May 2010
In the spring I took a long weekend to visit Pelee Island and Point Pelee National Park. This is a great getaway as it is a 4 hour drive from Toronto.May is the height of the tourist season because of the yearly migration of birds. Pelee Island is part of an important flyway for migrating birds between Ohio and Point Pelee.So it is very popular with birders around this time of year.
Pelee Island is situated in Lake Erie 40 kms south of Canada’s mainland and is the southernmost populated point in Canada at latitude of 41 degrees. It has a permanent population of 256 residents and swells to over 1000 during the summer months. The island which sits on a bed of limestone has one of the mildest climates in the country making it an excellent area to grow grapes and produce wines. In fact the typical growing season is two weeks longer than the adjacent mainland. The only way to get on the island is by ferry either out of Leamington or Kingsville. The ferry ride takes around one-and-a-half to two hours.
There are many things to do on Pelee Island such as biking(The 34 km Lakeview Trail circles the entire island and passes the main attractions) , visiting Pelee Island winery, going for nature walks and browsing the local shops and galleries. There are 2 nature reserves which are a must visit: Lighthouse Point Nature Reserve and Fish Point Nature Reserve.
Pelee Island has many bike and hiking trails that provide access to unique environments and provide access to beaches, forests, sand dunes, marshes, wetlands and alvars.
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| Pelee Island trail lined with flowers |
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| Hydrophyllum Appenduculatum is unique to Canada in the Carolinian zone. The flower blossoms on Pelee Island in spring and early summer |
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| Pelee Island Lighhouse |
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| Fish Point Nature Reserve |
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