Summer is officially in full swing and – if you’re anything like us – you’re already full steam ahead into planning as many weekend getaways as you can cram into the next few months of warm weather. As you’re considering where to while away your summer weekends, we’re pretty sure Windsor isn’t the first destination to come to mind. But with its distinctive communities, long history of brewing and distilling and a rich arts scene, there’s plenty to love about this Southwestern Ontario city.

Start your exploration in the Walkerville District, an area that was originally founded as a separate town in 1890 by Hiram Walker, owner of Canadian Club Whisky. Walkerville is awash with beautiful heritage buildings and retains its connections to Windsor’s Prohibition-era history along with its welcoming, small-town feel. At the same time, it’s certainly not a neighbourhood that’s stuck in the past, home to some of the city’s coolest shops and restaurants.

Learn about Windsor’s whisky heritage with a tour of the J.P. Wiser’s Distillery Experience Centre, and continue your exploration of the city’s modern-day brewing and distilling culture with a self-guided tour of the Barrels Bottles & Brews Trail. Be sure to include stops at Walkerville Brewery and the Grove Brew House, both of which took home medals at the 2019 Canadian Brewing Awards.

Keep the party going with a visit to Caesars Windsor, Canada’s largest casino resort. This exciting waterfront space is home to over 2,600 gaming machines and 95 table games, 11 lounges and restaurants, a world-class nightclub, and the 5,000 Colosseum featuring world class entertainment every week!

Alternatively, if the arts are more your speed, check out the Windsor Sculpture Park, which features 31 impressive, large-scale pieces of contemporary sculpture. Culture vultures will also appreciate Artists Alley & Maiden Lane, where a public art project called Free 4 Walls has transformed downtown alleys into open-air galleries with colourful street art.

Go for a stroll through the scenic Waterfront district, which features five kilometres of riverfront trails and beautiful views across the water to Detroit. If the mood strikes, you can even hop on over to the Motor City with the tunnel bus, an international public transit system that takes you from Windsor to Detroit in five minutes.

Windsor’s laid-back vibes, unique neighbourhoods and dynamic food and drink culture await you, just a 45-minute flight or 4-hour drive from Toronto.

Find out more at visitwindsoressex.com

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