Top 10 Southwestern Ontario Road Trips

Road trips are a retro family pastime that have made a comeback in the past few months. Whether you are making a long trek to an overnight destination or a day trip to a nearby town, road trips are a great way to take in all that Ontario has to offer. Here are some road trip essentials to consider before hitting the open road.

Road Trip Essentials

Check your vehicle or have it serviced before you leave to avoid an unexpected breakdown from a simple maintenance issue. Unbalanced tire pressure can make for an uneven ride and even affect gas mileage. No matter how long your road trip is, safety should always be your primary concern. Make sure you have an emergency roadside kit and first aid kit, you can either purchase a pre-packaged kit or make your own. Don’t forget your cell phone charger just in case you need to call for assistance.

Plan out your travel route, consider where all rest areas, gas stations and pull-off points are so you have enough supplies to last between stops. If your route includes a lot of back roads or rural areas, fill your gas tank as often as you can. Check the weather forecast and set up emergency weather alerts on your cell phone, so you can be prepared to pull over if necessary. Bring a spare set of car keys, just in case.

Road trips are a lot of fun, but they require a little bit of pre-planning if you want things to stay comfortable for each all the passengers. You can’t always find foods you enjoy on your journey so bring along a snack bag to get your favourite foods whenever you or your traveling brood gets hungry. Bring along a travel cooler filled with ice or ice packs to keep drinks and perishables cold.

Just because you are on the road doesn’t mean you can’t keep yourself entertained without the use of digital devices. Research different games you can play while on the road, like the alphabet game, I Spy, the license plate game or 20 questions.

So now that we’ve done all that preparation for an exciting journey let’s gas up the car, load up the family and get on the road!

1. Clovermead

Located just 20 minutes outside of London, Ontario, Family-owned Clovermead allows guests to connect with nature and moments that will help build traditions, together. The Adventure Farm has over 50 activities including an animal farm, the Bee Discovery Station with Ontario’s Largest Glass Bee Display Hive and the Honey Gift Shop, Everyone will leave pleasantly exhausted, and you’ll want to keep coming back for more!

2. Chatham-Kent Museum

The Chatham-Kent Museum houses excitement for the whole family—historic artifacts, rich local history and kids will love the interactive exhibits. Of course, you don’t want to miss the world famous Sulman mummy!

 

A mainstay popular tourist destination made up of three falls, onlookers have been coming to visit for years.The family fun never stops in Niagara Falls. The region has everything you need for the ultimate getaway! Explore Niagara year-round for awe-inspiring outdoor adventures, whether you're hiking, biking, golfing, going with the flow or looking to see one of Mother Nature’s most exquisite creations.

4. IMAZE

Thamesville Maize opened in 2001 with only a 10-acre corn maze, a corn box and the Corn Awareness Centre, today they have grown into a tourist's destination! Activities and amenities include an enormous and challenging corn maze, a -pick-pumpkin-patch with a wagon ride, a Jumbo Jumper, farm animals, mini mazes, a picnic area and much more.

5. Point Pelee Boardwalk

Whether you love to hike a wooded trail, photograph a stunning sunset, glimpse rare bird species during spring and fall migration, paddle a canoe through a wetland brimming with life, picnic on a sandy beach, be dazzled by a kaleidoscope of dragonflies, blue jays and birds of prey – Point Pelee National Park has something for every season.

 

Cambridge Butterfly Conservatory is situated on a 107 acre site which includes the environmentally sensitive Kossuth Bog, the 25,000 square foot facility includes a 10,800 square foot indoor tropical garden featuring 1000’s of free-flying butterflies from all over the world, over 100 different varieties of tropical plants, waterfalls, streams, reflecting pools, tropical finches, Chinese painted quails and red-eared slider turtles.

6. Tiffany Falls Conservation Area

The Hamilton area is home to over 100 different waterfalls. The central feature of the conservation area is two spectacular waterfalls within it, Tiffany Falls and Washboard Falls, formed by the Tiffany Creek. The bedrock exposures of the falls are considered one of the areas most beautiful natural areas to be seen. Enjoy a hike in the forest and be rewarded with the relaxing and calming sounds of the falls.

 

Doon Heritage Village is a picturesque 60-acre living history village that shows visitors what life was like in Waterloo Region in the year 1914. Although most village buildings are closed and the period dressed town greeters are not out at the moment you can still enjoy a stroll through a neighbourhood of a different time.

8. Windsor Sculpture Park

The Windsor Sculpture Park is a museum without walls, a unique park showcasing more than 31 large-scale, internationally recognized works of contemporary sculpture by world-renowned artists. It is located mainly on the shores of the Detroit River within Ambassador and Centennial Parks, between the Ambassador Bridge (Huron Church Road) and The Art Gallery of Windsor (Church Street). 

Gunn's Hill Artisan Cheese is a small artisan cheese plant nestled within the rolling hills of Gunn's Hill Rd., in Oxford County, Ontario.  The cheeses produced at Gunn's Hill Artisan Cheese are truly unique and local experience. Although you can tastethe Swiss influence from techniques and recipes owner and operator Shep Ysselstein learned from making cheese in the Swiss Alps.

10. Apple Picking

It’s apple season….so a pick-your-own apple adventure is fun for the whole family! Embrace the crisp fall air and make your way to your local orchard and discover the many varieties of apples available. One of Andrew Tepperman’s favourite fall activities with his family, he recommends rewarding your labours with hot apple cider before heading home. Here are a few local orchards to check out Thiessen Apple Orchard in Leamington. Great Lakes Farm just outside of Port Stanley, Wagner Orchards & Estate Winery in Maidstone. From picking your own apples to sweet cider, these orchards have an insta-worthy fall adventure waiting for you!

Click here to search the map for pick-you-own locations near you. 

PLEASE VISIT THE WEBSITE LINKS PROVIDED BEFORE STARTING YOUR ROAD TRIP ADVENTURE TO CONFIRM: DIRECTIONS, HOURS OF OPERATIONS AND ANY CURRENT RESTRICTIONS IN PLACE.

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