Our adventures at the beginning of the summer were pretty Toronto and pool-centric but let me assure you – my husband Andy and I also LOVE road trips and swimming in unchlorinated water.
There are many great things about living in a city as big and vibrant as Toronto, but I also spend a lot of my time here yearning to be some place calmer. We are lucky to have a car and to live at the edge of the city, making weekend day trips remarkably easy. There are so many beautiful places within just a couple of hours of Toronto and there are so many lakes, beyond the great ones that everyone flocks to.
One of my favourite places to go swimming is at Pinehurst Lake Conservation Area.
Every year for Christmas my mom gifts Andy and I a season’s pass for the Grand River Conservation Authority. There are lots of great conservation authorities is southern Ontario, but if swimming is important to you, it’s hard to beat this one. The majority of the included conservation areas have beaches! We have been to them all. And while there are definitely a couple of more impressive conservation areas along the Grand River, when I just want to go for a swim, Pinehurst is the one I keep coming back to. Without a pass, it’s $19 for a carload of up to six people to spend the day there.
Near Paris, Ontario, Pinehurst Lake is just over an hour’s drive from home, and within that time we’re transported to a serene lake surrounded by trees.
The changerooms here are amazing. The large wooden building just across from the beach contributes to the ever-present summer camp vibes. Half of the women’s changing area is comprised of individual changing areas, and the other half is the washroom. There is even a shower if you don’t want to take sand home with you.
It’s not a huge beach, but it’s a decent size, and arriving at around 10 am on an overcast Saturday morning ensured there weren’t many other patrons to have to fight with for beach space. In fact, there were only a couple of other people in the water for most of the time we were there. It’s a smaller lake and it’s been a hot summer so the water was the perfect temperature. The beach is sandy and it gets deep gradually. There are ropes to indicate where the water becomes deep. As is the case with most beaches we’ve visited outside of Toronto, there are no lifeguards on duty – swim at your own risk and keep a close eye on any kids you’re with.
They rent peddle boats and canoes and you can bring your own canoe, kayak, or paddleboard. It’s a very calm lake that would be perfect for a beginner.
There is also camping available at Pinehurst, and while I haven’t done this, the sites appear to be a decent size and fairly secluded. Close to the beach there’s a large open area with picnic tables and grills than can be rented. It would be a great place for a family picnic or outdoor birthday celebration. There are also a couple of short hiking trails, which we’ve done in the past. They’re not amazing but they take you through the forest and around part of the lake and it’s a nice way to earn your jump in the lake.
We spent an hour swimming, and with so few people there we really were able to get some exercise in. We were lucky that the threatening rain never materialized!
After spending some time drying off on the beach we realized it was only noon and far too early to head back to the city. On a whim, we decided to check out Brantwood Farms.
Just a 15 minute drive from Pinehurst Lake, Brantwood Farms is one of those destination farms that offers way more than apples or a modest country store. One of the things they offer is the opportunity to pick your own bouquet of flowers. I’d never done that before and loved the idea. Truly, it was a great way to spend a half hour, and our bouquet is still brightening up our apartment (though I believe its days are numbered).
This place would be perfect for young kids. They have all kinds of farm animals as well as a huge play space including jumping pillows.
The country store sells fresh produce, frozen meals, and all sorts of snacks and preserves and honey from local producers. I wholeheartedly recommend the donuts!
We got back in the car just before the rain started and made it home just before the thunder!
Naiad Notes 
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