When Toronto鈥檚 heat has you seeking a beach escape, set your sights and GPS on , also known as 鈥淥ntario鈥檚 South Coast,鈥 about a two-hour drive southwest. In this generally quiet, largely rural area, the picturesque stretches of sand along Lake Erie are the main draw.聽
Beyond basking on the beaches, there are small-town gems to explore, including Port Dover, right on the lake, and Simcoe, the county鈥檚 largest community. Plus, there鈥檚 easy access to natural beauty: bird watching in a UNESCO-recognized biosphere region, biking through a Carolinian forest, and strolling through one of Canada鈥檚 most acclaimed botanical gardens. On the whole, the region is less tourist-crowded than, say, Prince Edward County and Niagara, so you鈥檒l feel like you鈥檙e uncovering some of Ontario鈥檚 blissful little hideaways.
Here are some of the best things to do in Norfolk County:
An aerial view of聽Long Point Beach at sunrise.
Ontario ParksKick back on a beach. The region boasts three main beaches, each offering a distinct vibe.聽 is favoured by families for its two-kilometre sandy beach and relatively shallow waters, while Port Dover has a stretch of sand dotted with palm trees (yes, real ones planted by the Beach House restaurant), just steps away from the town鈥檚 shops. For wildlife enthusiasts, is located in the provincial park of the same name. The park, a 40-kilometre sand spit that juts into the lake, is a UNESCO-recognized biosphere region renowned for its many species of songbirds and waterfowl and other wildlife, including the endangered American badger.
The Main Street of聽Port Dover, just one of Norfolk County鈥檚 communities.
Ontario鈥檚 SouthwestExplore one of the charming communities. Port Dover draws summer day-trippers for its beach, indie shops and restaurant patios. The compact core is easily walkable; before you start strolling, pick up a Golden Glow, the locally famous orange-flavoured drink at the Arbor, an institution since 1919. Browse or Grand Trunk Station for the shabby-chic cottage decor, then walk to the waterside for the聽. At the museum, which was partially built into an original fisherman鈥檚 net shanty, you can learn about this community鈥檚 fishing heritage and shipwreck lore. End your nautical-themed tour at the Port Dover Lighthouse, one of the oldest of this wooden style in Ontario.
Nicknamed 鈥淥ntario鈥檚 Garden,鈥 Norfolk County is home to bucolic settings like Bonnieheath Estate Lavender & Winery.
Dudek Photography/Ontario鈥檚 SouthwestSample the emerging wine region. Blessed with sandy soil and a lake-moderated microclimate, Norfolk County is home to several distinctive wineries and cideries. 聽in聽St. Williams uses repurposed tobacco kilns for drying grapes, which concentrates the flavours in their passito-style wines, while produces apple ciders, as well as wines from grapes, blueberries and cranberries (the bold flavour profiles may surprise you). , located in Waterford聽on what was once tobacco farmland, is now a gorgeous vineyard and lavender farm; here, try True Blue, the award-winning hard cider featuring lavender and Ontario blueberries.
Wilsonville鈥檚 Whistling Gardens is a聽horticultural attraction that has won numerous awards.
Whistling GardensGet inspired by the greenery. With its rich soil and milder climate, Norfolk County is home to more than a thousand farms, vineyards and cideries, earning this region the nickname 鈥淥ntario鈥檚 Garden.鈥 One of the lushest attractions is聽Wilsonville鈥檚聽, a botanical garden considered one of Canada鈥檚 best (judging by its haul of national awards). It features more than 4,500 different plants, with thousands of blooms, including dramatic foxtail lilies and vibrant red hot pokers. The peaceful paths will make you feel as if you鈥檙e enjoying the grounds of your lavish country home. For take-home flowers, visit聽Delhi鈥檚聽, where the four-acre u-cut dahlia field is the country鈥檚 largest. (You can cut your own bouquet seasonally, August to September.)
The fish and chips at聽the Back Kitchen at Burning Kiln Winery.
Burning Kiln WinerySavour regional ingredients. At at Burning Kiln Winery, the comfort foods all hit the spot, including the fried-to-perfection fish and chips made with Ontario pickerel. For more upscale dining, book in Port Dover, where chef Scott McRae鈥檚 rotating continental menu takes inspiration from seasonal ingredients. Standouts include the steaks (sourced from nearby Oxford County) and the pickerel duo; the fish comes from Lake Erie, which you can see right from the restaurant, and is served both pan-seared and corn flour-battered.聽
The observatory at聽Long Point Eco-Adventures, a glamping resort that offers a wide range of activities.
Long Point Eco-AdventuresChoose your own adventure. In Turkey Point, you鈥檒l find , a resort offering glamping pods and a whole slate of outdoorsy activities (all can be booked separately). For the thrills, try their zip-line tour for treetop views of Norfolk鈥檚 Carolinian forest, or pedal through the forest on a mountain bike rental. For a more meditative pastime, join the nighttime observatory dome experience, when a storyteller will share ancient tales about the constellations while you stargaze through the 16-inch telescope.
If you stay: In Port Dover, a short walk from both Main Street and Lake Erie, the four-suite offers the feel of a contemporary boutique hotel inside a transformed, historic red-brick home. Expect Frette bed linens, a pour-over coffee bar, and a seasonally inspired continental breakfast in the main-floor dining space.
WHERE CHEFS EAT: Chef Scott McRae鈥檚 favourites in Norfolk County
Scott McRae (shown with son Harrison聽on the Port Dover Pier) is the executive chef at David鈥檚 Restaurant, right.
Scott McRaeWant more food and drink recommendations for Norfolk County? Scott McRae is the executive chef at , one of Port Dover鈥檚 best-known spots, serving up locally sourced ingredients in an elegant lakeside setting. He moved back to the county after a decade in 海角社区官网(with stints at Opus, the Four Seasons Hotel Toronto, Thuet and the Rosewater Supper Club) and knows the bounty of Ontario鈥檚 South Coast well. Here are just a few places McRae recommends for your next trip here.
McRae鈥檚 recommendations include聽Thrive Norfolk, a tasting menu experience at a farm restaurant.
Autumn Demarest/Evolving Autumn, Langton: 鈥淢att Demarest and his wife, Autumn, have a garden and farm out by Langton, and they do a really unique, farm-to-table dining experience with small groups. They do tasting menus and you鈥檙e surrounded by the garden and the farm animals.鈥
, Port Dover: 鈥淢y friend Brad is a pastry chef and owns this caf茅 with his wife. They offer all kinds of great French pastries, cakes, pizzas and seafood sandwiches 鈥 they do a really nice job there. There鈥檚 a breakfast croissant I always get, and the pain au chocolate (is) kind of a staple for me.鈥
Matz Fruit Barn is a聽small, family-owned fruit market where McRae sources produce.
Matz Fruit Barn, Port Dover: 鈥淚t鈥檚 a small, family-owned fruit market. We get most of our produce here when it鈥檚 in season. They grow pretty much everything, all kinds of vegetables and fruit. Peaches, cherries, really any kind of berry you can think of.鈥
, Port Dover: 鈥淭his is a cool, little cheese boutique downtown. They have all kinds of local Ontario and Canadian cheeses, but also lots of really nice, imported cheeses as well. We get all our cheese for our cheeseboards from them.鈥
, Port Dover: 鈥淎aron 鈥 he used to work here at David鈥檚 鈥 and his girlfriend, Jess, just opened a little sandwich shop. He bakes the focaccia fresh every day and does all the in-house pickling. He does great sandwiches and prepared meals there.鈥
New Limburg is a restaurant/brewery offering Belgian-style beers.
Yvonne Moonen, Simcoe, and , Simcoe: 鈥淭here are a lot of breweries. Charlotteville is a really nice one with small-batch beers. And New Limburg 鈥 they bought an old schoolhouse and turned it into a brewery. They do cool, Belgian-style beers, like tripels and dubbels.鈥
Correction - July 28, 2025
This article was edited from a previous version to correct a name: Matt Demarest鈥檚 wife is Autumn, not August.
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