My family loves beach getaways and we make it a point to visit a beach town each summer. Last summer we visited the coastal town of Crystal Beach. For winter break, we decided we wanted a change of scenery, and decided to see what it would like to visit a beach town in the off-season, so we searched Airbnb and found a cozy cottage in Sauble Beach.
The only downside of working from home is that when you take days off work, you are technically still in the office. We were longing for a change in routine and with speculation that another lockdown was likely coming in the new year, now was the time to escape our mundane lives for a little quiet getaway near the water.
Where is Sauble Beach Located?
Sauble Beach is a beach communicate in the Southwestern region of Ontario. It is located in the town of South Bruce Peninsula, Bruce County, approximately 2.5 hours (218 km) northwest of Toronto.
Fun Facts about Sauble Beach
- Sauble Beach is 11 km (7 miles) long, making it the second-longest freshwater beach in Canada, (the longest is Wasaga Beach).
- Situated on Lake Huron, which is one of the five Great Lakes in North America.
- Lake Huron is the second largest of the five Great Lakes and the forth largest lake in the world.
- Known as the Retro beach as it was retrofitted to resemble it’s 1950’s appearance.
- Sauble Beach is a designated Blue Flag beach, which is a symbol of beach excellence. Blue Flag beaches attract tourists seeking clean, natural beaches that adhere to strict standards – as described by Ontario Nature Blog
Accomodation options in Sauble Beach?
If you are looking for accommodations in Sauble Beach, there are lots of options available to choose from.
- Hotels: You will find many hotels and motels down the main road leading to the beach entrance.
- Resorts: There are a few resorts around town, also within minutes of the beach.
- Camping: There are a few campgrounds and RV parks located within a few minutes of the beach.
- Cottages:We saw many cottage rental signs. We used Airbnb to find our accommodations.
Where we stayed
We stayed at the COMPLETELY RENOVATED cottage, steps from the Beach hosted by Tiffany. The cottage was amazingly cozy and exactly what we were looking for. The host was fantastic to deal with. The cottage was less than a 5-minute walk to the water and is also dog friendly, which was important to us.
The cottage was so close to the beach that when you opened the door to the cottage you could hear the waves crashing against the frozen sands. A sound that we find soothing.
Daily we bundled up in all our winter gear and headed to the beach for a walk and to breathe in the fresh lake air.
What amenities does Sauble Beach Have?
In town, just a few minutes up the main strip from the beach, you will find:
- A grocery store that the week we were there was fully stocked
- An LCBO for all your wine, cocktail and beer needs
- A handful of mom and pop restaurants – however not all are open throughout the winter
- Luscious Bakery Deli Cafe Inc. – check operating hours on their we
- A few indie coffee shops – Amiscis, the Wellness Refiner – but check their hours as they don’t appear to be open all winter. Outside of town you can find a few drive through Tim Hortons and in Owen Sound there is a Starbucks.
What is there to do in Sauble Beach?
In winter – not a whole lot – so if you are looking for a quiet getaway, this may be the perfect spot for you. We enjoyed walking along the beach. There is a swing set on the beach, and my daughter loved making sand angels. She even found a way to have fun with a bike rack. 🙂 Kids are imaginative!
In summer, there is the beach, plenty of shops, cafes, restaurants around the main beach area. There is camping, mini-golf, and even a sports center right on the beach which is equipped with a rope aerial park.
A short drive from the Beach
Tobermory, Ontario is a 1-hour drive north of Sauble Beach. We made the drive to check out the town. We visited Big Tub lighthouse, which is a working lighthouse still in use, and stopped by the local Tobermory Brewing Company & Grill and picked up some craft beers to try.
Final Thoughts
We loved our short time in Sauble Beach in the winter. It was the perfect quiet getaway. We would like to return in the summer months to experience the town when it is fully open and at its full capacity. Let me know in the comments if you have visited Sauble Beach or what other beach towns in Ontario would you recommend?
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