Provincial Park or Park with Lake and Picnic area?

[Jackal]

Hi Everyone,
Anyone have any recommendations of a Provincial Park or park or lake that's not farther than 1.5 hours from Richmond Hill area? We are planning a little picnic outing tomorrow and looking for interesting areas. It would be me, my wife and my 11 month daughter (so trees with shade would be nice). Something like Sibbald point but we've been there many times.
Thanks.

[Seshan]

I was going to say Sibbalds Point Park since that's up the road from me and that's all I know :P

[ace_master]

I live by Sibbalds Point... Have you been to any of the other parks along the lake? Del La Salle is pretty nice, as long as it's not busy, lol.

[Seshan]

If you're going during the week, Del La Salle and the other beaches along lake drive are fine, On weekends, STAY AWAY.

[ace_master]

If you're going during the week, Del La Salle and the other beaches along lake drive are fine, On weekends, STAY AWAY.
+1... Jackson's Points population triples on weekends, lol.

[Seshan]

+1... Jackson's Points population triples on weekends, lol.
Yeah, I have to drive 4 blocks to work, and it's the most frustrating driver ever on weekends in the summer.

Ace, Do you have a TM3 plate/stickers? I'll have to keep a eye out for you :p

[07carbon3]

darlington provincal park. nice shaded area for picnic and beautiful sandy beach and sand bottom water

right off the 401 east around bowmanville

Darlington Provincial Park
1600 Darlington Park Rd.
Bowmanville, Ontario
L1C 3K3

[ace_master]

Yeah, I have to drive 4 blocks to work, and it's the most frustrating driver ever on weekends in the summer.

Ace, Do you have a TM3 plate/stickers? I'll have to keep a eye out for you :p
*Taken to PM*

There is also a nice beach in Holmes Point that you can walk out like 250 meters on the sand bars (The first 10 meters of the water are rocks though, so I don't know how valuable the sand bar feature would be with an 11 month old)

[Jackal]

Thanks guys. I'll google those places. Yes, we're going tomorrow for the day. If you have any more keep em coming.

[ace_master]

Here's a list on Georginas website (http://georgina.ca/beach-closures.aspx). Please take note that they do charge for parking if your not a resident or Georgina (the town maintains the parks daily). Rates are on that page.

[Dan Da Man]

Kelso in Milton

[ken6214]

Balsam Lake, but it pushes your 1.5h limit a bit.

[peterm15]

Does it need to be a lake?

Withen about 30 min of you i can think of a few places for picnics.

Fairy Lakes in newmarket
Boyd conservation area
Albion hills ( ok a bit further)

This one is nice to BUT im not sure it would be a great place for a picnic. Although ive only seen the trails and im decently sure they have other stuff to.
Its about a 10 min walk in on wheelchair accessible trails to the falls.

http://www.hrca.on.ca/ShowCategory.cfm?subCatID=1084

[omalak]

Its going to be a scorcher tomorrow! 42 degrees keep the little one cool and shaded!

Have fun !

I have nothing else to add lol

[Jackal]

Decided on Del La Salle Park in Georgina.
@acemaster. You weren't kidding about Parking. 6.50 per hour or 32.50 for full day. More expensive on weekends for us non-residents. Almost Wonderland rates for a park. Just went for 3 hours parking and enjoying the day. Thanks everyone for your input. I am sure those other places are excellent too.

[proDJtege]

If you don't mind the 2.5 hour drive from Toronto, I would HIGHLY recommend the Pinery Provincial Park.

Otherwise, Awenda and Kilbear are also great provincial parks that edge on lakes.

[geobur]

Earl Rowe Park, near Alliston...maybe an hour and 15 min drive.

http://www.ontarioparks.com/english/earl-maps.html

it's got a small lake and swimming and all sorts of things

[Jackal]

Earl Rowe Park, near Alliston...maybe an hour and 15 min drive.

http://www.ontarioparks.com/english/earl-maps.html

it's got a small lake and swimming and all sorts of things

This looks nice too. Not too far.
I like heading North to these lakes for some reason. Makes for a nice drive too.

[Stathakos]

even Sandbanks provincial park is really nice

[ZeroChalk]

even Sandbanks provincial park is really nice

Sandbanks is probably the nicest beach in Ontario (though it gets very crowded). Pinery would be second IMO.

[Jackal]

Earl Rowe Park, near Alliston...maybe an hour and 15 min drive.

http://www.ontarioparks.com/english/earl-maps.html

it's got a small lake and swimming and all sorts of things

Well done geobur! This place is very peaceful. It has nice secluded picnic areas, a beach (no swimming today) and a park store. Much quieter than Sibbald on weekdays.
We're here now.
http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7355/9370973191_37b098232f.jpg