A Walk Back in Time at Turkey Point

Last weekend, I took a trip that felt like stepping into a time capsule—right into the small lakeside town of Turkey Point, Ontario. It’s the kind of place where the modern world politely steps aside, letting simpler pleasures and nostalgic charm take the wheel.

As soon as I pulled in, I knew I had landed somewhere special. The first thing that caught my eye was Bay view Restaurant, a roadside gem that proudly advertises ice cream, hamburgers, fries, and hot dogs. The bright umbrellas and walk-up counter felt like a throwback to the 1970's—no pretense, just honest food and picnic tables with a view of the quiet street. I grabbed a hot dog and sat under a Vizzy umbrella, watching life pass by one classic car and local dog-walker at a time. The menu board inside looked like it hadn’t changed in decades—why mess with perfection?

Just down the road, I spotted Pop’s Arcade. The bold yellow letters looked like they hadn't been updated since the heyday of pinball and Pac-Man. There’s something oddly comforting about a place that still proudly flies the Canadian flag beside a mini-putt sign as if summer never ends. The red and yellow paint, the fenced-in picnic area, and the slightly tilted umbrellas—everything spoke of long weekends and cottage summers from a time before smartphones and streaming.

Then I made my way to the heart of it all: Turkey Point Beach. Even under overcast skies, the wide shoreline stretched endlessly, almost empty, with only the soft sound of water lapping at the sand. I walked barefoot, letting the calm of Lake Erie soak in. No crowds, no flashy boardwalk, just trees lining the shore and a few weathered benches facing the horizon. You could almost hear the echoes of transistor radios and kids calling for their moms back in 1975.

Turkey Point isn’t flashy. And that’s exactly the point. It’s one of the last few places in southern Ontario where time doesn’t feel like it’s rushing ahead. The charm is in the slowness—the way a beach day unfolds without an itinerary, how a simple burger joint becomes the best meal of the weekend, and how an old arcade sign can still light up your mood.

For anyone craving a bit of nostalgia—or just a break from the noise—Turkey Point offers a quiet, sand-covered memory. And I’ll be back, camera in hand, ready to capture it before the rest of the world catches on.