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Sarnia is the first stop on a Lake Huron road trip if you are starting from the south. And it is a stop worth exploring for a weekend summer vacation. Sarnia sits at the edge of the St. Clair River and Lake Huron to provide beautiful waterfront scenery from every trail or park along the shores.
To the north of town is the expansive Lake Huron, while the river runs along the west side of Sarnia. With this location, Sarnia offers visitors dozens of opportunities for fun in the waters, including boating, swimming, or tours.
During your stay, take time off the waters to help celebrate local events, explore the local history, or to taste your way around Sarnia’s eateries and breweries.
Water and Huron Beach Fun
Credit: City of Sarnia
One of Lake Huron’s most appreciated Blue Flag beaches is right here in Sarnia. Canatara Park is a popular beach destination for many in or visiting from outside of Ontario. Canatara is on the west side of the shores and city; and if you follow Lakeshore Road east from Canatara, you’ll find many other but much smaller beaches and parks near the water.
- Canatara Beach, one of Ontario’s Blue Flag Beaches, is on the west side of Sarnia’s Huron shoreline. The park hosts a few of Sarnia’s summer events, is a beautiful place to swim, has trails around a smaller lake, and all the amenities you’d need for a day at the beach. Plus, Canatara Park is also home to the Seaway Kawanis Sarnia Children’s Animal Farm Petting Zoo, the Canatara Choo Choo (a kids’ train), and a BMX track.
- Baxter Beach is within walking distance from Canatara Park and Beach and offers a quieter place for beach relaxation.
- Follow the shoreline and Lakeshore Road east from Canatara Park to reveal several small, quiet beaches.
- Sarnia’s Boarder Pass Wakeboard Park offer a unique water experience on the St. Clair River. The company operates from Centennial Park to offer visitors wakeboarding lessons and fun on the river.
- Take a more relaxing ride on the river with Duc D’Orleans cruise trips that can include your choice of brunch or lunch.
Historical & Cultural Attractions in Sarnia
The summer events in Sarnia are one way to explore local arts, culture, or history. These additional experiences around town offer even more opportunities for enjoying things like local art exhibits, concerts, or the historical and natural landmarks around Sarnia.
- This self-guided Heritage Walking Tour covers about 5km of city roads and historical stops, and can take about an hour and a half to complete. Sarnia’s Trees of Distinction Bike Tour is about 21km of a looping trail around the city and can take up to 2 and a half hours.
- The Lawrence House Arts Centre in Sarnia offer new galleries to see every month. They also provide art classes, workshops, and yoga classes. The Judith & Norman Alix Art Gallery often have one feature exhibit for the summer, as well as a few summer events like the upcoming Group of Seven Day on July 7th.
- Sarnia’s Imperial Theatre host live performances for musical acts, and for musical theatre with the season running from April to September.
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The Top Sarnia Trails
Find great hikes and bike ride opportunities within Sarnia, or a short distance outside of the city. The trails follow both waterfronts from the St. Clair River to Lake Huron.
- Sarnia’s portion of the Great Lakes Waterfront Trail can bring your hike in two different directions. To head south and follow the St. Clair River, use the Guthrie Park staging area. And to head the other direction on the trail, you can begin at Canatara Park and follow the trail east as far as you’d like to go!
- The Perch Creek Wildlife Management Area, southeast of Sarnia, is a great hike for escaping any crowds or busyness. The wetland area offers about 4km of trails, which create smaller loops for shorter hikes.
- To find a great walk right in town, start at Centennial Park and follow the Sarnia Bayshore Trail along the waterfront and through gardens. Visitors can explore tranquil trails, the patriotic Court of Flags, and the Andrew S. Brandt Marina.
Summer Events & Festivals in Sarnia
No matter your interests, these Sarnia summer events and festivals cover so many different topics, themes, and holidays that there is guaranteed to be something for everyone. A few are single-day or single-weekend events, while some may last through the whole summer.
- In June each year, Sarnia-Lambton jointly celebrate the Bluewater Borderfest, a three-day music festival.
- The Sarnia Canada Day celebrations typically take up the entire day, starting with an 11 am parade and concluding with an 11pm firework show.
- Couldn’t make the rock acts at Borderfest? The July Revelree Music Festival in Sarnia offers a chance to enjoy a variety of live acts and performances.
- The Sounds of Summer is a series of free outdoor concerts from the Canatara Park Pavilion and stage. Catch live shows here during the week in the summer months.
Sarnia’s Local Dining
A great number of restaurants, bars, and cafes are concentrated in the downtown area. However, outside of downtown Sarnia and away from the river are many, many other local eateries to try during your stay.
- As the summer heat sets in, you may be looking for a nice, airy patio; look no further than local spots like Paddy Flaherty’s, Alternate Grounds Dockside, The Tin Fiddler, or Bad Dog.
- Tour the local breweries of Sarnia with stops at Point Brewing, Imperial City Brewhouse, Davis by Refined Fool Brewing Company, or River Run Brew Co. Each of these breweries also has great patios!
- Sarnia is home to a great variety of local cafes. Even for those who don’t enjoy coffee, these locations offer much more, like sweets and pastries, breakfast, brunch, or lunch. The Coffee Lodge and the Overflow Café are both nice and close to Canatara Park and Beach. Selina’s South East Café, or Coffee Culture Cafe & Eatery are two options close to Sarnia’s Germain Park. And for downtown riverside cafes, choose between Blackwater Coffee Co., a second Coffee Culture Cafe & Eatery, or Greens Café (a vegan restaurant).
Where to Stay in Sarnia
Take your pick between a number of great accommodation options around Sarnia, no matter the type of vacation you’d like to have. These rentals, campgrounds, hotels, and cabins are suited to couples for romantic stays, large groups for family vacations, single-person rooms, or summer celebrations.
- Sarnia is surrounded by a great deal of cozy campgrounds including Paradise Valley in Plympton-Wyoming, the Lorne C. Henderson Conservation Area or the Countryview Motel & RV Resort. Each campground boasts its own on-site activities.
- There are a few hotel options along the scenic St. Clair Riverfront like The Insignia Hotel, Days Inn, or Fourt Points by Sheraton, to name a few.
- Stay near Sarnia’s other waterfront area and what is known as Ontario’s Blue Coast with these adorable lakeside cottages and cabins.
- The vacation rentals by owner in and south of Sarnia offer a huge variety of accommodation options. Choose between places like Tiny Homes within a beautiful garden, a full home next to the beach, a smaller lakeside loft cottage, and many more.
