Discover the best top things to do in Chatham-Kent, United States including Buxton National Historic Site & Museum, Uncle Tom's Cabin, Kingston Park, Wheatley Provincial Park, Parks Blueberries, Rondeau Provincial Park, Chatham-Kent Museum, Greenview Aviaries Park and Zoo.
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5.0 based on 44 reviews
THE ELGIN SETTLEMENT, which was for many the last stop on the Underground Railroad, was founded in 1849. THE MUSEUM SITE INCLUDES the Buxton Museum, S.S. #13 Raleigh (Buxton) Schoolhouse (1861), the Colbert/Henderson Cabin (1854), and the Shadd Barn (restoration completed in 2009). Local church cemeteries (1857) are on the grounds adjacent to the museum. Facilities include a large picnic shelter and barbecue, washrooms, a wheelchair access ramp to the museum and plenty of free parking. Of special note is the Research Area, which contains resource materials, pertaining to local history and genealogy.
We were fortunate to arrive at a time where the Curator, Shannon Prince was able to guide us around, answering our questions so personably, articulately and ably. She is as much a centrepiece of this cultural 'must' as the artifacts. She brings it alive! Without a docent such as she to bring each stop in the museum to attention, we would have missed a great deal. The objects on display are markers on the journey, but beyond the item itself, each has a story Shannon told so vividly, opening our eyes to this chapter in Canadian history so often ignored in learning environments. Both of us have lived our seven decades in Ontario and had benefit of higher educations but were only dimly aware of the breadth of this Underground Railroad effort in support of the freed slaves, liberated by the Emancipation Proclamation in the USA, which in part sparked the Civil War. Our son teaches high school in a city nearby and has been made aware of the rich experience offered here in a compact setting and only an hour's drive from his home. His school catchment area features a growing diversity of late and it will certainly now be a stop his classes will journey to on their way to understanding this aspect of Canadian history. Our deepest thanks to the Municipality of Chatham-Kent for funding this museum. It is a story that needs to be told; particularly when we two residents of 70 years learned so much, it can only benefit the waves of new Canadians to know the history of this country from a cultural perspective. Shannon Prince brings this story to life and we highly recommend it to cultural groups integrating into Canada, knowing how it was accomplished a century ago and can be today. Canadian history has had its cultural inequities and outright failures, but this is not one of them. Buxton and the Underground Railroad is a Canadian story that needs to be told to those newly arrived in Canada, fleeing oppression, war, famine and tragedy.
4.5 based on 45 reviews
4.5 based on 101 reviews
Kingston Park is both a child and a senior-friendly park. It has limited shaded seating if needed, but lots of green space for spreading out a blanket, or your own portable seats. The water park is spectacular for children of all ages and is large enough so there is always safe play space. Highly recommended.
4.5 based on 83 reviews
Visited recently with 6 adults and one toddler. We stayed in the Highlands campground sites 119 and 121. It was as expected (grassy with average trees/privacy) but I think the other campgrounds are a bit more treed so book early if you want a more wooded area closer to water. It was also a further walk from the beach and playgrounds but we could still walk there in about 15 minutes so not too bad. We booked a bit late so Highlands was the only campground remaining with availability. Washrooms were incredibly clean for a provincial park on a long weekend in the summer. We were apprehensive about the beach situation since the park was advertising no beach/swimming due to erosion/high water levels. We checked out the beach regardless and there was about 10 feet of sand from the banks to the water and hardly anyone was there so it was like we had our own private beach on a long weekend. The banks at the beach were very steep, even at the marked spots, so prepare to do a bit of scrambling to get up and down. Of course, it is swim-at-your-own-risk since they aren't testing the water but it hadn't rained in a few days and nearby beaches were testing fine so we went in. The playground at the beach area was amazing for little ones. There were a lot of flies but it is summer. There is also a golf course basically at the entrance to the park, which some of our group enjoyed. Overall, we had a great stay and I would recommend Wheatley Provincial Park. It was especially nice to avoid the 400 traffic on a long weekend.
4.5 based on 77 reviews
TEMPORARILY CLOSED Call to order prior to arrival pickup only! Upon arrival call and your order will be brought to your vehicle. Thanks.
This is a terrific place for lunch, everything is fresh and always comes with blueberries on the side. You can sit outside or inside. Most unusual gifts for any occasion. Lots of pies that are different such as Rhubarb custard, blueberry custard etc. You won't be upset with this place. Instead you will be telling all your friends about it. Oh I forgot. The staff is super helpful...always!!!
4.0 based on 110 reviews
This is our local Provincial Park and we use it a lot, camping and just for day visits. The campground is great, or we think it is, and is close to the parks amenities and its front gate. But, if you want some peace and quite, just head down to visitor centre, or go beyond, even right down to South Point, the furtherst away from the gate that you get. There are few people and exploring the woods and the lake is great way to enjoy a day. The trails are good and well marked, one of my favourite walks being from the campground to the visitor centre, about 5Km - walk down on the beach and back through the woods. The woods can be very buggy in the summer, so go prepared with your skin covered and plenty of DEET. However, that's a small price to pay for such a great walk. I do think it's a bit expensive getting in the park, but if you use them regularly, get a pass.
4.0 based on 15 reviews
For over 60 years, the museum has been selectively acquiring artifacts of local and national significance. The second floor of the museum has been transformed into the Imagination Station as a way to use play-based learning to connect to our past. Through exhibitions, public programs, educational tours, and a museum gift shop, the museum staff provide opportunities for people to engage, interact, and enjoy the community's stories and artifacts. The Chatham-Kent Museum also includes the restored Milner Heritage House that depicts the 1905 lifestyle of a successful industrialist and his family. Visitors go back in time when stereoscopes, gramophones, and magic lanterns were the family's means of entertainment and a "modern" kitchen consisted of a wood stove, ice box and a new, all-purpose "Chatham" cupboard.
A very interesting exhibit featuring pinhole camera photos greets you as you enter the Museum. Fascinating pictures of buildings used to house those traveling through the Underground Railroad... and, did you know Chatham made cars!? I didn't know and I enjoyed learning about the local history of the region and actually seeing actual models. Upstairs there is an excellent exhibit all about Rocks!
3.5 based on 135 reviews
My little man had so muchh fun . By the time we left he was exausted from all the rinning around he did visiting each of the animals theres also a park there splash pad and a beach right around the corner worth the 2hour drive for myself for sure
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