Road map Sarnia city and Port Huron surrounding area (Ontario, Canada)

Sarnia and the Lower Bluewater      

The discovery of oil in 1858 led to the development of the oil  industry in Lambton County. Imperial Oil's refinery at Sarnia and the  needs of a wartime economy in the 1940s led to the establishment of  petrochemical plants. As more and more big chemical companies like  Standard, Imperial, Shell, and DuPont set up shop, the area became known  as Chemical Valley. Today, agriculture, a diversified manufacturing  base, and tourism have all tempered Sarnia's industrial image. Tourists  come for the eclectic parks along the St. Clair Recreational Corridor,  or for the scenic drive along Lakeshore Road from Sarnia to Ipperwash  Beach, with its stunning view of Lake Huron's Lower Bluewater.      

Arkona [B6] The village of Arkona is surrounded by orchards,  and at blossom time in May, local farms offer orchard tours. Nearby Rock  Glen Conservation Area features Devonian era fossil beds and a 10 m  waterfall. The Arkona Lions' Museum houses fossils dating back 395  million years as well as many First Nations artifacts including stone  knives, spear and arrow points.      

Kettle Point [A5] Kettle Point derives its name from a large  outcrop of concretions (hard, calcium carbonate rock embedded in softer  shale) along Lake Huron. The concretions, from 30 cm to 1.5 m in  diameter, are referred to as "kettles" because of their resemblance to  the bottom of a round cooking pot. Nearby Ipperwash Beach has kilometers  of white-sand beach, shallow shores perfect for swimming, and picnic  areas among the trees and the dunes.      

Oil Springs [E4] This quiet hamlet is the birthplace of North  America's oil and petroleum industry. Back in 1858, when a second  drilled well provided 9,540 liters of oil a day, the world took notice  and it was a "black gold" rush as prospectors and oil barons arrived  from far and wide. Just south of town, the Oil Museum of Canada is on  the site of the first commercial well. The museum contains drilling  equipment from the 1800s to the present day with outside displays  featuring an 1889 railway station and the 1895 Langbank Post Office.

Petrolia [D4] Canada's Victorian Oil Town, Petrolia was the  major supplier of crude oil and petroleum products for Canada in the  late 1800s. The town's prosperity is seen in the magnificent period  architecture of its mansions and public buildings, such as the Petrolia  Library and the restored Victoria Hall, now the Victoria Playhouse. The  Petrolia Discovery Centre is a Fishing on the St. Clair River living  museum and educational exhibit, with oil wells that are pumped as they  would have been a hundred years ago.      

Sarnia [C2] Across the twin Bluewater Bridges, Sarnia provides  a striking entrance to Ontario from Michigan. Situated at the mouth of  the St. Clair River at the south end of Lake Huron, the chemical and oil  center features 6.5 km of waterfront parks and is the beginning of the  St. Clair Parkway recreational corridor, a treasure chest of 19 free  parks, offering flower gardens, children's animal farms, and harness  racing. SI Discovery House Museum is a restored 1890 Victorian home  featuring model ships, a must-see model railroad, and hands-on displays  that allow you to step back in time.      

Strathroy [C8] Located on the Sydenham River, Strathroy  maintains a beautiful 80-hectare parks system. The W. H. Murray House,  built by a leading businessman in 1871, is now the Strathroy Middlesex  Museum and contains three period rooms-parlor, dining room, and bedroom.  The museum also houses treasures of county pioneers, including a  flatbed printing press.    

ATTRACTIONS      

ARKONA      

Rock Glen Conservation Area Arkona Lions' Museum      

OIL SPRINGS      

Oil Museum of Canada      

PETROLIA      

Victoria Playhouse      

Petrolia Library      

Petrolia Discovery Centre      

SARNIA      

Discovery House Museum Imperial Oil Centre for the Performing  Arts Gallery Lambton Canatara Park Centennial Park Point Edward  Waterfront Park Bluewater Fun Park Hiawatha Horse Park      

STRATHROY      

Strathroy Middlesex      

Museum Strathroy      

Wetlands Park