7 of the Best Things to do in Clinton on a Day Trip
In central Huron County, there’s a charming small town that should be on your radar. That town is Clinton and it’s literally dubbed Canada’s Home of Radar! This gem of town is perfect to day trip to. I’m so surprised it doesn’t get more attention! Whether you are keen to explore its history or up for a scavenger hunt to see all the all the big red chairs in the area, there’s a fun mix of things to do in Clinton.
So, if you’re looking for a fun day trip from Sarnia, Toronto or anywhere else in south central Ontario, this guide is for you!
Do the Giant Chair Tour
I’m always up for some fun when it comes to a day trip. When it came to my day trip to Clinton, my goal was to visit all of the Giant Chairs in the area.
This is such a fun scavenger hunt of sorts for families or those young at heart. There are 9 giant red chairs in and around Clinton. You’ll find them at unique locations that are great to explore, like School on Wheels, as well as interesting photo-ops like at the giant radar antenna downtown.
Going on the hunt for all of the chairs is such a great way to find other place to visit. You never know what you’ll find along the backroads in between each.
Visit the School on Wheels
One place that I immediately fell in love with was the CNR School on Wheels Museum! It’s located in a scenic park a few minutes from downtown and is open during the summer months.
As a big train buff, as soon as I laid eyes on it, I knew this was a gem I had to share. This unique museum is set with a 1920’s CNR railcar.
The rail car was used as a moving school to teach children in northern Ontario communities. Along with being a school, the railcar is also where teacher Fred Sloman, his wife and children lived.
It may be a small museum, but it was so interesting to see the small school room that taught a variety of ages. Then beyond that, the rooms where the family lived. I swear it was tiny house living before it was cool!
What to know before you go:
- Open Victoria Day weekend until Thanksgiving
- Thursday to Sunday 11:00 am – 4 pm
- Admission is by donation
Don’t miss the cool giant red chair in the park, I love the books used as stairs up to it! And there’s a cute little library out front.
Check out the Murals
Taking a wander through downtown Clinton, I was so excited to see murals. I’m always on the hunt for street art in Ontario, but Clinton has such a unique angle on it.
Throughout town there are a mix of historical and modern murals. All of which help share a piece of the town’s past or present. But these aren’t your ordinary murals–they come to life!
That’s right, the murals in Clinton are unique in that visitors can use an app (Artivive) to help animate the murals. There’s a QR code at each mural, there’s around 8. Use the camera feature to see the mural come to life with both movement and sound.
Eat at Bartliff’s Bakery
A tasty spot to grab lunch during your day trip to Clinton is Bartliff’s Bakery. The bakery has been a long-beloved business in town, serving residents and visitors for over 100 years.
Bartliff’s Bakery opened in 1902 and has seen a lot of firsts. During my visit I learned that they had the first phone number listed in Clinton.
Now, you can pop in to enjoy breakfast, lunch or dinner. I loved that it still maintains much of its historic charm, with a long counter to sit at as well as a wall of baked goods. I couldn’t resist their delicious donuts.
Visit the Radar Antenna
One thing that surprised me during my visit to Clinton, was learning that it’s known as Canada’s ‘home of radar.’ And you can get a photo of the iconic radar antenna, as it’s a star attraction in the heart of downtown.
This massive antenna was part of a radar system that was developed in the 1950s during the Cold War. Its purpose was to detect a possible nuclear attack on North America from the Soviets.
The Royal Canadian Air Force gifted the radar antenna to the people of Clinton in the late 1960s. Now, it’s a not only a fun photo op but pays homage to the town’s history, which you can tell they are proud of.
Plus, it’s another stop to see one of the giant red chairs in Clinton!
Have Fun at Bluestone Wake Park
When it comes to fun things to do in Clinton in the summer, Bluestone Wake Park is a great place to go. This park has a variety of activities to choose from.
You can enjoy relaxing on their beach or going for a swim. Built sand castles or play a round of beach volleyball. But if you’re looking for some water sports, check out their aqua park and enjoy some wakeboarding.
Even if you haven’t tried wakeboarding before, they offer lessons for ages from 3 to 84! The coolest part is that they have 2 wakeboarding courses, a beginner one and a full size one. And the full size one is the only one of its kind in Canada!
It’s easy to book a day pass or lessons online at Bluestone Wake Park. And don’t miss a fun photo-op with the giant red chair. I couldn’t stop laughing pretending I was wakeboarding on it!
Explore the Sculpture Garden
I always love visiting a small town’s gardens when I visit. While it was late in the season for most blooms, on my trip in the fall, I did find a unique garden in Clinton.
The Sculpture Garden is located right downtown and features an assortment of sculptures made by local high school students. I was blown away by their talent. The garden has everything from birds to a globe and other unique pieces.
Plus, one of them is part of the animated mural tour. So, when you focus your camera on it, using the app, it comes to life. And don’t miss a photo op with the giant red chair that’s here!
Things to do near Clinton
Visit Ball’s Bridge
One of my favourite places to visit near Clinton is Ball’s Bridge! Built in 1885, it’s considered one of the oldest wrought iron Pratt truss bridges in North America.
Crossing the Maitland River, it’s a scenic spot to stop. You’ll find another giant red chair here as well as a little library and picnic table. One of the unique features at the bridge is a wind phone. Said to help connect with loved ones who have passed on, these are hidden gems to find.
Spanning 250 feet, the bridge is also known as ‘the Bridge that Love Built.’ The story is that a lady needed to cross the river to go to the market and an engineer was charmed by her. So, built the bridge that summer so his beloved could cross.
Insider tip: If you love birding, this is a great spot to see a variety of birds. There are waterfowl as well as eagles often perched in trees along the river.
Check out Cowbell Brewery
A great place to visit for lunch or dinner near Clinton is Cowbell Brewery. This unique craft brewery is located in Blyth, just 15 minutes north of Clinton.
It’s best known for its sustainable practices and you can learn all about them if you book a tour of Cowbell. I’ve been a number of times and it always surprises me the details they’ve thought of to be green. You can see the green roof from the second floor on the tour and the surrounding farm lands.
Some cool sustainable features that stood out to me include:
- water conservation – from how they prep their beer cans to water flow in the taps
- brewing practices that use less energy
- constructed with sustainable wood products
- electric vehicle-charging stations
In addition to being green, the building is fully accessible and is family friendly. You can enjoy dining inside, which has a cool cabin feel, or on their patio. Try a flight of different craft beers or enjoy one with a meal.
I love their hard apple ciders and the Hazy Days (beer) that has a fruity taste. Plus, don’t miss the giant red chair in the parking lot.
Plan Your Visit Today
Whether you’re looking for places to visit on a Lake Huron coast road trip or from Sarnia, a day trip to Clinton offers a quiet small town with unique attractions.
Other small towns to visit nearby
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