Stratford Off The Beaten Path

Some of us grew up swimming in quarries -- others only have read about such a quaint "blast from the past." But the quarry at St. Mary's is the real deal, a limestone quarry which began to be used as a swimming hole in the 1930s, although it has been gussied up substantially in the forty-odd years that I've been visiting and swimming there. It retains what looks (to the diver standing ready to plunge) like the highest diving board in the world, but now has rafts, a "sunning lawn" and a concessionaire. But come anyway. There can't be all that many quarries left, and this one brags that it is the largest outdoor swimming pool in Canada!

To get there, take ON-7 West to County Road 9. It is about twenty minutes' drive from Stratford.

Hours: Daily 1:00 - 8:00pm

Cost:
Youth.............$3.25
Older Adult.....$4.25
Adult..............$4.75
Family..........$13.00

This small fountain – which was not operational when I visited Stratford – was built to commemorate the Queen’s Jubilee. That’s Queen Victoria, not Elizabeth II. It’s an interesting and cute fountain, one that will likely catch your eye as you amble down Ontario Street. There’s also a small description of the fountain and the event, for those who like to bone up on local history.

Shakespeare is a town (not on the map) it is close to Stratford and is West of Kitchener and Waterloo. Less busy. Not so much vehicle traffic. Quiet and Peacefull.

This is a website that is great. There are three sections 1. The town of Shakespear 2. Lake Huron Shoreline 3. The areas in between. There are road trip suggestions, hiking maps, places to shop, antique shops etc..
www.shakespearetotheshoreline.ca

www.huroncounty.ca
www.porkshoppe.com (beside the tourist information shop & mappleton organic icecream shop

www.huroneast.com
The town of Seaforth is nice too.