We went on a Candle Lake Family Trip this summer. This was our first visit to Candle Lake for camping and we all loved the experience. My parents, sister, son, partner and I chose to take a vacation to Sandy Bay Campground for a week at the end of August. I knew this area of Saskatchewan was beautiful but I still didn’t know what to expect. The trip surpassed my expectations, even on the rainy day of our camping. The only thing we could have done without were the mosquitoes.
The day we arrived, my son and I went for a walk to the beach to see what it was like. I always like to take a walk and figure out where all the important things are. That night, we found all the essentials: the beach, the washrooms, a rock library and the playground. The rocks were painted by kids and out to trade or take and it was the perfect thing for my rock-loving son. We painted a few rocks to trade back – it’s the perfect rainy-day activity.
The second day was a full beach day. My son and I took all our inflatables and camped out at the beach. The rest of the family came to visit when they wanted but we spent the day in the water or relaxing in the sand. We had our pup with us so she spent the day with family at the camper and we took her to the dog-friendly beach later. We had inflatable kayaks, a little raft and a blow-up popsicle. The water was great, you could walk in it for a long time before it got too deep and it wasn’t very cold.
We were woken up extra early the next morning to a downpour with lightning and thunder. It was a sign that we should take it easy because it was too chilly to swim. In my eyes, taking it easy means finding a nice place to take a hike. The hike was lovely and I think the mosquitoes really appreciated the fresh blood we provided them. The hike into Mystical Forest was a bit quicker than it would have been because if we stayed still, the mosquitoes got us. If you are ever in the area, this is a beautiful spot that has both natural beauty and perfectly created fairy gardens, stories and more.
The next day (and our last full day), the sunshine came back out and we continued trying new things. We started the day off with brunch at a local restaurant followed by some fishing at a pond. My dog and I walked around the pond and took photos of mushrooms. We decided to try out Aquatic Adventures next. They had some bouncy fun set up on the beach and we’ve never done it before. My mom, sister, son and I tried it out. My mom, sister and I soon discovered we were not as young as we thought but we still had fun. It’s always fun and amazing watching your child try new things.
The next day, we packed up to head home. We had a wonderful time together in a magical spot in Saskatchewan. We enjoy trying new camping spots every year but we also like finding places where we know we will return.
Candle Lake Family Trip
Website: www.tourismsaskatchewan.com/places-to-go/provincial-parks