We’re continuing our #travellocal journey across Ontario! We spent the early part of 2020 disappointed we weren’t able to visit new countries. That’s now a distant memory with all of the amazing places we’ve been finding in our own back yard! There is somewhere we have never had the chance to get to: Sauble Beach. The area is famously busy during the summer but we were curious to see what it’s like in the fall. We love a good beach but there is something about the beauty of Northern Ontario in fall that just can’t be matched!
Keep reading below for our tips on what to do and see in the Sauble Beach area that will show you some of the best that Ontario has to offer.
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How to Get to Sauble Beach
Sauble Beach is a 3 hour drive from Toronto in Bruce County. It’s a perfect overnight stopover before heading further north to Tobermory (another hour or so away) or Manitoulin Island. It is also a great first stop if you want a lakeside vacation before heading East to Collingwood and Blue Mountain.
It might sound like a long drive but it’s really an easy journey. From Toronto, take the 410 to Highway 10, then to Highway 6 and straight on til Sauble. It’s also a beautifully Ontario country drive full of nature broken up by storybook small towns.
Don’t let the 3-hour trip stop you – it’s well worth the drive!
Where to Stay in Sauble Beach
There are a lot of great accommodation options in and around the Sauble area but don’t expect the Four Seasons or a Ritz. This is primarily a summer weekend destination so a lot of the options reflect that.
Some availability is seasonal so you should double check what’s open when you book. Book early if you want to get the full sun-soaked beach experience because the weekends fill up fast!
June Motel Sauble Beach
We chose the brand new, insta-worthy June Motel 5 minutes from the water. We loved staying at their Prince Edward County location in 2019 so we had to check out the new digs. The whole place has been renovated to give a beach-chic vibe that will set the tone for your trip. There is also a restaurant and pool on site with a cute shop in the lobby.
The rooms are very clean and the bed is super comfortable with soft sheets. The check-in/out process is contactless so you can get in and out with ease. The June is perfectly located close to shops, restaurants and the beach. The Heydays Restaurant is on the property so you can pick up a delicious meal before heading back to your room.
HONOURABLE MENTIONS: If the June isn’t your style (and we will admit it’s on the expensive side) then check out a cozy beach cottage. Find them on Air BnB, the Knottie Pine Cottages, or the Bel-Air Motel.
Where to Eat in Sauble BEach
There is some seriously delicious in Sauble and the surrounding area! A lot of restaurants use fresh, local ingredients from neighbouring farms. You can tell there was a lot of care put into every dish so it’s hard to choose a single favourite. After a weekend of hands-on research, here is our list of places you must visit.
Luscious Bakery
This little bakery is a favourite discovery during our Sauble Beach getaway. We knew there would be some good treats based on their reviews but everything we tried went way beyond our expectations!
From sweet to savoury, Luscious Bakery offers a wide variety of treats to satisfy any craving. We were especially tempted by their flaky croissants, fresh Chelsea buns and tart lemon squares. Get there early and try their “Breakfast Boat” croissant filled with egg, bacon and scallions to start your day off right.
We even had to stop on our way back home to stock up on some goodies. They were supposed to last a few days but they didn’t survive the night!
Amicis Coffee Bar
Just around the corner from the Luscious Bakery is the enticing aroma of Amicis Coffee Bar. This beanhouse focuses on brewing the best handcrafted drinks it really shows. Their coffees, cappuccinos, and lattes will give you the boost you need.
If coffee isn’t your thing, they also offer a variety of tea drinks that cannot be missed. Kailey is a London Fog expert who is always on the lookout for a good one. Amicis has one of the best she’s tasted in a really long time. It is fragrant and frothy without being too sweet. It’s really too bad there isn’t one at home!
Heydays at the June Motel
This farm-to-table eatery is located on The June property. The menu is small but focused on highlighting fresh, local ingredients that are elevated to their absolute best. We found it hard to decide what we wanted to eat since each dish is as tempting as the last!
The restaurant has a decent amount of tables inside but they also offer takeout. There is even in-room delivery if you’re at The June so you can stay in for a romantic night .
We highly recommend their hot lobster roll or the smashburger with a side of fries. Praise is also high for their charred broccoli caeser salad and mac n’ cheese.
HONOURABLE MENTIONS: Beach Burger, Casero’s Taco Bus, The Wellness Refinery
What to Do In and Around Sauble Beach
Let’s start right off by saying Sauble Beach itself is relatively small. You can explore the whole town, beach, and iconic sign in a morning or afternoon. You can also take a full morning to explore then lounge on the beach for the afternoon.
Either way, that’s still only a days worth of activities in the town alone. But why limit yourself when there is a lot more to see??
In order to get the full experience, you must venture into the surrounding area. There’s so much to see and do all within a 30 minute drive of your Sauble base. This might seem like a lot but it’s easily accomplished in a weekend. It depends on when you arrive and how energetic you feel:
Sauble Beach
I mean it’s the name of the town so how could you not check it out?? The beach itself is actually the second longest freshwater beach in the world at over 11km. It’s relatively narrow but it’s length almost guarantees you can find a spot to lay down a blanket and relax.
There isn’t much tanning to be done in the Sauble Beach off-season but that means the beach is almost completely deserted! This makes for some peaceful photos without other people in them.
The Iconic Sauble Beach Sign
The beach is home to the famous Sauble Beach sign where you can take a beautiful snapshot. This will be a great image that lasts as a lifelong memory of your getaway. Another off-season benefit is that this is the only time you can get a shot of the sign like this:
Sauble Falls
Sauble Falls Provincial Park is only about 10 minutes north of the town. It is well worth the visit to marvel at the beautiful staircase falls and get lost in Ontario’s unique natural landscape.
Your GPS will take you to the main entrance that boasts campgrounds and vast trails. If you want to park close to the falls, we found the parking lot here to be the best place to stop. It is located right next to the falls and at a trailhead that will lead you through the forest. You can follow this trail down the Sauble River until you hit Lake Huron.
Once you leave the Park, take the scenic route back to town along down Rankin Bridge Road. This gravel road winds through the thick forest for views that just cannot be beat!
Spirit Rock Conservation Area
The Spirit Rock Conservation Area is full of everything – Canadian history, stunning views and beautiful trails through a lush forest. We were given the heads up on this Park during our second stop at the Luscious Bakery and we are so happy we listened to their advice! It isn’t very clearly marked when you’re on Highway 6 so use this pin for the entrance that will take you to the small parking lot.
See Canadian History
The first thing you come across is Corran House. This is the ruins of the sprawling 17-room mansion of Alexander McNeill, Federal MP from 1881-1901, and his family. The house was the site of many lavish turn-of-the-century parties where every guest would leave with a rose from their vast gardens.
The house is far from its glory days but you can still explore the ruins. This instantly gives you a feel of what it would be like to attend one of the soirées.
A Magical Staircase
Follow the blue trail markers past the ruins until you hit a lookout point giving you a sweeping view of Colpoy’s Bay. Take your snaps, turn right and head down the sturdier-than-it-looks spiral staircase to reach the trail that meanders along the waterway. This trail wanders the entire 8km to the town of Wiarton (more on that below). As ambitious as we normally are, we only walked a kilometre or two until we turned back since we didn’t want to abandon our car!
Visit Wiarton Willie
Sauble Beach is also only about 20 minutes from the town of Ontario’s possibly most famous celebrity – Wiarton Willie! This groundhog is either your best friend or your worst enemy every February 2nd when he climbs out of his den and proclaims an early spring or 6 more weeks of winter. The “original” Willie died in 1999 so the town erected a statue in his honour that is now the site of all subsequent Willie predictions.
The small town of Wiarton is also worth visiting to stroll through their traditional Main Street. You can pick up some tasty treats or stop into one of the local shops for a memento of this mystic rodent.
Visit Southampton Ontario
A short 15 minute drive from Sauble Beach is Ontario’s oldest port on the Bruce Coast, Southampton. This historical town is famous for its welcoming atmosphere, long beaches and isolated lighthouse.
The easiest way to reach the lighthouse is by parking here and carefully walking down the steep trail beaten into the hill. From there, you can carefully walk as close to the lighthouse as you dare. You really need to be paying attention to your surroundings at this point because the water can get really rough with waves crashing over you path.
Kailey slipped on the way to the lighthouse and a big wave snuck up on Mark soaking him from the knees down while dodging seagulls. If a particularly oversized one comes at you it can have enough power to knock you into the lake.
Visit A Local Farm
No excursion to rural Ontario is complete without stopping at one of the many family-run farms dotted across the countryside. We always try to stop at least once to support local farmers and pick up the freshest in-season produce we can find. This time we were on the hunt for squash and, of course, pumpkins.
We also know the selection and prices at these farms to be so much better than what you can get at the supermarkets in the city. Go yourself, bring a friend, or bring you family for a fun veggie hunt!
Hi Berry Farm Southampton
We found Hi-Berry Farm just outside of Southampton and stopped by on our way back to Toronto. There is a huge selection of pumpkins, both big and small, as well as so many other gourds and squash. This is also the place that introduced us to Red Kuri Squash!
There is not much produce that is new to us so it is exciting to come across one. This squash is round, a charming shade of red, and tastes a bit like chestnuts. This is not surprising when you learn that Kuri is Japanese for chestnut – we learn new things everyday! With our arms full of various veggies, we were pleasantly surprised at the low prices at check out. We highly recommend a stop at Hi-Berry if you’re anywhere near the area! This is essential to cap off any rural road trip.
Have you ever been to the Sauble Beach area? Let us know your favourite places to stay, eat, and explore to let us know what to do next!
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