Before the chill of fall rides in on the breeze and before you pull out the sweaters and boots, the last warm days of summer offer a final chance to enjoy some barefoot strolls on the beach, to pull out the camping gear or canoe one more time, and to soak up the last rays of summer. For those who love summer, it’s the perfect chance to stretch the season and experience a more tranquil time in Northern Ontario.
It’s easy to start anticipating the coming autumn or focusing on back-to-school tasks and miss out on this glorious time of year. But planning a late summer vacation in Northern Ontario is a great way to extend summer and make winter seem just a bit shorter. And while those rushing the next season have already left, you’ll have the place to yourself.
Mid-August through to the second week of September, depending on the year, is the perfect time to capture the last sun-filled days of the summer. The weather is still warm, and the lake water is still a good temperature for swimming. The goldenrod and black-eyed Susans dotting the roadsides and the occasional field of sunflowers in bloom are some of the usual signs that summer’s end is on the horizon. And, if you can ignore the tinges of yellow and orange starting to appear on the leaves, there is still plenty of time to make the most of those remaining warm days.
Great getaways at this time of year can be anything from a lakeside retreat, a beach vacation, a road trip visiting a town and taking in some of the festivals, events, and farmers' markets, to a hiking, camping, or paddling trip.
If you’re looking for a cottage or resort getaway on one of Ontario’s beautiful lakes, you’ll find this is a rewarding time to visit. Kids are heading back to school and, as a result, most areas are less busy than the peak summer season. You’ll also generally find more availability and selection for accommodation.
Watch for roadside sellers and stop in at farmers’ markets selling fresh produce as the seasonal vegetables ripen. Field tomatoes fresh off the vine, corn on the cob, fresh peas and beans, and new potatoes, sweet and tasty from the ground, are all part of the joy of this time of year.
Check out local events calendars for your area of choice, as late August and early September are when some of the northern communities have their fall fairs and summer’s end events. A good example is the Rainy River Valley Agricultural Fall Fair, known more commonly as the Emo Fair, which happens in the middle of August and is a fun place for families. Kids can amuse themselves on thrill rides and check out the livestock exhibits, while adults can listen to live music or watch the stock car races. Near Thunder Bay, the Hymers Fall Fair at Kakabeka Falls (Labour Day weekend) is another fun, late summer tradition. Don't forget to stop by Thunder Oak Cheese Farm while you're in the area.
Find a market in your region:
Top 10 Reasons to Visit Your Local Farmers' Market in Sunset Country
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Regardless of the type of trip, at this time of year, you can expect all the pleasures of summer,
minus the bugs. Enjoy sitting out in the early evenings on a restaurant patio or entertaining friends as you host a BBQ and watch the sunset without a mosquito in sight.
For wilderness lovers, this is also a magical time of year for hiking, camping, paddling and especially fishing. Wake up to calm, misty mornings on a lakefront campsite and sip your coffee as the sun comes up. Paddle out onto the still water and enjoy the sounds of nature. Sit around a bonfire at night, no bug spray required.
You can find great paddling and camping across Northern Ontario in places like Quetico Provincial Park, Pukaskwa National Park, Lake Superior Provincial Park, Mississagi River Provincial Park, or Killarney Provincial Park, to name just a few. Some of these even have canoes and all the equipment you need, for rent, right at the water’s edge.
At the more remote parks, this is a quiet time of year and can be an incredibly peaceful time to visit. The party crowd has retired for the season! As a result, you have a much better chance of seeing wildlife. It’s also a wonderful time for birding as the avian travellers pass through from their summer breeding grounds in the far north.
Keep an eye out for a number of celestial highlights found this time of year. In mid August, the Perseid meteor shower puts on a show with meteors streaking across the night sky. Also, since the days are a bit shorter and the nights a little longer, you have a good chance of seeing the Northern Lights, one of the benefits of a trip to Northern Ontario at any time of year. But, in late summer, the nights are still generally warm enough to comfortably sit outside with a cup of hot chocolate and watch the nighttime spectacles.
Another natural attraction, if you are lucky enough to witness it, is turtles hatching on beaches and cleared areas near lakes. While you frequently see turtles laying eggs on beaches and grassy areas in June, you may not know that they hatch in late August and early September. Even if you don’t see them crawling out and making their way to the water's edge, you may notice some tiny turtles floating about along the shorelines. But if you are on a soft sand beach the first week of September, keep an eye out for little critters making their way towards the water.
As the summer winds down and the tourists start to fade away, grab your beach towel, your hiking boots, your canoe, or a book you haven’t had a chance to read yet and capture the last days of the season. Spend an evening wandering through the fairgrounds, soaking up the entertainment, or watching shooting stars and northern lights dancing across the sky.
Winter is coming, but you don’t need to start thinking about that yet!
