4 Days, 4 Ways: A Perfect Couples’ Escape in Windsor
Finding a good excuse for a couples’ getaway in Ontario is always a treat, so when my partner Chris and I had the opportunity to return to Windsor this fall, we jumped at the opportunity to experience everything there is to do this time of year.
Chris and I really don’t discriminate when it comes to travel–we love all sorts of experiences and adventures. In order to get a little bit of everything out of our trip, we focused on four ways to make the most of a trip here: arts and culture, food & drink, entertainment experiences and outdoor adventures. Whether you split up each of your days here with a different focus, or do a little bit of every activity during your trip, there is no shortage of fun things to do.
Let me help you plan your own fall getaway for your next trip to Windsor!
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Day 1: Arts & Culture
As soon as we got to town, we headed to Museum Windsor and Art Windsor-Essex—both museums are connected in the same building, and gave us great historical and cultural context before exploring the city further. We loved checking out the different exhibits at the museum and the rotating collections in the galleries. Art Windsor-Essex also has a small gift shop with locally made goods and independent artwork, perfect for picking up a souvenir from your trip.
Next we headed to historic Willistead Manor in Walkerville. This mansion was commissioned by one of the sons of Hiram Walker, Edward Chandler Walker, and named after his oldest brother, Willis, who passed away at a young age. Its heavy oak doors, grand rooms and gardens make it a memorable place to take a tour of, and learn more about the history of the area while appreciating its architecture.
No arts & culture focused trip is complete without an art class, so we headed to nearby Ford City neighborhood to admire its public murals along Drouillard Road and take a class at Ford City Potters.
Ford City Potters is a relatively new studio space in town, and it’s owned and operated by Gisele Bick and Lisa Gabriele. These friends went to the same high school outside of Windsor, which is where their love of pottery began thanks to an inspiring art teacher. Decades later, they opened this welcoming adults-only studio space, where they offer classes to potters of all skill levels. If you’re new to pottery, this supportive atmosphere is the perfect place to take a class!
Day 2: Food & Drink
Windsor is filled with some fantastic places to indulge in its unique food and drink scene, so Chris and I knew we had to dive right in during this trip!
We started our morning off with brunch at The River Room Restaurant, which worked perfectly for our stay at the Best Western PLUS Waterfront Hotel. You can come here from morning until night, but their brunch menu has plenty of tasty offerings. Plus, starting your day with a gorgeous view across the Detroit River to the Detroit skyline is an added bonus.
Since Windsor is famous for its Windsor-style pizza, we headed to Antonino’s Original Pizza for lunch. This local, family-owned and run restaurant is a staple in Windsor and has been serving up pizza since 1959. Despite expanding to a few new locations and adapting its name over the years (today’s “Antonino’s” is named after owner Joe Ciaravino’s dad and original owner, Antonino) the quality of local, Canadian ingredients and authentic pies here remains. If you’re stuck making a decision, I can confirm that The Angry Hawaiian and The Deluxe are both incredible pies!
If you’re looking for a great spot to come for an afternoon drink or nibble, Sandwich Brewing Co. is a wonderful local craft brewery serving up all sorts of staple brews and unique, small-batch offerings. We’ve been to a lot of craft breweries around the world, and Sandwich really holds up to the hype! On top of loving so many of their beers, I was particularly swooning with their small-bath “The Spaghett” lager during our visit—it incorporates Aperol, orange and lemon, and the combination worked so well! I loved this unique brew so much I was ready to take a growler home, but they save small-batch brews like this to be enjoyed in-house only, which I respect.
Other great spots for a drink or nibble are The Grand Cantina–they have delicious margaritas and duck fat fries. The Loose Goose also offers a lengthy tap list of beers and over 50 variations of wings to order.
For dinner, we headed to Erie Street Gastropub. They’re known for their Vietnamese fusion menu, craft beer and homemade, small batch ice cream. Capping off our dining experience here with their incredible desserts was a highlight. Some of their ice creams are even infused with alcohol—their Oreo Mudslide flavour was a favourite.
On your own trip to Windsor, make sure you cap off any night with a visit to Maiden Lane Wine & Cocktail Bar. They used to be known solely for their cocktails, but now they serve up a full chef’s menu of small plates and dinner offerings. Every cocktail here is a delight, and their staff is knowledgeable and will help guide you through which cocktails you should try based on your preferences. I tried and loved The Bamboo, and Chris tried the Monte Carlo, both of which were exceptional.
Day 3: Entertainment Experiences
One of the most unique parts about taking a fall getaway to Windsor is enjoying the Windsor International Film Festival! This was our first time experiencing WIFF, and Chris and I loved how much the city and its community come alive during the festival.
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WIFF is a not-for-profit film festival that has been running in late October and early November for over 20 years. It’s an 11-day festival which shows the most films of any Canadian film festival, the largest amount of francophone films compared to any other festival in the country. It showcases Canadian and international films that are largely new, but you can expect a few cult classics and fan favourites to appear on the screening list each year.
Chris and I headed to the WIFF Opening Night Screening of the Canadian film Mile End Kicks before celebrating at the opening night party. Attending opening night was the perfect way to get to understand the festival as first timers! There are several theatres across the city that show screenings throughout the festival, and there are red carpets, activations and art installations throughout the city to celebrate the occasion. WIFF Alley is a great compliment to the festival with some amazing film-themed artwork and lights adorning the alleyway.
And after all of the fun of attending some of our first screenings at WIFF, Chris and I of course had to head to Caesars Windsor for an evening of gaming and cocktails. We even tried a butterfly shrimp caesar and a dessert pina colada between games at Legends Sportsbar.
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Day 4: Outdoor Adventures
It’s hard to pick a favourite, but enjoying time outside during the fall here in Ontario might just be my favourite time of year! The colourful leaves show off as far as the eye can see, and the air is crisp and refreshing if you get your heart rate going.
We first headed for a fall walk through the trails at Malden Park. There are some excellent trails to walk around here, and some well-maintained off-road mountain biking trails. We’ll definitely bring our bikes back next time, because on top of being able to see the brand new Gordie Howe International Bridge from the observation area here in the park, it will be open for cyclist and pedestrian use soon!
Chris and I love getting out on the water, so we were excited to learn that there are opportunities to paddle along River Canard just outside of Windsor during a visit. This scenic river is home to many wildlife species inland from the Detroit River, and you can rent canoes to enjoy a paddle for yourself with the River Canard Canoe Company all the way into late fall. We saw plenty of migrating birds spending time amongst its bullrushes and wetlands, and there are several different routes that you can take around islands and through protected nature areas along the river.
Last but not least, appreciating the Windsor Sculpture Park and the Riverfront Trail along the Detroit River is a must on any trip to Windsor. This lengthy, protected stretch of pathway is great for cyclists and pedestrians alike. As we walked along the waterside park, Chris and I loved stopping to admire the many different sculptures throughout the park, and checking out Streetcar No. 351 in its home along the water. It’s one of the oldest streetcars in North America!
After spending these four days in four different ways exploring Windsor for our couples’ trip, I have no doubt that you’ll find exactly what you’re looking for when you take your next getaway here!
You can feel free to check out my full video recapping our experience here.
See more highlights from my trip here.
Original blog post by Bri Mitchell
