Happy Labour Day, everyone! I hope you’re having a wonderful holiday weekend.
The other week, I shared a post about things to see and do in the charming lakeside town of Port Stanley. (If you missed that post, be sure and check it out here.) Today, I’m sharing a guide to another fun day trip destination: the nearby city of St. Thomas! Located just 15 kilometres north of Port Stanley, St. Thomas – a.k.a. the Railway City – has a rich history rooted in the railway industry. At its peak in the early 20th century, it was a major transportation hub, with three train stations and eight prominent railways bringing in over 100 trains on a daily basis. It was the primary stop on the Canadian shortcut between Detroit and Buffalo, playing a key role in international trade. Today, St. Thomas is known for its vibrant art scene, great restaurants, scenic beauty, and one of Ontario’s best farmer’s markets. If you’re headed to St. Thomas for the day or weekend, there’s plenty of fun stuff to explore, and I wanted to share some of my favourites with you! So without further ado, here are my top picks for things to see and do in the Railway City…
Visit a historic 19th century church. Built between 1822 and 1824, the Old St. Thomas Anglican Church is one of the city’s oldest buildings. Constructed on land donated by St. Thomas founder Captain Daniel Rapelje, the church is considered an early example of North American pioneer architecture. It operated as a working church until 1877, at which time its congregation moved to Trinity Anglican Church. In 1982, the Old St. Thomas Church was designated an Ontario Heritage Site, and was fully renovated and restored four years later. The adjacent pioneer cemetery is home to a number of notable Canadians, including Hugh Richardson, the judge who sentenced Louis Riel to death in 1885. Located in a residential neighbourhood, the church yard is open to the public and is well worth a visit – just be sure to stay quiet and respectful to surrounding neighbours.
Learn about the city’s unique railway history. Founded in 1856, the London & Port Stanley Railway was one of Ontario’s first railways, and was a major route for Canadian-American trade, particularly in the wood and coal industries. It also transported passengers between London and the popular tourist town of Port Stanley. As the 20th century progressed, steam locomotives were replaced with electric ones and passenger traffic gradually decreased. The London & Port Stanley Railway terminated passenger service altogether in 1957. In 1965, the Canadian National Railway bought the line (and still operates a portion of it today) but the train station was demolished. In 2010, the St. Thomas & Elgin Home Builders’ Association built a replica of the original station, which now serves as the offices for the Railway City Tourism Centre.
Pay your respects to Jumbo the Elephant. The story behind St. Thomas’ most famous landmark is actually such a sad one. Considered the world’s most famous elephant, Jumbo was the star of P.T. Barnum’s “Greatest Show on Earth”. He was so popular that he’s credited with drawing the biggest crowds in the history of the circus! In September of 1885, while the Barnum & Bailey Circus was in St. Thomas, Jumbo was tragically struck by a freight train. He did not survive his injuries and died at the scene. Jumbo was so famous that the news of his death made international headlines, and his skeleton was preserved at New York’s American Museum of Natural History, where he can still be viewed today. In 1985, on the 100th anniversary of his death, the City of St. Thomas commissioned this 38-ton monument as a tribute to Jumbo. It’s certainly one of the largest and most impressive roadside monuments I’ve ever seen. You can read Jumbo’s full story here – but it’s a tear-jerker, so grab a box of tissues before you read!
Enjoy a sweet treat at Shaw’s Dairy Bar. When an ice cream shop has been in business for 75 years, you know it’s gotta be good! Founded by Carl Shaw in 1948, Shaw’s Ice Cream has been delighting sweet tooths for decades. Although ownership has changed, Shaw’s commitment to making fresh, high-quality ice cream using 100% Canadian cream has remained a constant – and they still use the original family recipe! Shaw’s is distributed at various ice cream parlours throughout Southwestern Ontario (and you can also find cartons at certain grocery stores) but nothing beats a trip to their original location in St. Thomas. With over 50 flavours – from classics like Mint Chip and Rocky Road to more unique offerings like Toasted S’mores and Salted Caramel Coffee – there’s plenty of deliciousness to choose from. Tania got a scoop of the Banana Cream Pie, but I was actually craving a classic, simple sundae: vanilla soft serve with hot fudge sauce, topped with whipped cream, nuts and a cherry. It was so good! (You can get a Shaw’s sundae with any of their ice cream flavours, and they also have dairy-free options.) This is a popular spot in summer, so expect long lines, but I promise you the wait is worth it!
Take a walking art tour. St. Thomas is a city brimming with art and culture, and you don’t even need to visit an art gallery or museum to experience it – just take a stroll outside! The city is home to over 40 murals, and you can view a full map of them here. Some favourites of mine include the vintage postcard-inspired Greetings From St. Thomas mural by Blazeworks, the Explore Beautiful St. Thomas murals by Denial, the Heroes mural by Andrew Lewis (a tribute to veterans and first responders) and the Magic of Nature mural by Melissa Kempf and Bibi Nielsen.
Reconnect with nature at Wildflowers Farm. This tranquil and idyllic flower farm is a little slice of heaven on earth. The family-run farm consists of nine acres of wildflowers, plants, trees, and herbs… and they even have their own apiary! The farm hosts several events throughout the year, from yoga classes to formal dinners to their popular Friday night markets, but they’re also open to the public every Saturday, when they invite visitors to shop at their farm store and explore their beautiful gardens. We chatted with the owner Jane, and picked up some delicious-looking raspberry-infused creamed honey from Earth + Honeybee in the store – we can’t wait to try it! Then Jane invited us to go for a stroll in the gardens, which was truly a surreal experience. The gardens are so quiet and peaceful, the flowers and plants are lush and fragrant, and we saw so many bees, birds and butterflies! I look forward to returning in the future to check out one of their special events.
Sip award-winning wines at Quai Du Vin. This family-run winery has been around since 1990, and is the oldest estate vineyard in Elgin County. Visitors are welcome to pop into their bottle shop, enjoy a tasting on their lovely patio, or listen to live music in their outdoor tent (the winery’s Summer Sessions music series runs every Saturday and Sunday afternoon through October.) Quai Du Vin’s leafy, peaceful patio is one of the best-kept secrets in St. Thomas! We whiled away a lazy afternoon tasting some of their award-winning wines, including their delicious collection of fruit wines. I particularly loved the Peach Aurore, and picked up a bottle to take home (which I’m sad to say is already gone – it was just that good!) The price point is great – the Peach Aurore is just $14 a bottle, and most of their wines are in the $14-20 range. Quai Du Vin is definitely joining the list of my favourite Ontario wineries!
As you can see, there’s no shortage of fun things to see and do in St. Thomas! One spot I haven’t yet visited, but that I’d love to check out, is the Elevated Park: a High Line-esque public park built on an old railway bridge, that offers breathtaking scenery and views of the city below it.
Have you ever been to St. Thomas? If the above list is missing anything, please let me know – we’ve already visited a couple of times this summer and are hoping to return for another day trip in the fall, so any recommendations are most welcome.
Until next time, I hope you all have a fabulous rest of your long weekend!
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