Daytripping Spring 2023

TIP! Bring a cooler on these trips to buy local foods - It’s bound to come in handy!
A Year Round Garden Centre, Gi Shop & Bouque!
NEWLY EXPANDED 28,000 sq
GIFT & GARDEN STORE and
63,000 sq of GREENHOUSE
Extraordinary selecon
of Plants & Unique
Decoraons & Poery
for enhancing your indoor
& outdoor living spaces.
OPEN Monday to Saturday
CONCRETE
C
E
SPRING/SUMMER
SUM
MER
HOURS:
S
Monday-Friday r 8-6
8 6
Saturday ay 9-2
• Steps & Railings
• Planters • Statuary
• Senmental Stones
• Stepping Stones
• Benches • Fountains
• Lawn Furniture
• Bird Baths & More
Take Exit 15 off Hwy 402
USA
Lake Huron
Sarnia
22
Bright’s
Grove
From
26
London
401
From
Wallaceburg
N
SIPKENS
NURSERIES
3261 London Line (Rd. R . 22)
East of SARNIA
519-542-8353
Proud Member of...
Fascinating Museum in Downtown
Sarnia Welcomes 15,000 a Year
By Cathy Dobson, Sarnia
2403 London Road,
Hwy. 22 (at Bridgen Road) SARNIA
519-542-7071
ferreraconcrete.ca
Also Home of...
519-337-7333
Jim and Allison Richards of Stones ‘N Bones
Museum with a blue sailfish, the newest
addition to their museum.
I’d wager there isn’t a single visitor to
Sarnia’s Stones ‘N Bones Museum who
isn’t astonished by what they find here.
In a spacious, two-storey building just
a couple of steps from city hall, Allison
and Jim Richards have spent the past 29
years accruing some 6,000 artifacts.
It’s an eclectic collection of fossils,
crustaceans, gemstones, shells,
butterflies, taxidermy from around the
world, insects and even dinosaur bones.
The Richards
display it all in their
10,000-square-foot,
not-for-profit museum.
Jim is known for his
engaging tours and
infinite knowledge of
science and natural
history trivia. Allison
runs a popular gift
shop on the main floor
chock full of jewellery
and leather goods, toys,
books and souvenirs.
In fact, Stones ‘N
Bones is often called a
hidden gem. Few cities
the size of Sarnia have a
museum with anything
like it.
Visitors enjoying Stones ‘N Bones’
top-rated taxidermy collection of
wild animals from around the world.
223 North Christina Street • Sarnia
519-336-2100 • www.stonesnbones.ca
And there’s always
something new coming
in, says Jim. Most
recently, the museum
acquired a nine-foot
blue sailfish from
Mexico. Seven smaller
fish had to be removed
from the wall to make room to mount
the sailfish, which is believed to be
one inch short of the world record,
according to Jim.
Unlike many museums, Stones ‘N
Bones doesn’t have a strict criteria
about what joins its collection.
“Some is donated, some we buy at
auction, some is on loan,” said Jim. “We
try to make it attractive.
“When it comes down
to it, we get what the
kids love and they love
dinosaurs, sharks and
beautiful gems.”
Among the most
popular exhibits is a
huge blue topaz that the
Richards affectionately
call “Bluewater Allison.”
Jim, who was a lab
technician in Chemical
Valley before retiring, is
tour guide for countless
school groups and
families and loves to
joke and wow the crowd
with fun facts.
“I’ll talk to people
Hall of Fame AWARD
RECIPIENT
DINOSAURS
GALORE
So Much More!
& So Much More!
TWO FLOORS to EXPLORE!
Fluorescent ent Mineral Display, Fossils, si
s
Minerals,
Gemstones, e
s,
Artifacts, ts, Shells, ls, Butterflies,
e
Insects, s,
Canadian adia
Animals, Safari ari Room,
om
Huge Shark Jaws and “Dinosaurs Galore!”
Adults $7 • 12 & under $3 • Family Pass $30/Year
OPEN YEAR ROUND
10-5 Thurs. thru Sun.
Closed Jan. 1, July 1 & Dec. 25
about whatever they’re
interested in,” he
said. “For instance,
did you know that the
horseshoe crab has
bright blue blood? Or
that an enhydro rock
is actually a rock with
water in it from Brazil and was created
by a volcano?” He asks his questions
while holding up real examples from
around the world.
A light show with
fluorescent minerals
is among his favourite
displays in the museum,
but he gets enthused
about it all.
Stones ‘N Bones
welcomes about 15,000
visitors a year and has
the distinction of being
#1 on Trip Advisor’s list
of Best Things To Do In
Dunkleosteus prehistoric fish from the
late Devonian period was possibly the
largest and most powerful fish ever.
Join us by y
the Lake!
PRIME RIB
WEEKENDS
Gems and insects fill one room of the museum
with lots to see and learn.
Sarnia. Not even Canatara Park or the
Imperial Theatre enjoy the same five
star rating.
Trip Advisor reviewers praise the
Richards not only for their collection,
but also for their commitment to
education and public
service.
“Jim is very
knowledgeable and a
delightful guide,” says
one.
“Allison’s (gift shop)
has truly wonderful
things at very good
prices,” says another.
Stones ‘N Bones
hasn’t quite returned
to the same hours of
operation it had prior
to the pandemic. It is
currently open four
Jewel beetles were used to
make a colourful necklace
and earing set.
TUESDAY
WING NIGHT
2713 Old Lakeshore Road, Brights Grove
519-869-2794 • skeeterbarlows.com
days a week Thursday –
Sunday 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Stones ‘N Bones
Museum at 223 Christina St. North
in Sarnia is wheelchair accessible.
Admission is $3 for children under 12
and $7 for adults. For more information,
visit www.stonesnbones.ca or call 519-
336-2100.
Voted Sarnia-Lambton’s
Favourite Restaurant 2023!
• Authentic Hickory Smoked Ribs
• Genuine Broasted Chicken
• Seafood, Sandwiches, Wraps
Reserve for panoramic views
of Lake Huron from our patio!
• Take Out • Lakeside parks & benches nearby
NIGHTLY
SPECIALS
Spring 2023 Chuck Norris does not get frostbite. Chuck Norris bites frost.
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