A middle-sized city opposite Detroit, Windsor is a historical and cultural hub sitting right along the Detroit River.
Located in southern Ontario, the city is filled with historical architecture, towers, and residents belonging to different cultures.
Home to the famous University of Windsor, the city also has a large student population, which gives it a vibrant and youthful touch.
It is actually surprising to get to know that a city of this size offers such a wide range of enjoyable activities.
The city also has many parks and lush green spaces that make it a very refreshing place to be.
A trip to Ontario will surely be more than enough to recharge your weary soul.
By the end of your visit, you’ll be itching to come back for more.
Are you ready to start planning your trip to this charming destination?
These are the best things to do in Windsor, Canada:
Cosmin Nahaiciuc / Shutterstock.com
The city of Windsor is quite abundant when it comes to the number of historically significant buildings and sites.
Due to its long history, Windsor offers you plenty of opportunities to experience the glory of its past while visiting the city at present.
One of the most important historical sites in the city is Willistead Manor.
It is a vast 36-room mansion that was designed by famous architect Albert Kahn.
The mansion is designed in the Jacobean style and is located in the middle of a very scenic park.
Another such place in the city is the Maison François Baby House, which also happens to be the home of Windsors Community Museum.
Established by railroad refugees, the Sandwich First Baptist Church is also a famous historical monument in the city that you should definitely visit.
alisafarov / Shutterstock.com
The city of Windsor offers plenty of opportunities for visitors to try their luck and enjoy games at various casinos.
Caesars Windsor is one of the city’s most famous casinos.
It is located at a very beautiful location that overlooks the waterfront of the Detroit River.
The casino serves an average of six million visitors each year.
Darlene Munro / Shutterstock.com
The interior of the place is inspired by the Roman Empire.
Amid its beautiful interiors, the casino houses a number of game tables like poker tables, baccarat tables, blackjack tables, and craps tables.
Caesars Windsor is quite famous for gambling, but if you do not want to gamble, you can also bet on other games at the sports bar.
These bets are placed on professional and college games like basketball and football.
marekuliasz / Shutterstock.com
Windsor is a very beautiful city, and going for a bike ride is the best way to explore it in its entirety.
The city has a large number of trails that are ideal for biking.
The most famous of these trails is the Roy A. Battagello Riverwalk Bike Trail.
This famous trail extends for over eight kilometers and covers major areas of the city, including the downtown and famous parks like Dieppe Gardens and the Windsor Sculpture Park.
The Roy A. Battagello Riverwalk Bike Trail is also well-connected with other trails.
What makes this particular trail more famous among visitors is that it is properly maintained and has five service spots where riders can stop and get their bicycles repaired.
The trail also offers stunning views of the river and the skyline.
It’s a perfect place for enjoying some time away from one’s busy schedule.
ohcuma.chengi, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The city of Windsor is quite famous for its artistic attractions.
In this regard, the most popular attraction in the city is the Windsor Sculpture Park, which houses 35 sculptures in one beautiful place.
Roxana Gonzalez / Shutterstock.com
For exploring some art indoors, you can always head to the Art Gallery of Windsor, which is also a famous historical place in the city that was founded in 1943.
The gallery is renowned for exhibiting some of the best collections of Canadian art, along with works by international artists.
Be it indoors or the outdoors, one thing that remains constant is that Windsor is home to an uninterrupted supply of beautiful works of art.
Roxana Gonzalez / Shutterstock.com
Adventure Bay Family Water Park is a perfect place to enjoy summertime in a splash zone.
This water park is spread over more than 10,000 square meters and is open throughout the year.
It has a total number of five slides, a wave pool, a surfing simulator, and a small river.
Apart from the water areas, the park also has some dry areas where kids can play.
The park’s most famous water slides are the Python for adults and the Tot Loch for the young ones.
There are also food stands where you can grab some refreshing beverages and food items.
Marina Klim / Shutterstock.com
The city of Windsor has a few famous gardens that are renowned around the world.
The most famous of these gardens is Coventry Gardens, which was established in 1931 and has been attracting tourists ever since.
This garden is spread over an area of 28,000 square meters and faces the riverfront.
jshutterbug92 / Shutterstock.com
Another famous garden is Dieppe Gardens, which is a perfect place for casual walking and jogging.
The garden has beautiful flowers and greenery all around.
Bert Weeks Memorial Gardens is famous for its curved waterfall and reflecting pool, which are both perfect for enjoying the cool and refreshing water during the summer season.
Although Windsor is not situated near the ocean, it does have a beach.
The famous Sandpoint Beach is the only beach in Windsor and gets its water from the Detroit River.
The beach is also known as Stop 26 and is open only during the summer season.
Along with the beach, the property also has a beautiful park that is suitable for sunbathing, family picnics, and casual relaxation.
While on the beach, you can enjoy activities like surfing, boarding, swimming, and more.
The beach also has volleyball courts and barbeque areas where you can enjoy some fun activities.
The beach has some stands where you can grab your favorite ice cream and walk along the beach while enjoying a cool breeze.
Ojibway Prairie Complex is one place in the city that is perfect for spending some time with nature.
The entire property is spread over 350 hectares and has some parks, nature trails, and a reserve.
The property has five parks in total, the most famous of which are Black Oak Heritage Park, Ojibway Park, and the Ojibway Nature Center.
The place offers many educational programs and exhibitions in order to make the visitors familiar with the wildlife in the area.
This complex is an excellent place to explore wildlife varieties like lizards, bats, frogs, snakes, and turtles.
Ojibway Prairie Complex is also suitable for birdwatching, as there is a large variety of birds around the ponds and forest.
The city has a lot of places that are ideal for exploring on foot.
Ford City is one such place that started as a French community but now has some iconic buildings that attract a large number of visitors.
The Canadian motor company Ford set up this community in the city.
Most of the buildings were built by immigrants using their local architectural techniques.
Some iconic buildings are Byzantine-style churches, murals, and Edgemere.
All these places offer detailed knowledge about the workers who came from different locations around the world to work in the motor company.
Windsor is a city that is very rich when it comes to culture and tradition.
In order to keep its old cultures alive, the city organizes a lot of special events and festivals.
While some festivals are conducted in partnership with Detroit, some are organized entirely by the authorities of Windsor.
The Windsor-Detroit International Freedom Festival is the most famous and largest of all the city’s festivals.
This event is organized every July and displays the biggest fireworks around the world.
Another famous event is the Bluesfest Windsor, a popular music festival that takes place every July.
The Detroit Windsor International Film Festival is a festival organized to recognize the cinema and film industry in Canada.
All these festivals will make you feel more alive than usual and will fill you up with love, excitement, and entertainment.
sarah Tee / Shutterstock.com
Windsor is a great city when it comes to golfing.
The city has a couple of golf courses that are great for enjoying this sport.
Roseland Golf Course, which originally opened as a heritage site, is Windsor’s oldest and most famous golf course.
This golf course has organized various international and local golf tournaments.
In contrast, the 18-hole Ambassador Golf Club by Thomas McBroom is the city’s newest golf course.
It welcomes everyone from the local public to enjoy the sport.
Andrea_44 from Leamington, Ontario , Canada, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The completely uninhabited Peche Island is spread over an area of 36 hectares on the Detroit River.
It is quite remote and can only be reached using a boat, canoe, or kayak.
Nicholas Worden / Shutterstock.com
The island has few beaches, picnic areas, and trails.
If you want to get away from the city rush and enjoy some peaceful time, this island is definitely worth checking out.
JL IMAGES / Shutterstock.com
The famous University of Windsor was established in 1857, but not as an educational institution.
It was initially established as a theological institution with great architecture and far-reaching grounds.
However, at present, the university covers 51 hectares of land dedicated to imparting education.
Mikerussell at the English-language Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The University of Windsor’s campus is quite beautiful and is loaded with lush green gardens, a riverside promenade, and some really beautiful and artistic buildings.
Dillon Hall is the oldest of all the buildings on campus.
The other buildings that attract visitors to the campus are Lambton Tower, Memorial Hall, and Odette Building.
The university campus is definitely worth a visit if you want to get an insight into the educational system in Windsor.
I, Mikerussell, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Windsor is a shopper’s paradise as it is located on the borders.
The city has a number of duty-free shops, shopping malls, and specialty stores that are more than enough to attract shopping buffs to the city.
Devonshire Mall is the perfect place for all those looking for trendy and fashionable items.
Windsor Crossing Premium Outlets is also a good place for getting your hands on fashionable and classy items.
FILMME / Shutterstock.com
Poutine is a famous and iconic snack that is a specialty in Canada.
These are basically French fries served with cheese curd and various gravies.
This is one particular food item that is equally popular among all Canadians.
So if you are in Windsor, you should not consider your trip complete unless you have gotten to try poutine.
jie tang / Shutterstock.com
In 1929, the Ambassador Bridge was completed to be the perfect gateway between Michigan, Detroit, and Windsor, Ontario.
The structure is an international crossing that spans the Detroit River.
It moves over 25% of all the goods traded between Canada and the United States by value.
Due to its strategic location, the Ambassador Bridge currently carries 60 to 70% of commercial traffic that travels in the region.
This engineering marvel spans the Detroit River and measures 7,500 feet in length.
JL IMAGES / Shutterstock.com
If you and your family want to take a ride on scooters across the bridge, you can rent them and drive by Detroit Lake.
In addition to seeing some unique sculptures around the park at night, you can also see the breathtaking view of Detroit’s city lights.
The architecture is stunning and often provides great opportunities for wonderful sunset photos.
If you’re visiting Windsor, don’t miss taking a walk along the Riverfront Trail and breathing in the sights and sounds around you.
JHVEPhoto / Shutterstock.com
Jackson Park is home to over 10,000 plants and a perennial flower display that begins every June.
The Queen Elizabeth II Sunken Garden’s is home to some of the loveliest flowerbeds in all of southern Ontario.
In May, you can enjoy hundreds of tulips and other spring flowers.
Formal gardens are also featured here, making this space a very popular destination among people from all over Southwestern Ontario.
Jackson Park is not only an excellent attraction for families in general, but it’s also one of the city’s top sports venues.
Not only does the park house the Windsor Lawn Bowling Club, but it also has an array of state-of-the-art play units to keep kids occupied, along with five ball diamonds and soccer fields.
With an incredible lineup of big-name and up-and-coming acts, the Chrysler Theatre is the ideal destination for you and your family.
A night of great music, comedy, theater, and kid-friendly entertainment awaits you at the Chrysler Theatre.
This theater has had the likes of Norm Macdonald, Rick Mercer, and Whose Live Anyway? grace its stage with their comedic talent.
World-famous kids’ music group The Wiggles has also performed at the Chrysler Theatre.
Moreover, popular kids’ shows like Bubble Guppies also come out of this venue frequently.
The Chrysler Theatre has been an active hub for local theater, dance, comedy, and music for many years.
Locals come here to enjoy the great performances on offer, including Windsor Light Music Theatre, which produces entertaining musicals for all ages.
Those who enjoy dance can attend GoldHaus Productions to see some of the best performers from around the world.
For those whose tastes lie somewhere else entirely, be sure to check out Dance Barre, where you can see some of Windsor’s best dancers get creative with ballet, jazz, and modern dance.
Windsor may not be a major tourist destination, but it’s certainly no backwater!
This city happens to be a sight in itself, and there are many destinations you may want to visit.
Locals and tourists alike flock to the city to see everything it has to offer: one of the top museums in Ontario, stunning nature trails, and a theater that hosts some of the most exciting live performances.
This Canadian city has many things to offer that are just waiting to be added to your travel bucket list!
Discover the world.
© All rights reserved.
