As I sit in my mega blasted air-conditioned office this Tuesday morning, I'm thinking about the amazing long weekend I had outside Montreal.
READ ALSO: Montreal Ranked #1 Most Affordable City In Canada And U.S.
I packed up my bikini and headed down to one of the spots I discovered by doing research for an article I wrote last week called "magical destination near Montreal".
Destination: a beachy nature escape located about 4-hours from Montreal in a quaint and charming area in Ontario called Prince Edward County.
These three massive beaches are located in a provincial park appropriately called Sandbanks Provincial Park.
Once you enter the park, you can easily access any of the three massive beaches that are all located on the banks of beautiful Lake Ontario.
@tylershawmusicBecause of the Park's location, the water here is shallow and warm and also boats a beautiful crystal clear Carribean-like turquoise hue.
As soon as I walked out onto the beach I instantly felt like I was transported to another country.
Not only is the sand fine under your feet, Lake Ontario is so large that there are even waves crashing onto the shore.
@amyjieeIt's no wonder that Sandbanks Provincial Park is extremely popular with Ontarians and Quebecers alike.
Let me tell you, this spot gets crazy busy on a long weekend during summer - I'm talking hour-long line-ups sitting in your car in the hot sun - so it's best to come early in the morning or even drive in late at night on Friday before the weekend actually begins.
You can also stay overnight in the actual park. I rented a campsite through Ontario Park for 45$ a night, bring a tent an inflatable mattress, it's perfect.
There's also a restaurant, convenience store, boat rental shop, bathrooms and changing facilities in the park, so you have everything you need in the area.
If you're a pet owner, no worries. Certain parts of the beach are dog-friendly!
This is definitely the spot to check out if you want the beach experience close to Montreal. I've been to quite a few lakes around the city and nothing quite compared to this spot.
For more information on the park and booking a campsite check out Ontario Parks site HERE.
