After years of writing about my travels in Europe, I was stumped when asked what would I recommend a traveler do while visiting my home town. It was an interesting and thought provoking question. Often we fail to see the trees for the forest, especially when you have been staring at the forest your entire life. So as a travel writer instead of a resident here are my recommendations for a day in St. Thomas Ontario.
St. Thomas is a small city located about halfway between Windsor and Niagara on the north shore of Lake Erie. Often referred to as a bedroom community for London it has its own rich history and culture. If you happen to be here, visiting family or just passing through, take a few hours to check out all my home town has to offer.
If you enter town from the northwest you will pass by the statue of Jumbo, a Barnum & Bailey Circus elephant that was killed by an oncoming train here in St. Thomas back in 1885. Jumbo has become a symbol of our city, despite its tragic story, and this statute was erected in 1985 to celebrate its 100th anniversary.
Across the street from there is our Pioneer and Military Museums. Not much to look at from the outside they are repositories of our history, especially the honourable history of our local men in both world wars. Nearby is the elevated park built into the Fingal railway trestle, an off leash dog park and the tourist information caboose.
Further down Walnut street is the St. Thomas Church, the oldest church in the area. Open to visit Monday to
Saturday 9-5 from May to late August with staff during the summer that can give you a guided tour and answer questions. Take time to wander through the cemetery as well.
After your tour of the historic district head down to 644 Talbot Street to Your Fish & Chips for lunch. This restaurant has been in the same location for more than 60 years, and has been run by multiple generations of the same family. Uniquely ours and in my humble opinion some of the best fish and chips you will get anywhere. There is a limited menu and they only accept cash.
Continue further down Talbot Street until you find the CASO Station, formerly the Train Station, now offices and shops and a community centre. Directly behind it is the Railway Museum. The museum, built in 1913, was originally the Michigan Central Railroad (MCRR) locomotive repair shops. The building has served as headquarters of the museum since 1988 where locomotive, passenger car, and railway service vehicle repairs and restorations are performed today. Guided tours are available year round.
To spend the rest of your day out of doors visit either of our exceptional city parks; Pinafore Park on Elm Street or Waterworks Park on South Edgeware Road. Both are picturesque and offer walking trails as well as playgrounds for the children.
To finish off your day swing by Railway City Brewing Company for a Dead Elephant Ale.
Although this may seem like a full day it represents only a small percentage of what there is to do in St. Thomas. For more information please visit https://www.railwaycitytourism.com/, an excellent and easy to navigate site of all things Railway City.
When you mention location between Niagara and Windsor I thought instantly of talking to a 10 year old school boy in Germany a few years ago. I did not know how to tell him where we lived so I said half way between Detroit and Buffalo (thinking that would be better known). The boy had the strangest look on his face and said that that would be in the middle of Lake Erie. He knew his North America Geography.