Cover Story: Where To Stay Over Night In The Region

The Best Vacations Start Right Here

From Inns, B&Bs, Campgrounds and RV Parks to Hotels, Motels, Cottages and Beach Retreats, Where To Rest Your Head For The Night

Cover Story By Dave Hall

Now that pandemic restrictions have been lifted in virtually every segment of society, it’s well past time to start enjoying what the towns of Essex County and Pelee Island have to offer.

Tourism Windsor Essex Pelee Island

(TWEPI) recently launched a new campaign, My Happy Place. They want you to share your happy place and favourite places in Windsor Essex, and discover new places you may not have heard about or visited in the past.

The website, MyHappyPlace.ca, features event information and trip inspiration ideas. You can also WIN cash to spend at some of your Happy Places.

Register for the Find Your Happy Place passport for free, then check in at particiating locations as you explore Windsor Essex this summer. The more places you check in the more you can win — 15 check ins will let you pick a $25 gift card of your choice, and 25 check ins will let you select a $50 gift card of your choice from their online store, all for free! (Campaign runs through October 2022.)

And there is so much to discover in the region! From challenging golf courses to award-winning wineries, and from family festivals to special events, there’s something for every age and taste.

In order to encourage Ontario residents to spend their vacation time closer to home this year, the provincial government has instituted a staycation tax credit allowing individuals to claim 20% of eligible accommodation expenses on next year’s income tax return.

Expenses include those claimed for accommodation at hotels, motels, resorts, lodges, bed-and-breakfast establishments, cottages, campgrounds, and vacation rental properties.

“The credit encourages people to travel locally and encourages overnight stays, which is the best way to see what our region has to offer,” explains Gordon Orr, Executive Director of Tourism Windsor Essex Pelee Island (website: VisitWindsorEssex.com). “Gatherings are slowly returning and there’s no better way to see this region than to stay in one of our many hotels, motels and B&Bs, all of which have something unique to offer.”

Orr adds that many people have been

Tourism Windsor Essex Pelee Island (TWEPI) is hoping you can find your next happy place in the region this summer. One possible suggestion is Amherstburg’s Dancing Swallows Vineyard, (shown) one of 20 wineries in the EPIC Wine Region. Graphic courtesy of TWEPI.

saving their money or spending it on their homes and gardens, so he feels people are now ready to start spending it on themselves.

“There’s a pent-up demand and I think we’re going to have a great summer season in Windsor Essex,” Orr believes.

The tax credit applies to short-term stays between January 1, 2022 and December 31, 2022. You can claim up to 20% of your overnight accommodation stays or eligible expenses, of up to $1,000, as an individual, or $2,000 per family.

It’s expected the credit will provide an estimated $270 million in support to about 1.85 million Ontario families. (NOTE: For more information on the eligibility requirements, visit: Ontario.ca/page/ontariostaycation-tax-credit).

Over the years in the July/August issue of Biz X, our cover stories have highlighted where to go and what to do. With the new staycation tax incentive, what better time to focus on where to stay? And, as the saying goes, there’s no place like home!

There are any number of accommodation options throughout the county, and Biz X magazine has put together a short list of possible suggestions.

Many are members of the Windsor Region of the Ontario Restaurant Hotel and Motel Association (ORHMA), which represents more than 2,000 businesses across the province.

“In Essex County, we had a busy year last year because our members provided quarantine accommodations for many people,” reports Dharmesh Patel, Chair of the Windsor Region ORHMA branch (ORHMA.com), as well as General Manager of Leamington’s Quality Inn, 279 Erie Street South.

“Now we’re hoping that many local residents take advantage of the shopping, dining and accommodation options throughout our region,” he adds. “It’s time to taste what we have to offer once more.”

Absolutely! Let’s meet the individuals running some of the area’s accommodations where everyone is welcome to stay this summer.

Seacliffe Inn 388 Erie Street South, Leamington

This hotel dates back to before the turn of the 20th century, when an inn named the Erie House was built on a piece of property previously known as Seacliff Farm, according to a comprehensive history on the hotel’s website.

Over the years, the property has been known successively as the Dew Drop Inn, Bay View Hotel and finally the Seacliff Hotel, although nobody seems to know why or when the second “e” was added.

It was purchased by the Towle Group in 1986.

“It’s a great setting, right on the water,”

TheSeacliffeInninLeamingtonoverlooksLakeErieand is steps away from the ferry to Pelee Island for a quick escape from the rat race. General Manager Dominique Yssennagger and staff offer a variety of packages from the golf aficionado to the wine enthusiast, outdoor adventurers to the business executive and more. Photo by Rod Denis.

states General Manager Dominique Yssennagger. “We’ve become a very popular spot because there is so much to do in the area.”

She feels that because the inn is across from the ferry dock to Pelee Island, it is an attractive option for day-trippers to the island, using the hotel as their base.

The inn has 23 single and double rooms each with computer access and fireplaces. Guests can choose either a lake view or garden view room.

The hotel also boasts Thirteen At The Inn, a first-class restaurant run as a separate business by the Harris family, formerly proprietors of Leamington’s iconic 13 Russell Street. It is fully accessible to hotel guests and boasts a menu ranging from seafood to steaks to pasta.

Yssennagger says that guests are pointed towards a number of area attractions to help fill their time in Leamington.

“We suggest Colasanti’s Tropical Gardens, Hillman Marsh Conservation Area, or Thiessen’s Orchards later in the summer,” says Yssennagger. “There are dozens of wineries close by, the Leamington Marina offers live music on weekends and there are also concerts in Seacliff Park on weekends as well.”

The Seacliffe Inn is also not far from golf courses such as Erie Shores Golf & Country Club in Leamington and Kingsville Golf and Country Club, as well as numerous awardwinning wineries, Point Pelee National Park, and the Leamington Raceway.

For more information, log on to: SeacliffeInn.com.

Adams Golden Acres Motel 438 Main Street West, Kingsville

This family-owned motel opened in 1956 and caters to visitors, business travellers and local residents looking for a quick and convenient getaway in the middle of the county.

“We were lucky and remained busy throughout COVID and we expect to be even busier during the current summer now that people are anxious to get out and do something for themselves,” says Heather Adams, who owns the motel along with husband Robert and father-in-law Bernard.

Adams Golden Acres Motel is close to wineries, craft breweries, great restaurants, fishing, golf courses and walking/hiking trails along the Chrysler Canada Greenway (view: EssexRegionConservation.ca to see a list of outdoor recreation sites).

Adams adds that since the ferry to Pelee Island runs out of nearby Kingsville certain times in the season, it is an easy and convenient getaway for their guests to the small island paradise.

The motel has 27 rooms including one bedroom units and kitchenettes.

For more information, check out the website: AdamsGoldenAcres.com.

Talents and experience as a sommelier/ chef and as a chartered accountant would seem to be just what Leslie and Bob Meloche need to run a successful gourmet B&B.

Nestled in 10 acres of woods, meadows, and groomed paths in the heart of Essex County, The Walnut Grove Bed & Breakfast is quickly making a name for itself in accommodation circles.

Winner of the 2022 Best Bed & Breakfast category in the Best of Windsor Essex Awards from Tourism Windsor Essex Pelee Island, Walnut Grove offers something for everyone, whether they’re local residents or travellers.

“We’re more like a spa or a retreat with all of the amenities one would expect,” describes Leslie who also works at North 42 Degrees Estate Winery as an assistant to winery owner Martin Gorski.

With three themed rooms, including one with a Jacuzzi, the B&B offers gourmet breakfasts, charcuterie boards, candlelit dinners for two in an on-property chalet, a heated in-ground pool and hot tub, an entrance-way pergola with a large koi pond along with a variety of fire pits for al fresco dining and relaxing.

“Bob and I have always wanted to own a bed and breakfast,” says Leslie of the business that opened in December 2019. “And this is the perfect location for what we envisioned.”

The property also includes beehives, allowing for the production of its own honey, as well as nature trails and natural plant areas. Home-made pork and turkey sausages are also features of the menu, along with produce grown in an adjacent vegetable garden.

Utilizing her talents as a sommelier and chef, Leslie also creates wine pairings with farm-to-fork meals from many of the surrounding wineries such as Cooper’s Hawk Vineyard, CREW Winery,

(LEFT) At The Walnut Grove Bed & Breakfast, owners Bob and Leslie Meloche pose in the pergola area. Guests can listen to the peaceful waterfall sounds of the large koi pond — just one of several areas where you can enjoy this peaceful country setting.

Photos by Rod Denis.

(RIGHT) Appropriately called Into the Woods, this king room at The Walnut Grove Bed & Breakfast has a lovely, south facing view of a shagbark hickory tree and a laneway into the woods. A sitting area with two comfortable chairs, plus an ensuite bathroom, make it the perfect place to unwind after a day of exploration in the county.

Paglione Estate Winery, Viewpointe Estate Winery, Muscedere Vineyards, Oxley Estate Winery and of course, North 42 Degrees Estate Winery.

“Everything you could want is right here,” Leslie indicates. “There’s no need to travel to another wine region when it’s all at our fingertips.”

The couple also recommend activities such as cycling along the region’s many trails, bird watching at nearby Point Pelee, visits to John R. Park Homestead Conservation Area, Cedar Beach, and Koparegon Woods, along with small town shopping along County Road 20. And you can also cycle around the region on a self-propelled bicycle or a motor assisted bike rented from The Grove Bike Co.

The business is located in a 120-yearold farmhouse (a true farm to table experience) and you can read more details on: TheWalnutGroveBnB.com.

Lungovita Beach Retreat 225 County Road 50 East, Harrow

Dave Haas and his partners — Andrew Facca, Craig Higginbottom and Chantal Vallée — didn’t coin the term Glamping or Glamourous Camping, but they’re in the process of fine-tuning it on their 16acre property on the shoreline of Lake Erie near Harrow.

“It’s about giving people a unique and comfortable way of experiencing hotellike amenities combined with the beauty of nature and the outdoors,” says Haas, former owner of The Treehouse in downtown Windsor.

The Lungovita (“Loon-go-vee-ta” — meaning long life) Beach Retreat currently has 33 units with an expansion planned for 60 next year. The accommodations consist of large bell tents and geodesic domes spread across their property in the centre of wine country.

The units can sleep anywhere between two and four people with either one queensize bed or two. Some of the units are fully

heated and others come with air-conditioning and wood-burning fireplaces.

There’s also a large heated pool, saunas, hot tubs, bikes, kayaks, hammocks, volleyball courts and private waterfront access.

Five wineries are within a five-minute bike ride (free cruiser bike rentals are provided) as is Colchester Beach.

Open since May 2021, the property is billed as adult-only with a minimum age of 16.

“In the future, we’re planning on hosting retreats or providing opportunities for companies and individuals to stage their own retreats,” adds Haas.

Questions about this unique property, with 600 feet of waterfront atop a 100-foot cliff overlooking Lake Erie? Get your answers on: Lungovita.com!

The Grove Hotel, 12 Main Street East, Kingsville And The Grove Motel, Colchester (Opening 2023)

In the near future, visitors to Kingsville will have the choice of two more unique properties to stay at in the heart of Essex County.

The two properties — The Grove Hotel and The Grove Motel — are owned by Jennifer and James Flynn along with partners Kim Lewis and Jeff Lewis.

Room #9 On The Lake at The Grove Hotel definitely proves life is better at the lake! Other theme rooms include: E=MC Squared, A Room With A Brew (which comes with a complimentary six-pack), Viva Las King, N’amastay In Bed, and Nothing But Glam. Photo courtesy of Kerry Trepanier Photography.

The Grove Hotel, housed in a historic building constructed in 1854, currently has three floors with 18 rooms, with two more to be added by the end of summer in a space previously occupied by a brew house.

“Our hotel rooms are individually-themed, which creates a unique and memorable visit each time,” Jennifer Flynn points out. “We coin ourselves ‘hip and historic,’ which is what we strive to communicate at all times.”

The Grove Hotel recently was named as a winner of the 2022 Tripadvisor’s Travellers’ Choice Best of the Best Small Hotels in Canada, ranking third among the Top 10 hotels that received the named honours. They are also the Biz X Award winner for Amazing Accommodations in 2021.

Always evolving with the times, a new café concept, HOT+COLD COFFEE, is set to open in fall of 2022 in the hotel. This upscale café will be “everything Grove” and cater to hotel guests, local residents and other visitors to the area.

Among the amenities and businesses close by are: Red Lantern Coffee, Banded Goose Brewing Company, Jack’s Gastropub, Kingsville Brewery Taphouse, The Main Grill & Ale House, O’Sarracino Trattoria & Wine Bar, Koi Sushi, Mettawas Station Italian Mediterranean Grill, Wineology, Elite Steak & Seafood, and El Diablo.

There are also numerous wineries throughout the county, as well as Point Pelee National Park, and GL Heritage Brewing Co., just minutes away. Plus, they offer bike and cruiser rentals through The Grove Bike Co.

And by this time next year, the new Grove Motel will also be welcoming guests in Colchester.

www.ESHF.ca

At the ground breaking ceremony for The Grove Motel in Colchester, members of The Grove Hospitality Group are shown with VIPs in attendance, from left: Kim Lewis; Jennifer Flynn; Essex Mayor Richard Meloche; Essex Councillor Morley Bowman; Essex Councillor Kim Verbeek; Essex Councillor Chris Vander Doelen; Dave McCloskey, McCloskey Engineering; Deputy Mayor Steve Bjorkman; James Flynn; Essex Councillor Sherry Bondy; Essex Councillor Joe Garon; Bill Lester, Lester Group; and Steve Berrill, ADA Architects. Photo by Rod Denis. The best is yet to come! The Grove Motel, a new 28 room retro-style motel is scheduled to be completed in the spring of 2023. It is a partnership between The Grove Hospitality Group and the local team of professionals at Lester Group and Architectural Design Associates Inc. (ADA).

Sun Retreats Amherstburg

For visitors and residents seeking a more casual vacation, Sun Retreats Amherstburg, formerly known as Willowood RV Resort & Campground, offers a variety of accommodation options.

They include rustic tent/pop-up water and electric sites, bunk cabins, one and two-bedroom cottages, and more than 320 full hook-up RV sites.

Area attractions include Fort Malden National Historic Site, John R. Park Homestead Conservation Area, Jack Miner Migratory Bird Centre, Gibson Gallery, Amherstburg Freedom Museum, and Amherstburg Farmers’ Market at GL Heritage Brewing Co.

For more information and reservations, please refer to: SunOutdoors.com/Ontario/ sun-retreats-amherstburg.

Designed by Architectural Design and Associates and built by the Lester Group, the retro motel is expected to open in the spring of 2023.

The entire property will house 28 stateof-the-art suites (each with a different theme similar to The Grove Hotel) with options for adjoining rooms.

“I’m so proud of this motel,” expresses Flynn. “It will add something fun and quirky to Colchester’s waterfront, and will be an anchor point of the local tourism sector and help build the regional economy.”

The 14,000 square foot property will also boast a HOT+COLD COFFEE café, outdoor seating, a common room, electric vehicle charging stations, bike racks, and panoramic views of Lake Erie.

Flynn is originally from Tyendinaga First Nation and says that as an Indigenous woman, it is a meaningful project for her since Indigenous women make up only .06 percent of business owners in Canada.

She adds: “It represents Indigenous women taking their seat at the economic table.”

For further details on either property, visit their websites: MyGroveHotel.com and: MyGroveMotel.com.

The Wandering Dog Inn 1060 East-West Road, Pelee Island

See: OntarioFerries.com for the schedule

Dating back to the mid-1880s, this property started life as a 90-acre farm with a main house, which is actually made up of two old farmhouses.

The Inn has stood at the corner of East West Road and welcomed guests for over a century. In previous years, it’s been known as the Gillis Lodge, Mill Point Lodge, The Tin Goose, and The Wandering

Pheasant Inn.

The Innkeepers now are Kevin and Cathy Miller.

Open since the fall of 2017, The Wandering Dog Inn has nine rooms and five suites available, with a two night minimum stay.

In addition to bike trails across the island, visitors can take in activities at the Pelee Island Winery Pavilion (daily tours, outdoor wine garden, and food) as well as Canada’s southernmost Heritage Centre, for a history lesson on life on a Great Lake.

As per their company website, TheWanderingDogInn.com: “We do not have TVs. No Fox News or CNN. We do not offer Wifi. The Inn is a No Zoom Zone. Trust us, you’ll survive!”

From Sunrise To Sunset There’s An Event Waiting For You

Beyond staying at some of the most interesting and top-notch accommodations across the county, visitors and local residents, along with friends and family, have the opportunity to take in some of the most fascinating events spread out across the region, between now and the end of summer.

Here is a quick peek at what’s happening in Essex County and Pelee Island!

Kingsville Open Streets Until September 3

Each Saturday, portions of Main Street (from Queen to Spruce) and Division Street (from King to Pearl) are closed to traffic between 4 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. to allow businesses to expand their patios and retail spaces.

“We look forward to welcoming visitors and residents during Open Streets,” says Karen Loney, Manager of Recreation Programs and Special Events for the Town of Kingsville. “This is one of our town’s most popular summer events, and it certainly provides an opportunity to explore our great restaurants, shops, and other local vendors.”

There are also free concerts staged by

Open Streets Kingsville runs every Saturday from 4 to 10:30 p.m., until September 3. Come out to drink and dine on the extended patios and support local by buying from the small businesses on Main Street. (Group of three): Dawn Laking, Nikisha Gambacort and Kamila Benhabib. (Cotton Candy): Marla and Delaney Dault. Photos courtesy of The Town of Kingsville.

the Kingsville Music Society, and the Arts Society of Kingsville organizes a series of family activities. For more details, go visit: Kingsville.ca/openstreets.

Amherstburg Open Air Weekends Now Through October 2

Beginning on Fridays at 3 p.m. and continuing throughout the weekend until Sunday evening, streets in downtown Amherstburg are also closed to vehicles, allowing pedestrians to stroll through the historic downtown to visit stores and restaurants along the way.

Learn more about the schedule on: VisitAmherstburg.ca.

Hogs For Hospice July 29, 30 & 31

After a two year hiatus Hogs For Hospice is Back in the Saddle again! Taking place in Seacliff Park in Leamington, it features a vendor alley, food trucks, a beer garden, a performance by the Ontario Provincial Police Golden Helmets Motorcycle Precision Team, a pancake breakfast, concerts in the park (The Cult, Brett Young and more) and motocross activities.

For complete scheduling information and pricing, view: HogsForHospice.com.

Essex County Steam & Gas Engine Show August 12, 13 & 14

The 36th annual show at Co-An Park in McGregor features displays of gas and steam engines, kids’ entertainment, as well as demonstrations of a sawmill and threshing machines.

Hours are: noon to 6 p.m. on opening day, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on the second day and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the third day.

For more information and costs to attend, visit: EssexSteamAndGasEngine.com.

The Greenway Jam, August 12, 13 & 14

Originally a folk music festival in Lakeside Park, this year’s festival organized by the Kingsville Music Society, has moved to the Chrysler Canada Greenway with a number of staging areas along the parkway.

Headliners include Garnet Rogers, Kathleen Edwards, Elliott Brood, Steven Page, and Ashley MacIsaac.

For complete information on tickets and a concert schedule, you can check out: KingsvilleMusicSociety.com.

Rock The Docks International Charity Poker Run, August 19

It’s time to Rock The Docks, Windsor Essex!

Jump on your boat — or your friend’s boat — and join the Erie Shores Health Foundation (ESHF) at the newest International Charity Poker Run.

The agenda includes a Launch Party, Three Poker Stops (Put-In-Bay, Kelly’s Island, Leamington Marina) and the Final Dock Party.

For more information or to register go to the foundation’s website: ESHF.ca.

Stone & Sky Music And Art Series

Taking place at the Pelee Island Old Quarry, the music and arts series continues on August 21 with Count Yorghi’s Jazz Addiction and dancer/ choreographer Barbara Kaneratonni

Diabo.

During Flutter Fest, A Migration Celebration, performances are September 17: Music For A Wilderness Lake with music director Michael Stone and September 18: Gord Grisenthwaite and Flutter, a live multi-disciplinary theatrical event featuring music, song, dance and design.

For details on costs and times of this series, see: StoneAndSky.org.

Art By The River, Amherstburg August 27 & 28

This year’s 55th festival is once again held at Fort Malden National Historic Site between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. each day.

Organized by the Gibson Gallery, for which the event is a major fundraiser, admission is $5. It’s expected there will be more than 170 artists displaying their work throughout the park.

For more information on this event, visit; GibsonArtGallery.com. *Note the Comber Fair (August 5, 6 & 7), Harrow Fair (September 1 to 4) and Amherstburg Uncommon Festival (September 16, 17 & 18) are covered in THE PARENTING BIZ section in this issue.

Further details on events in the county and in Windsor, Tecumseh and LaSalle can be found on: VisitWindsorEssex.com where you can take a look at their comprehensive guide to activities for all ages and interests. You may also check the EVENTS Calendar on: BizXmagazine.com and: InPlayMagazine.com.

Windsor, Essex County & Pelee Island . . . Where Great Hospitality Matters

Additional information on many of the businesses and organizations showcased in this cover story can be found in the annual TWEPI Official Visitor Guide.

The book can be found at hotels, restaurants and other hospitality businesses across the region (a digital edition is available on: VisitWindsorEssex.com).

According to Gordon Orr, CEO of Tourism Windsor Essex Pelee Island: “More than ever people are looking for unique experiences and tours when they plan a trip, and this year’s guide is packed with 92 pages of unique opportunities available in Windsor Essex. It’s a must-see vacation guide for the entire county over the entire summer. It’s full of must-do activities and lots of hidden gems that can often only be found in our guide.”

Now don’t just talk about getting away this summer, pack up the car, gather up the family, and hit the road!