New Route for National Airlines: Orlando to Windsor, Ontario

The winter in Windsor, Ontario, gets mighty cold, so enjoying some fun in the sun can definitely take the edge off. Beginning on December 15, travelers in the area will have more choices, with a new year-round route between Orlando and Windsor from National Airlines.

The nonstop flights will depart Windsor twice a week on Thursdays and Sundays, leaving Ontario at 2:30 p.m. and landing in Orlando at 5 p.m. Return flights leave Florida at 10 a.m. and hit the tarmac in Windsor at 1 p.m.  To celebrate the new route, National is offering passengers on this route some freebies for a limited time, including a checked bag, reserved seating and a meal and a drink.

Though National does not have its own frequent flyer program, you can book your flight with a rewards credit card, such as Chase ThankYou or American Express Membership Awards, and use the points you earn toward future travel.

Orlando Isn’t Just for Kids

Orlando is well-known for its amazing kid-focused attractions, such as Disney World, Epcot, Universal Studios, Sea World and the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. But you could spend an entire vacation in Orlando and never go to one of these attractions—and you’d still have a blast.

If you’re into nature walks, check out the Tibet-Butler Nature Preserve. It’s made up of 440 acres of wetlands and woods that offer a fascinating cross-section of Florida scenery. The views of Lake Tibet-Butler are great, too.

Winter Park, a town 20 minutes outside of Orlando, is also loaded with things to explore. While there, you can book a  boat tour through the Winter Park Chain of Lakes and see the wildlife and the spectacular mansions peppered along the waterfront.

You could also rent a paddle boat and cruise around Lake Eola Park in Orlando. It offers great views of the city’s skyline. And if you want the experience of theme restaurants without the Magic Kingdom, head over to the Universal City Walk, where you can find everything from Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville to Bubba Gump Shrimp Company.

There are lots of options if you want to go to a show or a movie. And you also be your own show at City Walk’s Rising Star, a karaoke bar, which features a live band instead of the typical canned music.

And Then There’s Windsor

Windsor has attractions for Floridians, too. Particularly if you’re into gambling and whiskey. The city’s four casinos offer visitors plenty of chances to hit the slots and play poker and blackjack.

Windsor is also the home of the Canadian Club Brand Centre, where you can find out how Canadian Club whisky is made, take a tour, explore the museum and enjoy a tasting. During Prohibition, Windsor was part of the alcohol smuggling pipeline because of its proximity to Detroit, which is right across the Detroit River.

National Airlines is based in Florida, where it started out transporting cargo, later expanding into the consumer market. With this new route, the carrier now flies to five destinations: Las Vegas, San Juan, Windsor, Vancouver and St. Johns, Newfoundland.