Five great beaches within a day’s drive

Now that we’ve had the year’s first hot days, you’ve probably started daydreaming about summertime on the beach. I hear ya.

You may be surprised to realize how many beaches are within a day’s drive of Ottawa. (Granted, in some cases, it is a very LONG day, so don’t try some of these as the sole driver.) You won’t find many palm trees or mariachi bands on the beaches below, but you will find lots of sand and fresh air. Just the cure for a sultry Ottawa summer.

Gatineau Park, Quebec

If you’re really energetic, you can bike from Parliament Hill to O’Brien Beach at Meech Lake (it’s a 50-km round trip). In all, there are five public beaches on three lakes in Gatineau Park, along with one beach open only to campers. O’Brien is the closest, while La Peche is the furthest. Swimming is only allowed when lifeguards are on duty (daily, 10am to 6pm). New in 2015: a snack bar at Breton Beach. Distance from Ottawa: 25km (O’Brien) to 56km (La Peche)

Family fun at Lac Philippe in Gatineau Park. Photo courtesy of the National Capital Commission.

Sandbanks Provincial Park, Ontario

Choose from three beaches at Sandbanks Provincial Park in Prince Edward County: Outlet Beach, Sandbanks Beach and Dunes Beach. Outlet is particularly family friendly, while Dunes has a steep drop-off and is best for experienced swimmers. (However, note that none of the beaches have lifeguards.) This park has some of the world’s highest freshwater dunes—as high as 60 metres. During the summer, park interpreters are on hand to give the whole family insights into the park’s ecology. Or you could just slather on the sunscreen and enjoy the view. Distance from Ottawa: 285km

Whitecaps on the scenic shore of Lake Ontario. Flickr/Creative Commons photo by ActiveSteve.

Long Point, Ontario

Except for the lack of palm trees, on a warm summer day you could be in the Caribbean as you stroll the endless sandy beach at Long Point on Lake Erie. Over a kilometre of it runs through Long Point Provincial Park, and most of the rest is dotted with cottages (some of which you can rent, which is how my family discovered it). Nearby fun includes Zipline tours at Long Point Eco-Adventures and tastings at Burning Kiln Winery (try them in that order, not the other way around). Distance from Ottawa: 625km

Long Point Beach offers a seemingly endless stretch of gorgeous sand. Photo copyright Laura Byrne Paquet.

Old Orchard Beach, Maine

This is a classic New England beach town, and the 150-metre-long pier is a fun place to eat, shop or simply hang out and watch the world go by. Munch on a lobster roll. Buy a few lighthouse-themed knickknacks. And listen—you may hear just as much French as English. Long a popular destination for Quebec travellers, Old Orchard Beach is home to lots of shops and restaurants offering service in both of Canada’s official languages. Distance from Ottawa: 641km

The pier at Old Orchard Beach. Photo courtesy of the Maine Office of Tourism.

Cavendish Beach, Prince Edward Island

OK, this is a bit of a cheat: you’d have to be crazy to try this drive in a single day, even with multiple drivers. But if you have a few days, it’s worth the trip. Cavendish Beach in Prince Edward Island National Park has it all: red cliffs, salt air, proximity to Green Gables Heritage Place, and—the pièce de résistance—free “classes” with bilingual local artist Maurice Bernard. In the summer, he’s on hand to help you build a grandiose sandcastle, complete with moat, drawbridge and turrets. If you’d rather replicate the Taj Mahal, the Centre Block or some other building, he’ll help you with that, too. Distance from Ottawa: 1,335km

Maurice Bernard will help you build the sandcastle of your dreams. Photo copyright Laura Byrne Paquet.

What’s your favourite beach getaway within driving distance? Let me know in the comments!

Disclosure: I discovered Old Orchard Beach as a guest of the Maine Office of Tourism and Cavendish Beach as a guest of Tourism PEI.

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