CHATHAM-KENT, ONTARIO – A beach town with charm to spare. A vital link to Ontario’s black history. And a positively wondrous hotel in a town that will definitely surprise you. I had stopped in the town of Erieau a couple years ago on a trip along the Lake Erie shoreline (sometimes called Canada’s forgotten coast). It was only a brief drive-by, but I was charmed by the low-key yet vibrant nature of the town and beguiled by the beach and the cute waterfront homes. This time, with the help of the folks at Ontario’s Southwest I managed to squeeze in Read more
Southwest Ontario
LEAMINGTON, ONTARIO – I’m standing on the southernmost point of continental Canada, a thin strip of rocky sand at the south end of Point Pelee, Ontario that’s roughly the same latitude as Rome and northern California. There’s a soft wind in the air and hardly a cloud in the sky on a perfect summer’s day as I pose for a photo. Seconds after I leave, a young couple takes my place and I snap a picture for them. And on it goes; a steady line of folks waiting to have an Instagram moment at one of the most iconic places Read more
KINGSVILLE, ONTARIO – Two Dutch gentlemen who make chocolate birds for the likes of Margaret Atwood. Glorious fruit stands near the shores of a beautiful lake. And a wild and crazy operation that’s part restaurant, video arcade, garden shop and petting zoo. Not to mention fine food, a cool boutique hotel, craft beer and wonderful wineries. I fell in love with Kingsville on my first visit a couple years ago. I’ve been back twice since and it remains one of my favourite towns in Canada, an amazingly diverse city of 21,000 souls, where Mercedes convertibles mix with motorcycles and where Read more
What a fantastic year. Our 150th birthday as a country, and another 12 months of a ridiculously overbooked travel schedule. Here’s a look back at some Canadian highlights of 2017, including great BBQ in B.C., sleeping in a former brothel in the Yukon and a sleek southern Ontario winery run almost entirely by women. The “How Did I Not Know How Beautiful This Place Was” Destination of the Year: Eastern Townships, Quebec. Lovely villages, surprisingly large hills and great places to stay, including Auberge West Brome (https://www.awb.ca/en/), Spa Eastman (http://www.spa-eastman.com/en/) and Ripplecove Lakefront Hotel and Spa. (http://ripplecove.com/en/) Best sporting moment: Read more
WINDSOR, ONTARIO – Fabio Muscedere is pouring samples of his family’s wine for me to try at their tasting room south of Windsor. His sister, Melissa, who’s the wine business expert and runs day-to-day operations, is bustling about and greeting others who’ve wandered into the tasting room. Outside, Fabio’s mother, Pat, is busy sliding trays of fresh-made dough into the outdoor pizza oven on their shady patio. Their Dad, Mario, is bouncing along in his tractor in the vineyards, clearing weeds and keeping an eye on the grapes that are ripening in this hot Ontario summer. The son of Fabio’s Read more
