The Date Almanac
A Meaford day on the bay
Pie and produce at Grandma Lambe's, a walk at Beautiful Joe Park, and the beach at Christie
A relaxed day west along the shore to Meaford, about 40 minutes from Collingwood. Stock up on pie and produce at Grandma Lambe's, walk the trails and gardens at Beautiful Joe Park in town, then drop down to Christie Beach for a sandy stretch of Georgian Bay. Three stops on an easy west-shore loop that stays quieter than Collingwood in peak summer.
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Pie and produce · Meaford
Grandma Lambe's
A long-running farm market and bakery on Highway 26 outside Meaford, stocked from the family's own farm plus local goods, and known above all for its pies. Open year round, seven days in summer; a market and bakery rather than a pick-your-own.
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A garden walk
Beautiful Joe Conservation Area
An in-town Meaford park on the Bighead River, named for Beautiful Joe, the rescue dog whose 1893 story was set here and became a worldwide bestseller. Easy trails, gardens, a pavilion, and dog-friendly grounds make it a gentle stop.
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Sand on the bay
Christie Beach Conservation Area
A sandy Grey Sauble beach on Georgian Bay south of Meaford, with seasonal washrooms, a picnic shelter, and shallow water. Quieter than the big Collingwood and Wasaga beaches, though the lot can fill on a hot day and the water stays cool early in the season.
Before you go
- Grandma Lambe's is open seven days through the summer; it is a market and bakery, not a pick-your-own, so fresh apples come later in the fall.
- Beautiful Joe Park is a free in-town park named for the famous dog story written here, with easy trails and gardens.
- Christie Beach is a Grey Sauble conservation area with seasonal washrooms and parking that can fill on hot days.
- The Meaford Friday market runs 3 to 7 at the harbour pavilion if your day lands on a Friday.
- Georgian Bay water is cool into early summer, so Christie is a wade-and-picnic beach in late June.
A free day out from the Home Almanac. Every stop is a verified place; days change with the season, so print it the week you go. Data (c) OpenStreetMap contributors, openstreetmap.org/copyright.