Sauble Beach: An Ontario Classic

There are some places which evoke a certain nostalgia for those of us who grew up in Ontario. A lake, a beach, ice cream, and french fries usually make up at least some of our memories of summer in the province. 

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It was this vision that we had in mind when we booked a stay in Sauble Beach, a town in Bruce County, on the shores of Lake Huron which represents the quintessential in-province summer escape for many big city families. Both Kamila and I had been there as children, so our recollections of the place were hazy at best. We both had an idea of what it would be like, but would it live up to expectations?

The drive into town can take you right to the beach, but we had to hang a right to get to our accommodations for the week. The June Motel caused quite a buzz upon its opening, in part because it was featured on Netflix. They definitely nailed the instagrammable look they were going for, with a consistent soft pink pastel palette throughout, and a welcome glass of Rosé upon arrival.

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  The June Motel room

The room was well appointed and comfortable and the service was very friendly. The outdoor shuffleboard court and cornhole were nice touches and fun activities to mix things up a bit. In the evening staff set up firepits and handed out s’mores kits, which was a fun way to meet other hotel guests and end the night.

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  corn hole at the june motel

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  Pool side yoga at the june motel

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  fire pits and smores at the june motel

What we were not expecting was poolside service from the on-site restaurant, Heydays. The lovely pool is the centrepiece of the property and to our surprise we found ourselves spending more time poolside then at the beach. With ample loungers, towel service, and a low key vibe it was hard to leave, especially with the added convenience of having our meals delivered to us on the pool deck.

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  pool at the June motel

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  Haydays restaurant menu

The menu at Heydays features elevated diner and coastal classics (think fried chicken, mussels, and lobster rolls) all executed with an haute cuisine flair. We essentially ate our way through the menu and found everything to be tasty, but our favourites were the fried chicken, and smash burger. There are also a variety of fun summer cocktails, perfect for an afternoon of sipping. 

As for the town itself, we found all of the beach town prerequisites on the busy main street leading to the beach and the iconic sign (now bearing the name Saugeen Beach, after a settlement with the local First Nation) where the concrete ends and the sand starts. You’ve got ice cream, souvenir stores, arcade games, beachside bars advertising happy hour, and even a remote control car track.

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  mini golf at Putterama

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  mini golf at Putterama

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  mini golf at Putterama

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  mini golf at Putterama

Of the activities we indulged in, our favourite was mini golf at Putterama. It offered a well maintained classic mini-golf experience with fun obstacles and harder holes mixed in with some fun ones that gave good chances at a hole in one. As well, the sunsets off the beach were spectacular and not to be missed. 

We left after a week of relaxation, spent mostly at the hotel pool with our curiosity satisfied. I am sure businesses have come and gone, but we got the sense that the energy of Sauble Beach has not changed. Perhaps not everything was for us but there is a timeless spirit of summer fun that lives on at Sauble Beach and places like it. We noticed that the staff at Heydays wore shirts sporting the slogan “Someday these will be the good old days”. Eating a smash burger by the pool, or watching the sunset it was easy to think, yes indeed. 

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  Someday, these will be the good old days

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  Kamila and Dale at the June Motel

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  Fire pits at the june motel

“Someday these will be the good old days”

Kamila and Dale