Grand Bend: probably the best beach in Ontario!

Grand Bend, ON

Last summer, we went with another family to Grand Bend. We found one of the best beaches in Ontario about 3 hours from Toronto. Hubby would say it was the best. The waters of Lake Huron were clear and the sand was lovely (well after you hurdle the many stones at the main beach). I will say, though, that over 8Km away, at Pinery Provincial Park beaches (still Lake Huron), the sand was much better. There were less stones and the waters were shallow. The temperature of the water, as well as the strength of the waves, depends on the weather, of course. A couple of days before we arrived, another friend was at the same beach and he said the water was freezing. When we were there, the water was just perfect—strong waves the first day and calm the next.

Grand Bend

We stayed at the Bonnie Doone Manor, the only one which was right across the beach. It was a lovely place. The owners were very hospitable, rooms were clean, and we had everything we needed in our stay. It is actually one of the landmarks of the area with their pink and yellow Adirondacks on the lawn. 

Bonnie Doone Manor @ Grand Bend

It was a perfect place to watch the beautiful sunset at Grand Bend.

sunset @ Grand Bend, ON

It was also a short walk from the beach to the bustling Main St. We enjoyed walking and looking at the many shops along the way. There were many treats for kids of all ages—there were snow cones, ice cream, fudge as well as several bars for the adults. No worries if you forgot your beach wear as you can easily get a pair in one of the shops. Grandma spent over an hour browsing from store to store. There were also a few restaurants, including a Japanese place!

Sno Shack @ Main St., Grand Bend

shops at Main St., Grand Bend

There were also many other activities offered—parasailing, paddleboating, jetskiing, and even water trampoline. You can stroll along the boardwalk or catch one of the summer concerts at the main stage. There was also a splash pad area for kids. They had a clean rinse area with hot water and parking was $20 for the day.

Main Beach entrance at Grand Bend--check out the parasailer!

Wish we could have stayed for week there! We will definitely return as we have marked this as one of our favourite family destinations!