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A young deer is shown at Ojibway Park in Windsor on May 10, 2024. Photo by Dan Janisse /Windsor StarArticle content
The Ojibway Complex is scheduled to become Canada’s second national urban park.
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The Ojibway Nature Centre offers free exhibits, public education, and summer programs.
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Point Pelee National Park
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Canada’s southernmost mainland point extends sharply into Lake Erie, culminating in a sandy tip that attracts visitors from far and wide. At roughly 1,500 hectares — 420 of dry land and 1,070 of freshwater marsh — it’s one of Canada’s smallest national parks.
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A birding mecca, Point Pelee provides habitat for more than 390 species of migrating birds and attracts tens of thousands of birders each spring and fall, according to Parks Canada.
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Visitors are shown at the Point Pelee National Park marsh boardwalk in Leamington on Monday, July 21, 2025. Photo by Dan Janisse /Windsor StarArticle content
In addition to birders, the park welcomes campers, kayakers, cyclists, pedestrians, swimmers at the north west beach, and even astronomers: Point Pelee is a designated dark-sky preserve.
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Admission to the park is free until Sept. 2 as part of the federal government’s Canada Strong Pass program. Otherwise, admission fees vary depending on age.
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Pelee Island
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The largest island in Lake Erie, Pelee Island is the southernmost populated point in Canada. It’s roughly 42 square kilometres, with around 230 permanent residents and 1,500 residents in warmer months. Notably for nature lovers, it’s home to Lighthouse Point Provincial Park, Fish Point Provincial Nature Reserve, and other spots teeming with migratory birds for several months of the year. The island has restaurants, campgrounds, a public beach, and offers a 30-kilometre shoreline loop — one perhaps enjoyed best on a bicycle.
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A golden field of canola in full bloom on Pelee Island is seen on May 10, 2025. Photo by Taylor Campbell /Windsor StarArticle content
Pelee Island is accessible by ferry from April until early December, with departures leaving Leamington from April to the end of July, Kingsville from August until early December, and Sandusky, Ohio, from May until the end of September. In colder months, the only way to get to and from Pelee is by plane.
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Hillman Marsh
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Located in Leamington, roughly 20 minutes from Point Pelee and also along Lake Erie, this conservation area has roughly five kilometres of marsh trail bordering 87 acres of shorebird habitat.
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It’s a popular spot for hiking, cycling, canoeing, kayaking, fishing, and of course, bird watching; more than 100 species use the marsh as a migration stopover.
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A dragonfly hangs out at Hillman Marsh Conservation Area in Leamington. Photo by Jason Kryk /Windsor StarArticle content
The nature centre has educational displays about flora and fauna. Entry to Hillman Marsh Conservation Area is $10 per vehicle.
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Holiday Beach
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This conservation area in Amherstburg was designated an Important Bird Area under BirdLife International’s global network. It’s considered a significant area for raptor migration and, each September, hosts the Festival of Hawks. The two-day event sees experts share information about the thousands of birds of prey migrating overhead, all viewable from a three-story observation tower.