Voter pick top local spots

Nearly 11,000 locals voted between February 14 and March 6 to identify the Best of Windsor-Essex.

Their favorite places to go and things to do in the area. Fort Malden, Kings Navy Yard Park, Pelee Island Winery and Bright Lights Windsor are some of this year’s winners.

Voters picked Dieppe Gardens on the waterfront as Windsor’s best photo-op. For Essex County, it was “The Tip” at Point Pelee National Park.

Winners were announced recently at the Art Gallery of Windsor – which won for the best art gallery — for Tourism Windsor Essex’s 7th annual Best of Windsor Essex Awards.

“The goal of the Best of Windsor Essex Awards is to help create a list of where locals love to go and visit that can be utilized by visitors as inspiration for travel planning,” said Jason Toner, director of marketing and communications for Tourism Windsor Essex, in a press release.

Multiple award winners for attractions in what Toner says is a “must see list” included Point Pelee, which also won for the Best Attraction – Outdoors, the Best Beach, and the Best Birding Hub. Caesars Windsor won for the Best Hotel (for seven years in a row) and The Colosseum at Caesars Windsor won for the Best Live Performance Venue.

For events, the Downtown Windsor Farmers Market won the Best Street Event as well as the Best Farmers’ Market or Shop in the food categories.

“It’s what we consider the welcome gateway to the spring and summer season,” said market manager Steve Green, in a press release. “The market was a much-loved event before the pandemic and a symbol of hope and recovery over the past two years.”

In other food categories, Spago won for the Best Pasta House and the Best Date Night Spot. Windsor is now a famous city for pizza and Toner said the vote between first and second in the Best Pizza Pie category was “highly contentious.”

“The exciting part about the Best of Windsor Essex Awards is seeing the votes come in – and how close some of the winners are,” said Gordon Orr, CEO of Tourism Windsor Essex, in a press release. “Often just a handful of awards help us determine who the finalists are and who ultimately wins.”

The ultimate winner for the Best Pizza Pie award was Armando’s by 20 votes, said Toner.

Other seven-year-in-a-row winners are Colasanti’s Tropical Gardens for best family attraction,  Devonshire Mall for best mall, Kingsville Golf & Curling Club for best golf course, and the Walkerville Brewery for the Best Brewery Experience award.

For a complete list of winners, go to visitwindsoressex.com.