to pack the sunscreen!  The kids and I inner tubed on the Gull River in Minden and had an absolutely marvelous time.  We now want to try Elora.
• Go canoeing: There are endless parks offering the chance to take to the quiet lakes and rivers of Ontario and try your hand at canoeing. This is a wonderful activity for families and also provides a way to get up close with nature.  There is little better than canoeing on a river or lake with your children.  We have been out in the early morning when all is quiet; in the middle of the day when everyone is out swimming and playing; and just before bed when the fish are biting.
• Hike the Cheltenham Badlands: This is a popular spot to experience an otherworldly adventure on a stark red rock expanse that looks a lot like Mars. These badlands are 445 million years old, and present an interesting expanse of iron-rich red shale that goes on forever. The red hills took on their shape thanks to local sketchy farming practices that led to erosion back in the early 1900s.  We are looking forward to exploring these this summer.

Walking in the woods in Bracebridge

​4. Discover Bruce’s Peninsula
Arguably one of the province’s most cherished natural areas, Bruce’s Peninsula offers a wonderful place to explore. In hand with endless parks and trails, attractions include:

• Cyprus Lake Grotto: Located at Bruce Peninsula National Park, you can swim and snorkel in an actual cave here. This cave formed through thousands of years of unforgivable Georgian Bay waves pounding the rock. You can either enjoy the hike to the grotto along the Georgian Bay Trail, although there is a 12 meter climb so be prepared to swear, or rent a boat and enter from the lake itself.  You have to book far in advance to hike the trail.  Renting a boat is pricier but in my view a better way to discover the crystal clear waters of lovely Lake Huron.  The park itself is also quite awesome.
• Flowerpot Island: Located in sweet, tiny Tobermory, this island is part of Fathom Five National Marine Park. Named after the stunning, massive rock formations, the sea stacks are the main attraction. Over 18 meters tall, they are visible from the water and require a boat trip to get there, adding to the fun.  The shape and size of these rock formations will have kids and adults alike agog, wanting to see them up close.  You can dock at the island and hike, or see them from the lake in a boat.

5. Explore some caves
Ontario offers several opportunities to explore the dark, quiet world of caves. Some trips we are considering include:

• Bonnechere Caves: Located in Eganville, the caves were once formed by a tropical sea, leaving behind limestone walls that are millions of years old. In fact, they far outdate the dinosaurs. The tunnels are located near Ottawa and offer an eerie yet unique chance to view stalactites and prehistoric fossils. However, they are not a great choice if you are worried about tight spaces, as some areas can be quite narrow and claustrophobic.
• Tyendinaga Cavern and Caves: This privately owned spot in Belleville offers a look at caves that have fossils over 450 million years old.
• Scenic Caves Nature Adventures: Located at Blue Mountain, these caves and caverns are part of one of Canada’s 18 UNESCO sites. They weave through 17 unique geological features formed by glacial ice.

Hopefully you can use some of these five ideas to keep your family occupied and engaged this summer.  Ontario is a spectacular province with so much nature to offer that getting to know it better is always a good idea.

https://dailyhive.com/toronto/toronto-grotto-bruce-peninsula-2019