Travel: A Day Trip to Friday Harbour

A Day at Friday Harbour Resort

I love exploring Ontario and we make a point to visit some local gems year long. We love visiting the local businesses and exploring new towns.

Even when you only have a day, there's so many stunning places to see so close to home!



This weekend, we decided to explore Innisfil, Ontario. What brought us there was the prospect of a beach day and some whispers of a beautiful subdivision called "Friday Harbour."

We were looking for a fun, family friendly day out and a change of scenery and that's exactly what we found!

What is Friday Harbour?

Friday Harbour is a small harbour that was designed to be a destination. Their motto? "Live everyday like it's Friday." I think they have definitely captured that feeling.

Flanking the harbour are modern condos and waterfront properties. Originally the area was meant for residents only but now they welcome visitors for the day as well.




There is also a great boardwalk with some storefronts, restaurants and patios. You could easily spend the day or hours here if you catch that Friday vibe.

Here's what you can do:

• Walk the board walk all the way to the beach (the beach itself is for homeowners only but you can access the waterway and shoreline)
• Grab an iced coffee or ice cream and sit to watch the boats come in
• Take sailing lessons
• Enjoy a delicious meal (if you're visiting on a weekend, make reservations ahead of time)
• Rent bicycles, kayaks, paddleboards or canoes
• Go for a hike in the nature reserve

Note: At this time, face coverings are required in all establishments and many stores do not accept cash.

We enjoyed a delicious meal and some drinks at Fishbone Kitchen and then also bought some ice cream from a food truck. Each Saturday, different food trucks are on site for the day. While we were there, we noticed a Jamaican food truck, The Food Dudes and a Dole whip truck.



Some other restaurants you could check out on the boardwalk:

Avenue
The Beach Club now open to non-residents)
Food Trucks (only on Saturdays and changes weekly)

We enjoyed strolling the boardwalk (it's stroller friendly and kids would enjoy watching the boats and learning their names). There is also a playground but it is currently closed to the public due to COVID-19.



If you're looking to make a weekend out of it, I'd suggest renting a bnb or hotel room in Innisfil, doing one day at Friday Harbour and one day at a local beach.

We grabbed some take-out and headed to Innisfil Beach Park. Currently the on-site parking is only for residents of Innisfil, so you may have to drive around a little to find a place to park.


It's a great spot right on Lake Simcoe, the beach areas are small but they have implemented "Active Beach" rules right now. This means there is no sitting or standing on the sand, but visitors can use the beach area to access the water.

This means there's always space for social distancing when you are going for a swim. The water was warm when we went and the beach was lively! We felt comfortable as the grass had social distancing circles sprayed on it so everyone was a safe distance apart. There's also a stroller friendly boardwalk here and a splash pad for little ones.


Hope the current situation doesn't prevent you from getting out for some local day trips. If you're feeling comfortable, it's a great way to relax, clear your head and explore. Just don't forget your mask!