Geography buffs will appreciate this one.
Tournament waters for the YETI Bassmaster Elite on Lake St. Clair include the portion of the Detroit River above the Ambassador Bridge, which connects Downtown Detroit with its southern neighbor — Windsor, Ontario.
“Screeeech” go the mental tires.
If you gave the word “southern” a double-take, it’s understandable. Canada’s north of the U.S., right?
It is — most of it.
The County Seat of Essex County, Windsor’s unique because it’s located at the tip of the Ontario Peninsula, which tucks below Lake St. Clair and borders the Detroit River. Standing at the peninsula’s northwest corner, Windsor is the only border crossing where entering the U.S. mainland from Canada requires northward travel.
Options include the Ambassador Bridge — the busiest international crossing, which carries 27 percent of the U.S.-Canadian trade — or the Windsor-Detroit Tunnel (the world’s only international subaqueous auto tunnel.)
COVID-19 restrictions currently have Canadian borders closed, but when international travel resumes, Windsor offers many interesting sites.
Coventry Gardens: Opulent floral designs provide a beautiful backdrop for the Charlie Brooks Memorial Peace Fountain — the world’s only international floating fountain, located in the Detroit River. With 67 nozzles shooting 15,000 gallons of water a minute as high as 70 feet, the fountain’s nighttime illumination is one of Windsor’s top attractions.
Windsor Sculpture Park: More than 30 large-scale contemporary sculptures enliven the waterfront. Among them Tohawah (twin 38-foot-tall swans), Tembo (family of bronze elephants), Inukshuk (traditional Inuit form of balanced stones symbolizing safe tundra routes).
Freedom Tower: Standing in the Civic Esplanade, monument honors the Underground Railroad and those who assisted southern slaves seeking freedom in Canada.
Willistead Manor: Steeped in elegance with exquisite furnishings, the 16th Century Tudor-Jacobean style English manor house was built in 1904 by Edward Chandler Walker — son of Hiram Walker, who founded the famous distillery located in Windsor.
Bert Weeks Memorial Gardens: Honoring the city’s former mayor, the site’s centerpiece is a magnificent fountain and reflecting pool.
The Spirit of Windsor – Engine No.5588, a Pacific Type 4-6-2 steam locomotive that once served southern Ontario’s passenger and freight needs, now stands in Dieppe Gardens, along Riverside Drive.
Queen Elizabeth Sunken Gardens: Located in Jackson Park, a rose garden complements a memorial to Canada’s WWII veterans.
Caesars Windsor Casino: Windsor’s only casino sits along the waterfront overlooking Detroit.
Amherstburg: About 18 miles south of Windsor, this riverfront town holds picturesque parks, a charming downtown and historical military elements such as the Fort Malden (National Historic site) and Kings Navy Yard.
English is the primary language for most of Essex County, but you’ll also hear French. No matter how you say it, though, Windsor, Ontario is one of those cool places worth a visit someday.
