Southampton on Lake Huron
Last week my husband and I were on High Street in Southampton. It’s a pretty little street with a few boutiques shops, a bakery and some restaurants. It ends at the clear blue waters of Lake Huron. We were standing outside a historic stone building reading the posted restaurant menu. The door opened and we heard the happy chatter of voices from within. Out came two elderly women wearing red straw hats. One of the women looked as us and declared: “The food is good.”
Funny. It was the second time this happened. Earlier in the day, in neighbouring Port Elgin, Ted (a local resident) confirmed “The food is good” as we stood outside an Italian restaurant perusing the menu. When we realized the restaurant was not open for lunch, we asked Ted where he liked to eat in Port Elgin. His response: “Get in your car and drive to Southampton.”
He told us to go this very restaurant in the old stone building on High Street.
If you’ve ever been to Southampton, you know the place. If you have not, you’d figure it out pretty fast. The locals are proud of this institution.
The Walker House.
When I returned home, I mentioned to a neighbour we went to Southampton. She asked, “Did you have the Caesar salad at the Walker House?”
No we didn’t! Ted recommended the smoked meat sandwich. It’s not something I normally order but we followed his advice. It was good, but I preferred the bison burger and the Lake Huron whitefish, simply panfried with a slice of lemon and tartar sauce. Of all the dishes we tried, my favourite was the flavourful curry soup with vegetables.
Yes, we ended up eating dinner at the Walker House both nights. The locals are convincing.
It was not the Walker House that brought us to the shores of Lake Huron, of course. We didn’t drive past cows, horses, ponies, sheep, camels (surprise!), silos and barns, Victorian farmhouses and vast farmland, stuck behind tractors and trucks, meandering through small towns and scanning for local radio stations (The Bruce, The River), all for a smoked meat sandwich. It was the beautiful beaches and delicate sand dunes that lured us there.
We were not disappointed. The beachy enclave of Southampton greeted us with blue skies, a bluer lake and sand grass swaying gently in the breeze. These sand grasses help anchor the dunes and protect the shoreline. They are quite delicate. Plenty of access points lead you to the beach so you don’t disturb this important ecosystem (it reminded me of the sand dunes south of Valencia, on a smaller scale). We enjoyed the walkway alongside the pristine beach, perfect for morning power walks and evening strolls as the sun set.
A few kilometres south of Southampton is MacGregor Point Provincial Park. At the park office, the ranger suggested her favorite hike, the Tower Trail. The trail circles a wetland with a couple observation decks along the route to spot wildlife: wood ducks, geese (incessantly honking), and other birds. A watchful osprey perched high on a tree gazed down at us as we walked briskly by their nest. After touring the wetland we extended our walk on other park trails through cedars trees and along the rocky shores.
Our hotel was aptly named the Beach Motel. It had a beachy vibe, light and airy decor, and plenty of outdoor seating including a nice sunny patio. It was mere steps from High Street. The hostess recommended a few restaurant options. I don’t think I need to tell you the establishment at the top of her list. Hint: It was owned by the Walker family for almost 100 years.
It’s the place to go when in Southampton!
