I’m going to Detroit for a business trip. I have a free day, and I’d like to visit my esteemed “Neighbors to the North”. I’ve been to Windsor, but I think I’d like to make further inroads - within limits, since I only have a day, so say 10-12 hours.
If I rent a car, are there any neat towns or cities within a couple of hours of the Detroit/Windsor border? Any sight-seeing venues that I should know about?
Although, if I rent a car, am I going to be terrified to drive? Are the road rules significantly different? Will I be confused by different signs (i.e. is there a universal “stop” symbol) or crazy drivers?
Rules of the road are pretty much the same, except speed limits are in kilometres per hour. Major highways are generally 100 km/h, which is about 62 MPH. Within two hours drive of Windsor is London, Ontario, a small city of about 300,000. Another couple of hours north-east is Toronto. South-western Ontario (i.e. closer to Windsor than Toronto) has dozens of interesting places to visit. MapQuest is probably your best bet for directions to specific destinations.
I suspect you don’t go on business trips packing, but remember that you can’t bring handguns into Canada, and weapons of any type are a bad idea.
Yeah, but “Neighbors to the North, except in this case, the South” just didn’t have the same ring to it.
Thanks for the advice. I found some larger US/Canada maps, but pretty much all they listed were Windsor and Toronto (a bit far for a one day trip). I’ll go download a map of SW Ontario and see what I can find. London sounds like a definite possibility. I’m not looking for a huge touristy visit - just want to drive around and experience Canada a bit!
Things to try while in Canada - Canadian chocolate, buttertarts (just about any bakery should have these - they’re very common), Maple Leaf meat products, any fast food restaurant (we have stricter controls on food here - i.e. nothing but meat in a hamburger patty), poutine, cheese curds, maple syrup (NOT maple-flavoured syrup - two completely different things) and, of course, Canadian beer.
Watch out for any iced tea you may order, though - in my vast experience, it seems we do iced tea differently than any place in America. Which seems ridiculous (how different can it be?), but any visitors we had from the States complained long and loudly about our iced tea here, and that was all they seemed to drink.
Any Kitchenerites out there? Will she be close enough and at the right time for your famous Oktoberfest?
Pelee National Park is the southern-most point of the Canadian “mainland”; Pelee Island in Lake Erie is the most southern point
You didn’t say when you’re coming, but if you like theatre, Stratford Festival runs into early November. Stratford is about a three to four hour trip from Windsor. They have both matinees and evening performances (although the matinees this time of year will be largely attended by school-groups)
After Windsor, the next major city is London, which is about two hours from Windsor. If you go to London, eat at Fellini Koolini’s
If you want a real slice of Candianna, check out an Ontario Hockey League game. This is the highest level of under-21 “amateurs” (in quotes, because several of the players have been signed to the NHL, but didn’t make the team, so they’re sent back to this league). There’s teams in Windsor, London, and Sarnia
Given the time of year, it would be great if you could see the maple leaves in full colour, but I’m not sure of any large tracts of hardwood in that area. The only spot I know about is about 4 hours northeast, in the Beaver Valley, which is the area I’m from. Gorgeous, but a long drive.
KimKat is from the Windsor area. Hopefully she’ll check this thread out an add her thoughts.
I don’t know when deborak will be in the area, but Kitchener is about 3.5 - 4 hours from Detroit. Oktoberfest runs from Oct 11 - Oct 19 (or maybe Oct 20, I’m not sure). Lots of German food, music and beer. The parade is on Oct 14.
If you are in Canada on the 14th, you should know that it is the Canadian Thanksgiving on that day, so you’ll probably find most things closed. As for the driving, as others have said the big difference is that speed is measured in kilometres/hour not miles/hour, and all distances are posted in km as well. As Cerowyn mentioned, the speed limit on major highways is 100 km/h, but on the 401 at least, most people drive faster than that. If you stick to 110 or less, the police don’t usually take much interest.
You’ll probably get a better rate if you convert American money to Canadian at a bank. Most stores will take American money directly, but I don’t know what kind of exchange rate you’ll get. Enjoy your trip!
The north shore of Erie from Amherstburg to Port Stanley makes for fine motoring if you drop in on the ports and the points along the way. Quite lovely in the fall.
Thanks, all! My free day is Oct. 20, so I’ll just miss Oktoberfest, dang it! But at least now I can formulate some sort of semi-intelligent game plan. I’m sure whatever I do, I will have a lovely time, and get that “foreign country” excitement as well.
