An easy drive from the tip of the Bruce Peninsula to the bottom of Lambton Shores, this epic road trip
takes you along the coast of Lake Huron, home of the most beautiful sunsets in the world.

Along the way you can take in historic sites, hiking trails, specialty shops and the best in local food fare. If this is your first time experiencing this part of Ontario, we can guarantee it won’t be your last.

1. Survey the shipwrecks in Tobermory

Dive into the incredible sites at Fathom Five National Marine Park. This conservation area boasts an aquatic ecosystem that contains shipwrecks and geological wonders. Start your day early (things get crowded quickly around here) with a glass-bottom boat tour to Flowerpot Island to see the iconic rock formations. Explore the island itself to discover the lightstation, hiking trails and rare plants. If you’re a diver, this park is a paradise, with lots of cliffs and caves, and more than 20 shipwrecks to see. pc.gc. ca/en/amnc-nmca/on/fathomfive

2. Look for lighthouses along the coast

Between Tobermory and Grand Bend there are more than 15 lighthouses that dot the landscape on both the Georgian Bay coast and the Lake Huron coast. You could spend days just visiting them alone and learning about Ontario’s marine history. The Bruce Coast Lighthouse Tour website offers a map and tips for checking them out. Our favourite idea? Take a watercolour pad or canvas and immortalize them in your own artwork. brucecoast lighthouses.com

 

3. Savour the spooky at Spirit Rock Conservation Area

Heading out of Tobermory on Highway 6 you’ll pass right by the Spirit Rock Conservation Area just before you hit Wiarton. In 1881, the property belonged to federal MP Alexander McNeill, who put in place orchards, gardens and an enormous mansion he called The Corran. After his death, the family money dwindled and eventually the estate came into the hands of the Conservation Authority, but by that time the house was in ruins and the landscape overgrown. Today you can explore the ruins and take in the stunning views of Colpoy’s Bay from the spiral staircase that runs from the cliffs to the water. It’s a perfect place to picnic and maybe plan that murder mystery book you’ve been wanting to write. greysauble.on.ca/portfolio/spirit-rock-mcneill-estateconservation-area

4. Feast on freshness in saugeen shores

Head west and then south on Highway 13, continuing on Highway 21 along the Lake Huron coast. Your destination is the town of Saugeen Shores, where you’ll find Hi-Berry Farm and its shop filled with fresh produce grown on the 200-acre spread. Pack your basket with fruits and veggies straight from the fields to take home. We guarantee you’ll be hungry when you leave, which is great, as family-run Lord Elgin Fish & Chips, just south on the highway, is a local favourite for its battered halibut and fresh-cut fries. hiberryfarm.com; lordelginfishandchips.com

5. Marvel at the Menesetung Bridge

Step onto this pedestrian bridge and you’re stepping onto more than 100 years of history. This engineering marvel, once the longest bridge in the province, was built in the early 1900s to cross the Maitland River and connect the town of Goderich to the Township of Ashfield-Colborne-Wawanosh by rail. CP Rail used the bridge until 1988, and in the 1990s, locals petitioned to have the structure designated as a place of historic and architectural significance, preventing its demolition. Today, you can walk over the bridge as part of the Maitland, Tiger Dunlop and Goderich-Auburn Rail trails and take in the spectacular views of Goderich’s harbour and the river below. menesetungbridge association.org

 

6. Bask in the Beauty of Bayfield

This pretty little village has long been a not-so-well-kept secret of Lake Huron habituées. In Bayfield, the sandy beaches are soft, the sunsets supreme and the main thoroughfares are full of artisanal shops and highrated eateries. Bayfield has something for everyone, and you’ll find time seems to slow as you relax on the beach, stroll the streets while eating frozen treats from Copenhagen’s or Rosie’s Ice Cream Shoppe, browse the art galleries and boutiques, have a beer on the patio at The Albion Hotel or the Black Dog Village Pub & Bistro and watch the sun go down from a bench in Pioneer Park. villageofbayfield.com

7. Get in on the action in Grand Bend

The end of your road trip brings you to this fun-in-the-sun destination. All the amenities are here, including shops, golf courses, water sports, great restaurants and accommodations; plus, provincial parks and pristine beaches beckon. It’s easy to find enough to do to keep you busy for a day, a weekend or a full week or two. Need some rabblerousing after a quiet day at the beach? Head over to the Grand Bend Motorplex to watch some serious auto racing, or pack the kids in the car for a socially distanced movie night at the Starlite Drive-In Theatre. If culture’s more your jam, take in a play at the Huron County Playhouse or indulge in a wine tasting at Dark Horse Estate Winery. grandbend.com; grandbendmotor plex.com; starlite driveintheatre.com; draytonentertain ment.com; darkhorse estatewinery.com