Day Out by Bike

Now that the famous S.W. Ontario summer weather has set in and the Bicycle Festival has come and gone, you are probably itching to get out and enjoy the sunshine!  But what to do?  Well, Railway City Tourism has your back and have prepared a fun day by bike!  

START

Breakfast:

SUNSET CAFE
184 Sunset Dr, St Thomas
(519) 637-2757

Head over to Sunset Cafe to grab a quick breakfast before heading out on the open road!  Carbo-fuel your day because you have a big day of exercise ahead. You can grab pancakes or classic bacon and eggs before your journey. Best of all, Sunset Cafe is perfectly situated for your next destination on your bike journey! 

Morning:

THE JOURNEY TO PORT 
Sunset Drive

Grab your helmets, gear up, and start peddling because you have a solid 12 km bike ride ahead of you because you're heading to Port Stanley. With the giant paved shoulder along Sunset Drive down to Port Stanley the trip is made easy and best of all, the trip in is majority downhill!  

Lunch:

MACKIE'S
124 William St, Port Stanley
(519) 782-4390

Welcome to Port Stanley, you probably noticed the beach on the bike in!  Well, keep heading towards the water and you will reach everyone's favourite blue & orange restaurant!  Mackie's serves up the best french fries in Port which you can wash down with their signature Orangeade!  Go ahead, you've earned it after that bike ride!  While you're here go and check out Port Stanley and all it has to offer! 

Afternoon:

THE JOURNEY HOME
Sunset Drive or 
Dexter Ln & Fairview Rd

Now you have had your fill of Port Stanley you are ready to bike back to St Thomas!  You can go back the way you came on Sunset Drive, up a large hill (& to Shaw's Ice Cream), or you can detour out of port onto Dexter Line and over to Fairview Line. The roads are not as well paved to make sure you are keeping a keen eye for traffic and wear your helmet but if you head this way you can make a quick stop over at Hawk's Cliff (entrance at the intersection of Dexter and Fairview) to take in one of Elgin County's best views!

Dinner:

BELLA JACKS:
437 Talbot St, St Thomas
(519) 633-6461

Now back in St Thomas, you have probably worked that appetite back up so head to Bella Jacks for dinner! They have an awesome menu of Mexican inspired dishes and refreshing and fresh margaritas!

Evening:

DALEWOOD:
10518 Dalewood Rd, St. Thomas
(519) 631-1009

Finish off your active day with one last trip to nature!  Park your bike and take a hike around the Dalewood Conservation Area and take in the nature! You're looking at about 6 km of pristine hiking and beauty so make sure you bring a water bottle and race the sunset around this spectacular piece of nature! 

There you have it!  If you are now back to Sunset Cafe as your finishing point you will have completed an impressive 42 km bike throughout the day!  Hope you bought a gel-seat cover before you left and wore comfy shoes; but tonight as you soak away the aches you can think back to a trail well tread and the amazing sites in between! 

Some images borrowed from Google.ca.