Outdoor Ontario
Discussion => General Discussions => Topic started by: angieinto on March 11, 2010, 01:15:25 PM
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We are planning a trip here while we are on vacation in June, and I was just wondering if anyone has been?
Would love to hear of others experiences, this will be our first time visiting the area and we are really looking forward to it. :D
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Welcome to the forum! Would you be able to get to Pelee in May? That is when it is really good for spring migrants. I go with friends for three days in the second week of May. We see well over a 100 species and usually about 23 species of warblers. Stop in at the visitor centre. In May, there is a sightings board and you can join guided birdwalks. Take the tram down to the tip. If you go in May, take rain gear and warm clothes, because the weather there is so changeable. Maybe, someone else in the forum can tell you about June in the park. Enjoy your trip, because it is a great place to visit, see birds, and meet other birders.
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Yeah, our vacation is the first two weeks of June, so we're going then. I checked out the big birding festival that takes place in May, and will do that one year. It's our first trip there, so we're kinda relieved it won't be quite so busy, and we can get a good feel for the area and future visits. I hope we still get to see some interesting birds while we're there though.
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Leslie,
Can you recommend somewhere to stay? We haven't been in years, but are planning a couple of days in May this year. Thanks.
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Hi Moira,
My friend takes care of the hotel arrangements. Here are her tips: As for the hotel we stay at in Pelee, I think it's the Ramada Inn in Leamington, or it used to be, it might be Howard Johnson's now... it might have changed ownership, again. There's also a Comfort Inn I think and there's always the Pelee Day's Inn (the one with the big indoor pool that's closest to the park) among the "better" motels/hotels. Among the cheaper motels, there's Rymal's. Your friend should just google "Leamington hotels" and see what comes up. Or try the online Yellow pages for Leamington, or better yet, try hotels.com and key in Leamington, ON and see what comes up. Don't wait too long to book or you may not get the dates you want.
Hope this helps,
Leslie :D
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Thanks for the info Leslie - much appreciated.
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Angie, you may want to consider a Bed and Breakfast in Leamington. We used to stay at all the motels already noted above, but three years ago my wife suggested a B&B, so, even though I was not keen on the idea, we gave it a try. I have had no regrets. Other than being less expensive than the motels, the rooms and owners have been great. You may have to check around though, since B&B's get booked as quickly and early as the motels.
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We've actually already booked a B & B on the Island for 2 nights. This is a birthday getaway for me, and not just a birding trip, and I thought the Island would be a lovely place to spend my birthday. We plan on spending the day at the national park before heading over on the 6PM fairy.
Will keep all the information in mind for when we head down in May one year for all the birding festivities that go on then.
Thanks so much for all the information. :)
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I envy you folks the Pelee trip. May is really the peak, but you should still have fun birding in June. I've been there in July and had a lovely run-in with two clutches of wild turkeys on one of my hikes.
When we went down last year we did a little looking around and found a beautiful B&B in Kingsville (just west of Leamington) the owners are fantastic, the breakfasts are first-rate, and the accomodations were lovely. If I remember correctly the costs weren't significantly higher than the chain hotels, and after birding from dawn-dusk the sauna was a welcome retreat.
B&B was called Mettawas End and can be found here: http://mettawas-end-bed-and-breakfast.com/ (http://mettawas-end-bed-and-breakfast.com/)
Best,
Pat
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Good luck Angie
Waiting to hear about your experience before I plan anything. Looking to find a day when I can go to long point. Not sure if I can do Rondeau and long point with one night stay.
Also debating, as we will be going that far, why not stay one more night and see Point Pelee too.
I would love to hear the best spots, and in particular how you find the Pelee island.
Nigil
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I will write of my experience for sure, I'm looking forward to it. We're staying two nights on the Island...we're leaving here in the early morning so we can spend the day at Point Pelee Park, and then taking the 6PM ferry over. Spending the day on the Island, and some of the next, and catching the early afternoon ferry back to head home.
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I used to go often
every year in fact
in May
but.. not been for a while now
You will love it
hope it has not changed too much
The motels and hotels
have already been mentioned that I know of
and a B and B would be nice
We always used to go to Colsanti's
which was fun
and.. Jack Miner's I believe
have a ball
and do report
Ive been looking for bus tours down that way
Egret
:)
in the park there is a little travel car
that takes you thru and to the end of the point
or there was :)
anyone posting here:
Is there a scenic way to drive there
avoiding the highway.. ?
just wondered
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Hi Egret,
If you want to skip the highway then you could always take Hwy. 6 south to Hwy. 3 west and take Hwy. 3 the whole way into Leamington. There are some pretty stretches here through farm country, big wind generating fields and lots of nice views of the lake. There are more than a few veggie stands and antique stores on the way as well. I'm not sure where you're travelling from, but Hwy. 6 can be picked up in Guelph/Burlington/Hamilton and then it's south to the town of Jarvis where you'd pick up Hwy. 3 west.
Best,
Pat
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Thanks muchly Pat
Enjoy the day!
Egret :)
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Thanks muchly Pat
Enjoy the day!
Egret :)
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We are also planning our 1st trip to Peele National Park as well during May, just wonder, how early should we go to the park and is the park open early in the morning, e.g. 7am? Have never been there and any information regarding what to do (e.g. joining bird hiking in the park or go on your own?) would be greatly appreaciated. (We have booked the place to stay already it's the weekend of May 15)
from what I heard, May is the best time to go and I am really really looking forward to this trip to see different song birds, waterfowls, raptors.....etc :P
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Early May (until the 16th), the park opens at 5:00 AM and the first shuttle runs from the Visitors' Centre to the tip at 6:00 AM. Traditionally, people start their day at the tip to see what has blown in overnight. However, the best place in the park often depends on the overnight weather. If Ohio was clear-skied but there was cold rain over the lake, the tip is unsurpassed. However, with gentle breezes from the south, you might find better birding farther north in the park.
There are a number of guided hikes, but they tend to fill up fast on the weekends. Whether or not they are worth the price depends on your comfort as a birder. Or your comfort in flagging down a passing stranger to help you. It can be quite populous in the park, but almost everyone is a birder. Most are friendly. Your mileage may vary.
From the 17th on, the park doesn't open until 6:00 and I don't know if the shuttle runs from 7:00 or from 10:00. Not that you can't walk to the tip from the Visitors' Centre. And the guided hikes are no longer available.
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Early May (until the 16th), the park opens at 5:00 AM and the first shuttle runs from the Visitors' Centre to the tip at 6:00 AM. Traditionally, people start their day at the tip to see what has blown in overnight. However, the best place in the park often depends on the overnight weather. If Ohio was clear-skied but there was cold rain over the lake, the tip is unsurpassed. However, with gentle breezes from the south, you might find better birding farther north in the park.
There are a number of guided hikes, but they tend to fill up fast on the weekends. Whether or not they are worth the price depends on your comfort as a birder. Or your comfort in flagging down a passing stranger to help you. It can be quite populous in the park, but almost everyone is a birder. Most are friendly. Your mileage may vary.
From the 17th on, the park doesn't open until 6:00 and I don't know if the shuttle runs from 7:00 or from 10:00. Not that you can't walk to the tip from the Visitors' Centre. And the guided hikes are no longer available.
Wow! Thank you GStuart, we are only beginners ^_^ I will definitely check the weather before and I think we will try on our own and see what we can find. I am also thinking of getting a better Binocular as well, will check out the forum for choice of Binocular. I am small Nikon binocular, thinking of getting the Monarch series.
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When in Pt. Pelee I've always done well birding the woodlot north of the visitor centre parking lot during mid-morning hours. So I usually start at the point and work up the peninsula.
If you're looking for new binocs I would strongly encourage you to check out Pelee Wings online, and then call on them when in Leamington. This is a great shop for birding optics, and they will help you find the perfect pair for your use and budget.
Have a great trip!
Pat
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Thank you Pat for your info ^_^ you know, I am so excited! even though there is still 1 month to go. :)