Pelee Island, ON
During our stay in Essex County we took a day trip to Pelee Island in Lake Erie, the southern-most populated part of Canada.
Emma and Rita looking excited for the ferry
We booked our ferry in advance via Ontario Ferries, a must during peak season. The ferry runs from April to December, and over the winter season is substituted by an air service (as the lake is frozen!). It departs from both Kingsville and Leamington, and although we booked the former, we were diverted to the Leamington dock as Kingsville Harbour was being dredged. Dogs are welcome on the ferry at no extra charge and are allowed around most of the ship, just not in the food hall. There is a fenced dog area out on the deck! The ticket lady even had some dog treats for Rita!
The trip took an hour and a half and there is no Wi-Fi, so I recommend bringing a book. Unfortunately “The Boutique” was closed during our crossing. We took the 10am crossing over and the 4pm return, but this really just gave us a taste of what the island has to offer! I would love to spend a whole weekend there. We stuck to the north part of the island.
The on-board dog park
A method of transportation is recommended on the island. The ferry car deck was full when I booked, but luckily we had other options! Golf cart rental is available, but the rental company doesn’t permit dogs in their vehicles. Hence we opted for bicycle rental at Comfortech. I additionally rented a bike trailer for Rita; she jumped out a few times but soon realised what the deal was. We cycled from the West Dock (where the ferry arrives – the bicycle rental company is a 5 minute walk from there) to the Lighthouse Point Nature Reserve and back.
Our first stop, however, was the One of a Kind gift shop. Dogs are allowed in depending on their tail size (!!!), in other words as long as they won’t knock any ornaments over! Rita was pleased to discover the locally made bandanas, so we got one to accessorise her day!
The roads were quiet, making for a peaceful cycle. The views from the North Shore Rd across Lake Erie to the mainland were beautiful. We passed houses and fields and Canada’s most southern school! There was a small convenience store where we could pick up some ice.
Upon reaching Lighthouse Point Nature Reserve, we had to dismount our bikes. The island is so safe that the rental company didn’t even feel the need to provide us with locks, so we just left our bikes sitting! There was a short boardwalk onto the beach, and from there we could walk along the shore right up to the lighthouse. It is a picturesque spot, but be sure to bring bug spray! I let Rita have a paddle too.
On our way back to the ferry, we stopped for lunch at Dog and Goat, with a dog-friendly patio. To be honest, the service wasn’t the best and they ended up refunding us the entire bill as they put chicken on my salad, which I specifically requested not to have. However, it was a nice spot!
