Tuesday, December 29, 2015

Travels - Huron County, Ontario



BAYFIELD
A town with a popular marina and historic shopping district complete with fine dining and art galleries, in coastal central Huron County. It is a well known tourist destination that claims some of the best sunsets in Canada. The Ashwood inn Hotel is popular due to its close proximity and walkability to the historic shopping district, the beaches and numerous hiking and cross country ski trails that follow the Bayfield River to the west. Bayfield continues to be an active fishing post.


* photos taken on Aug 4 2013


* photos taken on July 26 2015

* photos taken on July 16 2016

* photos taken on July 14 2019
* the delicious pies at Zehrs Country Market

* photos taken on Aug 20-24 2021


BENMILLER incl Falls Reserve
A small village with a historic mill ( the Benmiller Inn & Spa ) and a popular recreation along the Maitland River east of Goderich. The Goderich tornado of Aug 2011 continued through Benmiller on its way nearly to Blyth. Much of the areas forests still have not fully recovered from what was one of the most destructive tornadoes in recent Canadian history.


* photos taken on July 9 2022


BLYTH
A town in northern Huron County that is 20 minutes inland from Lake Huron. While it is a thriving agricultural center, it is also known for its dining and unique shops and galleries, its local brewery and the Blyth Theater. There is also a 132 km fitness trail that was once a railway, that runs through Blyth on its path from Lake Huron to Guelph. The Blyth Greenway Trail, Memory Garden and Horticulture Park. There is also a skateboard park at the Blyth Campground area and year round recreation at the Blyth and District Community Centre Arena. North Huron Fitness & Wellness in nearby Wingham has 5000 square feet of workout floor, group fitness space, boxing area and multi-use courts (basketball, squash and wallyball with equipment.

* photos taken on July 2012

* photos taken on July 17 2016

* photos taken on July 14 2019

* photos taken on July 7 2022

* photos taken on July 10 2023


CLINTON
A town in the interior of central Huron County. The it is an agricultural center, surrounded by some of richest farmland. The main attractions in the area is the Hullett Provincial Wildlife Area, Bluestone Wake Park, Clinton Racetrack Casino and the Central Huron Community Center/YMCA Gym on Albert Street.



GODERICH
The largest port on Lake Huron, Goderich offers a thriving and historic business district, a wide public beach and boardwalk, many restaurants, a world class fitness facility and many trails to enjoy the more natural side of Huron County. The old train tracks are now a busy hiking and jogging trail with stunning views as it crosses high above the Maitland River. There are also more trails along the floodplain and rapids of the Maitland River and also south of town near the fitness facilities..there is a 3.3 km trail in the Maitland Woods where the combination of trees and ponds makes it a great place to see wildlife including nesting waterfowl.


* taken on July 16 2016

* photos taken on Aug 23 2021

* photos taken on July 9 2022

* historical archive photos

* description of Goderich and vincinity during early 1830s from "Twenty-seven years in Canada West; or, The experience of an early settler by Strickland, Samuel, 1804-1867"

* Goderich F4 tornado storm chase video - August 21 2011

* massive wedge funnel over Lake Huron...record warm lake water temp at time



GRAND BEND
The Jersey shore of Ontario also has it's wild side for anyone into the outdoors. It is Pinery Provincial Park which has some of Canada's best critically endangered Black Oak savanna ecosystems as well as the also critically endangered Great Lakes Coastal Dune Ecosystem. Over 800 species of plants and 300 species of birds can be found in the park. The variety of topography and the milder than average winters for the latitude as result of Lake Huron, make for an interesting mix of flora where Red Pine and Balsam Poplar can be found with an abundancce of Black Walnut, Chinkapin Oak, Dwarf Chinkapin Oak, Swamp White Oak, Black Oak, Dwarf Hackberry, Tulip Tree, Sassafras and Fragrant Sumac. Both Prunus pumila and Prunus susquehanae can be found on the sand dunes. While red pine is native to the region, much of the red pine in The Pinery originates from reforestation projects during the 1930s.
For a more complete list of trees...check
( http://pinerypark.on.ca/wp_site/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/tcheck.pdf ).
For list of Flora
http://pinerypark.on.ca/wp_site/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Plant_Checklist.pdf
For list of Birds
http://pinerypark.on.ca/wp_site/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/bcheck.pdf
For list of Mammals
http://pinerypark.on.ca/wp_site/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/mcheck.pdf
7 species of Turtles and the Eastern Hognose Snake can be found in the park. The Blue Racer has become extinct in the region. Massassauga Rattlers have not been documented in Pinery but likely occurred there previous to the mid 1800s when much of the regions forest and wetlands were destroyed as it is currently found in Bruce County to the north and formerly widespread to the south.


* photos taken on July 18 2016

* photos taken on July 30 2013

* photos taken on July 18 2018

* photo of unknown internet source

* photos taken on Aug 23 2021


Ipperwash
* just south of Huron County, in Lambton Co.


Kettle Point
Located just south of Huron County, down shore from Grand Bend. For more on this beautiful oasis near the southern tip of Lake Huron, check out this link:
https://kettlepoint.org/



KINCARDINE

A town bordering on Lake Huron that is about a half hour drive north of Goderich along highway 21. There are many attractions including the Kincardine Lighthouse and Museum, The Rock Garden ( near the beach north of downtown ), the Bluewater Playhouse Theater as well as great hiking including the Burnside Memorial Trail and the boardwalk which runs along the beach. There is also great birdwatching at a pond at Legion Park just south of town.

* historic archive photos


RURAL HURON


* photos taken on Aug 19 2021


SEAFORTH A town of 2673 residents in southeastern interior Huron County. The first settlers arrived during the early 1840s, the post office was established in 1859 and it has been an agricultural hub since. This main street shopping district has a historic designation due to its historic stone architecture.



* neighboring Lambton County


* photos taken on Aug 19 2021

* Arkona in Lambton, Co.

* Nearby Stratford ( Perth County )

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