Fall Activities in Windsor Essex 2023
Fall activities in Windsor Essex begin well before autumn starts. One of the biggest autumn activities is the migration watch. Monarch butterfly and bird southern migration can start as early as Labour day weekend.
Windsor Essex tourism has been overlooked in my humble opinion. A trip to the area is budget friendly getaway. The price of hotel or motel rooms can be up to half the price of one of the big cities. Fall festivals abound again starting in late August through December time frames.
Updated for 2024
How to get to Windsor Essex
Located in southwestern-most area of Ontario, Canada, Windsor and the surrounding county of Essex is easily accessible by planes, trains and automobiles.
By Airplane
Windsor International Airport has regular flights from most major Canadian cities and serviced by Air Canada, West Jet, Porter, Flair, and Sunwing. Check here for flights to and from Windsor.
By Train
If you have read any of my other posts, you will know already that train is my favourite mode of inter-city travel. Via Rail Canada has two to three trips to and from Windsor daily depending on the time of year. Check here for Via Rail Tickets.
By Automobile
Car rental kiosks are available at both the train station and airport. Check here for available car rentals. If you are driving your own car, I would like to recommend that you get off Highway 401 (the major freeway connecting Toronto to Windsor) unless time is an issue. Try some of the more scenic routes.
Highway 3 runs along the north shore of Lake Erie through small towns and villages. You will also pass through farms and orchards that are all very picture worthy. Another route would be along Highway 2 which runs a little north of the 401 and through the city of London.
Map of Southwestern Ontario
Windsor Essex Places to Stay
If you are a bird watcher, you are going to want to stay in the Leamington area relatively close to Hillman Marsh and Point Pelee National Park.
I am going to recommend two hotels at which I have recently stayed. The first is the Comfort Inn on Erie Street South in Leamington. Its major advantage is that it is in town. It is a short walk or taxi ride to shopping and restaurants (if you don’t have a car).
My second recommendation will be the Best Western on Bevel Road. To those of us boomers who grew up in the area may remember this as the Pelee Motor Inn. It was one of the first larger hotel to spring up in the area. It has all the amenities that you could want – fitness, pool, recreation area. It is a short drive to Point Pelee. It also has one of the best breakfasts for your buck that I have found in a hotel recently.
In Windsor proper, you will find all of the major hotel/motel brands. I have recently stayed at the Four Points by Sheraton and the Caesar’s Hotel Windsor. Depending on your tastes, I would recommend a spot close to the downtown core and close to the riverfront walk.
Windsor Essex Fall Events
If you are planning a trip, you may need to keep your schedule and timing fluid. No one can exactly predict when the migrations will start, peak and end. It is very weather dependant. As it gets cooler to the north then the exodus south will begin. But if it is a long, late summer, migration could start nearer to mid or late September.
I have put a link to websites that might help you track migrations under each of the sub-titles.
The prime bird watching locations in the park are going to be at the boardwalk then down at the tip of Point Pelee. The butterflies and birds use the tip as their launching pad across Lake Erie traversing via Pelee Island or one of the other smaller islands and then over to the US side to continue south.
Fall Activities on Pelee Island
Windsor Essex tourism revolves around the spring and fall migrations. Another location to do some bird watching is on Pelee Island.
Head west of Leamington to the town of Kingsville. It is a beautiful small town great for a walk about and admire the architecture. Then head down to the docks in Kingsville and hop on to the ferry to Pelee Island.
Wait not ready to head back to the mainland after a day of cycling then check here for places to stay on the island.
Senior Note: All of this region and especially Pelee Island are relatively flat. For you cyclists out there, bring your bicycles with you especially over to the island. But you can rent bikes there also but book ahead.
Autumn Activities in Windsor Essex and Pelee Island
Is golf your thing? Fall in the county can be relatively mild compared to the rest of Canada. You can potentially get a round of golf in until mid to late November weather depending (I can not guarantee weather).
Here are five golf courses in Windsor Essex County that you may want to check out. Note: I have included the telephone number if the course did not have a secure website:
- Little River Golf Course
- Dominion Golf and Country Club – (519) 969-4350
- Fox Glen Golf Club – (519) 726-6781
- Kingsville Golf and Country Club
- Erie Shores Golf and Country Club
What to do in Windsor Essex this fall
Tourism Windsor Essex has an interesting “Brews and Bottles” tour. Buying the 7-day ticket will entitle you to visit one of twelve different breweries or distilleries in the city and county over your stay. Check it out here.
Are you a coffee lover like me? Here is another indoor activity in case the weather doesn’t co-operate. It is called the “Roasting Experience at 14th Coffee Co.” You will learn about coffee roasting on a scenic property in rural Essex County. It is picturesque and tasty at the same time. Get your pass here.
On my most recent visit, we drove by a “glamping” site that I really want to try, if I can just convince someone to go with me! They are called “Lungovita”. It is an adult only nature retreat that to me is extremely affordable compared to pricey hotels. Get off the grid and book a sunrise yoga class, go kayaking and take in the fall foliage. Check here for packages.
Fall Festivals in Windsor Essex
In date order here are some of the festivals that run throughout the late summer and fall, which provide in many cases free to downright dirt-cheap fun for anyone of any age! If available, I have included a link to their website should you want more information:
- Ruthven Apple Festival
- Kingsville Fall Migration Festival
- Windsor International Film Festival
- Christmas in Tecumseh
- Amherstburg River Lights Winter Festival
This is just a partial list. For more check here: Visit Windsor Essex County!
Best Kept Secret in Windsor (I think)
On my most recent visit, I decided to stay at the Caesar’s Hotel Windsor. The location is perfect. It is right on the river across from Detroit. It is a $15.00 Uber ride from the Via Rail Train Station in Windsor.
The one thing that I found out (and maybe I am the last to know) is that the Colosseum at the hotel has major shows every weekend. Many at very affordable prices. Check here for the shows and available tickets.
Senior Note: If you are a casino regular, this may not surprise you. But if you are not, you like me will be taken back by the amount of walking you will have to do. From finding the check-in desk which seemed to be a hidden secret; to accessing your room which in my case was a good 400-meter walk across heavily carpeted floors. The reason the carpeting is mentioned is if you are trying to push a suitcase it will be like pushing a boulder uphill.
Conclusion
I truly can’t say this enough times that this is one of Canada’s truly best kept secrets. In this post, I have only scratched the surface of things to do and see throughout the autumn in Windsor and surrounding communities.
For nature walks to casino fun, outdoor barbeques to high end restaurants, there is an autumn activity in Windsor Essex for all. If you need to get away but it needs to be a budget friendly holiday, I recommend you check out Windsor and Essex County.
Please note: The opinions expressed in this document should never be construed as advice. The thoughts are based on my experiences after 40-plus years of business and vacation travel. My likes and dislikes may vary drastically from yours. Do your research and find products and experiences that align with your likes and dislikes. Most of all have happy travels and see you out there on the road!
Al of Al Murray Travel & Photography: From the time in my youth, when I would lay on our garage roof watching planes traverse the skies above me, I knew I wanted to see the world.
My passion grew after spending a semester of my university days in Barcelona. I spent more time on trains and buses than I did in class.
After earning my BA from Carleton University, life got in the way. But I did find time to graduate again from George Brown in Fitness and Lifestyle Management and then work my way through most of a degree in Sports Administration. However I needed to find work and pay for all this education!
It wasn’t until my “middle age” did I start exploring the world again. First, transversing the US and Canada to take part in tennis tournaments. Then later to complete my spectator “grand slam” of tennis.
I accomplished this while earning my certificate in photography from Toronto Metropolitan University. I am now combining the two passions and now sharing with you my many lessons learned.