Pelee Island

Pelee Island sits in Lake Erie at about forty-one degrees seven minutes north, further south than northern California and the northern border of Spain, which gives it the longest frost-free season in Ontario; Vin Villa was founded here in 1866 and was one of Canada's first commercial wineries, and grapes are still the island's main crop. The southern latitude also produces a Carolinian ecology with species found nowhere else in Canada, and the island is a critical stopover for migrating songbirds crossing the lake, with tens of thousands passing through in May. Blue racers, a rare snake, survive here in their only Canadian population.

What you actually see

• The southernmost point - the most southerly inhabited land in Canada.
• The vineyards - grapes grown since 1866 with the longest frost-free season in Ontario.
• The May migration - tens of thousands of songbirds crossing Lake Erie.
• The blue racers - a rare snake in its only Canadian population.

When to go

May for the songbird migration, which is the island's biggest draw; May to October for the wineries and cycling. The ferry runs seasonally and ice closes the crossing in winter.

Honest expectations

The ferry is seasonal, roughly April to December, and the island is served only by air in winter. Vehicle space books ahead. Services are limited and largely seasonal.

Nearby

Point Pelee is on the mainland north; Leamington is the ferry port.