The Hub June 2015 | Page 8

Angelica Haggert While Mom might be my best friend, Dad is definitely someone to have adventures with. He’s always up for anything, and enjoys getting outdoors. My dad’s shown me some of the neatest places in Windsor-Essex - and knows all kinds of tricks, from shortcuts through the woods I thought we’d never make it out of, to fixing the flat tire on my bike in two minutes flat. Take the opportunity this June to explore with your dad. One of the earliest memories I have with my dad is being taught how to paddle a canoe. Windsor-Essex has a multitude of places to explore on the water - from classic Point Pelee to smaller venues like Blue Heron Pond. Cedar Creek and the White Sands Conservation Area in Amherstburg are other great options. If you don’t have access to a trusty vessel of your own, you can rent kayaks or canoes at Point Pelee at the boardwalk. Canoes, kayaks and paddleboards are also available for rent at River Canard Canoe Company. Pack a snack, bring the camera and enjoy your paddle through quiet marshland. One of this writer’s favourite hiking locales is the Chrysler Canada Greenway Trail. Winding alongside country roads, this 50 km trail makes for easy walking, with plenty of trees, birds and geocaches along the way. There are multiple parking spots and official entrances, meaning you don’t have to spend a whole day if you don’t want to - go for an hour or two of some bonding time with Dad. If beer and pub food is more your style than picnicking, Windsor Eats brings a multitude of food events and Windsor-Essex fun to the area every year. One of their more popular events is Bikes & Beers, a cycle tour across the city, stopping for samples at different pubs and breweries along the way. Previous stops have included the Walkerville Brewery and Rock Bottom Bar & Grill, which has more than 30 beers on tap. The tours are $60 per person - and you can even rent a bicycle if you don’t have one of your own! Check it out on June 13. And for sampling different cuisines in one location, watch for this summer’s food truck events! Speaking of food, Windsor-Essex features a variety of local crops, from asparagus Ѽ