Grand Bend Ontario

QUOTE(Sea Bag @ Jul 16 2009, 04:05 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>QUOTE(afiremen @ Jul 16 2009, 04:32 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Bring lots of money!

Its Expensive?


Not at all ... it's a beach town. It attracts a lot of high school / college kids (on a HS / college budgets) all summer long, but particularly on long weekends (don't forget that the weekend of 31st July - 3rd August is a long weekend in Ontario). Oakwood Inn has a decent golf course, clubhouse there is nice on a Friday or Saturday night, and the Oak Dining Room has a great brunch on Sunday.

One USD is currently trading at 1,11$ CAD - and best place to change money is to pull it from a bank ATM (versus white label). Most business will only give you par for US cash.

Marina information here: http://www.grandbend.com/gbmarine.htm

Bayfield is a little further north, a lot more refined. http://www.harbourlightsmarina.on.ca/ Think of a smaller Saugatuck, where people have funny accents: no doot aboot it.

Scott.

QUOTE(Buoys will be Buoys @ Jul 16 2009, 05:50 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>QUOTE(Sea Bag @ Jul 16 2009, 04:05 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>QUOTE(afiremen @ Jul 16 2009, 04:32 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Bring lots of money!

Its Expensive?


Not at all ... it's a beach town. It attracts a lot of high school / college kids (on a HS / college budgets) all summer long, but particularly on long weekends (don't forget that the weekend of 31st July - 3rd August is a long weekend in Ontario). Oakwood Inn has a decent golf course, clubhouse there is nice on a Friday or Saturday night, and the Oak Dining Room has a great brunch on Sunday.

One USD is currently trading at 1,11$ CAD - and best place to change money is to pull it from a bank ATM (versus white label). Most business will only give you par for US cash.

Marina information here: http://www.grandbend.com/gbmarine.htm

Bayfield is a little further north, a lot more refined. http://www.harbourlightsmarina.on.ca/ Think of a smaller Saugatuck, where people have funny accents: no doot aboot it.

Scott.



I actually just booked that weekend. should be a blast!!! super excited

QUOTE(270 Crown @ Jul 17 2009, 07:10 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>QUOTE(Away Point @ Jul 16 2009, 06:03 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>I've been going back and forth on Grand Bend or Bayfield for an overnight stop on our way to the Bruce.

I've done both, our group had a better time in Bayfield. The beach is nicer in Grand Bend, though. And, it's a younger party crowd there. The marina in Bayfield has a pool. We hung out with some of the seasonal boaters and had a great time. Stop at one town on the way north, and the other on the way home and decide for yourself.

Thanks!

I've looked down at the Bayfield marina bazillions of times passing by on 21, but have never boated there.

it's been a while but either place is worth stopping and both pretty differnt.
Grand Bend is closer, the beach to the left of the marina (when looking towards the water) is a great spot to watch the sunset, simply beautiful, grab you honey, your favorite cocktail, a beach chair and just sit and relax. To me the bars and places to eat are so-so, the town is sort of cheap looking and touist'y There is a cool place, or at least there used to be on the other side of the marina that sits up high, the food was pretty good and the view spectacular. When making reservations ask to be on the side with the bath houses (most of the slips are) other wise you have to walk quite a ways for a shower.

Bayfield is sort of like a quaint upscale looking little town, very charming with some cute shops and some higer end resturants. The Pump house used to be a favorite and so was the resturant at the small Inn. Not much of a beach though and if I recall once you are there and docked you don't really notice the water.

There are also some papers you need to have when going by boat to Canada, a passport will not take the place of that. I have not gotten it yet, so you will have to ask some other peeps about that.