What to Do in Amherstburg, Ontario: One of the Most Historic, Picturesque Towns in the Province

If you’re looking for a historic town with colourful gardens, access to a lovely waterfront, restaurants and cafes worth visiting, and no shortage of good shopping and festivals - then look no further than Amherstburg, Ontario.

The King’s Navy Yard Park (Amherstburg Navy Yard National Historic Site of Canada)

If there’s one thing I love, it’s the opportunity to better explore quaint Ontario towns. Many longtime readers will know that I moved back to this province in 2017, and since then I’ve been in full exploration mode, intensely focused on seeing all that Ontario travel has to offer.

What I love most about exploring this province is that there’s always another chapter to read, always another place to explore. Sometimes, I think we forget that Ontario is actually bigger than France and Spain combined!

I’ve spent a fair bit of time making trips back and forth to Southwestern Ontario, visiting places like Kingsville and Port Stanley, and yet somehow, until now, I hadn’t visited Amherstburg. The moment I arrived in the town I knew this article was an inevitability, so I got to work researching and exploring, and here we are.

I want to share what to do in Amherstburg for your visit, so you can make the most of your time in what can only be described as an absolute hidden gem in the region of Windsor Essex Pelee Island.

What to Know About Amherstburg

Amherstburg in a small, picturesque town of about 25 thousand people that’s located near the mouth of the Detroit River in Essex County. Technically, that population number includes a number of villages, hamlets and other communities that are all placed under the umbrella of “Amherstburg.”

Its story began all the way back in 1796 with the construction of Fort Malden. At that time, it was actually called Fort Amherstburg, and it was a defence fortification built by Britain to prevent against the threat of American invasion.

Growth quickened in the area when the Crown began granting land around here to Loyalists, and these folks got to work establishing what we now know as Amherstberg’s historic character.

In the time of the Underground Railroad (the largest anti-slavery freedom movement in North America), the town was an entry point into Canada for those looking to cross over from Detroit, since the city is only about 25 kilometres from Amherstberg. The town is apparently mentioned as the entry point in Canada for characters George and Eliza in the famed novel Uncle Tom’s Cabin.

It was fully recognized as a town in 1878, and thankfully for all of us, it’s been able to maintain its charm and preserve its story for us to appreciate and comprehend in the present day. I hate to use cliches, but this really is a town unlike any other here in Ontario.

As they note on their site:

“Visitors can look forward to warm hospitality delivered by a community that’s proud of the Town’s authentic history.”

The Top Things to Do in Amherstburg, Ontario

For a town its size, Amherstburg really does hit above its weight. It’s the perfect spot to visit and spend a day exploring if you live anywhere nearby, though if you live a fair distance away, like I do, you should consider spending the night, or perhaps even the weekend where you can use the town as your base to explore the region.

It’s an awfully lovely place to wake up, I can tell you that much.

Stroll Around the King’s Navy Yard Park

Amherstburg is a gorgeous little town, and perusing the King’s Navy Yard Park was probably my favourite thing to do in Amherstburg. The park isn’t just named as a nod to the town’s naval history, it really was once the King’s Naval Yard where a handful of tall ships were made.

Nowadays, you’ll find stunning flower arrangements, cannons, gazebos, and statues which commemorate a different time. If the weather is nice, take your time here and soak this all in. I spent some time here, went and had dinner, then actually came back for sunset over the Detroit River.

Visit the Amherstburg Freedom Museum

The first thing that I’ll mention here is that visits and tours must be pre-booked, and you can do that by calling +1-519-736-5433.

The Amherstburg Freedom Museum (previously known as the “North American Black Historical Museum”) is a community based, non-profit museum that aims to tell the story of the history and contributions of African-Canadians. They do this through preserving and presenting artifacts that are meant to educate and inspire visitors.

As the museum has said, “the location of the Museum is key; Amherstburg meant freedom, as the Canadian destination for many Freedom Seekers escaping slavery in the United States.”

Explore the Fort Malden National Historic Site

Fort Malden is a national historic site for several reasons, but largely the important role that it played in both the War of 1812 and the Rebellion of 1837. As a visitor, you can tour the fort, talk to costumed interpreters, and most popular of all, check out a musket demonstration, which is free with the price of admission, and (weather allowing) tends to happen every hour on the hour.

This is the site to head to if you want a deeper understanding of Canada’s early military history - a history that is inexplicably tethered to Amherstburg, I might add.

Take Part in the Self-Guided Olde Amherstburg Ghost Tour

This is a neat initiative that Amhersburg has created using the “ON-FOOT” mobile app. It’s totally free, by the way, and offered in English and French.

The tour features “13+ ghostly stories with haunting illustrations by Nick Marinkovich, more than 30 historical reference photos, and 360 degree photography of building interiors.” The stories centre around haunted museums, the history of rum running, and of course, a naval battle or two.

For families, just note that they mention this may be best enjoyed by those who are 12+. I’m not big into the whole haunted tourism side of things, but I will absolutely give kudos to a destination that’s trying to do something a little different. It’s supposed to be a pretty cool experience!

Check Out the Park House Museum

If you’re walking around downtown Amherstburg, you won’t be able to miss the Park House Museum, which sits right on Dalhousie Street. It’s a home from the 1700s that’s been restored in the style of the 1850s, and it’s main purpose is to tell the story of a well to-do family and showcase what life would have been like back then.

It’s a treasure trove of antique goods, some of which were even featured on the TV series Alias Grace, which you may know was based on the novels from Margaret Atwood.

As the Park House Museum is noted as saying, there’s “over 200 years of history to explore,” and it’s “a great discovery for all ages.”

Grab a Bite to Eat in Amherstburg

Since I was staying above The Salty Dog, that was a perfect spot to grab a bite. I thought the meal was excellent (I had the Lobster Mac & Cheese and it was out of this world), the local beer selection was solid, the vibe was fun, and the service was terrific. It’s basically an upscale pub, but they’ve got a menu that they’ve done a good job putting their own twist on.

After dinner, it was on to Nuccelli’s Frozen Yogurt because who doesn’t love frozen yogurt?! I should note that they also do soft serve ice cream, and some mighty delicious looking milkshakes, smoothies and root beer floats. They’ve been around for about 35 years so far, and are a staple in Amherstburg. I don’t know how they make their treats look so photogenic (especially the soft serve), but it’s working!

In the morning, I’d urge you to grab a fantastic cup of coffee (or whatever other beverage gets you going in the morning) at Caffiene & Co. They’ve managed to put together a very Instagram friendly environment for those who love a seriously aesthetically pleasing interior. They do both sweet and savoury well, but I personally was just very happy with their Breakfast Sandwich, and a full bodied cup of java.

Other well known spots in the town include Riccardo’s Italian Restaurant, Waterfront Ice Cream & Frozen Yogurt, Burger 67, and Downtown Espresso Café.

Pop by the Gibson Art Gallery

The Gibson Art Gallery calls the former historic railway station (from 1896) home, and that alone is enough to make visiting worth it. You can head to their homepage to look at what exhibits they have going on. The Gallery Board is actually called the Fort Malden Guild of Arts and Crafts and they work in partnership with the Ontario Trillium Foundation to both help maintain and restore their gallery building, as well as put eyes on local artists.

The Gibson Art Gallery is open to the public totally free of charge, and is operated and maintained by a long list of volunteers, as well as gallery members.

They’re located in the heart of downtown, a half a block east of Sandwich and Richmond Street, respectively.

Take Note of Upcoming Festivals and Events

I swear, there’s always something going on in Amherstburg. Whether it’s celebrating Canada Day, an ongoing Community Mosaic Mural Project, Open Air Weekends, or an Ameherstburg Sightseeing Cruise, there’s a little something for everyone.

The best thing to do is to check out their events page before your visit and then you can see if there’s anything that catches your eye.

As with many Ontario towns, a fair portion of the events and festivals (well, at least outdoor festivals) are taking place during the warmer months, and will typically fall between the May - September range.

Spend the Night at the Navy Yard Flats

The Navy Yard Flats are situated right in the heart of Amherstburg. They’re two sizeable apartments located above The Salty Dog (a restaurant noted above), and they’ve got everything you need. My flat was decorated with photos that celebrated Amhersburg’s rich history, so it was fun because I’d come in from a walk in town, but still feel like I was a part of the whole environment even in my flat.

I was staying in Suite A which is described on their site as a “comfortable living space with a dining area right next to the fully outfitted kitchen, master bedroom with bathroom ensuite, a convenient 2nd full bath and a work space that’s easily converted to a double bed.

This Historic Ontario Town Awaits

Amherstburg is wonderful on its own, but it can also easily be tethered to a visit of a local winery (EPIC Wine Country is nearby), or even a visit to Windsor, a city which I’ve grown to love over the past few years, especially once I dove into its restaurant scene a little more carefully, and checked out areas such as Walkerville and Ford City.

All I can say is that the moment I stepped in Amherstburg, I immediately wondered why I hadn’t been there sooner, and, suffice to say, I certainly intend to go back again.

We want to humbly thank Tourism Windsor Essex Pelee Island for hosting us as media. All opinions are completely our own.

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