We are lucky to live in a town surrounded by lakes and rivers that we can enjoy all year but nothing says summer like a trip to the beach! My family and I have been to Cobourg beach twice in the last year – once last summer and again earlier this year.
Cobourg is a town of about 20,000 people located on the shores of Lake Ontario, just over an hour east of Toronto. Along with a bustling main street and a small-town feel, Cobourg features a gorgeous beach that is popular with locals and tourists alike.
Our day at the beach began on the West Beach. The West Beach is a quiet hidden gem with a lovely boardwalk, natural shoreline, a cool breeze off the lake, and the sound of crashing waves. Immediately, the kids took their shoes off and dug their toes into the sand while spotting birds and boats. The kids spent an hour finding special rocks and examining their features. They threw rocks in the water and tried to learn to skip them. They experimented with the rocks, watching them change colour when they put them in the water and then watching the water evaporate in the hot sunlight. They waded into the water…further and further each time they stepped in until they were officially swimming in their clothes!
Between trips into the water, the kids (and the adults) painted rocks. Inspired by a rock snake being created in our town, we each selected a special rock and a design which we then reproduced on the rock using Aroic paint pens, which Calli brought along. I wish we had brought some rocks home with us because it was so much fun. The rocks now adorn our gardens at home.
After the kids dried off and we changed, we headed toward the harbour for lunch. On this day, we drove over but the walk along the boardwalk is beautiful and highly recommended if you have the time. There are plenty of restaurants and food options located near the beach but we chose to find a shady spot under a tree to enjoy our lunch at the picnic table. With full tummies, we explored the harbour. On a previous trip, I was amazed by the colour of the water. It was that turquoise blue that you see in images of tropical beaches. On this trip, the water was a deeper blue. The harbour is full of boats but the kids were excited by the number of fish they could see right in the marina area. We could hear them squeal with excitement each time they spotted a new fish and added it to their running total. There is so much to see in the harbour/marina area, including the lighthouse at the end of the pier and the Canadian Coast Guard boat.
The more popular East Beach was full of families and friends enjoying a day in the water and sand. We walked along the boardwalk far enough to see part of the beach which is bordered by Victoria Park, which features a playground and splash pad for kids. Our trip to Cobourg concluded with a walk through some of the streets north of the beach. We found a fountain to make a wish in and stumbled upon other little gems such as the Cobourg Lock Bridge.
backyardadventuresontario.com 