Last Updated on August 24, 2023
Ever wanted to go glamping in wine country?
Essex County is about 4 hours from Toronto and just 1 hour from Windsor, Ontario, and it’s known as an emerging wine region. Though not as well known as Ontario’s Niagara region, Essex County has much to offer when it comes to visiting wineries and other activities. We looked into visiting the area, and came across a unique glamping experience – the geodesic dome.
The last time we did glamping was in Algonquin Park, Ontario. We spent a weekend glamping in a huge prospector tent, and had the greatest time. So we were excited to find a place where we could glamp – in the winter!
Essex Ontario Glamping in a Floating Geodesic Dome
I discovered this floating geodesic dome on Airbnb. I had been looking for glamping in southern Ontario, and when this dome popped up I was super curious about it. Essex Ontario glamping seemed like a unique way to get out into the countryside. So when I realized it could be booked during the winter months, I decided to go for it.
The geodesic dome is set up on a dock, which floats on a beautiful creek, called Fox Creek. Inside is spacious and bright, and it comes equipped with a queen sized bed, sitting area, kitchenette, and indoor fireplace. Clean drinking water is provided, and you can even shower inside if you like.
If you book the dome in the summer months, you can use the barbecue, firepit, and seating area that are all nearby on land. For cooking in the winter, the kitchenette comes with a microwave. If you don’t feel like cooking, there’s lots of takeout options nearby in the town Harrow, or Kingsville.
Since my partner and I planned to visit in March, which is still chilly weather in Ontario, I was happy to see that aside from the fireplace, the dome also has its own generator. This means you can also run a space heater if the fire isn’t keeping the dome warm enough. So, I booked the dome for winter glamping!
Winter Glamping in Essex County
We arrived at the Airbnb property in the early afternoon, ready for our winter glamping adventure. Since the geodesic dome is out on Fox Creek, you have to park your vehicle and then walk a ways to reach it. Rather than walk, a “gator” is provided so you can drive the short distance instead! A gator is a small utility vehicle.
The Airbnb host, Beth, met us at our car and gave us a tutorial for driving the gator. We then drove out to the dome and she gave us a quick tour. She showed us how to run the generator, access water, and how to use the provided chemical portable toilet. The dome was well stocked with wood for the fire!
So what was winter glamping like? It was SO nice to get all cozy inside the dome while enjoying a winter view of the creek. From inside, we could hear nearby birds and flocks of Canadian geese flying over the dome. We had a quiet evening hanging out by the fire, enjoying some takeout, and watching the sunset.
I’ll admit, it was chilly in the dome overnight ? so if you do book the dome in the winter, come prepared. I had packed sweatpants and a sweater to sleep in, which I was thankful for. Aside from layers to sleep in, make sure that you have both the fire and the heater going before you go to sleep so that the dome keeps warm throughout the night!
Visit the Essex County wineries
Essex County is in Ontario’s most southern region. It’s near Point Pelee National Park, which stretches out into Lake Erie. Visitors to Point Pelee can say that they’ve been to the most southern mainland point in Canada! The southern positioning of Essex County makes it a unique region for growing wine, which means visiting wineries while Essex Ontario glamping is lots of fun.
Most of Essex County’s wineries are family-owned and operated. They are open to visitors year round. When you drop by, you can enjoy tours of the vineyards and cellars. And of course, try some wines and buy a bottle or two. The region is a beautiful one to explore, lying along the North Shore of Lake Erie. So you’ll enjoy delicious wines plus views of the lake!
We stayed in the geodesic dome in winter (early March), but got great weather. It was sunny and above zero degrees, which meant that we could visit some wineries despite COVID-19 restrictions. Most of the wineries in the region had their patios open so you could enjoy a glass outside. And, a couple of them had outdoor fires going!
We visited two wineries:
I enjoyed dropping by Viewpointe Estate Winery because they have a broad selection of wines, and one glass is a reasonable price (approx. 6$). And, this winery has an incredible panoramic view of Lake Erie. There are lawns surrounding the winery that have plenty of spots to sit and enjoy your glass, with a view.
I really enjoyed the cozy vibe of Paglione Estate Winery, which makes small batch wines. The winery’s owner, Sam Paglione, is Italian born and has been making wines all his life. Paglione Estate Winery pays homage to his Italian heritage by serving a menu of antipasti platters, wood-fired pizza, and handmade gelato.
We only stopped by Viewpointe and Paglione, but there are several other wineries in the Essex region that you can check out too:
- Colio Estate Winery
- Cooper’s Hawk Vineyard
- Colchester Ridge Estate Winery
- Erie Shore Vineyard
- Muscedere Vineyards
- Oxley Estate Winery
Wine Tours in Essex County
If you love wine, then going on a wine tour is a must do! We chose to do it independently, driving ourselves to each winery. This made sense for us because we didn’t drink very much, and instead opted to pick up bottles to bring home with us. If you’d like to do a more in-depth tour, without driving, you have a couple options:
Rent a bicycle or segway to tour Essex Wine Country
Sign up for a guided wine cycling tour or rent a bike and create your own tour along Lake Erie’s North Shore. You can book a tour or rental through Farm Dog Cycles!
Cycling not your thing? Rent a segway instead! The hosts that run the Geodesic Dome offer segway rentals on site. The rental includes a detailed wine route guide, with scheduled informative stops at Paglione Estate Winery, Oxley Estate Winery, North 42 Winery/Bistro 42 restaurant, View Pointe Winery and Crew Winery. You can book a segway through Airbnb!
Book a guided tour of Essex County Wineries
If you want the full tour experience, you can book an inclusive package. Grapevine Tours offers three options. One takes you exclusively to wineries, another brings you to breweries, and a third option does a bit of both (beer and wine!). The tours include pick up and drop off from wherever you’re staying, tasting fees, and lunch.
You can also book your tour through WE Trolley Tours. It’s a hop on, hop off service that brings you between wineries in an antique trolley. You also have the option to stop by local breweries and distilleries!
Visit Point Pelee National Park
If you’re staying in the Geodesic Dome, or elsewhere in Essex, it’s worth taking some time to visit Point Pelee National Park. This famous park is just a 30 minute drive away. Throughout summer, Point Pelee is a fantastic swimming spot, and you can enjoy paddling through it’s marshes. It’s a known region for birdwatching, as well as watching monarch butterfly migrations.
Year round, you can enjoy hiking Point Pelee’s trails and boardwalks, or spend an evening star gazing. We often visit the park in the winter, which is a magical time. Lake Erie freezes, creating sheets of ice that build up on the shores of the peninsula. To learn more about this park, read Your Essential Guide to Visiting Point Pelee National Park!
Other things to do in Essex County
Although Essex is known for its wine route, there are several other spots worth checking out while staying in the Dome, or elsewhere in Essex. Here are a couple of my favourites:
This lavender farm is just a short drive (a few minutes!) from the Geodesic Dome. During the summer you can explore the lavender gardens, enjoy the amazing lavender smells, and browse the farm’s shop, which offers the largest selection of lavender themed products in Canada. If you visit in the winter there are of course no lavender fields, but you can still pop by the shop!
The Freedom Museum is about a 25 minute drive from the Dome. You’ll find it in the cute little town of Amherstburg. It’s a community-based, non-profit museum that tells the story of African-Canadians’ history and contributions. There, you’ll learn the stories of Amherstburg’s role in the Underground Railroad and more. *Note that during COVID-19, tours must be pre-booked!
This brewery is in the nearby town of Harrow, about a 10 minute drive from the Geodesic Dome. They have a rotating list of delicious brews on tap, that you can also purchase to take home with you. If you’d like to grab a meal as well, you can pair your beer with pub-style food from the Beerded Dog kitchen.
This premium craft distiller makes craft vodka and whiskey, and is about a 25 minute drive from the Dome! When you visit you can drop by their restaurant for a meal, do a tasting, tour the distillery, or just pick up some of the spirits to take home with you. In the summer, Wolfhead has a lovely outdoor patio for tasting and dining.
Enjoy your time in Essex County, Ontario
Hopefully this guide has inspired you to do some glamping in Essex, Ontario! If you’re interested in the geodesic dome, you can book it on Airbnb. This is the perfect weekend getaway, whether you’re coming from Toronto, or from closer by.
If glamping in a Geodesic Dome isn’t your thing, there are plenty of other options for staying in the region. You can book a hotel, a bed and breakfast, or browse other listings on Airbnb.
More reads about Ontario:
- 14 of the Best Ontario Parks to Explore
- Why You Need to Visit an Alpaca Farm in Ontario
- Your Essential Guide to Visiting Point Pelee National Park
- First-Timer’s Guide to Hardy Lake Provincial Park
Erin has been traveling for over a decade, both solo, and with her partner. She’s now traveled to countries across 6 continents, and has lived in 2 countries abroad. Erin also hosts the travel podcast, Curious Tourism, where she interviews travel industry thought leaders and experts about responsible tourism. Learn more about Erin, and get in touch with her, here.
