sarnia lambton tourism

Sarnia-Lambton

Known as Ontario’s Blue Coast, Sarnia and Lambton County are home to some of Ontario’s finest and most inviting beaches, including Canatara and Grand Bend , two Blue Flag beaches.

The area is also home to a number of craft breweries and wineries located along the Cheers To The Coast Drink Trail and unique galleries and museums, such as the Oil Museum of Canada , dedicated to the region’s past as the location of North America’s first oil boom.

Where is Sarnia-Lambton?

Sarnia sits at the meeting point of Lake Huron and the St. Clair River, just over an hour’s drive from London along Highway 402. Sarnia is connected to the United States via the border at the Blue Water Bridge . Lambton County stretches along the St. Clair River up the coast of Lake Huron. This destination is best explored by car, with some regional bus service available.

View Sarnia-Lambton on Google Maps

Things to do in Sarnia-Lambton

Go to a rock festival.

Bluewater BorderFest is Sarnia-Lambton’s biggest concert of the year. It takes place June 20-22, 2024 and features major music headliners from Canada and the United States.

Sample craft wine and beer

Check out the farm-to-table brews at Stonepicker Brewing Company in Plympton-Wyoming or sample local wines at Alton Farms Estate Winery . Both offer guided tastings and tours.

Study a dinosaur collection

The Stones N Bones Museum in downtown Sarnia gives explorers a chance to check out a large and diverse collection of fossils, dinosaurs, artifacts, rare gems and minerals.

Hike in a conservation area

Set out for a day of exploration at the Rock Glen Conservation Area (RGCA) . Explore recreational walking trails through a Carolinian Forest and view the Rock Glen Falls waterfall.

Swim at a Blue Flag beach

With over 900 metres of sandy Lake Huron shoreline, the beach located within Sarnia’s Canatara Park is one of a limited selection of beaches in Canada to earn Blue Flag status for its water quality.

Visit a herb farm

Lambton’s Forest Glen Herb Farm offers visitors to the area a unique opportunity to stay in an authentic 19th-century Edwardian home, set on the grounds of an actual working herb farm.

Social Media links

For more trip ideas, visit Sarnia and Lambton’s tourism website or social media channels.

Get inspired

Plan your visit with these experiences and itineraries.

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4-day Ontario road trip: Southwest and West Coast sampler

Places to eat in Southwestern Ontario

• Read more Places to eat in Southwestern Ontario

Rediscover Black history in Ontario

• Read more Rediscover Black history in Ontario

Points of interest

Discover more highlights this destination has to offer.

Bluewater Trails

Brights grove beach, ipperwash beach.

Oil Museum of Canada

Sarnia Marina

Last updated:  March 27, 2024

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The top 10 spots to visit in the Sarnia area when Canada reopens borders

Sarnia and Lambton County have a lot of offer, and soon Michigan residents can once again visit as Canada reopens the border to nonessential traffic. 

Mark Perrin, executive director of Tourism Sarnia-Lambton, said the area has more than 300 retail, restaurant, attraction and accommodation locations across Lambton County.

And the organization had summer students review data on the site's app, Tour Ontario's Blue Coast , to share some of the popular attractions and businesses.

On Monday, Aug. 9 at 12:01 a.m., fully vaccinated citizens and permanent residents of the United States can return to Canada for non-essential travel for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic hit in March 2020.

For people ready to get back to the other side of Lake Huron and ready to explore our Canadian neighbors’ businesses and attractions, here are the top 10 spots to visit in Sarnia and Lambton County, according to Tourism Sarnia-Lambton.

1. Grand Bend

About:  Looking for a day full of adventure and fun? The community of Grand Bend is calling. Walk along the main strip to experience a bustling environment of shopping, activities, restaurants, beach and much more. Take in the golden sand of the beach and the crisp blue water of Lake Huron.

For Info:  grandbend.com/

2. Pinery Provincial Park

About: Located on Lake Huron near Grand Bend, this breathtakingly beautiful park has 10 kilometers of sand beach. It has extremely rare and fragile oak savanna and coastal dune ecosystems with extraordinary biodiversity, over 800 vascular plants and 300 bird species. As a bonus, the sunsets seen from the park are ranked by National Geographic as among the top 10 best in the world. 

For Info: (519) 243-2220 or  ontarioparks.com/park/pinery

3. Shale Ridge Estate Winery

About:  One of the hottest destinations of the summer,  Shale Ridge Estate Winery is Lambton County’s newest craft cider and wine destination. The cider is made with care onsite with its own apples and strives to create innovative products while keeping things homegrown and local. When people visit their location, they'll get the chance to see the beautiful farm, taste and purchase the products and hear its story.

For Info: (519) 280-9752 or [email protected]

4. Rock Glen Falls

About:  Located in the Rock Glen Conservation Area, Rock Glen Falls has a unique ecosystem within the Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority jurisdiction and features views of Ontario’s unique beauty.

For Info:  https://gowaterfalling.com/waterfalls/rockglen.shtml

5. Purdy’s Fish Market

About:  Located on the shore of the St. Clair River and nestled behind a casino, Purdy’s Fish Market is a destination worth seeking. This restaurant does not disappoint, as it serves up the freshest and most flavorful fish and chips in town and even better views.

For Info:  (519) 344-3732

6. Waterfront Park

About:  Come see the Ontario side of the Blue Water Bridge. Explore the splash pad, playground, feed the fish and enjoy the manicured walkway along the river to take in sights of both Port Huron and Sarnia. Be sure to stop by one of the many fry truck options or ice cream shops for a snack.

For Info:  (519) 337-3201 and  villageofpointedward.com/parks/

7. Ipperwash Beach Club

About:  Completely renovated in 2017, this club sits on a historic site, formerly home of the Ipperwash Hotel. Ipperwash Beach Club has transformed into the place for family and friends to meet for a satisfying meal, refreshing drink, or perhaps an ice cream on the large and comfortable outdoor patios.

For Info:  (519) 243-5040 or  https://ipperwashbeachclub.ca/

8. Lambton Heritage Museum

About:  The Lambton Heritage Museum in Grand Bend welcomes visitors to learn what makes this part of Southwestern Ontario so special. In the main museum building people can check out interesting artifacts and fun activities. They can even catch a glimpse behind the scenes in the Collections Centre and walking the nature trail is a great way to check out the museum grounds.

For Info: ( 519) 243-2600 or [email protected]

9. Refined Fool Brewing Co.

About:  Refined Fool Brewing Co., founded in 2014, is Sarnia’s first brewery in over a decade. The business has two vibrant taprooms, each featuring over 20 styles of craft beer and unique restaurant options. The downtown taproom features March Hare restaurant and the London Road taproom features Burger Rebellion and a new sports bar.

For Info: (519) 704-1335 or [email protected]

10. Kingswell Glen Golf Course

About:   Located in the Victorian town of Petrolia, the 6,208 yard  Kingswell Glen Golf Course  provides a unique 18-hole course with the front nine opening in 2001 while the back nine was built in the 1890s. People can take in the history of the area as they weave their way through the course with historic oil well rigging visible.

For Info:  (519) 882-0860 or [email protected]

Contact Bryce Airgood at (810) 989-6202 or [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter @bairgood123.

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Sarnia-Lambton

With two Blue Flag beaches and some of the world's best sunsets, this region is a hub for sun worshippers. There's also fascinating history to discover, amazing art spaces and much more.

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Accommodations, experiences.

Tourism Sarnia-Lambton

1-800-265-0316 1-519-336-3232

[email protected]

Directions ‍ 1455 Venetian BOULEVARD Point Edward ON N7T 7W7 Canada - Map

Tourism Sarnia-Lambton

Tourism Sarnia Lambton is the Destination Marketing Organization for Sarnia and Lambton County, Ontario, Canada. We offer a multitude of services to the leisure & business traveller, local residents, industry suppliers as well as government & research organizations.

Contact Info

• Phone: 519-336-3232
• Toll Free: 800-265-0316
• Fax: 519-336-3278
• Email: [email protected]
• www.ontbluecoast.com
• Year Established: 1962
• F/T Employees: 5
• Key Contact: Mark Perrin
• NAICS Code: 561591 - Convention and Visitors Bureaus
• Site Selector Map: View location

Tourism Sarnia-Lambton launches app to reward explorers

Article content.

A free app billed as the first of its kind in Ontario is rewarding residents and visitors as they explore Sarnia and the rest of Lambton County.

The Tour Ontario’s Blue Coast mobile app  – available from Apple’s App Store and Google Play – was officially released this month by Tourism Sarnia-Lambton as another way to promote its COVID-clobbered tourism sector.

Tourism Sarnia-Lambton launches app to reward explorers Back to video

Users can sign up to earn 10 points each time they visit any of 150  featured  locations and attractions and, once 100 points are accumulated, they can be exchanged at the tourism agency’s office for a $10 gift certificate good at more than 300 local businesses.

‘We’re always looking at new ways to interact with people who are visiting or residents” exploring the community, said Adam Veen, e-marketing co-ordinator with Tourism Sarnia-Lambton.

He said the tourism office began a conversation with the Economic Developers Council of Ontario and was encouraged to work with a company to develop a rewards-based app.

“From there, the ball just kept rolling and we ended up launching the new app for Sarnia-Lambton,” Veen said.

It was downloaded by about 150 users within the first few days.

“It’s starting to roll really well, and I know once the rain stops and weather gets going a little better this summer there will be a lot of people out exploring,” Veen said.

Friday’s move into the third stage of the province’s pandemic reopening rules should also help, he said.

“What we’re doing is encouraging people to go out and explore all the great things that Sarnia-Lambton has to offer,” Veen said.

The app provides a guide to the region’s beaches, breweries, museums, restaurants, wineries and other attractions, with a map showing their locations, links and information.

“Because it uses GPS co-ordinates, you can find out super quick what’s around you,” Veen said.

When someone using the app visits one of the locations, they can hit the “collect points” button if they want to collect rewards.

Veen said they started with 150 locations but hopes to build on that by offering rotating “seasonal offerings” and information about local events.

Along with providing information for visitors, approaches like the app can help “refresh” interest by local residents as well in exploring what’s available nearby, he said.

“It gets them out and wanting to discover something new, whether it’s a new business that has just opened, a new location or a place they haven’t visited in forever and want to check it out again and see all the improvements the municipalities have been making,” Veen said.

Local communities “have been really working hard to make Sarnia-Lambton a great place to visit,” he added.

App users can choose to sign up for the rewards or just use it as a tool to explore the community, Veen said.

The rewards can be redeemed at the Tourism Sarnia-Lambton office in the tourism information centre at 1455 Venetian Blvd. in Point Edward.

[email protected]

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Tourism Sarnia-Lambton is the Destination Marketing Organization (DMO) for Lambton County welcoming visitors from all over the world. We are proudly supported by the Corporation of The County of Lambton and its tourism industry partners. It is our vision to foster a spirit of partnerships within Sarnia-Lambton to enhance tourism through programs, ideas and initiatives that will grow the tourism industry resulting in a greater tax revenue for municipalities within the Sarnia-Lambton area.

Tourism Sarnia-Lambton

1455 Venetian BOULEVARD Point Edward ON N7T 7W7 Canada

T:  1-800-265-0316 P:  1-519-336-3232 F:  1-519-336-3278 E:   Email us

Monday – Thursday: 8:30 A.M. – 4:30 P.M. Friday: 8:00 A.M. – 4:00 P.M. Saturday & Sunday: Closed

Staff Directory

Mark Perrin Executive Director Email

Vicky Praill Special Events & Sports Marketing Coordinator Email

Adam Veen Marketing Director Email

Bailey Tremblay Entertainment & Programming Administration Coordinator Email

Shaelyn Wagenaar Destination Marketing Email

View a list of the  TSL Board of Directors

Discover Sarnia-Lambton Retail Locations

Redeem your Tourism Sarnia-Lambton Dollars at any of the following local retail locations.

Vouchers are for Full Cash Value. Vouchers can not be exchanged for cash in part or full and are valid for single transactions only.

Ready to plan your next visit to Sarnia-Lambton?

Heritage Sarnia-Lambton offers virtual Heritage Hour on historic diaries and letters

Wyoming, ON - The Heritage Sarnia-Lambton network will be hosting a new virtual Heritage Hour on Thursday, May 9, 2024 at 7:30 p.m. This hour-long panel presentation, titled For Posterity’s Eyes Only: Historic Diaries, Letters, and Correspondence , will highlight examples of personal correspondence in the Heritage Sarnia-Lambton network’s collections, and examine what they reveal about life in Lambton County.

“Some documents in our collections, like diaries, journals, letters, and other forms of correspondence, offer glimpses into how our communities evolved through personal experiences,” said Dana Thorne, Curator/Supervisor with Lambton Heritage Museum. “By reading these historic documents decades or centuries later, we often find fascinating insights and perspectives. We can connect with the past residents of Lambton County by reading their thoughts, opinions, and feelings.”

Representatives from museums across the County will take part, including Kailyn Shepley (Sombra Museum), Fiona Doherty (Moore Museum), Nicole Aszalos (Lambton County Archives), Erin Dee-Richard (Oil Museum of Canada), and David McLean (Forest Museum), as well as local history expert Greg Stott (Historian, University College of the North). Dana Thorne (Lambton Heritage Museum) will moderate the presentation.

This upcoming Heritage Hour is part of an ongoing series of interesting and engaging presentations highlighting Lambton’s history. Previous Heritage Hour recordings can be found at lambtonmuseums.ca/heritage-sarnia-lambton .

Heritage Hour is free and registration is required. You can register for this virtual event online at lambtonmuseums.ca.

Please contact:

Dana Thorne Curator/Supervisor, Lambton Heritage Museum County of Lambton 519-243-2600 ext. 3151 Email Dana Thorne

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