Tucked away on the southwest shores of Lake Huron, Grand Bend is one of our favourite places to go. This little beach town’s population goes from 5,000 to 60,000 in the summer and its not hard to see why.
From camping to biking to jet skiing. There are tons of great things to do at Grand Bend.
Top things to do at Grand Bend
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Biking
Located along the shores of Lake Huron, the Great Lakes Waterfront Trail passes right through Grand Bend. Including a 9km off-road section from the main town area to Pinery Provincial Park. Pinery itself has the 14-kilometre Savanna Bike Trail that follows along the Old Ausable River Channel and travels through the wooded landscape of the park.
Pinery Market
A quintessential Grand Bend activity. Every Sunday starting from May until Thanksgiving, the Pinery Market is the place to be. Starting in the ’60s as a small antique market, the market has grown and now has anything from handicrafts to local produce.
The atmosphere is always fun and lively, there’s live music and even a licensed area. There’s a little something for everyone.
Antiquing
As well as the Pinery Market, Grand Bend is home to tons of great antique stores selling all sorts of nicknacks. There’s everything, including kitchen sinks!
There are so many things you can find, from beautifully built Mennonite furniture to rustic home decor items to a unique variety of collectibles.
There are so many interesting things to see at these stores, one can spend hours just browsing around.
Pinery Provincial Park
Just south of the main town is Pinery Provincial Park. One of our favourite places to go camping, there is no shortage of activities to do. There is over 10km of beautiful sandy beaches and tons of great trails for hiking and biking.
The ecology of the Pinery goes from Oak Savanna to Coastal Dune Ecosystems. Additionally, Pinery also has the Old Ausable Channel. This historical channel runs from Main St through to the Ausable River Cut at Port Frank.
This Provincially significant wetland has a history dating all the way back to 1830 and the first European settlers in the area.
Main Street
No visit to Grand Bend is complete without a trip down Main Street. The main drag of the town has a great retro beach town vibe.
It feels like you’ve been transported to a small 1960 southern California beach town. There are lots of little ice cream and candy shops, with a lot of interesting stores selling beach gear or handicrafts. With tons of great patios and bars, the town also comes alive at night.
Grand Bend Beach
Located right at the end of the Main St is Grand Bend Beach. One of only 27 in Canada to have earned official Blue Flag status. The main beach is very popular and has a great beachy vibe. Filled with tons of people the beach gets packed, so come early to get a spot if you plan on coming. The beach also hosts free concerts on Grand Bend’s beach each Sunday or holiday Monday in July and August. For a quieter experience, check out the South beach located on the other side of the river opening.
Water Sports
If you’ve made yourself down to the main Beach, one of the most popular things to do in Grand Bend is to participate in some water sports. Famous for its Jet skis, speedboats and pontoons are all rentable by the hour.
You can also charter a boat with a captain to take you wakeboarding, tubing or just relaxing out on the water. Another fun activity is to take in some beautiful aerial views of Lake Huron from a Parasail.
Grand Bend Motorplex
Apart from the beach, Grand Bend is also home to the Grand Bend Motorplex. The Motorplex hosts many racing and vintage car events throughout the year, where spectators are welcome to come to watch. Camping facilities on-site, where people are allowed to stay during some of the multi-day events. Lapping days are open for visitors are welcome to bring their own vehicles to race around the track. There are even racing lessons for those speed demons who are looking for a bit more action.
Skydiving
For those whose need for adrenaline can’t be satisfied with just water sports or racing, there is also skydiving available. Sport Parachuting Center provides services for everyone from first-time to fully licenced jumpers. Here you can take your first jump in tandem or take courses and be able to get certified and jump on your own.
Looking for something closer to Toronto? Check out our Top 10 places to check see in Mississauga
Port Blake Day Park
If you’re coming in just for a day trip Port Blake Day Park is the perfect place to go. Located right at the intersection of Hwy 38 and 21, Port Blake is easy to get to, without having to deal with the crowds of the main Grand Bend area.
Port Blake has a large picnicking area and beach. The park does tend to fill up by noontime, so be sure to come earlier to get a spot.
Sunset
Facing west over Lake Huron, the sun sets almost directly over the water, making for some amazing sunsets. Voted as one of the best sunsets in the world. The beaches fill up during sunsets, as everyone quietly gathers to watch the sun pass under the horizon, and lights the sky from beneath.
Definitely worth spending the night to enjoy.