This campy Ontario beach town oozing charm was once home to a legendary amusement park, Canada Reviews

A popular summer beach destination in the Niagara Region has been drawing visitors for decades, but back in its heyday, it was a major tourist attraction for very different reasons than the gorgeous white sand and clear waters visitors flock to today.

Crystal Beach is a laid-back Lake Erie beach town nestled in Fort Erie, just under a two-hour drive from Toronto. According to Visit Niagara Canada, for more than a century, the site was one of Ontario’s greatest summer playgrounds. From 1888 to 1989, the village was home to Crystal Beach Amusement Park, a massive lakeside attraction that drew generations of visitors to the shoreline for roller coasters and summertime midway rides. Beyond that, the area was kind of like a vintage mini-Vegas, with grand hotels, restaurants, concerts and even dance halls.

Like many old-school amusement parks, Crystal Beach eventually faced competition from larger players (hello, Canada’s Wonderland) and shut down in 1989, ending a 101-year run. That amusement-park era is gone now, but the spirit of it hasn’t totally disappeared. These days, Crystal Beach has reinvented itself as one of Niagara’s most charming getaway destinations.

The main draw is Bay Beach, a public beach that many visitors still know simply as Crystal Beach. The sandy Lake Erie shoreline has clear, shallow-looking water, with an accessible ramp, a festival square and a playground. It’s the perfect spot to spend the day swimming or sprawled out in the sand with a book (you’ll definitely want to settle in for a few hours and enjoy the Lake Erie sunshine).

Just steps from the sand, on Erie Rd, you’ll find Crystal Ball Café. Nestle in at the street-side patio with a large mochaccino and a decadent almondine pastry in hand.

From there, wander back toward the water or check out more of the village’s food scene. Mabel’s Gourmet Pizza serves authentic thin-crust pies that make for a perfect post-beach meal, while South Coast Cookhouse is home to some of the most talked-about Caesars in the Niagara region. For a more zen-filled afternoon or evening, head to Gather Tasting Room for a guided wine tasting and light bites.

Then there’s one of Crystal Beach’s biggest food draws: Rizzo’s House of Parm, the Italian-American restaurant from our fave celebrity chef and The Bear actor Matty Matheson. The restaurant, aptly named after his daughter, serves family-style comfort food classics, like linguine and clams, chicken cacciatore and Matty’s bolognese. Toronto diners also got a temporary taste of the Crystal Beach fave last month, when a pop-up version of the restaurant landed in the city!

For a bit of shopping, wander along Derby Rd to see some chic boutiques. One Earth sells natural skin and hair products that make perfect souvenirs, while you’ll find curated vintage finds at VTGwayCO.

For the best timing, go on a Thursday during the summer and stay for the Crystal Beach Waterfront Supper Market. The weekly event brings together food trucks, local wine and craft beer vendors, as well as live music. It’s not quite a CNE-level spectacle, but it does bring a little summer-fair energy back to the village, and you’ll have the most amazing waterfront views.

Crystal Beach is also a good base for exploring the Fort Erie area as a whole. The Friendship Trail runs along a former rail corridor and is a super easy route for walking or cycling, with sections that lead toward Lake Erie waterfront parks and the Niagara River Recreation Trail.

History lovers can head to Old Fort Erie: the War of 1812 National Historic Site includes seasonal musket demonstrations, with actors decked out in period uniforms. The Fort Erie Historical Museum in nearby Ridgeway is another worthwhile stop, especially if you want more context on Crystal Beach’s amusement-park era.

After exploring Crystal Beach, check out this hidden stretch of Niagara just 90 minutes from Toronto: it has stunning white-sand beaches and canal-town charm.