Written By Alan Good
TRAVEL - Many of you may have driven along Lake Huron, heading for a particular destination, and viewed the vast number of cottages and homes, but have you gone just to stop at any of the roadside vendors and towns? If you wish, you can purchase snacks or your entire dinner all the while enjoying the view.
My wife and I like to start at a lake point such as Port Franks or Kettle Point, but you could choose Grand Bend. Nurseries, eateries, and shopping sprees can be had along the route.
Some of our favourite spots are the Pinery Market and the opportunity to take a private fishing cruise. Stop at Westland Greenhouses south of Grand Bend for all your garden needs. Speaking of nurseries, there are several on highway 21 as you head north. Goderich has much to offer, such as the walk along the newly constructed wooden beach path. You will find the hiking path over the old train trestle to be closed due to repairs on the old structure.
Looking for a light lunch along the way? The Pine River Cheese shop north of Goderich offers fresh baked pizza and beer, or take home a frozen pizza and, of course, cheese. Another delight, and more so as the season progresses, are the many roadside produce stands that offer local fruit and vegetables.
Just south of Kincardine, you can turn off the highway at Point Clark and tour the lighthouse, one of six Imperial Towers built in the 1850s. It is the only lighthouse on the Great Lakes and Georgian Bay to receive that highest level of merit.
Travel through—but stop occasionally—the port towns such as Kincardine and Port Elgin. You never know what you might find in these places. I suggest you can drive west along most streets and find the lake waiting. These are often great places to catch the sunset if you are out that long.
Larger places such as Port Elgin offer more. That’s why we usually end up in Southampton. There is plenty to see there, but more on that next time.
A casual drive along our western shore is sure to revitalize you. Take a day trip anytime the weather permits. The nice part is that you can pick and choose where to start and where to end your drive. And to state a time that it takes to travel the route is pointless because the point of the journey is the journey—and easing your mind.
