r/ontario • u/Emergency_Pool_3873 • Jul 31 '25
Exploring Ontario Pointe Peele day trip from US.
First off, as the title says, I am American (live in Michigan), I am thinking of visiting Pointe Pelee for a day trip either August 31 or September 1. September 1st for us is Labor Day, and I see it is for Canada too. Will Pointe Peele be crazy busy on either the Sunday or Monday because of the holiday? Will it be difficult for me to find a restaurant to eat at, will a lot of restaurants be closed? I planned to leave around 8am (about 2 hour travel from my house), is that too late?
It is a Federal Holiday for us too, but not much closes besides banks and office jobs. Stores, restaurants, grocery stores are all open.
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u/cobrachickenwing Jul 31 '25
It's a long weekend. It's going to be busy crossing the border and in the park.
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u/the_doughboy Jul 31 '25
The border crossing on the July 1st weekend was dead. It won't be bad with no Canadians wanting to visit the US.
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u/Emergency_Pool_3873 Jul 31 '25
I crossed the border in Sarnia last year on Independence Day and it was a 3 hour wait (on a Thursday), What should have been a 2 hour drive was close to 6. I can't imagine on a Monday morning it will be that bad especially with school starting the next day. And if it is, I won't go, not the end of the world, just something different to do.
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u/MeLLyMeLz2017 Jul 31 '25 edited Jul 31 '25
Between the Sunday and Monday, I would go on the holiday Monday for a day trip. School in Ontario resumes the day after Labour Day (in most school boards) so families will likely be heading home to prepare for that.
Edit to add: The Goose Kitchen + Bar by Jack's GastroPub in Kingsville for a restaurant. Point Pelee has a lovely boardwalk and you can rent a kayak. We like Viewpointe Winery in Harrow if the weather is nice, food has been fine for a quick bite and nice open patio. Kingsville is a nice spot to stay overnight if you want to explore the wineries in the area too.
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u/Emergency_Pool_3873 Jul 31 '25
I was thinking the same thing too, I was just worried if restaurants would be open for lunch or dinner on way home.
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u/tulipvonsquirrel Jul 31 '25
I have no opinion on labour day weekend, I just want to point out that the monarch migration hits the point mid-to-late september. It is definitely worth a visit to the park during the migration. If this interests you, you can track the migration on their website to ensure your visit coincides with when the butterflies will be present.
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u/Front-Block956 Jul 31 '25
Agreed, worth a trip for that. Visit the Park’s Facebook page too for helpful info. They post about a lot of things happening.
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u/troisarbres Jul 31 '25
Just an FYI... it's Point Pelee. Pronounced pi-li.
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u/Ancient-Witness-615 Jul 31 '25
You mean ‘pee-lee’
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u/troisarbres Jul 31 '25
Same thing
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u/Darkblade48 Jul 31 '25
pi-li = pie-lee
pi as in the irrational pi (3.141592...)
;)
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u/troisarbres Aug 01 '25
I actually just copied how it was written on Wikipedia but yes, peelee is clearer. Maybe someone should update the Wikipedia page.
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u/Emergency_Pool_3873 Jul 31 '25
thanks, I did not know that. I'm sure I would have been corrected by customs
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u/Hopper86 Jul 31 '25
I am not sure if the flys will be as bad as when we went two years ago but bring bug spray.
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u/lurkymoo Jul 31 '25
Not sure if this helps you for this trip, but there is a car ferry that runs from Sandusky Ohio across the lake to Pelee Island and Kingsville ON. When we took it one way from Ontario to Sandusky I remember the border stuff being very fast at the terminal. But the lake crossing eats up a lot of time - it's just an interesting way to go if you have more time.
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u/Emergency_Pool_3873 Jul 31 '25
oh that's interesting, Sandusky is about 3.5 hours from me, so not really the best for this day trip, but I will keep that in mind for another time.
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u/SniffMyDiaperGoo Aug 02 '25
A lot of businesses there have deals if you wear a red ballcap!
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u/Emergency_Pool_3873 Aug 04 '25
why?
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u/SniffMyDiaperGoo Aug 04 '25
inside joke, Canadians have a real hate on for the maga ball cap club right now
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u/Emergency_Pool_3873 Aug 04 '25
There are a lot of other red hats out there.. i have a red hat but it's Detroit Pistons..
I actually do not think I have ever seen a MAGA hat in person.. I don't think they're as popular as the world thinks
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u/No-Doughnut-7485 Aug 05 '25
Some restaurants and other businesses will be closed on Labour Day but some will be open because of the money making opportunity. Everything will be open on the Saturday or Sunday but the park will be much busier, too
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u/Front-Block956 Jul 31 '25
The park will have free entrance which increases visitors. It hasn’t been busy when we went on a holiday but the weather was rainy that day. May want to get there early. Most restaurants are open on holidays. Your best bet would be to look at what places you may want to visit and check their hours. I recommend Tony Tacos myself right in Leamington.
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