Tucked away along the northern shores of Lake Erie, Port Stanley is one of the most exciting destinations in Southwestern Ontario.
With sandy beaches, a small Ontario town feel, and plenty of natural beauty, the community brings the Florida-like beach town experience to the shores of Canada’s Great Lakes throughout the summer months.
However, beyond its famous beaches, Elgin County is also full of historical attractions and breathtaking natural areas just waiting to be explored. Whether seeking a beachside getaway or a simple day trip from the city, these are the 17 best things to do in Port Stanley, Ontario.
A Quick Look at the 17 Best Things to Do in Port Stanley, Ontario
- Soak in the Sun at Port Stanley Beach
- Play Pickup Volleyball on the Beach
- Walk Over to the Port Stanley Pier & Lighthouse
- Catch a Show at the Port Stanley Festival Theatre
- Visit the Boutique Shops Along Main Street
- Ride the Port Stanley Terminal Rail
- Bike Over to St. Thomas
- Enjoy Food and Drinks at a Lakeside Restaurant
- Take to the Water with Watersport Rentals
- Bring the Family to Great Lakes Farms
- Visit Sparta & the Sparta Lavender Farm
- Hike through the Yarmouth Natural Heritage Area
- Hit the Tees
- Visit the Backus Page House Museum
- Venture Over to Port Burwell
- Visit the Art Emporium
- Stay at a Beachside Hideaway
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The 17 Top Things to Do in Port Stanley, Ontario
1. Soak in the Sun at Port Stanley Beach
It’s no secret that the biggest draw to Port Stanley is its beautiful beaches. While there are a few in the area, you definitely have to start your beach day at Port Stanley Main Beach.
This long beach is one of the finest stretches of sandy beach in Ontario and is only one of 22 awarded official Blue Flag status in all of Canada. Unfortunately, Main Beach can be a little crowded, especially when visiting on hot summer weekends.
If you are looking for something a little smaller, you can also head over to Port Stanley Little Beach. Found just on the other side of the mouth of Kettle Creek, Little Beach features 185 metres of sandy shores and shallow water and is well protected by the east berm, making it better suited for families with young children.
2. Play Pickup Volleyball on the Beach
Along with swimming, sandcastle building, and soaking in the sun, volleyball has become a staple of any successful beach day. Luckily, GT’s On The Beach features eight beach volleyball courts open to the public.
Beachgoers are welcome to drop by for a match free of charge. But keep in mind that the nets are popular and are often filled on busy weekends. You can join the Port Stanley Volleyball Facebook group to keep up to date or stop by early to claim a court. The courts operate on a first come first serve basis when not prebooked for a league or a tournament.
3. Walk Over to the Port Stanley Pier & Lighthouse
While at the beach, be sure to venture over to the Port Stanley Lighthouse. Located at the eastern end of Main Beach, the lighthouse is connected to the shores via a long pier. The walkway features several benches and provides beautiful lookout points for escaping the tourist crowds while admiring the sandy beach.
The pier is a particularly great spot to admire the sunset, and makes for a great and free way to break up your beach day.
4. Catch a Show at the Port Stanley Festival Theatre
For being such a small town, Port Stanley has a surprisingly vibrant theatre scene. Operating out of the former Town Hall building, the Port Stanley Festival Theatre is fairly small, boasting a total of 200 seats.
Still, the venue houses several productions throughout the year highlighting Canadian works in comedy, musical-comedy, and drama. The company puts on six shows throughout its performing season, which runs between May and September, along with the occasional off-season production and programs.
5. Visit the Boutique Shops Along Main Street
Beyond its beach and theatre scene, one of the most popular things to do in Port Stanley is shopping through the abundant boutique shops found in its charming downtown area.
Located just across the historic King George VI lift bridge from Main Beach, downtown Port Stanley is relatively small but boasts plenty of quaint stores and restaurants along its Main Street and connecting Colborne Street and Bridge Street.
6. Ride the Port Stanley Terminal Rail
If you are looking for a unique and exciting experience in Port Stanley, be sure to check out the Port Stanley Terminal Rail. One of the longest running tourist attractions in the area, the experience takes visitors along a train ride along the historical London & Port Stanley Railway, which while decommissioned, is one of the oldest railways in Ontario, having been built in 1856.
The current tourist attraction operating the line offers several packages, starting with their sixty minute, 13.6 km round trip, which connects Port Stanley to Whytes Park. The journey allows visitors the opportunity to disembark and tour the sites of the park, which include a famous circus car, before heading back to town.
7. Bike Over to St. Thomas
If you are looking for a little added adventure, why not head over to the nearby small town of St. Thomas? St. Thomas can be reached via 45 45-minute bike ride from Port Stanley (15-minute drive) but offers a great variety of attractions and things to do.
Those interested in the railway history of the region can stop by the Elgin County Railway Museum before heading over to the famous Caso Station, which once served as the largest and most important train station in all of Canada in the 19th and early 20th centuries.
Afterwards, head over to Rail City Brewing to enjoy a pint before embarking on a walk through the St. Thomas Elevated Park, ending your journey at the famous statue of Jumbo the Elephant.
8. Enjoy Food and Drinks at a Lakeside Restaurant
One of the best features of Port Stanley’s Main Beach is its lakeside bar and restaurants. Serving a variety of dishes and specialty cocktails from the soft sands of the beach, these venues are able to bring the laid-back comforts of Caribbean destinations to the north shore of Lake Erie.
As already mentioned within this post, GTs On The Beach is a staple of Port Stanley Beach. Along with serving a great bar food and drink menu, the venue also features eight beach volleyball nets open to the public.
Other great beachside options include Buccaneer Bar and Grill and Mackies, while those willing to venture a little way into town can enjoy delectable flavours at the Pierside Pub, Barnacles Beerhouse, and Shaw’s Ice Cream.
9. Take to the Water with Watersport Rentals
It’d be a shame to go to Lake Erie’s north shore paradise and not get on the water.
While swimming is free, the Bridgeview Marina offers a little more excitement with affordable canoe, paddle boats, and kayak rentals starting at $30/HOUR for both individual and tandem.
Meanwhile, check out Splash Watersports for more luxury watercraft, including hourly rentals for jetskis and deck boats.
10. Bring the Family to Great Lakes Farms
If you are looking for a fun family outing to break up your beach getaway to Port Stanley, Great Lakes Farms offers plenty of ways to entertain your little ones.
The main attraction here is apple picking, which starts near the end of the summer season and lasts until early fall. However, the farms also feature a fantastic kid’s play area, including a pirate ship playground, a sandbox, a corn maze, and even a zip line.
11. Visit Sparta & the Sparta Lavender Farm
If you are in search of Ontario’s most charming small towns, you have to stop by the nearby village of Sparta.
Located only a 15 minute drive from Port Stanley, Sparta was originally founded as a Quaker settlement in 1813 and remains a tiny village of just 250 residences today. The village features many historical buildings and boasts a quaint community feel.
When in town, you have to stop by the Sparta Lavender Farm for beautiful views of sweeping flower beds and a gift shop with locally made lavender products.
12. Hike through the Yarmouth Natural Heritage Area
Found just a couple minutes past Sparta is the Yarmouth Natural Heritage Area. Featuring several trails weaving their way through 2018 acres of forest, ponds, wetlands, and streams, the heritage area is the best spot near Port Stanley to go on a hike, and provides a wondrous natural atmosphere for exploring local plants and wildlife.
13. Hit the Tees
Is there any better way to cap off your beach getaway within southwestern Ontario than spending an afternoon out on the Tees?
In Port Stanley, you have a few golf courses to choose from, starting with the Kettle Creek Golf & Country Club, which is located right in town. This 18-hole golf course offers long fairways and beautiful greens right on the banks of the Kettle Creek as it weaves its way through the community.
14. Visit the Backus Page House Museum
If you follow the shores of Lake Erie for about a half-hour drive east out of town you will come to the Backus Page House Museum and Agricultural Centre. Operating out of the John E. Pearce Provincial Park, this is perhaps one of the best things to do in Port Stanley for any history lover.
A living history museum, the Backus Page House Museum is an extensive property preserved and restored to reflect what a traditional homestead of the region looked like in the 19th century. The property features an 1850s Georgian-style house, a heritage garden, a historic bar, and several outbuildings, all of which can be explored along the Spicer Trail.
Heritage gardens
15. Venture Over to Port Burwell
If you are looking to escape the busy crowds of Port Stanley, you can always make the 30 minute drive east to Port Burwell.
Nicknamed the “Jewel of Erie’s North Shore,” Port Burwell boasts a long 2.5 km sandy beach within its Lake Burwell Provincial Park. Like Port Stanley, this beach is one of Canada’s few official Blue Flag destinations and makes for a fantastic beach day.
Meanwhile, additional activities offered in the area include a historic lighthouse, a marine museum, a Cold War-era submarine, two marinas, and several hiking trails.
16. Visit the Art Emporium
Set just a short walk from Port Stanley’s Little Beach, is an artist run gallery that is a must-stop when visiting the community. While not an extensive gallery, the Art Emporium houses the Boathouse Gallery, which is a great collection of work highlighting over 30 local and regional artists.
The gallery makes for a quick insight into the local art scene while the works are available to purchase to help support homegrown talent.
17. Stay at a Beachside Hideaway
If you live in the area, Port Stanley can easily be visited as a day trip from London and other nearby towns. However, the community’s Florida-like beach town atmosphere can only truly be experienced by staying at one of the local hotels and inns.
Kettle Creek Inn and Windjammer Inn are two of the best accommodation options and are among some of the best kept secrets of the Port Stanley community. These cozy lodgings both feature onsite restaurants and charming private rooms that complete the beachside hideaway experience.
