Pelee National Park and Pelee Island - RFI

[angieinto]

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.    

[Leslie Kinrys]

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.

[angieinto]

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.

[Moira]

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.

[Leslie Kinrys]

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

[Moira]

Thanks for the info Leslie - much appreciated.

[Andy]

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.

[angieinto]

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.  

[Pruss]

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/

Best,

Pat

[niani.gil]

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

[angieinto]

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.

[egret]

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

[Pruss]

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

[egret]

Thanks muchly Pat


Enjoy the day!


Egret

[egret]

Thanks muchly Pat


Enjoy the day!


Egret