Windsor

Windsor is a mid-sized Canadian city on the southwest tip of Ontario. It's an extremely multicultural city with over 20% of its population having been born outside of Canada. The city's rich cultural background is evident in its Middle Eastern, Italian, and Asian neighbourhoods. Just across the Detroit River from Detroit and the American border, it's one of the very few places where you have to go south to enter Canada. Its main waterfront park stretches about 5 km, from the 1929 Ambassador suspension bridge past the contemporary Windsor Sculpture Park. It ends near the 1894 Italianate Canadian Club Heritage Centre, which recalls when Windsor was a source for liquor smuggled to the Prohibiti

See: 15
Do: 43
Eat: 13
Drink: 9
Buy: 7

87 places

Adventure Bay Family Water Park

Water park with six different water slide attractions and a wave pool.

Buy

Ambassador Duty Free Store

Duty-free stores for travellers leaving Canada to Detroit, one at the tunnel and another at the bridge. Alcoholic beverages, perfumes, brand goods like sunglasses and bags.

24/7, every day of the year

See

Art Windsor-Essex

Art Gallery of Windsor

A somewhat small art museum, but its exhibits are interesting and make the most of the available space. The gallery also has several works available for rent or for purchase.

Wed 11AM-8PM, Thu Fri 11AM-9PM, Sat Sun 11AM-5PM (closed: Mon Tue)$3 per person

Big Time Entertainment

former Springz Trampoline and Amusement Park

Describing itself as the largest gaming centre in Southwestern Ontario, here you can for instance play arcade games, drive go-karts or throw axes at targets.

See

Caesars Windsor

Windsor Casino

Very large casino and popular among residents and tourists because the Canadian government does not tax any winnings. The casino exchanges US dollars to Canadian dollars at a low rate (it is therefore advised to exchange your money elsewhere). Absolutely no one under 19 is allowed on the casino floor; however, those under 19 are allowed to stay in the Augustus (new) Tower. Those who are under 22 will need to show an additional piece of identification (such as a school ID or a debit card) upon entering. It also has a free barrier-less multi-storey car park in a very central location that can come in useful as a free parking spot for overnight visitors in other hotels that charges $20+/night (probably hard to enforce who constitutes a visitor or not!).

See

Canada South Science City

Interactive science museum, "temporarily closed" since 2021 but they hope to reopen sometime in the future.

Chrysler Theatre

Event venue mainly for music shows, but also stand up comedy.

Colio Estate Wines

In 1980, Colio Estate Wines was granted the first winery licence since Prohibition in a region that was once the largest grape growing area in the country. The of vineyards in Colchester, Ontario are at the same latitude as Northern California and the Tuscany region in Italy. The vine-friendly soils, southwest winds, southern exposure to the lake and one of the longest growing seasons in the country are unique attributes. Tours are daily at 2PM. Open most holidays. Tours $3 per person - groups welcome by appointment.

Mon-Sat 10AM-6PM, Sun 11AM-5PM

Coventry Gardens & Reaume Park

Pillette Park

A showplace and tourist attraction, Reaume Park and Coventry Gardens includes the Pillette Dock (a favourite fishing spot) with a grand northern view of the Detroit skyline and its largest park, Belle Isle, as the spectacular Charles Brooks Peace Fountain floats on the Detroit River spouting water in the air from April to October with radiant coloured evening illuminations. Coventry Gardens is elegantly maintained, with hanging gardens, trees, flowerbeds, tarmac and brick paths, and this park also contains a restaurant and restroom, but bicycles are not allowed in the park, due to its large attendance of pedestrians and tight curves.

free + free parking + free overflow parking

Dieppe Gardens

At the northern-most base of Ouellette Ave., Windsor's centermost street, overlooking the Detroit River and skyline.

free

Dominion House

Unfussy historic pub with billiards & a traditional menu of burgers, snacks & sandwiches.

See

Ford City

The birthplace of the Canadian Ford Motor Company. The district is home to a wide variety of architectural examples, including four Byzantine styled Orthodox churches built by immigrants, who came to work for the Ford Company. Several buildings have murals depicting the history and transformation of the Ford Company and Ford City.

Drink

Frank's Brewing Co.

Has a taproom and restaurant with pizza, sandwiches and other small dishes.

Drink

Hiram Walker & Sons Limited

Whiskey distillery. The tours and tastings have been discontinued, but there is a shop and occasionally they arrange blending classes.

Mon-Thu closed, Fri-Sun noon-5PM

Buy

Holland Consignment Shoppe

In the heart of one of the last remaining local outdoor shopping districts.

See

Little Italy

Little Italy, or "Via Italia", as it is affectionately called, is home to many Italian families and businesses. It is known for its restaurants and clothing boutiques, along Erie Street, from Moy Avenue in the east to Goyeau Avenue to the west.

See

Mackenzie Hall

The former courthouse, jail, and execution spot of the former town of Sandwich, which is now a district of Windsor.

See

McGregor-Cowan House Bakery/Breakfast

Olde Towne Bake Shoppe

Historical bakery, housing the Olde Towne Bake Shoppe and as such apparently both an attraction and a place to eat.

Eat

Mezzo Ristorante

Decent Italian restaurant with a friendly and helpful staff. The restaurant is pleasantly decorated and offers an intimate atmosphere for visitors to relax and hang out. The restaurant hosts musicians on Thursday and a piano player on Friday and Saturday nights.

Mon-Wed 11:30AM-10PM, Thu-Sat 11:30AM-11PM, Sun 4PM-10PM

Eat

Mini Restaurant

Vietnamese restaurant; pho, spring rolls and the like on the menu.

Eat

Niko Sushi

Popular sushi house offering a range of well-known rolls, gyoza & tempura in a quaint dining room.

different sushi sets $5-25

See

Old Sandwich Town

Established in 1797, it is considered one of the oldest, most historically significant settlements in Ontario. It has been the site of several important events in Ontario's history. Many historic buildings remain in Old Sandwich Town and the area hosts an annual festival to celebrate its heritage. The area is now a neighbourhood of the city of Windsor.

Peche Island City Park

Only accessible by boat, this island park is fun for picnics and exploration, at the mouth of Detroit River and Lake St. Clair.

free

Eat

Perfetto Bistro Bottega

Italian restaurant. Fresh homemade pasta at a great price. They also sell wine by the bottle.

Tue-Sat 11AM-7:30PM

Phog Lounge

Intimate, quirky nightspot featuring independent bands, pub grub like poutine & a full bar.

See

Pillette Village

Pillette Road Village or Pillette Vintage Village

A small community between historic Walkerville and their hipsters to the west and the sleepy Olde Riverside suburbs to the east. Most of the commercial buildings from George Avenue to Thompson Boulevard are on Wyandotte Street or Pillette Road spreading outward from that intersection, leading up to the spectacular Coventry Gardens & Reaume Park, just a block away. Pillette Village features several restaurants and several vintage stores, unique enterprises, convenience, bowling, and common franchises (McDonald's, Subway, Shoppers, etc.) and utilities.

Free parking except Wyandotte Street has parking meters

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