Plan a trip to Pelee Island this fall with our Hazelview guide to Pelee Island, including how to get there and interesting activities for the whole family. Hazelview Properties offers a wide variety of rental apartments in some of the most sought-out areas of Windsor. Hazelview has properties overlooking the Detroit river, within walking distant to the University of Windsor and in the heart of bustling downtown Windsor.
Pelee Island is one of Ontario’s premier tourist destinations where visitors of all ages can enjoy stunning sandy beaches, mild temperatures, a large variety of plants and wildlife, beautiful green spaces, and an interesting history. Pelee Island is located in the western part of Lake Erie and is considered to be Canada’s most southerly populated area. The island itself is only 14.5 kilometers long and 5.5 kilometers wide and has a Mediterranean climate that is one of the country’s mildest. There are fewer than 200 permanent inhabitants on the island, but Pelee Island has a bustling tourism industry.
Activities at Pelee Island
There are many things to do on Pelee Island including enjoying nature, walking on sandy beaches, visiting the island’s wineries and restaurants as well as exploring the rich history of the area.
Pelee Island Heritage Centre
The Pelee Island Heritage Centre introduces visitors to the colourful past and present of Pelee Island. The Centre is open daily from the beginning of May until the end of October and uses special exhibits, presentations, and interesting publications to educate guests on the history of the island. Admission to the Pelee Island Heritage Centre is free, making it a great place to start your journey through Pelee Island.
Pelee Island Winery
Pelee Island is home to the oldest estate winery in Canada, Pelee Island Winery. Interactive winery tours are offered at the Pelee Island Winery seven days a week throughout the year and start with a brief wine-making tutorial followed by a walk through the heart of Canada’s leading estate winery. The tour concludes with a tasting of wines from the cellar.
Fish Point
Fish Point is located on the southwestern tip of Pelee Island and is a 110-hectare Provincial Nature Reserve. This area is defined by gently rolling shallow sand over a limestone plain. This scenic area is perfect for adventurous people looking to explore and enjoy nature. Fish Point is also a great place to view wildlife and has a large assortment of aquatic birds.
Beaches
Pelee Island has a number of public beaches. Each beach offers a variety of different settings ranging from stone and shale to pebble and soft sand. Sunset Beach is one of Pelee Island’s most scenic beaches and is located on West Shore Road, north of the ferry docks, and is perfect for swimming and kayaking.
Getting to Pelee Island
Pelee Island is approximately two and a half hours from Windsor by car (and then ferry). For people coming from Windsor, the directions to the Pelee Island ferry docks are as follows:
- Take Huron Church Road from Windsor.
- Follow this for 10 kilometres to the 401 junction and take Highway 3 East towards Leamington.
- For Leamington ferry docks: Follow Hwy 3 east to Hwy 77, turning south (RIGHT). The road ends at the ferry docks.
- For Kingsville ferry docks: Follow Hwy 3 east to Division Road, turning south (RIGHT).
- Follow through town to the lake. Ferry docks are a block to the east (LEFT).
For additional information about getting to Pelee Island, visit the Island’s website.