Background Info: It is a popular tourist destination situated on Nottawasaga Bay at the southern end of Georgian Bay. Wasaga Beach entered history’s headlines in 1934 when the first overseas flight from mainland Canada, across the Atlantic to England and in a plane called the “Trail of the Caribou”, used Wasaga’s long flat sandy beach as a take off strip. On November 30, 2007, a major fire destroyed between 50 to 70% of the main street pedestrian mall, including 17 businesses and 5 apartments. Plans to rebuild the beach front included a modern style with shopping, an indoor/outdoor theme park and monorail service. Controversy also arose over whether or not the fire was deliberately set in order to allow unobstructed progression with the planned development or whether it was simply an accident. A report issued on February 13, 2009 suggests that the fire was deliberately set by two young men (one from Barrie, 21 years of age, and the other from Midhurst, 18 years of age) suggesting that although the fire was deliberate it was not related to the planned development (* Source: Wikipedia).

The Trip: It takes about 1 1/2 – 2 hrs to drive to Wasaga Beach from Toronto. Take Hwy 400 north towards Barrie. Once you reach Barrie, take Hwy 26 towards Wasaga Beach.

Thoughts about the Place: Once you are past your teenage years and early 20s, this place seems to be a bit over-rated. Strolling down the main strip of Wasaga where the shops and patio bars are located, you will see and definitely hear many cars drive by with the music blasting to attract attention. Nonetheless, if you go a bit further from the main strip or even to other beaches in Wasaga, you can find a much calmer place to enjoy the sun. Picnic tables are available close to the beach for the day users wanting to have a picnic and make a bbq. Another good thing about Wasaga is that the beach is so wide that there is ample space for all sun-tanners and the tents or sun umbrellas they might bring with them (even on long weekends). The water is very shallow for about 10-20 metres and is sandy which makes the water look dirty; this appearance however comes from the sand that is mixed with water because of the waves. In most areas there is little, if any algae that you can find.