TOP-3 day trips to the beach (during Civic Holiday long weekend or any other warm summer day)

Not too late to plan a day trip!

Cobourg Beach

Despite the fact that it is my job to do research on family outings, I never get to plan a big family holiday. This has never bothered me because I know from experience the wonderful effect of a simple day trip on my family (and not to forget how much easier it is on my wallet).

Here are three great options to enjoy the pleasure of old-fashioned beach fun (but there's more in the guide). Pack the beach toys (shovels, buckets, several sizes of containers), swimsuits and beach towels, water, sunscreen and a cooler packed with a picnic. Allow some ice-cream money and you're good to go.

Cobourg Beach 
(1hr from Toronto)
We've had great days at this beach. Wide and long, with great sand which is perfect for little engineers' projects and cool waves for active kids. (Super splash pad and great retro snack bar by the entrance as a bonus.)

Frenchman's Bay Park in Pickering 
(40-min. from Toronto)
Hidden gem in Pickering. It might change in the coming years. The municipality has big improvement projects for the place. Until then, you can enjoy the beautiful sand and the intimate feeling of this secluded beach.

Frenchman's Bay Park, looking west

Frenchman's Bay Park, looking east

Centennial Beach in Barrie 
(1hr from Toronto)
This is one long beach with plenty happening all around (playground, splash pad, snack bar, tall fountain by the water) with a long paved bike path to explore the horse-shoe shaped bay. 

Centennial Beach in Barrie

Beating the crowd at Centennial Beach

Great ideas from other moms:
10 tips for the perfect beach picnic
How to keep your cooler colder
10 beach games for your family

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Huge splash pad at Petticoat Creek Pickering (and a cliff trail)

Last weekend, I revisited Petticoat Creek C.A. in Pickering to have a look at their new pool and splash section before it closes for the season (September 3). I also took the time to explore the surroundings and found out the park includes a fantastic cliff trail.

Last time I was there was probably 15 years ago! Gone is the huge wading pool of my kids' childhood (but don't cry, you can still enjoy the one in Bronte Creek Provincial Park).

It's been replaced by three very big wading pools (which I'm sure feel like three big lakes to explore from a toddler's point of view) and a shallow pool with one beach-like access. Next to these four pools, they've added a huge splash pad, not unlike any good splash pad you'd find in a municipal park but bigger (which must look like a "rain forest" to the young kids).

With older kids, I suggest you explore the cliff trail before heading to the pool. As you walk towards the lake from the parking lot, you'll meet the paved bike trail. To your left, you'll notice a dirt trail getting closer to the edge. Follow it to access a gorgeous trail under the shadow of trees with great panorama overlooking... the Pickering Nuclear Generating Centre. It reaches the paved trail again further east.

If you walk 30-minutes (2 kms) eastbound, you'll reach the secluded and great beach of Frenchman's Bay Park.

We were there on a gorgeous Saturday and there was plenty of FREE parking spaces in a parking lot off Beachpoint Promenade just before the beach as well as along the dirt road between the bay and the lake. Next time, we will park there, do the cliff trail, grab an ice cream cone at the truck in front of the pool area in Petticoat Creek, and return for a dip into the lake. (A sign specifies the waters are not to be trusted within two days following a rainfall.)

Information
• You have UNTIL SEPTEMBER 3 to enjoy the water attraction. The park itself is open until October 8, 2012.
• The park admission is $6.50/adults, $5.50/seniors and it's free for kids 15 years and under. Pool access is $4.75 per person ($2.75 if you're a TRCA Parks member) and it's free for kids 2 years and under.
• To get to Frenchman's Bay Park, follow Petticoat Creek's cliff trail eastbound. You'll come across a steal bridge which runs over the stream of Petticoat Creek. Then walk through the private trail at the foot of Marksbury Road (everybody does) and take the first street on your right out of the private trail (called Beachpoint Promenade). You'll see many entrances to the beach. Parking spaces are at the end of this road.