Niagara region, watch out. Windsor-Essex County is moving in on your turf as a weekend getaway.

"I think Niagara is starting to take us seriously," said Adriano Ciotoli, co-founder of WindsorEats.com, a culinary tourism website showcasing Windsor-Essex County and Pelee Island.

One of the lesser known wine regions in Ontario, Windsor-Essex County is home to 15 wineries and counting.

 

The local Amish heritage, strawberry fields and warm beaches are increasingly getting noticed by tourists.

"People often drive through when crossing the border without getting off the beaten path," said Ciotoli. "But that is certainly changing as our wines win more awards."

Growing word-of-mouth recently attracted the Bike Train, which launched its first service from Toronto to Windsor, June 17 - 20. Tickets were sold out.

The Bike Train allows bikes onboard select passenger trains to destinations across Ontario, making cycling vacations easy and affordable. Other routes include North Bay, Muskoka, Prince Edward County and the Niagara region, which is now serviced by GO Transit due to popular demand.

 

Starting in Windsor, tourists cycled along the Chrysler Canada Greenway, a 42-km cycling path starting outside of Windsor that meanders through vineyards, wood lots and ice cream stands.

"The Bike Train is an express ticket to wine, beaches, and a little exercise," said Justin Lafontaine, project director of the Bike Train, who started up the venture of installing bike racks on passenger trains and organizing cycle tours with regional partners.

He said that as a native Torontonian he was surprised by the little-known beauty of the Erie shore and its special Carolinian climate.

 

"I may even retire down here," he said.

The region's label, 'Canada's South Coast,' was a bit tongue-in-cheek for some travelers, he said, but many changed their minds after experiencing first-hand the balmy temperatures.

Near the end of the trail, tourists stayed at the Pelee Day's Inn in Leamington, which has waterslides for the kids and a saltwater pool to rest weary muscles. Guests can take their bikes into their rooms, too.

Pelee Island is a short ferry ride from town. The cottage island, which has a historic culture of settlement dating back to 1830s, enjoys an even warmer microclimate. Two wineries operate on the island. A ferry service also runs from the island to the Ohio resort town of Put-in-Bay.

A few kilometres down the road is Point Pelee National Park. The peninsula park is home to over 350 species of birds and butterflies, and plenty of wild turkeys, deer, rabbits and, yes, flying squirrels. The park is a UNESCO-designated Wetland of International Significance because of its biodiversity and migratory appeal.

The park is also one of the most photographed points in Ontario. Families, honeymooners and geography nuts all smile against the backdrop of Lake Erie, the most southern tip of Canada connected to land.

Travelers were treated to a gourmet beef tenderloin dinner in the park, courtesy of WindsorEats, as well as fiddle playing around a camp fire. Many took a dip in the lake, which is warm due to the extended shallow shore.

The following day, the tour continued along Route 50 and Route 20, which are picturesque roads that wind past secluded beaches at the end of country lanes.

 
"I was amazed. There are views along the lake that actually reminded me of the California coast," said Mark Hoel, a teacher at Upper Canada College who lived in L.A. for four years.

 

Tourists cycled to Sprucewood Shores Estate Winery for chardonnay and rose wine tasting. Bottles of wine were lovingly packed into panniers and bike baskets.

A short trip over to Tredki Acres Farm in Amherstburg allowed for organic strawberry picking and sampling of homemade strawberry punch. The gift store specializes in jams, free range eggs, honey, maple products, cheesecakes and crafts.

The most celebrated part of the weekend was a gourmet roast lamb dinner with wine tasting at Colchester Ridge Winery, sponsored by WindsorEats.

 

Sampled wines included an official white wine of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario.

 

Two more wineries are scheduled to open next year in Windsor-Essex County.

"I think people just need to know that there are other wine regions in Ontario waiting to be discovered," said Ciotoli.

WindsorEats offers Wine Trail Rides that can be purchased on-line. Tandem bicycle rides are also available for $100, including rental of the tandem bicycle. Bed and breakfast cycling packages start at $195.

The Bike Train will again be departing from Toronto for Windsor-Essex County on July 29 - August 2.