One of Ontario's premier vacation destinations, Wasaga Beach attracts nearly 2 million visitors each year to its beautiful shores along southern Georgian Bay. With its long history of tourism, the people of this four-season community are veterans at welcoming and entertaining visitors. Its freshwater beach is the star attraction, but Wasaga Beach tourists enjoy a kaleidoscope of opportunities to explore, discover and share recreational experiences.
Wasaga Beach Provincial Park is home to the world's largest freshwater beach. Eight miles of white sand shores stretch along southern Georgian Bay, beckoning sun and surf lovers. The beach was the first in Canada to earn the international Blue Flag designation for adherence to high environmental standards. The provincial park manages eight safe and scenic public beach areas for fun in the sun and swimming in the shallow waters of the inlet called Nottawasaga Bay. Each area provides washrooms, changing facilities, picnic tables, parking and playgrounds. Sailboats, motorboats and fishing boats can access the water from Beach Area 1.
Wasaga Beach Provincial Park offers a bounty of recreaton options. Hike along 18 miles of trails and explore a dune system forged 10,000 years ago. Rent a watercraft for a day-long paddle along the Nottawasaga Canoe Route. From spring through fall, the park hosts a variety of educational programming pertaining to park heritage and culture. At the park's Nancy Island, visitors can tour a historic site linked to a major naval battle of the War of 1812. See artifacts from the period and musket and canon demonstrations. Naturalists and birders will delight in the park's 700 types of plants and 230 bird species, including the pileated woodpecker.
Wasaga Beach offers winter recreation activities with four ski, snowboard and tubing resorts within a 30-minute drive. Twenty minutes from town, Blue Mountain Resort offers 42 trails for downhill enthusiasts. Snowmobile fans have access to 74 miles of groomed snowmobile trails winding through the area. The nearby Scenic Caves Nature Adventures recreation facility sits within one of Canada's six UNESCO biosphere reserves. It beckons winter lovers with its 16 miles of groomed cross-country trails and 4 miles of snowshoe pathways. At Wasaga Beach Provincial Park, tap into 18 miles of groomed cross-country trails suitable for newbies and advanced skiers, and 6 miles of trail for quiet snowshoe jaunts through deer and winter bird habitats.
Summer kicks off at Wasaga Beach in June with the annual two-day free Beach Fest. Beach Area 1 hosts the season's biggest community party that includes entertainment, food and children's activities. Car lovers have their fun in August when the Wasaga Corvette Club hosts its annual Beach Cruize Weekend and Show. Snowman Mania highlights Family Day weekend every February. The event brings out family, friends and visitors for snow sculpting, ice carving demonstrations, a chili cook-off, skating action and a snowman competition. Other regular Wasaga Beach events include a short film festival in January, a kite festival, sandcastle competition, volleyball tournaments and weekly classic car show in the summer.
