Some camping trips are all golden-hour sunsets and quiet mornings by the lake. Others test every ounce of patience, preparation, and calm you have. Our trip to Bon Echo Provincial Park during the derecho firmly landed in the second category—and it’s one I won’t ever forget. Bon Echo is one of those parks that feels almost sacred the moment you arrive. Mazinaw Rock towers over the lake, ancient pictographs etched into its face, the kind of place that naturally slows you down.

There’s no better way to kick off the summer season than spending the May long weekend outdoors, and Sturgeon Bay Provincial Park is the perfect hidden gem for a peaceful nature escape. Located just off Highway 400 in Pointe au Baril, Ontario, this cozy and quiet park offers a classic Northern Ontario camping experience — tranquil, scenic, and stress-free. Best of all, it’s just over two hours north of Toronto, making it an easy weekend getaway. This trip also marked a small