A Summer Escape to Amherstburg: Lake Erie Beaches, Historical Landmarks, and Scenic Walks

The location of Amherstburg is part of its summer destination draw. Not only is Amherstburg considerably far south for any Canadian city or town, but it is also at the mouth of the Detroit River at Lake Erie.

Credit: VisitAmherstburg

From this come activities on the waters, excellent views and photography, and a considerable amount of significant Canadian history.

Amherstburg offers ways to explore various events, people, and places from history, including those of the War of 1812, the Upper Canadian Rebellion, and the Underground Railroad.

Luckily, a place with so many things to do and explore offers many great places to stay from the locals.

Beach &Water Fun in Amherstburg

There are many great places in Amherstburg to appreciate the waterfront views of the Detroit River. And travel a short distance south to enjoy even more shorelines, but from Lake Erie. To the south of Amherstburg are two Conservation areas which offer great views, and one which offers a beach on Lake Erie. There are other ways to get on these waters as well, with options for guided or self-guided boat adventures.

The nearby Holiday Beach Conservation Area, south of Amherstburg, offers several different activities for all ages, including swimming and relaxing on the long sandy beach. The park provides everything required for a perfect beach day: washrooms and changerooms, showers, a playground, picnic tables, a boardwalk trail, and an observation tower.
Windsor Premier Cruises operates a variety of tour types between Windsor and Amherstburg. Their signature Amherstburg cruise is a 2-hour sightseeing trip on the Detroit River.

Take on a self-guided or guided adventure on the Canard River north of town with the River Canard Canoe Co. They offer watercraft rentals, with a canoe that can fit up to 15 people, and guided river tours.

Historical & Cultural Attractions

Amherstburg was originally settled as Fort Malden, a settlement which dates back over 200 years! There is no doubt that the entire town offers rich historical experiences, even from a simple walk through downtown.

Learn about the town’s connection to the Underground Railroad through exhibits, events, and workshops from the Amherstburg Freedom Museum.

Amherstburg Navy Yard National Historic Site of Canada is a large riverfront park steeped in history and decorated with award-winning gardens. The public park is free to enter, with trails leading through the gardens, around historic sites and plaques, and to the river. Directly beside the Navy Yard is the Park House Museum, which offers summer and custom tours.
Fort Malden National Historic Site in Amherstburg sits on what was a battlefront for the British side in the War of 1812. It is an excellent place to learn about military history. The Site hosts guided tours, events, musket demonstrations, and many other learning ways.
The Olde Amherstburg Ghost Tour gives your local touring a unique spin. Take the virtual tour around town to learn of some darker local history. Virtual tours are offered through the On-Foot City Tours app.

Nature Spaces and the Best Trails Around Amherstburg

The trails within and around Amherstburg are great for hikers and cyclists alike, with in-town and paved options, waterfront or conservation areas, forested trails, and wetland hikes. Each trail offers its own features like different birds or wildlife to watch for, various scenery, and overall length or difficulty.

Holiday Beach Conservation Area is one of the top birding hotspots in Canada. Each September, thousands of hawks, vultures, eagles, falcons, and other birds of prey gather here before crossing the Detroit River to their winter destinations in the south, making it a globally significant birdwatching spot.
Big Creek Conservation Area is adjacent to and part of the same Important Bird Area as Holiday Beach on the Lake Erie shores. Follow the trails as you make your way through the park’s Heritage Forest and toward the Big Creek.
Follow the looping trail behind the Libro Credit Union Centre to find a quiet wooded area next to the Big Creek but a bit closer to Amherstburg.
A linear trail for hikers and bikers connects Amherstburg with Essex to the east. In total, the trail is about 45km long; choose any length for an out-and-back hike through wooded areas, wetland areas, fields, and farmland.
Keep your walking or cycling within town via the Amherstburg Heritage Waterfront Trail. Follow Dalhousie Street North to view the historic buildings of Amherstburg before reaching the waterfront trail system around Navy Yard Park.

Summer Dining In Amherstburg

Many dining in Amherstburg is central to Dalhousie Street and the smaller connected streets. Many of these different options for dinner, dessert, snacks, or morning coffee are within walking distance of other local attractions, too.

You will find numerous options around Dalhousie Street for patio seats. Choose between local spots like The Salty Dog, Riccardo’s Italian Restaurant, Pepper Cat, or Artisan Grill.

Stock up on cold treats or fresh baked sweets from Flow Café & Bikes, Waterfront Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt, Caffeine & Co., or Downtown Espresso Cafe.
Amherstburg is home to a few notable takeout places for something on the go: try Naples Pizza, Royal Sushi House, Bull’s Eye Pizza, or beers to go from Lot10 Brewery.

Summer Events & Festivals

Essex Region Conservation

No matter which weekend during the summer you plan to visit Amherstburg, there will be a town-wide event! This could be an annual festival, a weekly concert or market, annual markets, stuff for car lovers, stuff for animal lovers, and a festival for the foodies.

Open Air Weekends in downtown Amherstburg occur every summer weekend. The weekend starts with the Open Air Night Market on Friday evening and a weekend market. The event will feature live entertainment throughout downtown, including the Bagpipe Parade. There are also several outdoor games set up throughout downtown, and many food or drink vendors on site.
And no problem for those who can’t make the Friday Marke,t as the Amherstburg Saturday Farmers’ Market is held every weekend from spring to fall.
Visit earlier in the summer for the Amherstburg RibFest or WoofaRoo Pet Festival.
The Amherstburg Art Crawl takes place in mid-July and gets festivalgoers enjoying local art in a number of ways over two days. Later in July is the Gone Crazy Car Show, which features an impressive display of classic vehicles.

Art by the River takes place each August at the Fort Malden National Historic Site, and there are two days to browse, enjoy, appreciate, or shop for local art.

Also hosted at the Fort is the Living History Festival in August, which has reenactments, demonstrations, live music, talks, and more.
Visit in September for the annual Festival of Hawks and Amherstburg Uncommon, one of the most imaginative festivals in Southwest Ontario.

Where to Stay in Amherstburg

Visitors can choose between a huge array of private rental options.

Use Airbnb, VRBO, or Hipcamp, for example, to find several ways to stay. The camping options bring your stay away from Amherstburg and the river and into the wooded areas of southwestern Ontario.
The private vacation rentals include anything from a tiny home cabin or cottage to large homes, apartments, boutique hotel rooms, and mansions.