Sarnia: Hotels for Beach, Parks and Culture

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Editor's Choice

Pure Luxury

“Call me spoiled - but I love to be treated like a queen when traveling. Only the best is good enough for me. Hotels that make my vacation a dream of luxury and seduction are my choices. Pay attention to the (violet Medal) for luxury accommodation.”

Tatjana Herzegova, Kiew, Ukraine

Editor's Choice

Sustainable Travel

“There is only one earth and we should go out and see it. I like hotels, which look for sustainability. It is not only protecting the ecology, but also taking care for the local business and culture. I recommend the medal for eco accomodation. Let’s protect our earth. Sustainable travel is travelling with responsibility.”

Markus Lenk, Düsseldorf, Germany

The Howard Watson Trail is 16 km long, while Sarnia also offers a long sandy beach, waterfront trails and a range of cultural venues. You can tailor your stay to specific interests, such as a multi-use trail, a visit to a park, or art and local history. Canatara Park and Centennial Park each have their own distinctive features. The Sarnia Heritage Walking Tour, Sarnia’s Indigenous Flag Plaza and the Judith & Norman ALIX Art Gallery add further cultural highlights.

Beach and park trails at Canatara Park

Canatara Park is the City of Sarnia’s largest park and features a long sandy beach. At Canatara Beach, there are beach access mats and accessible beach chairs. If these accessibility aids are important for your plans, consider them when choosing a beach visit. The park also has numerous paved and unpaved trails. The Children’s Animal Farm is also located in Canatara Park. The beach, trails and farm give you three distinct interests to consider when deciding whether to include this park in your outings.

Waterfront trails, canoes and a multi-use trail

The Howard Watson Trail is a 16 km multi-use trail from Confederation Road in Sarnia to Camlachie. Its length and route make it a clear point of reference if you want to include a named multi-use trail in your plans. Centennial Park has a different focus: it features waterfront walking trails and a canoe and kayak launch. The Andrew S. Brandt Marina in Sarnia Bay is also within Centennial Park. This gives you different features to consider when choosing a location: a designated multi-use trail on one hand, and waterfront walking trails, a launch and a marina at Centennial Park on the other.

Local history, a plaza and winter lights

The interactive Sarnia Heritage Walking Tour is self-guided and connects locations with photos and information about historic landmarks. It offers a way to explore local history through specific places and accompanying content. Sarnia’s Indigenous Flag Plaza is in Bayshore Park. The Medicine Wheel there represents the four cardinal directions, as well as Father Sky, Mother Earth and Spirit Tree. The Celebration of Lights offers a different, seasonal perspective: every winter, Centennial Park is illuminated with thousands of coloured lights. If you plan your visit around this tradition, check the event dates for your travel period.

Art in downtown Sarnia

The Judith & Norman ALIX Art Gallery is in the cultural heart of downtown Sarnia, one block from the waterfront. It offers exhibitions, tours, talks and programs. Its permanent collection includes about 1,200 historic and contemporary Canadian works, including significant paintings by members of the Group of Seven. Rotating exhibitions drawn from the permanent collection help preserve and present Canada’s heritage. For your cultural plans, the gallery offers a focus on art, collections and exhibitions, while the self-guided Heritage Walking Tour explores historic landmarks through photos and information.

Discover more destinations: Petrolia, Point Edward, Lambton Shores, Sombra

For the broader travel overview: Lambton County.

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