Grand Bend, Ont., is one of those places you have to visit if you live in the province. The beach town has been honoured for its magical sunsets, and the provincial park in the area boasts rare coastal dunes that can be explored even as summer turns to fall.
If you’re driving from Toronto or the GTA, it will take you approximately three hours to get to Grand Bend.
The town is nestled along the shores of Lake Huron between Goderich and Sarnia.
As mentioned, the sunsets here are out of this world, and if you’re going to head to town for a day trip, you have to stay to watch the sun go down.
At the end of the Grand Bend strip on Main Street, you’ll find the public beach — the perfect place to pull out a blanket and catch the sunset.
Before the sun goes down, though, head up the road to Pinery Provincial Park.
This Ontario park also has sandy spots to enjoy, with 10 km of beachfront to stroll along. Pinery’s landmass was created over the past 6,000 years by sand dune formations, which have left behind an “impressive coastal sand dune complex spanning over 9.5 km”.
During autumn, the park’s 21 square kilometres of rare forests are decorated with changing colours and falling leaves.
The Wilderness Trail is a 3 km trail offering the best opportunities to see a variety of the park’s features.
Hikers will venture through some of the park’s oldest forest growth, through a Red Pine and mixed Oak-Pine forest, then over to the shore of Lake Huron.
After you catch the sunset, cap off your day in Grand Bend, Ont., at the local watering hole — The Growling Gator. The restaurant is right on the beach and is known for having excellent drinks and great vibes.
Grand Bend is the perfect place for a road trip before summer ends or as fall rolls in, so pack a bag and enjoy your visit, Ontario.
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