trafal Posted June 21, 2012 Share Posted June 21, 2012 My family and I will be doing a home exchange with another family in Sarnia in just a few short days. We are very excited to visit Canada and have some fun. If anyone on this board is familiar with this area I would welcome suggestions. I am looking for primarily low key activities. We have a long drive to get to Sarnia although on the way we plan to visit the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Cedar Point which will break up the trip. On the way back we will spend 2 nights in Toronto and then come back through Niagara. So some easy , cheap, and restful activities would be great- it's a vacation, right? Here are some things I have found in my research - the Mennonite Market in St Jabobs - A visit to the beach. We will definitely do this as our exchange home is a 5 min walk from Lake Huron. - I think I read about a scenic drive that goes up Lake Huron and by several lighthouses. I think this might be on the US side of the lake. - A possible visit to Detroit to visit the Henry Ford museum. Not sure about this one. My dad suggested it. He was there a few years ago and was very impressed. I'm leery of driving into Detroit although we will have to drive through it to get to Sarnia. - We will be in Sarnia during Canada Day and I hear there will be a big celebration so I am looking forward to that. - We are Christians and like to visit other churches on our trips. if you have a church you love please give us some recommendations. My kids are 4, 10, 12, and 13. My 13 yr has cerebral palsy. He typically uses lingstrom crutches plus we will bring a jogging stroller so he won't get too tired during long outings. I would love to do some hiking if anyone know of any handicap accessible trails. They don't have to be paved just wide enough to easily push the jogging stroller and, of course, the 4 yr is not going to do a long, strenuous hike anyway :tongue_smilie: If anyone is interested the name of the home swap organization we belong to Homelink. http://www.swapnow.com People typically think home exchanging is a very cool idea or that we are extrememly weird :lol: This will be our 7th swap over the past 10 years and we have had some great experiences. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TXMomof4 Posted June 21, 2012 Share Posted June 21, 2012 I have no information at all for you but I think that is so cool! I suggested this to dh years ago and he looked at me like I'd sprouted a second head! :lol: There's no way he could relax knowing 'strangers' were in his home. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nmoira Posted June 21, 2012 Share Posted June 21, 2012 I grew up in Sarnia. Rock Glen is a must-see. Fries from the truck under the Bluewater Bridge (go to the one with the longest line) Canatara park and the children's farm (not a working farm, but nice); If you're into photography, Lake Chipican in the early morning and evening is a prime spot. I'll post later if I think of more. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nmoira Posted June 21, 2012 Share Posted June 21, 2012 This is relatively new (I've never seen it), but a friend of mine says the owner will talk your ear off... good for homeschoolers. :) It was flooded after a plumbing incident last year, but I think everything's OK now. Stones 'n Bones If you golf, there are a couple very nice courses. These are a holdover from the days that all the super rich chemical executives lived in town -- at one time, Sarnia had the highest per capita (or close to it... it's possible this fact became exaggerated over the years) income in Canada, though skewed. Nearby Oil Springs was the site of the first oil rush (is that what you call it) in North America. http://www.lclmg.org/lclmg/Museums/OilMuseumofCanada/tabid/114/Default.aspx Sarnia marked the western termination of the Grand Trunk Railway. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Trunk_Railway The nicest restaurant in the area was for years the River Crab, on the US side, a bit south of Port Huron. I haven't been since the original owner died, but the review still look good. http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/208/1057870/restaurant/Michigan/Port-Huron/River-Crab-Saint-Clair Here's the Ontario Trails Council page for Southwestern Ontario: http://www.ontariotrails.on.ca/trail-regions/southwestern-ontario Besides fries under the bridge, there's a nice little walk along the St. Clair River. The kids that can, can climb down and wade in the river. The sand is gritty there, but there are some nice river rocks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trafal Posted June 22, 2012 Author Share Posted June 22, 2012 NMoira, Thanks so much for taking the time to pass all those links along to me! We are very excited about our trip. Sarnia looks like a wonderful lace to visit- so different from my central NC location. Trafal Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jennifer in MI Posted June 22, 2012 Share Posted June 22, 2012 Don't be afraid of Detroit! Definitely make it over to the Henry Ford and Greenfield Village!!!! It is really an amazing place. Are you interested in more to do in Detroit? We live in one of the suburbs and we go in to Detroit a LOT! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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