LEISURE
Best Day Trips 🚙
As much as we love this city, it’s nice to get out of town every once and a while to explore the surrounding area. Here are five destinations within an hour’s drive that make for an exciting day trip!
St. Mary’s Quarry
Closed in the 1920s before re-opening as a public swimming hole in the 1940s, this former limestone Quarry is a short 45-minute drive from the city and always a hit on a hot and humid southwestern Ontario summer day. If you’re not into cliff jumping, paddleboarding or generally floating around, there’s also a second quarry right next door for those wanting to dip their line in the water and do a little fishing for some rock bass.
Stratford’s Festival
There’s a lot to do in Stratford—an hour’s drive east of London—but it’s the famous Stratford Festival, running April through October, that’s made a name for the town. Across four distinct venues, the theatre company produces a range of work each season including musicals, contemporary and classic dramas and a continued commitment to the Shakespearean plays they’re known for.
Shaw’s Ice Cream
Stopping at Shaw’s for ice cream on the way home from Port Stanley is an unwritten rule of summer. And now that we’ve told you that, you’re pretty much obliged to do so now. Here’s the menu: start studying/drooling. 🤤
Bayfield’s Black Dog Village Pub & Bistro
Whisk yourself away to the Black Dog Village Pub and Bistro in Bayfield for the chance to experience one of the region’s most robust whiskey lists. There are other spirits and a great beer selection as well…meaning this day trip might be better as an overnighter 😉!
Growling Gator’s Patio
We’ve talked about Grand Bend’s sunsets in another list, but if you’re all done playing in the water and looking to watch the sun go down with a tall, cool beer in hand: we can’t think of a better patio than the Growling Gator. Check. These. Views.