A sandy beach, a brewery in a historic hotel, and fresh-caught perch on the menu — that's Erieau, a small peninsula village on Ontario's Lake Erie shore that most travellers have never heard of. It sits on a narrow spit of land between Rondeau Bay and the open lake, and its whole appeal is the laid-back, water-on-both-sides setting.

Getting there is easier than you'd think. From Detroit it's under 90 minutes by car (border wait aside), it's about 90 minutes from London, Ontario, and roughly three hours from Toronto — firmly weekend-trip territory. Flying in? Detroit Metro (DTW) is around 90 miles away but requires a land border crossing, while Windsor (YQG) and London (YXU) in Ontario let you skip one.

The social hub of town is Bayside Brewing Company, which has been pouring since 2012 inside the historic Lakeside Hotel. Brewmaster Mike Dumouchelle turns out lagers, ales, and sours, with views over Rondeau Bay and live music on the calendar. Hop heads should try the Tilt'N Kilt'N IPA, made with Ontario-grown hops and a citrus kick; the flagship Long Pond Lager is the easy-drinking pick, and a fitting one given the bay-meets-lake scenery outside.

It's a proper brewpub, not a pub-grub operation: baked brie, nachos, burgers, pizza, salads, and locally caught yellow perch all feature. One caveat from diners — expect a wait at the height of summer. For another taste of the lake, Molly and OJ's Restaurant has been feeding the village since 1966, serving Lake Erie pickerel and perch, clam chowder, and surf-and-turf. Reviewers rave about both the food and the welcome.

Then there's the main event: Erieau Public Beach. It's a long stretch of sand with some of the warmest water you'll find on Lake Erie, plus the practical stuff families actually need — restrooms, picnic areas, parking, a playground, sports courts, and a mobility mat for wheelchair and limited-mobility access. Locals will tell you the payoff is at dusk, when the sunset over the water steals the show. If one beach isn't enough, the resort community of Crystal Beach lies further along Lake Erie's shore for an easy add-on.

Erieau suits travellers who like their getaways low-key: couples wanting a quiet lakeside base, families after a manageable beach day, and beer lovers who don't need a big city around them. It's a genuine alternative to busier Ontario spots like Wasaga or Grand Bend, and its proximity to the U.S. border makes it a simple cross-border escape from Michigan.