Stay & Play

Stay and Play on Pelee Island: The Wandering Dog Inn

Article and photography by Jennifer Merrick

“If it’s less you’re after we have more of it,” said Cathy Miller, owner of The Wandering Dog Inn, Canada’s most southern inn on Pelee Island.

Living simply and in nature, Cathy continued, is what many islanders value, and she remarked on the changes she sees in people when they visit the island.

“When they arrive, you can see the stress here,” she said, pointing to her shoulders. “And they’re not really sure what to expect and what they should be doing.” But it doesn’t take long before they start to relax and adapt to the island’s slower pace.

“It a very free-form life here.”

There was no wi-fi on the premises, but instead, the spacious property had hammocks, a fire pit and porches to hang out on. It was just what our family needed after a spring stuck mostly indoors and getting ready for our oldest to leave the nest. Without internet, we took advantage of the games and decks of cards in the rooms for family time, ate s’mores around the fire and explored the island itself.

The inn offers nine rooms with varying amenities. The Main House is a 125-year-old farmhouse with an open air veranda and 4 rooms upstairs that accommodate to 2 adults per room with 2 full bathrooms upstairs and 2 bathrooms downstairs. A common area offers board games, a small lending library and community fridge. Five private suites located at the back of the property have private entrances and offer king and queen beds with private bathrooms, screened porches, charcoal grills, bar fridges, microwaves and hammocks.

About Pelee Island:

Located on the 42nd parallel, the same latitude as Rome and Barcelona, you simply can’t go any farther south in Canada than this beautiful island. Its southern clime not only means the longest frost-free season in the province but also unique flora and fauna like the prickly pear cactus, native coffee trees and the rare blue racer snake. Bird watchers flock here in spring to spot the more than 350 specimens that stop here on their migration south. Seeing some of the bright, feathered friends on our summer visit during our island wanderings was a definite highlight.

We rented bikes at Comfortech and peddled along the scenic shoreline of Lake Erie as well as through the Carolinian forest. A hike at Fish Point Nature Reserve showcased some of the island’s botanical riches and led down to its southernmost point, where our cell phones beeped, incorrectly informing us we were in the US. We also rambled at the opposite end of the 42-km² island at Lighthouse Point. The restored 1833 watchtower stood stoically on the natural beach strewn with white, sun-bleached driftwood. Even at one of the island’s most popular spots, we saw very few people. Our favourite moment, though, was just walking at sunset along an unnamed beach near our B & B. Clamouring the rocks and sinking our toes into sand, I felt grateful for the chance to be with my family in these peaceful, natural surroundings.

www.thewanderingdoginn.com
www.ontariossouthwest.com