Introducing Pelee Island
Dead-flat and as southerly as Canada gets, Pelee Island (pronounced ‘Pee-lee, ’ from the French pelée, meaning bare) is a chilled-out oasis adrift in Lake Erie some 20km from the mainland. Covered in ridiculously green fields and outlined by sandy beaches, Pelee is one of southwestern Ontario’s major drawcards.
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The island’s settled history arcs back to 1788 when the Ojibwe and Ottawa nations leased it to Thomas McKee. It remained largely undeveloped until William McCormick bought it in 1823. By 1900 Pelee had 800 residents, four churches and four schools. These days there are just 275 residents and life revolves around tourism, but nothing is overly pricey, snobby, hurried or harried – perfect for a weekend of doing not much at all.
Last updated: Feb 17, 2009
Thorn Tree forum discussion
Recent posts
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RE: Road trip around Ontario
by dynamike28 22 February 2011
I'd personally go for trip 2. Although manitoulin island is nice, getting to and from are pretty boring drives and are going to eat up…
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RE: Toronto to Chicago
by SuzanneSchuelke 01 August 2010
It is certainly completely up to the OP - but he really has two days for exploring (since the actual trip is a day). I just think that…
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RE: Toronto to Chicago
by SuzanneSchuelke 01 August 2010
Oh, I love Pelee Island and try to spend a day bicycling there every summer, but it is an hour and a half ferry trip in both directions…
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