29 | O akville B eaver | T hursday,June 23,2022 insidehalton.com for new or existing cabinets. Design & Install - Lifetime Warranty - Custom to the Millimetre 289-812-8952 Summer is upon us. Before you start packing your shade umbrella, towel and snacks, make shore your destination matches what you are looking for. Whether that's feeling your toes on Port Dover's sandy beach or skydiving over Wasaga, the longest freshwater beach in the world, Southern Ontario offers a variety of esca- pades from the hustle and bustle of the city. Don't forget the sun- screen and remember to pick up your litter at the end of the day. WASAGA Located on the south end of Georgian Bay with a shoreline stretching 14 km and home to six beaches, Wasaga is a crowd-pleaser. Beach 1 and 2 are the busi- est ones with volleyball courts, shops and restau- rants nearby. If you're looking for somewhere dog- friendly, Beach 3 is your go- to spot. Beach 4 offers the best views of the bay, a per- fect location if you enjoy watching the sunset in a quiet and relaxed area. Beach 5 is ready to welcome families with picnic areas, parking, a playground, washrooms, and a mobi- mat, a nonslip roll-up ac- cess mat for beaches. A no swimming zone beyond Beach 6 is the place to be for kitesurfers to ride the wind and waves. Accessible Wasaga beaches with mobi-mat: 2, 3, 4, 5. GRAND BEND Located on the shore of Lake Huron in Lambton County, has part of its shore on Ontario's Blue Coast. With Caribbean blue waters, Grand Bend beach belongs to Canada 's fa- mous Blue Flag beaches for over a decade. The Bend community welcomes thousands of tourists every year with a variety of res- taurants, local shops, and NightLife on the town's Main Street. Visitors with strollers or wheelchairs can count on accessible walkways and mats. WOODBINE Popular choice for pic- nics, sunbathing and swim- ming, this Toronto beach along the lake is perfect for families, Woodbine has a large stretch of sand, sum- mer lifeguards, recently renovated bathing stations and an outdoor Olympic pool nearby. On Victoria Day or Canada Day, you'll find thousands of locals checking out the annual fireworks that light up the water. According to the City of Toronto, a beach wheelchair can be rented for free by calling 311 and picked-up at the Donald D. Summerville Outdoor Pool. PORT DOVER Standing on the shore of Lake Erie, Port Dover has a laid-back beach with a breathtaking pier. If you en- joy fishing, taking roman- tic walks along the beach and watching the tugboats, that's the place to be. Port Dover offers mats for peo- ple using wheelchairs or strollers. SANDBANKS Sandbanks beach is situ- ated on the southern side of Prince Edward County, and it's home to moving sand dunes and shallow tur- quoise waters. From walk- ing and cycling to fishing, swimming and camping, 'The County' as it's called by the locals, has a tropical is- land getaway feel to it and is great for families. The park entrance fee is $21 per vehi- cle and no lifeguards are present on any of the beach- es. Wheelchairs and/or mo- bility devices are available, free of charge, or for rent and identified service ani- mals wearing a guide-dog vest are welcome. CRYSTAL SANDS Located on the shores of Fort Erie, Crystal Sands Beach is a trendy spot in the summer. If you are looking for a sunny beach and a busy lakeside community, this could be your destina- tion for the weekend. Chil- dren can enjoy its soft and clean sand, great for dig- ging and playing. Water sports, swimming, quaint local shops, restaurants make Crystal Beach a fun weekend getaway with fam- 8 SOUTHERN ONTARIO BEACHES TO BEAT THE HEAT BEATRIZ BALEEIRO bbaleeiro@torstar.ca WHAT'S ON See LONG, page 30