Not everyone looking for waterfront property has a
year-round home in mind. "Our cottage is on Pelee Island,
right on the beach," says Annmarie Brownlee of London, Ont.
What started out as a summer home for Annmarie's mother
and her four children has evolved into a place for Annmarie's
mom, her four children, five inlaws, ten grandchildren and
four great grandchildren. And even though, in theory, they
have outgrown it, they are determined to keep it as their
family expands. "We can't all go at the same time anymore,"
she says. "We split our visits into specific times. It's a great
place to have a summer home."
Not only does Windsor-Essex provide many opportunities
for waterfront home ownership, it does so with many unique
features. "Lake St. Clair is a boater and swimming-friendly
lake. It is quite shallow and therefore warms up nicely for
recreational use," says Lanoue. If your ideal waterfront
location includes many opportunities for water sports, Lake
St. Clair is the lake you want to live on. Even "when the storms
hit, the waves are just choppy not like Lake Erie," she adds.
The majesty of Lake Erie is most pronounced when
visitors from outside the area see it for the first time. If we
look through their eyes, we see a body of water so vast that it
rivals the size of many seas. The waters are deep, the waves
can be high and watching a storm come across can be
awe-inspiring. "It is deep and the fishing is outstanding but
you want a good-sized boat on Lake Erie because when a
storm comes up, those waves are treacherous. There are also
many bluff lots that just look over the lake. The views are
spectacular and if you're someone who just wants to look at it
as it changes everyday then Lake Erie could be for you,” say
Lanoue.
It certainly could be for me, since actually getting in the
water has never been a necessity as far as I'm concerned.
Images of quiet afternoons puttering in the gardens on the
waterside of the house or sipping a cool gin and tonic while
reading on the patio are my ideas of lakeside recreation. The
occasional games of Frisbee or bocce ball are all the
excitement I need in my imaginary watery life. But apparently,
Mother Nature's idea of lakeside living encompasses much
The majesty of Lake Erie
is most pronounced
when visitors from
outside the area see it for
the first time
more than that.
"Bugs. My god, the bugs," says Brownlee. Some days are
bad. "On days like that, we have no choice, but to stay indoors,"
she says. And there's the issue of non-existent television
reception, dial-up Internet and cell service that is "spotty at
best."
"I wouldn't change anything though. Sometimes, it is
good to just get away." ‘Sometimes’ is the operative word.
Perhaps my hunt for a permanent lake house should not
Living near the lake increases your chances of walking, biking or boating along
Essex County’s coastlines