Wasaga Beach: Fun in the Sun

The first time I visited Wasaga Beach, I was amazed; it was like a Florida beach without the palm trees in the middle of my home province of Ontario, Canada.

I suspect that Canada does not usually come to mind when people are thinking about a beach vacation. However, it does get hot in the summer and Southern Ontario is actually located farther south than many American States.

Yes, the winters are cold but the summers can be very hot and nothing beats the heat more than a trip to the beach.

Canadian Weather

The temperature in Southern Ontario ranges from 25 to 35 degrees Celsius during the summer. That's not cold, that's Celsius and it converts to between 77 to 95 degrees Fahrenheit. It actually "feels" hotter than that since the heat in many parts of Canada is quite humid and can be harder to tolerate than the drier heats of other countries. The weather report always includes the "humidex" so we know in advance how much hotter it will feel and how uncomfortable we can expect to be!

Therefore catching the cool breezes lake side is a great way to enjoy the summer because who wants to spend hot and humid days indoors enjoying the air conditioning?

The best place to enjoy those breezes is at the beach.

Facts about Wasaga Beach

Wasaga is a beautiful sandy beach that stretches 8.7 miles along the southern tip of Georgian Bay in the Canadian province of Ontario.

It is the longest freshwater beach in the world. Although Wasaga is a destination all year round, it is busiest during the summer months and appeals to those who want to party as well as those who want some quiet family time. Wasaga has it all!

The Wasaga Beach shoreline is divided into six beach areas. These areas are all distinct. Beach Area One is where the action is sporting a boardwalk with restaurants, bars, and places to shop. It is the place to hang out and be seen. Beach One is at the eastern tip of the beach that runs west through areas 2 to 6. The beaches become less busy and more family oriented as you progress west. The outer beaches do not have a busy boardwalk area and are much quieter more suited to families with little ones. The beaches become more natural and less "commercial" as you go west to beach 6 the outmost beach.

Wasaga is a protected park so it is clean and well looked after. The beaches are combed with grooming equipment on a daily basis. You will see patrol jeeps making the rounds to ensure your safety. There are washrooms and change rooms at each beach as well as ample parking for vehicles. Wasaga has won international awards for maintaining the beach and protecting natural habitats in the area.

Wasaga has a wooded area right along the beach which is fantastic when you have had enough sun. There are picnic tables everywhere and you can move them around to suit. On weekends its best to get there early to find a good spot to barbeque.

1. Sun hat and Sunscreen. Put the sunscreen on before you arrive, it takes time for your skin to absorb it and benefit from the protection.
2. Cooler full of cool drinks - preferably water - its hot out there.
3. First Aid Kit - someone always gets a scrape or cut, especially those kiddies, keep the disinfectant handy.
4. Beach Umbrella or Shelter - A must have, you won't be able to stay out very long on the sandy beach without these.
5. Toys! - For those of you who spend most of your time in the water, don't forget the boogie board, and beach ball. And for those of you who prefer dry land - don't forget your buckets, sand shovels, frisbee or football.
6. Beach Towels - to dry off or lie down on.
7. Beach chairs -for under that umbrella and for those of you who like to read on the beach (that's me!)
8. Cooler for Food - don't forget the snacks or the grub for your picnic!

Wasaga Beach has some of the most beautiful sunsets. It's so relaxing and peaceful to walk along the beach and watch the sunset. It's also just as wonderful to get up early and watch the sunrise. Stunning!

Wasaga Beach has some history. During the War of 1812 (when the Americans declared war on the British in Canada) three American Ships cornered the HMS Nancy on the Nottawasaga River of Wasaga Beach.

The HMS Nancy was destroyed in the battle and the remaining hull of the ship created an obstruction on the river. Over time, there was a build up of silt and sand and this created an island. The Island was later named in honour of the fallen HMS Nancy.

Nancy Island now houses a lighthouse and a museum that displays the hull of the HMS Nancy. There is an annual re-enactment of the attack on the historic ship. This takes place in July during a festival called "Wasaga Under Siege".

So as you can see in addition to the beautiful beaches and the fresh water there are sites to visit for you history buffs out there.