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We can’t recall when we last pulled in for fuel at a full-serve station, but it wasn’t this decade, and it might not have been the one before it either.
We did so recently in Bayfield, Ont., which checks out considering this Huron County village is a throwback. With its heritage-designated main street, the place feels frozen in time in the best ways.
Eat ice cream under a willow tree, stroll through parks overlooking the shores of Lake Huron, poke around independent shops, cozy up inside a small eatery, and do it all for as long as you’d like because parking is free.
The decidedly laid-back vibes are as bountiful as the harvest in Huron County, an area in the southwestern part of the province highlighted by thriving agritourism, beaches and nature. In some respects, this county known as “Ontario’s West Coast” could be considered a less crowded version of eastern Ontario’s Prince Edward County, with a burgeoning wine scene, waterfronts and similar distance from the Greater Toronto Area.
It’s a stress-free 2.5-hour drive from Toronto, even closer from the Waterloo Region, London and Sarnia, and we wish we could gate-keep the whole area including wildly underrated Bayfield.
While a day trip is certainly doable from the GTA, we’d recommend an overnight or spending a weekend, allowing the opportunity to see and do a bit more, whether it be spending time at the beach in summertime, or checking out the many homestead offerings. The entrepreneurial spirit is alive and well here along the main roads and the side roads, where many of Huron County’s gems can be found.
Here’s a sample itinerary to help visitors make the most of 48 hours in the county:
9 a.m.: Hit the road!
10:30 a.m.: Purple haze — Lavender might be just out of season, but Lavender Works Co. is a fun stop from May to Christmas. This farm in Brussels on the eastern edge of the county produces handcrafted lavender products in small batches, including essential oils, infused honey and dried bouquets. Guests can picnic in the lavender field and shop in the beautiful barn boutique. It’s open to the public Wednesday through Sunday throughout the fall and winter. While there, say hello to Willow the dog (she loves attention!) and try the lavender ice cream.
11:30 a.m.: Core values — Fall in Ontario is prime time for apple picking. Stay in Brussels to do that at 75-year-old Blake’s Apple Orchard, where there’s also an on-site retail store to purchase apples and apple products, including fresh-pressed cider.
Noon: Get your eat on — The relatively new-to-town Purple Bike Cafe in Brussels has good coffee and even better paninis. Note, the cafe is closed on Sundays. Those with a sweet tooth will want to head to Sweets N’ Treats in Blyth or The Tart Shack in Belgrave (or both!). The area’s most well-known eatery and “drinkery” is Cowbell Brewing Co., which is reason enough to make the trek to Huron County, as we’ve done many times. The destination brewery was built by area Mennonites and opened in 2017. It has been a hit ever since with lineups for the restaurant and massive retail shop.
2 p.m.: Get your coffee on — This coffee-lover seeks out the best coffee everywhere and can, excuse the incoming pun, boldly claim that Coastal Coffee is among the best. This husband-and-wife operation is located inside a historic church off a gravel road near Goderich and serves super-fresh, ethically sustainable coffee. In front of the cafe, there’s a roadside bean stand that deploys the honour system — refreshing in today’s world, and worthy of applause. Note, this cafe is also closed on Sundays. Look for their trailer at the Goderich farmers’ market on Saturdays from May to Thanksgiving.
3 p.m.: Landing spot — Our accommodations for the weekend pre-dated any full-service gas station, let alone automobiles. 1851 Bayfield Landing is a transformed property with roots dating back to the date in the name. Nestled in the heart of Bayfield’s heritage main street, the property was opened by longtime resident Tyler Hessel in 2023 as a “love letter” to the village. There are six distinct suites and a bistro within the two-building property. Suites are named after prominent historic Bayfield figures. We stayed in the Admiral Bayfield suite, which was roomy and included a big balcony overlooking the main street.
4 p.m.-6 p.m.: Shop ’til you drop — Pick up some local produce at Ruetz Country Market, then visit Layton’s pumpkin farm in nearby Clinton. Go to Bayfield Berry Farm for a wide selection of berries and interesting wines before heading into Bayfield to poke around the many shops and galleries.
6 p.m.: Dinner time — No visit to Bayfield is complete without a meal at the Black Dog, a warm and inviting bistro with an approachable yet interesting menu. We enjoyed the chicken shawarma and Caesar salad, and were pleasantly surprised to learn they had hard-to-find Belgium-brewed Delirium Tremens beer on the menu. Keep the night alive by heading over to The Albion Hotel for a cocktail inside the historic hotel, which opened in 1856.
8:30 a.m. Fuel up — Grab breakfast at Renegades Diner in Bayfield with all the classics on offer.
9:30 a.m.-noon: Work off breakfast — We’ll recommend another style of trail later so best to get those steps in now. There are more than 35 marked trails in Huron County, which is part of the 3,600-km Great Lakes Waterfront Trail. The Bayfield River Valley Trail Association maintains seven recreational trails in and around Bayfield, including the newish River Flats trail. We got our steps in at the Bannockburn Conservation Area in Exeter. For those in Bayfield, Pioneer Park is close by with elevated Lake Huron views.
Noon-12:30 p.m.: Dell-ightful lunch — Grab a delicious burger at the Farmer’s Dell drive-in restaurant, an institution in the area since 1956. Those not saving room for later might consider the granny apple fries, among several unique offerings.
1-2 p.m.: Wine and dine — Cornerfield Wine Co. is one of the most enjoyable winery experiences we’ve had in recent memory. Small in scale and big on hospitality, this family-run operation located off Hwy. 21 (as so much in Huron County is) allows guests to sip their favourite white, red or rose — or all of those — in a backyard setting a few feet from the vines. From there, go to Schatz Winery at Hessenland, a second-generation German-inspired inn in Zurich, not far from Bayfield. This winery opened in 2019 and is among a small but mighty group of wineries that have popped up in the area in recent years to give visitors to this beautiful county yet another reason to visit.
2-3 p.m.: Seedy spot! — After lunch, head to nearby Bad Apple Brewing for a tipple at this family-run brewhouse and taproom in a renovated century barn. There’s a small orchard on the property that inspires some of the beers, hard seltzers, ciders and fruit wines available for purchase. Cornerfield, Schatz and Bad Apple are included on the county’s Vine & Ale Trail highlighting six breweries, five wineries and one cidery.
3 p.m.: Get your coffee on, again — Back in Bayfield, gear up for some great coffee at Shopbike Coffee Roasters. This shop has been keeping Huron County residents and visitors caffeinated for more than a decade. They have some interesting coffee and tea additions available here, including bee pollen and mushroom milk. In case I needed yet another coffee addiction, I tried my first Vietnamese iced coffee here and loved it.
6 p.m.: Get hooked on dinner — After some well-earned downtime, head to Out of the Blue for a memorable seafood dinner. Try the perfectly flaky lake perch or whitefish along with some chips. This restaurant and seafood market has been operating in Bayfield since 2008. Finish the weekend with a nightcap at the Little Inn of Bayfield, which opened in 1847. Or head back to Rosie’s Ice Cream Shoppe for a second cone in as many nights because, well, ice cream is awesome and it’s even better in a charming small town.
For more information, visit ontarioswestcoast.ca.
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