Port Colborne Kingsville
Sure, you can do this drive along the north shore of Lake Erie in under five hours on the big highway—but why would you want to when the slow road is studded with natural wonders, pieces of history and shops and restaurants that merit at least one visit?
Eat The Pie Guys Bakery & Café PORT COLBORNE
Pick up picnic goodies at this spot teeming with sweet and savoury pies made with fresh handmade pastry. The café also offers a menu of sandwiches, soups, flatbreads, quiches and more, all made with local ingredients. It’s the perfect place to fill your cooler with enough swoonworthy creations that you may have to have two—or three!—lunches a day. thepieguysbakery.com
Savour Burning Kiln Winery ST. WILLIAMS
If you’re interested in a leisurely way to spend an afternoon, look no further than this beautiful vineyard on a former tobacco farm. Thanks to a group of devoted locals, the land was transformed into this bucolic haven on the shores of Lake Erie. Take a tour and then relax at the Canned Heat patio restaurant, where you’ll dine on locally sourced ingredients that make their way into pizzas, salads, cheese boards and more, all paired with the winery’s best vintages. Bonus: The three-bedroom guesthouse on site is available to rent. You might not ever leave! burningkilnwinery.ca
Relax Long point island hugger tours LONG POINT
If hanging at a popular public beach isn’t for you, take to the water to see the Long Point UNESCO Biosphere Reserve from a different perspective. This boating outfit offers a variety of two-hour tours to visit the flora and fauna of the marsh ecosystems in the lake. Your guide will also tell you about the geology and natural history of the area, and the sustainability initiatives in place to protect it. Each tour builds in time for a quick dip in the lake to ease away the strains of the day. Highlight: The Long Point Sunset Tour is a photographer’s dream! longpointisland huggertours.ca
Learn Museum of Naval History/hmcs Ojibwa PORT BURWELL
How cool is this? As you drive south along Port Burwell’s Robinson Street, look to your right and you’ll see a black metal fin peeking out. It belongs to the HMCS Ojibwa, Canada’s first Oberonclass submarine, now part of the collection of the Elgin Military Museum. These boats were known for the nearsilent stealth, and were of immeasurable value to our forces on clandestine missions during the Cold War. Today, tours are available (advance booking is highly recommended!) to discover the part these subs and their crews played in our maritime history. hmcsojibwa.ca
Visit Southwold Earthworks National Historic Site FINGAL
Travelling west from Port Burwell, you’ll soon come upon Port Stanley, one of Lake Erie’s sweetest towns. Beyond that, wend your way to this amazing twohectare space. Wander the fields that were once home to the Attiwandaron (Neutral Iroquois) people. That’s right, this was once a thriving village filled with palisades and longhouses that were home to almost 1,000 people. Read the interpretive signs along the selfguided route, look for the archaeological remains and immerse yourself in the 500-year-old site’s history. There’s also a picnic ground for those feeling peckish. pc.gc.ca/en/lhnnhs/on/southwold
Gather Pardo’s berrie farm BLENHEIM
Who can resist fresh, juicy produce straight from the fields? Not us! That’s why we’re so enamoured with this family-owned pickyour-own and retail farm. Located just west of Rondeau Provincial Park, it’s an ideal place to grab some snacks— from strawberries and blueberries to peaches and beans— for the rest of your journey. The friendly atmosphere is an added bonus. pardosberriefarm.com
Experience KINGSVILLE
End your trip in charming Victorian Kingsville, situated just west of Point Pelee. This is the southernmost town in Canada, and besides the incredible weather that resembles that of Northern California, it features all kinds of “life in the slow lane” perks like quaint inns, biking, farm-to-table restaurants, local museums, fresh food
Explore Point Pelee National Park LEAMINGTON
This southernmost point of mainland Canada is a haven for wildlife—and for those who just want to chill out. In addition to its beautiful long beach, the wetlands that cover two-thirds of the park are a big draw. Take a stroll along the one-kilometre boardwalk loop through the marsh and stop at the observation tower and telescopes, or rent a canoe and paddle through the reeds to catch a glimpse of turtles, birds, frogs and fish. You can easily spend a whole day at Point Pelee, so make sure your itinerary can be adjusted accordingly! pc.gc.ca/en/pn-np/on/pelee stands, great golfing and fishing and unique boutiques along a strollable main street. Of note are the heritage houses, the Highland Games and the Jack Miner Bird Sanctuary (once rated the secondbiggest tourist attraction in Canada, right behind Niagara Falls), where you can see all kinds of migrating birds safely rest before continuing their journey. This is, quite simply, summer living at its best. kingsville.ca