Ontario’s Elgin County as we know it today dates back to 1851, which is before Canada became a nation, so it’s safe to say there is some history here. In fact, Elgin County is well known for its historic homes and museums. While I won’t be touching as heavily on that in this article in particular, you can find out heaps of information on all aspects of Elgin County in their free 2019 Official Visitor’s Guide.

Elgin County doesn’t have a large population, roughly 50,000 at current moment, but what makes it one of the top vacation destinations in Ontario is the large coastline, as well as the port towns that man the coast where, as a visitor, you’re awfully happy that they don’t typically suffer from overcrowding.

Like other regions of Ontario’s Southwest, the produce is off the charts. Berries at the beginning of summer, corn so sweet you think it’s sugared in the late summer, pumpkins in the fall, and baking and preserves throughout the year. In August, if I’m not eating corn everyday of the week, I must have fallen ill. This is going to sound overly Canadian, but when I’m somewhere else than Ontario in August (which I’ve been many, many times), I yearn for that sweet Ontario corn.

There are a number of population centres in Elgin County which you might recognize, including Aylmer, Port Stanley, Belmont, Dutton and West Lorne. St. Thomas is well known, but technically it’s separated from Elgin County, though it’s within its geographical boundary.

Thankfully, Elgin County is one of those vacation spots in Ontario where you can spend as little as a weekend there and get a good feel for all that’s going on.

For reference sake, a drive from Toronto to Port Stanley shouldn’t take you more than three hours at the very most, and if you’re a quick driver like myself, it’s probably closer to two and a half hours.

NOTE: This post may contain some affiliate links. That means, simply, that I may get a commission at no cost to you. That being said, my opinions are fully my own.

Let’s Talk First About the Top Things do in Port Stanley, Ontario

At the mouth of Kettle Creek, on the north shore of Lake Erie, is where you’ll find Port Stanley - a harbour village which boasts a population of around 2500. We have records of what we now know as Port Stanley dating back to the travellers and explorers of the 17th and 18th century, but it came to be known as Port Stanley in 1824, named after Edward Smith-Stanley, the 14th Earl of Derby.

Whether you’re a keener for history like myself or not, you’ll still find plenty to enjoy in Port Stanley, much of which keeps Port Stanley on the map as one of the top vacation spots in Ontario.

Port Stanley Beach