Who’s ready for a weekend getaway?
Windsor, Ontario is quickly trending up on everyone’s vacation list and for good reason.
Here are 7 tasty and surprising facts about Canada’s southernmost city that we think will make you want to visit.
ONTARIO’S ONLY WINERY WITH IT’S OWN BEACH
Sprucewood Shores Estate Winery is one of 18 that are scattered within a 30 minute drive of Windsor, Ontario, but, there is something that makes it unique.
This 52 acre farm and winery has Ontario’s only walk out beachfront winery, offering the perfect setting to enjoy a glass of wine or one of their picnic baskets.
IT’S KNOWN AS WHISKYTOWN, CANADA
Windsor is the birthplace of the world famous Canadian Club whisky and all the folklore and rum running tales (ie. regular visits by Al Capone) that go along with it. Because of this, and so much more, it has inherited the name Whiskytown, Canada.
The distillery founded by Hiram Walker is now home to J.P. Wiser’s, and was named the best distillery in Canada in 2018. That’s not where the whisky story ends, though.
Craft distillery, Wolfhead, makes itself unique by incorporating the 3.5 million year old limestone found in its own backyard. A restaurant on site serving top-notch cocktails and dishes has made it a must-try when in Windsor.
Speaking of cocktails, establishments like F&B and Blind Owl are continually pushing the boundaries of the Canadian cocktail scene, making use of some of the great local whiskies.
Naturally, tours and festivals tie all this history and taste together making it a bucket list destination for any whisky connoisseur that’s in the know.
FEAST YOUR EYES ON THE LARGEST DISTILLERY IN NORTH AMERICA
You thought it would be in Kentucky, didn’t you? Pssht, think again! Remember that J.P. Wiser’s distillery we just finished talking about? Ya. It’s big. Real big. 50 million litres of alcohol per year big.
Instead of driving to a distillery out in the middle of nowhere (sorry, Kentucky!), Windsor is perfect weekend getaway distance from major metropolitan centres like Detroit, Toronto and Chicago and still within the core of a city and trendy neighbourhood.
The best part? Walking along the streets and smelling the sweet smell of the distillers grain drying. It pretty much makes the entire neighbourhood smell like someone is baking.
CANADA’S BEST TOURISM BUSINESS IS HERE
We’re going to toot our own horn here, because, well, we can.
When you visit places and cities, you always try to ensure that you’re booking quality experiences. Well, we’ve been recognized as being able to do that better than anyone else in Canada.
Whether it’s because of our Drinks of Walkerville tour exploring the tastes and folklore of Whiskytown, Canada, our Wine Trail Ride cycling tours or our special events like Dinner on a Pier and the Windsor Craft Beer Festival, the Tourism Industry Association of Canada named WindsorEats the Best Small-Medium Sized Tourism Business in Canada.
So, rest assured you’re going to have a great experience with us when you visit.
MINUTES FROM DOWNTOWN DETROIT
While it’s technically a different city, heck, a different country, we like to consider Windsor as Detroit’s Canadian Neighbourhood.
We’re close. Real close. Like 5 minutes from Downtown Windsor to Downtown Detroit close. It allows folks wanting to experience America’s comeback city to experience something truly unique with all the big city activities happening in Motown as well as the rural and country activities just 30 minutes away.
Visitors to Detroit are pleasantly shocked to looked across the river and see Windsor, and vice versa. It’s so close you can literally hear traffic on the other side.
THE WORLD’S ONLY ALL-POUTINE FOOD TOUR
Gluttony. Damn tasty, dirty gluttony. Windsor’s a fabulously gritty city and we make no apologies for it as we give you an authentic look at the underbelly of a great Canadian city.
Wander down dark alleys covered with graffiti as you learn historical Canadian facts on your way to taste a variety of different takes on Canada’s most well-known comfort food.
The Dirty Poutine Experience is the only food tour in the world that exclusively serves up poutine. Four of them. Some classic, some with a twist, all delicious.
QUITE POSSIBLY THE BEST PLACE IN CANADA TO GET A LAGER
It’s possible. A case can be made for Windsor being the best place in Canada to get a lager as two of the top 3 lagers in Canada in 2018 came from the city.
Frank Brewing won silver in the North American Style Premium Lager category for their Frank’s Cream Ale while Kingsville based, The Grove Brew House, took home a bronze for their Paradise Lager.
This doesn’t even include the Honest Lager from Walkerville Brewery, which is popular among locals. It also helps give Windsor a trifecta that not every city can boast: being a burgeoning distillery, wine and beer scene all-in-one.
