Luxury experiences abound just steps from some of Ontario’s prettiest sunsets
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The shores of Lake Huron are one giant sunset strip, a place for Ontarians to gather and admire the most perfect summertime showcase.
The hues attraction has always been especially world-class at the beachfront in Southampton, three hours northwest of Toronto.
On Friday nights throughout the summer, bagpiper Michael Smith has arguably the worst seat in the house for the spectacle, positioned with his back to the campfire-coloured sphere so he can interact with his audience face-to-face as he pipes down the sun. The 32-year-old must not mind his arrangement considering he’s been performing here for 20 years.
That unique experience awaits visitors in this sleepy gem in Bruce County. Oh, and there’s ice cream. The Southampton Fun ice cream parlour on High St. gets especially busy at sundown as locals and tourists seek out one final treat for the day.
Like Southampton — the locals call it Hamptons North — The Beach Motel is elevated yet approachable, striking a balance between fancy and fun, without the riled-up younger party crowd known to populate Sauble Beach (Sauble has its charms and we love it, too).
The Beach Motel, opened in 2022 and brimming with amenities including a beautiful restaurant, should be on every visitor’s radar for the location alone.
It’s a hop, skip and jump from the property to the main beach area (226 steps from reception to first foot on sand, according to my unofficial step count), making it perhaps the town’s closest-to-the-beach accommodation without being a cottage.
“That’s one of the reasons why we kind of jumped on the opportunity,” said Dane Buttenaar, who was raised in Southampton and owns the property with his wife, Samantha.
Still, visitors could be forgiven for forgoing the nearby waterfront in favour of more quality time at the motel, as we opted for during our recent two-night stay.
Enjoy a delicious continental breakfast at the Sandbar Restaurant (try the dill cream cheese!) before retreating to your suite’s outdoor nesting chair or enjoying the functionality of the smartly designed contemporary suites complete with high-end bedding and linens, Nespresso Zenius machines, beautiful soaker tub and thoughtful design elements conjured up by Toronto’s Common Good Studio.
Go ahead and crank the super-quiet guest-controlled in-suite air conditioning while enjoying some respite from the heat that ratchets up during our criminally short summers. Or warm up in the sauna in winter. The property is open year-round.
Nautical themes are evident, if subtle throughout the property, which retains its original street-side facade with two levels of guest rooms wrapped in an airy and inviting all-white exterior.
The on-site spa (The Spahhh), rooftop patio with fire bowls and comfy furniture, and sauna create an unmistakably elevated environment while the reception area and gift shop’s bright curves highlight an interior design that flows nicely across the property.
Our favourite feature, though, was the simple brilliance of a wristband handed to us at check-in to use for entry to our room, meaning we could shut our brains off entirely and not worry about carrying keycards or remembering passcodes.
It’s the kind of attention to detail the husband-and-wife owners thought guests would appreciate when they took the plunge into motelier life.
“That’s kind of the whole premise of why my wife and I purchased the property,” Dane said. “We wanted to bring a higher-end style of cottaging. We wanted to create a vacation as opposed to just cottage living. We felt there was a market for that kind of accommodation.”
At the Sandbar Restaurant, tapas-style seasonal offerings are highlighted with sustainable practices at the forefront.
“Nothing comes from a box,” chef Carey McLellan told us as we enjoyed chicken and beef dishes including her popular chicken and French toast, all artfully plated with precision.
Her mission is “serve the people realness. Seasonal, sustainable, local. Just good food.”
Summer cocktails and s’mores kits can be enjoyed in front of a wood-burning fireplace on the rooftop patio while picnic baskets are also available, filled with beach essentials including reusable water bottles, towels and all the fixings to create the perfect beachside charcuterie board.
The only thing left to do is wait for Mother Nature to work her magic.
“We’ve seen a bunch in Thailand, Southeast Asia. There’s some really nice ones over there,” Dane said, reaching into his sunset rolodex. “But whenever we’re home, we just fall in love again with it. I would say it’s up there with the best in the world.”
The motel’s nearby Beach House is available for larger groups and families. This accommodation features two three-bedroom units — one upper level with full backyard and one lower level with front-yard access. There’s a common area and guests can use any of the amenities at The Beach Motel.
When not taking in a sunset or enjoying the 4-km stretch of sand, dunes and glistening Great Lake serenity at the main beach area, check out Gerry’s Fast Food for tasty burgers and fresh-cut fries. Get your caffeine fix at Dizzy Bird before filling your day with a visit to Fairy Lake, the Bruce County Museum, the Highview Restaurant, Chantry Island Lighthouse tours or Inglis Falls, to name just a few of the area’s attractions.
“Even if you’re not coming to stay at The Motel, even just coming out to check out Southampton should be a must on people’s bucket lists. I think Southampton is still, in my opinion, a best-kept secret,” Dane said.
A measure of a place worth visiting is that you don’t want to leave. Southampton and The Beach Motel fit that bill, if even for nothing other than those unforgettable sunsets.
NEW DIRECTION
Pretty soon, a visit to South Beach won’t necessitate travelling to Miami.
Dane and Samantha Buttenaar’s brand is growing with a new motel property — South Beach — due to open next spring. It’ll be just down the street from The Beach Motel.
“(The South Beach property) was purchased while I was renovating the motel. I knew the owner so I just knew that I couldn’t pass up on it,” Dane said, explaining the name is a nod to Southampton Beach as well as nearby South St. Beach.
“South St. Beach is kind of my hidden secret as a local. It’s the nicest beach to relax on and that’s the closest beach we’re by,” he said. “(The name) also lends itself to … the style is going to be a more Miami vibe, colourful style.”
South Beach will be “more family-based,” and geared to longer stays with full-size fridges and stoves in each suite, Dane said.
“It’s a larger property,” he added, noting that guests will find it easy to sprawl out and relax.
