Point Pelee, ON
Rita’s and my first Canadian adventure with our long-time friend Emma from home.
Never one to pass up a unique AirBnB, this barn loft was absolutely delightful! It sits on a lot with a farmhouse (also an AirBnb) and 14th Coffee Co. Roasters. Guests can avail of complementary coffee and farm fresh eggs. The owner Warren only recently started allowing pets to the property, and Rita was very glad he did! We kept her on-leash while outside due to the resident cat and chickens. The barn was very spacious with the double bed tucked neatly in the eaves (Rita had to be carried up the steep steps!) and the rolltop claw tub and string fairy lights added a touch of rustic charm.
On our first morning, Nathan from the roastery provided good chat and samples of the different coffees on offer. He was particularly proud of his maple oat milk latte, which, as promised, tasted like a cloud!
Dogs are allowed absolutely everywhere in Point Pelee National Park (inside and out), on-leash! We visited a few different spots.
Upon arriving at the park, we headed straight to the Visitor Centre, where we wandered through the exhibits and learned about the history of the Point: how it originally belonged to the indigenous people, was taken over by the British Navy who protected the white pines for ship building, and eventually became a National Park in 1918. In the theatre, be sure to catch the 10 minute video illustrating this story and the diversity of the Park. Unfortunately, animals like the black bear, bobcat, Massasauga rattlesnake and ruffled grouse are now extinct due to human interference with the ecosystem. Also in the visitor centre is the Nature Nook Gift Shop.
Just outside, you can catch the free shuttle to the tip. It takes about 10 minutes, and from the drop-off point we walked about half a kilometre along the sandbar to the most southern point of mainland Canada, Point Pelee itself! The water was a turquoise blue and really tropical looking. An interesting fact we learned was that Point Pelee is at the same latitude (42 degrees) as Rome and California!
Our next stop was the Marsh Boardwalk, where we met our guides Muna and Drew for the Freighter Canoe Tour of the marshland. Lasting just over half an hour, during this tour each party member helped to paddle the 10-person canoe while learning about the botanical wonders around us. It was pretty amazing and I felt like I was straight out of the new movie “Where the Crawdads Sing”. Rita was very welcome and sat between my legs most of the time, although she did want to jump into the marsh. Afterwards we undertook the trail, a floating 1km boardwalk through the marsh. We even saw a baby Midland painted turtle! The observation platform provided great views across the marshland.
To satisfy our inner history buffs, we next went to the DeLaurier Homestead and Trail. This 1.2km trail took us past the original house of the DeLaurier family, which was passed down through generations until ownership transferred to Parks Canada in 1969. There was also an interpretive station with hand-powered exhibits (yes, we wound them up ourselves to listen to voice recordings of the previous residents). The rest of the boardwalk trail ventured through swamp land with educational boards and the red Muskoka chairs along the way.
Our final stop in the park was North West Beach, where Rita could have a paddle to cool off. There are lots of facilities here, like washrooms and showers, so it is a popular spot for sunbathers. We walked along the beach, swerved the dead washed-up fish and enjoyed the views out over Lake Erie, as far as the eye could see.
We stopped for some dinner at Kingsville on our drive back to our AirBnB. When I messaged to ask if sister eateries Jack’s Gastropub and Banded Goose Brewery were dog-friendly, I received the response “Sorry Rita we are not dog-friendly . . . WE ARE DOG LOVING! YES both our Patio at JACKS & at Banded Goose Brewery welcome Patio Pooches who want to bring their owners up for a bite to eat & a beer.”, so of course we had to visit! We made ourselves comfortable on the Banded Goose patio, where food was served from the Blackjack truck. The menu isn’t massive but they also have a pop-up menu which they seem to update every couple of months. I opted for brussels sprouts in a Thai peanut sauce. It was really delicious! Emma chose ribs and potato salad, which were also devoured! The waiter brought a big bowl of water for Rita; she was very welcome provided she followed the rules!
