Lake Huron has been our home for the past 2 years. The past 2 years have been magical and we absolutely love it here. Our family lived in the city before we moved to the Shores of Lake Huron. Our life was always busy and filled with the hustle-bustle of urban living. Moving to Saugeen Shores has been one of the best moves for our family. Just the way we love it here, I know you will too if you are planning to visit the Shores. I am sharing our top 10 things to do in Saugeen Shores hoping you will get to experience a bit of our heaven.
While this list is exclusively for things to do in Saugeen Shores, the north of the Peninsula is also a great place to visit. If you are looking for campgrounds near Tobermory, make sure you check out our top 3 best campgrounds here.
What is Saugeen Shores?
I want to first explain a bit more of what Saugeen Shores comprises of before I jump into our top 10 things to do in Saugeen Shores. Saugeen Shores is a municipality in the Bruce County made up of Southampton, Port Elgin and Saugeen Township. These towns are right on Lake Huron and have some beautiful festivals throughout the year. Saugeen Shores is an all-season destination and there is something for everyone to do no matter what time of the year you decide to visit.
Top 10 things to do!
This is a very simplified list of all the amazing places there are to see in Saugeen Shores! If you are spending a few days at the Shores, these are great to check out!
1. Port Elgin Beach
A lot of the beaches on Lake Huron are rocky. Entering the water and actually staying in the water can be quite challenging. The Port Elgin Beach is a sandy beach, and the water is always warm and refreshing. There is a playground right on the beach and there is a food stand for those hungry children. Watch the birds dancing over your head, set up a picnic for the day, watch the boats at a distance or even sit back and relax in the warm sand. There is a dog beach right by the main Port Elgin beach next to the marina.
2. Port Elgin Downtown
One of my favourite things to do is be a tourist in my own town. The downtown area is lined with unique boutique stores. There are beach geared stores and home décor stores. There are restaurants and coffee shops. You can also just sit on one of the many Muskoka chairs and enjoy the vibe of downtown Port Elgin. Don’t forget to try chocolate from Millcreek! If you are looking for a place to eat, check out Wismer House or Allan’s Fireside Grill.
3. Biener Trail
If hiking is on the agenda, check out this trail. It takes you right into nature and around a marsh area. Even though you are close to the residential area, you won’t know or feel it. The Biener Trail was one of the first trails we visited when we moved to this area and after this point, we knew we were ready to live here.
4. MacGregor Point Provincial Park
One of my favourite Ontario Parks in the area is the MacGregor Point Provincial Park. We have spent days here and we have camped here. MacGregor also has a dog friendly beach in the park and like all Ontario Parks, this park is very pet friendly. If you are planning to visit the park, make sure you purchase a day pass in advance. Click Hereif you are looking to purchase your pass.
5. Goble Cove Beach
I recently found this beach and it is perfect! The beach is sandy and its less crowded than the Port Elgin main beach. Not many tourists are aware of this beach so it is still a special spot for the locals to visit specially during summers!
6. Southampton Downtown
I love downtown Southampton. When you are walking up and down this street, you have the most gorgeous views of the lake and the huge Canada Flag. There is an ice cream shop called Fun in the Sun and this is my favourite place to eat ice cream at. If you are planning to eat here, check out the Walker House. You may need to book a reservation so call ahead! Take your food right near the lake and have a picnic while watching some of the iconic Lake Huron sunsets or looking at Chantry Island.
7. Bagpiper on Friday evenings
Another one of my favourites is going to the Southampton Flagpole on Friday evenings at dusk. There is a bagpiper that plays the most melodious tunes and pipes down the sun. This sight and the vibe are so pure and powerful. I love going there every single Friday to witness this amazing ceremony.
8. Visit Chantry Island
You can take a short boat from Southampton and visit the Chantry Island. There is a lighthouse on the island as the views are beautiful. Chantry Island was closed during COVID but it has finally opened up to visitors!
9. Jubilee Park
If you are planning a visit with children, do not miss this park. Not only does it have a huge playground but it also has an amazing splash pad. There are picnic benches there so don’t forget to pack a picnic and spend an afternoon at this park. It is located right by the big blue water tank in Southampton.
10. Fairy Lake
Another one of our families favourite is the Fairy Lake. This is located right opposite Jubilee Park. There is a trail around the lake and it is such a beautiful walk. If you are planning to visit during Halloween, there is trick or treating on this trail and it is one of the coolest things to see!
BONUS
Port Elgin splash pad! Right by the main beach, there are train tracks. Sadly, the train around the beach area has not started again but if you follow the tracks, it takes you to a very nice splash pad area. There are washrooms right next to the splash pad and the trail around it is right along the water. We have a picnic in this area at least once a week in the summers.
Well, I hope you enjoyed reading out top 10 things to do in Saugeen Shores. There are so many more things to do here and if you are planning to stay longer, make sure you reach out to us for more tips! We have another home in Port Elgin that we have put on Airbnb so if you are looking for a place to live, make sure you check it out here.
Saugeen Shores can easily be one of those stops you make on way to the north of the Bruce Peninsula. With Sauble Beach only 25 minute’s away, a number of people choose to stay in Saugeen Shores. If you choose to stay with us at our AirBnb, we offer free Ontario Parks pass and Discovery Pass for the duration of your stay – this means you do not pay to go to MacGregor, Sauble Falls or the Bruce Peninsula National Park.
If you are planning to drive further to visit the Lion’s Head lookout, Bruce Peninsula National Park, Tobermory or the Flowerpot Island, we have tons of tips and information so make sure you check them out by clicking here.
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