travel destinations ontario

19 Top-Rated Tourist Attractions in Ontario

Written by Lana Law Updated May 3, 2023 We may earn a commission from affiliate links ( )

Author Lana Law grew up in Northwestern Ontario and currently lives in Southern Ontario.

Ontario is home to the nation's largest city, Toronto, and the capital city of Ottawa, but it also encompasses vast expanses of wilderness and pristine lakes and contains one of Canada's most visited natural attractions, Niagara Falls. This huge province, about 15 times larger than the state of Texas, offers boundless opportunities for travel, adventure, and family fun.

During the hot summer months , people visit Ontario to see some of Canada's top museums and galleries; spend family time at the amusement parks; relax at lakeside resorts; paddle or fish in the lakes and rivers; camp in the parks; and see some of the country's most iconic landmarks, like the CN Tower.

In winter , while some venture outdoors to enjoy the ski hills, skating rinks, snowmobiling, and winter festivals, most turn their attention indoors to hockey games, shopping, dining, Broadway shows, and other cultural attractions.

From small towns to big cities, this province can deliver whatever you're looking for in a vacation. Plan your trip and discover the best places to visit with our list of top tourist attractions in Ontario.

1. Niagara Falls

2. toronto's cn tower, 3. parliament hill in ottawa, 4. ontario's provincial and national parks, 5. royal ontario museum (rom), 6. canada's wonderland, 7. national gallery of canada, 8. toronto international film festival (tiff), 9. art gallery of ontario, 10. thousand islands, 11. fishing in northern ontario, 12. trent-severn waterway national historic site of canada, 13. muskoka and cottage country, 14. fort william historical park, 15. lake of the woods, 16. blue mountain resort, 17. stratford festival, 18. sainte-marie among the hurons, 19. rideau canal national historic site, map of tourist attractions in ontario.

Niagara Falls is Canada's most internationally recognized attraction, visited by millions of tourists each year. While there are actually three sets of falls, the largest section, known as Horseshoe Falls , drops approximately 57 meters, creating a great wall of water that stretches between Niagara Falls, Canada , and Niagara Falls, USA . The falls are famous primarily for the large volume of water flowing over them, but combined with the huge drop, they are truly a magnificent sight.

The falls are located right in the city of Niagara Falls, making them easy to visit. It's possible to walk down the main tourist strip in Niagara Falls, an outrageous spectacle in itself, to the edge of the gorge, where you'll find great views all along the walkway overlooking the river and the falls. Day trip tours can be easily arranged from hotels or hostels in Toronto. By car, the trip from Toronto takes about 1.5 hours.

The CN Tower is one of Canada's most iconic structures, standing tall along the Toronto skyline. The 553-meter tower is lit up at night and can be seen from all over the city and surroundings at any time of day or night, but visitors will likely want to take a trip up the tower to fully experience it.

An elevator allows access to the observation deck and restaurant , located about three-quarters of the way to the top. The view is astounding, looking out over the city and Lake Ontario. On clear days, it's possible to see all the way to the plume of mist rising off Niagara Falls . In the evening, looking out over the sparkling city lights is also an impressive sight.

Thrill seekers will want to give the EdgeWalk a try. Strapped in, you'll step outside the SkyPod, and spend 30 minutes strolling around the tower, 166 stories above the ground. It's not for the faint of heart or those afraid of heights but adrenaline junkies will be entirely in their element.

The tower is located in the heart of downtown Toronto, and at the base is the new Ripley's Aquarium and Rogers Centre , two of Toronto's top attractions .

Parliament Hill in the nation's capital is where most visitors begin their sightseeing in Ottawa . The buildings reside in a lovely setting on a rise above the Ottawa River. The Peace Tower is the most obvious and the most photographed structure, standing more than 90 meters high between the Senate and the House of Commons.

In front of the Parliament buildings is the Centennial Flame . During the summer, visitors can see the Changing of the Guard on the lawn in front of the Houses of Parliament, while those who are lucky enough to be visiting Ottawa on July 1 can enjoy some of the biggest Canada Day celebrations in the country.

Daily guided tours of the Parliament Buildings, including the Senate, House of Commons, and the East Block are available free of charge. Tickets are available same day, although it's strongly advised that you book well in advance online.

Ontario has many outstanding provincial and national parks that offer access to some of the most beautiful areas of the province. In these parks, you'll find Ontario's best lakes , where you can fish, swim, and go pleasure boating. If hitting the beach and laying in the sand is more your thing, the parks are also hot spots for Ontario's best beaches .

In Southern Ontario, just two hours from Toronto, Algonquin Provincial Park is one of the most popular parks and outdoor destinations, with an extensive network of hiking trails , and beautiful lakefront campgrounds . Further afield but equally beautiful, Killarney Provincial Park is another great area for hiking , canoeing, and camping .

On the shores of Lake Huron and Georgian Bay, Bruce Peninsula National Park offers its own attractions, and nearby but offshore, boaters and divers can find adventure exploring Georgian Bay Islands National Park and the Fathom Five National Marine Park .

You can also find history in some of the parks. The petroglyphs of Petroglyphs Provincial Park, just a short drive northeast of Peterborough, offer an easy and close-up look at an outstanding collection of 500 to 1,000-year-old Aboriginal rock carvings. Somewhat more difficult to access, but also impressive, are the pictographs that line the cliff walls on the shoreline of Lake Superior in Lake Superior Provincial Park .

Those who are looking for a truly remote experience will find invitingly pristine lakes and forests in Quetico Provincial Park in Northwestern Ontario. This is a popular area for backcountry canoe trips and fishing trips.

• Read More: Top-Rated Ontario Parks: Exploring Ontario's Great Outdoors

The Royal Ontario Museum in downtown Toronto is one of the premier museums in the province , featuring a broad range of collections, from natural history and science to cultural exhibits from around the world.

Commonly referred to as the ROM, this museum underwent an expansion in 2007, which saw the addition of a modern and unique extension known as the Michael Lee-Chin Crystal . The building is now a mix of old and new architecture with a striking appearance.

The Royal Ontario Museum is within walking distance of the fascinating Gardiner Museum and the tony shops of Bloor Avenue.

About 30 kilometers northwest of Toronto's city center is Canada's Wonderland , a huge theme park, which operates during the summer months . For local residents with kids, an annual visit to Canada's wonderland is one of the top things to do in summer. But, as Canada's premier amusement park, this attraction draws families from across the country.

Roller coasters and thrill rides for children of all ages, as well as a water park, dinosaur park, and live shows, are just some of the attractions. Canada's Wonderland is planning on opening two new rides in 2023: the Tundra Twister and Snoopy's Racing Railway .

Visiting Wonderland is an easy day trip from Toronto .

The National Gallery of Canada in Ottawa houses some of the country's most important collections. It contains a particularly strong selection of works by Canadian artists , from the Group of Seven to Emily Carr and many other famous names. The gallery also displays important pieces by well-known international artists.

The National Gallery building is housed in an ultra-modern architectural masterpiece designed by Moshe Safdie.

After you visit this fascinating museum, continue your museum tour by heading across the bridge to the Canadian Museum of History , or stroll over to the wonderful ByWard Market for a bite.

The Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) is the most famous event on Ontario's calendar, attracting some of the biggest movie stars across North America. This 10-day festival, held in early September in Toronto, is one of the best-attended film festivals in the world , with almost a half million visitors annually.

Tourists and locals descend on the city to watch a film or catch a glimpse of some of their favorite actors, and the city is a buzz of activity. At this time of year, the weather is still hot, and evenings are pleasant. The streets are full of people, restaurants are booked well in advance, and outdoor patios in the city are crowded until late at night. If you are visiting Toronto at this time of year, make sure you book your hotel and restaurants well in advance.

In downtown Toronto, the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO) is one of Canada's most prestigious art galleries. It hosts a particularly impressive collection of Canadian paintings with a focus on artists from Ontario and Toronto. It also holds Canada's largest collection of African and Oceanic Art displayed in a museum.

Other highlights include paintings and sculptures by European masters and Modern and Contemporary collections from North America and Europe. Temporary exhibitions are held throughout the year, check the AGO's website for the most current list.

Spread over an 80-kilometer stretch of the St. Lawrence River is a scenic natural area known as the Thousand Islands. The islands are on a granite shelf extending from the Canadian Shield to the Adirondack Mountains in the United States, with the US-Canada boundary actually running between the islands. It is one of the oldest and best-known holiday areas in Ontario , popular with cottagers, boaters, and those looking to get away from the cities of Southern Ontario during the hot summer months.

One of the most popular things to do in this area is a Thousand Islands Sunset Dinner Cruise through the maze of islands. Cruises run from mid-April to mid-October.

Gananoque is the principal resort town in the area and the main gateway to the Thousand Islands.

Northern Ontario is one of the best places in Canada for fishing. Walleye, pickerel, bass, northern pike, and muskies are some of the most sought-after catches, and people from all over North America come here to try their luck. And you don't have to be all that lucky if you know where to go.

Fishing lodges in Ontario range from luxury resorts to rustic cottages, but most offer everything you need to make your trip a success, including boats, guides, meals, and cabins. The best fishing is often found on remote northern lakes , and accessed by small float planes. Resorts either offer fly-in packages or, in some cases, boat pickup. You can also find a number of good drive-to resorts.

The historic Trent-Severn Canal, built in the late 1800s and early 1900s, is a system of waterways linking Lake Ontario with Georgian Bay on Lake Huron . The canal winds its way through a series of rivers and lakes, such as the Trent River and Lake Simcoe, in the east of Ontario. The changing levels are met with more than 40 locks, including the world's highest hoist , built in 1905 at Peterborough, covering a height of 20 meters.

In the past, the canal was mainly used for carrying grain and timber, but today, the Trent-Severn Waterway is a part of Parks Canada and is officially called the Trent-Severn Waterway National Historic Site of Canada . It is used largely for tourism and recreational boaters. At some of the locks, there are camping facilities and grassy areas for picnics.

A great way to experience the Trent-Severn Waterway is on a Kawartha Voyageur Cruise. These multiday cruises allow you to see the sights and the locks at a leisurely pace, by basking on the sundeck or stopping at various ports,

One of Ontario's most famous summer hot spots is an area known as Cottage Country or Muskoka. Located north of Toronto, this region is centered around Lake Muskoka and a number of other popular lakes in the area.

Although you can find areas of equal beauty all over Ontario, this region's proximity to the city, just two to three hours from Toronto, has made it extremely popular. The lakes are surrounded by high-end cottages and summer homes of Torontonians. On weekends, the highways to Cottage Country are clogged with traffic as people flee the heat of the city, to relax around the lakes.

This is also a fun area to visit, with many people renting cottages here or staying at luxury resorts. There are a number of small communities in Cottage Country, although the primary town is Gravenhurst , located on the shores of Lake Muskoka. From here, visitors can hop on historical steamships for a short cruise and tour of the lake.

Fort William Historical Park is the reconstruction of the inland headquarters operated by the Northwest Company of the Canadian fur trade from 1803 to 1821. Situated on the banks of the Kaministiquia River in south Thunder Bay , the Fort comprises 57 buildings on 250 acres.

Each summer, fur traders, voyageurs, and first nations people would converge upon the Fort for the annual "rendezvous," which saw the transfer of tons of furs coming in from western posts with trade goods coming from Montreal, all conveyed by birch bark canoes within one season. This system enabled the Nor'Westers to emerge as a dominant force in the fur trade.

The Fort offers a fascinating looking at fur trade life, touching upon themes from furs and food to muskets and medicine, and highlighting a cultural mosaic of Scottish fur traders, French Canadian voyageurs, farmers and artisans, and aboriginals and Métis.

The park is not all about the fur trade, though. On the same grounds is the David Thompson Astronomical Observatory (DTAO) . The observatory is home to one of Canada's largest public telescopes.

To discover Ontario's remote wilderness landscapes, one of the best places to visit is Lake of the Woods and the surrounding areas. This huge body of water lies on the lightly populated provincial borders of Manitoba and Ontario and also dips into the state of Minnesota . This beautiful lake provides an incredibly scenic setting and pristine wilderness experience for those interested in venturing into the backcountry.

Many people have cottages on Lake of the Woods, but its distance from major cities and the size of the lake mean cottages are few and far between. It is also a prime destination for tourists who come to Canada to go on fishing trips .

Lake of the Woods provides excellent opportunities for boating, fishing, and simply escaping into the Canadian wilderness . Islands fringe the heavily indented Canadian north shore, while the south shore is flat, sandy, and marshy in places. Beginning in 1688, the lake provided trappers and voyageurs with a passage westwards.

The main town on Lake of the Woods is Kenora , Ontario. This is where you can find lodging, plan charter flights, hire fishing guides, and get supplies.

Blue Mountain Resort , just outside the town of Collingwood , on the shores of Georgian Bay, is one of the most popular ski resorts in Ontario. Blue Mountain Village, at the base of the hill, features fine-dining restaurants, top-end shops, and first-class accommodations. The hill itself is family oriented and extremely popular with Torontonians.

The resort is open year-round and almost as busy in summer as it is in winter, with activities that range from rock climbing and ziplining to mountain biking and hiking.

William Shakespeare would be proud of the fine folks who live in Stratford who, each summer, put on an incredible internationally renowned summer festival celebrating his works. Stratford is just 60 kilometers northeast of London , Ontario, and draws particularly large crowds from the Toronto area.

The 2,250-seat Festival Theatre has been staging plays between May and October since 1953, with pride of place going to Shakespeare. There are now four theater venues, and plays by other famous writers, along with up-and-coming playwrights, are also presented. Most seasons, at least 12 productions are performed at the Stratford Festival .

The reconstruction of the mission station of Sainte-Marie among the Hurons is about five kilometers east of Midland on the Wye River. It was founded by the Jesuits in 1639 and served as a mainstay for 10 years for Europeans in "Wendat," the land of the Huron. As time went by, there was constant conflict with the Hurons, who were also decimated by diseases imported by the Europeans. In 1649, the Jesuits abandoned their settlement and returned to Québec.

The mission was reconstructed in the 1960s and was later designated a national monument. Today, it's open to visitors daily from May to October, and provides an excellent opportunity to learn about the history of the station and pioneer life in Canada.

Nearby and also worth visiting for more period history is Discovery Harbour. Here, you'll see two restored sailing ships: The H.M.S. Bee and the H.M.S. Tecumseth . In addition to the ships, historical maritime homes can be toured. These include the Sailor's Barracks, the Commander's Home, the Assistant Surgeon's House, the Surveyor's Home, the Keating House, and the Officer's Quarters.

One of Canada's most famous man-made waterways, the Rideau Canal is a must-see when visiting Ottawa. This UNESCO World Heritage Site dates from the early 19th century and has been meticulously maintained over the years and appears much as it did when it was first built.

Stroll along the pathways on either side and watch the boats pass through the locks. A popular thing to do in Ottawa is to take a Rideau Canal cruise . This 90-minute tour takes place on a 100 percent electric-powered passenger vessel and passes all the city's top sights, including the Château Laurier , National Arts Centre , and the Canadian Museum of Nature .

If you find yourself in Ottawa in the winter, be sure to rent some skates and try out the world's largest skating rink. Each winter, in January, the Rideau Canal is transformed into a 7.8-kilometer-long skating route. Along the way are warming huts and food vendors selling the iconic (and super tasty!) Beavertails.

More Related Articles on PlanetWare.com

Canada Adventures: Make Ontario part of your larger trip through Canada. For ideas on how to incorporate Ontario into your plans, see our Canadian itineraries . Another great resource is our list of best places to visit in Canada , which gives a good overview of cities and destinations across the country.

More on Canada

Ontario Tourism Information

Why visit ontario.

A third of Canada’s population lives in Ontario , and the city of Toronto — the country’s largest — contains most of Canada’s world-class attractions, entertainment, and shopping. The national capital of Ottawa is home to many interesting sights involving Canadian history and government , while the more rural “ cottage country ” regions are where locals go to enjoy the great outdoors.

Orientation

Northern Ontario is largely uninhabited, and most of the province’s major population centers, including Toronto , are located in the southeastern corner, around the massive Lake Ontario . Despite the name, so-called  Central Ontario  — the scenic, nature-filled region — can be found by driving only a few hours in any direction outside greater Toronto. Ottawa is about a four hour drive northeast of Toronto, and sits on Ontario’s border with Quebec .

A view of the Toronto skyline from the Toronto Islands. Andy.M/Shutterstock

In the centre of downtown is Toronto's enormous city hall, surrounded by a large open plaza known as Nathan Phillips Square . Named after a former mayor, it's a popular gathering place for concerts, festivals, and protests.

Toronto Tourism

Canada’s largest city.

Toronto is a sprawling city bordered on the south by the coast of Lake Ontario , with the downtown core located in a wide column of neighborhoods that extend perpendicular from Bloor Street in the north all the way to the coast of the lake (the Waterfront ). Downtown Toronto is divided into dozens of distinctive neighborhoods, many of which are defined by their strong ethnic identities, such as Little Italy , Greek Town ,  Little Portugal , and Chinatown . Toronto’s answer to New York’s Times Square is Yonge and Dundas Square , a famously busy downtown intersection awash in garish billboard advertisements and flashing signs.

Canada’s largest building, the CN Tower , looms over Toronto and is one of the country’s busiest tourist attractions. For $35 you can go to the top and check out the city below from various lookout points or dine at an exceedingly expensive restaurant. In recent years, an insane new feature called the “ Edgewalk ” has been added, allowing thrill-seekers to literally walk along the outside edge of the tower while attached to a safety harness.

The far east end of the greater downtown area is bordered by the sprawling High Park , which contains the sort of amenities one generally expects from a large city park, including walking trails and sports fields. Much of the city’s other attractive parklands are located outside the city altogether, on the so-called Toronto Islands which sit in Lake Ontario and can be accessed by car tunnel or passenger ferry. The larger islands are all tightly packed together and connected by small bridges. Along with ample green space, they’re home to a children’s amusement park, restaurants, and some small beaches popular in the summer.

The Toronto Zoo is the fifth largest on earth, with an incredible assortment of exotic animals from every continent, including two Canadian-born pandas. It is about a 45 minute drive from downtown.

• Official Website, Tourism Toronto
• 10 Top Tourist Attractions in Toronto, Touropia

The Royal Ontario museum was expanded in 2007 with a distinctive metallic annex, designed by architect Daniel Libeskind (b. 1946).

Museums and Galleries

Housed in two equally imposing buildings, Toronto has two major museums, the Art Gallery of Ontario ( AGO ) and the Royal Ontario Museum ( ROM ). The AGO, as the name suggests, is a gallery of art — mostly paintings — spanning a diverse array of styles, eras, and nationalities, including a large assortment of Canadian art. The ROM is a more generalized museum with exhibits on art, history, geography, nature, animals, dinosaurs, and more. Both feature touring special exhibits from other countries.

The official museum of the National Hockey League, the Hockey Hall of Fame ,   is a colorful, modern museum focused on professional hockey greats past and present, with showcases of artifacts and many interactive, computer-based activities for kids. For an additional $10 you can get your photograph taken with the Stanley Cup .

The Ontario parliament buildings are located in the middle of a green area in the northern part of downtown known as Queen’s Park . Given how much Canadian history revolves around Ontario, the provincial parliament doubles as a thorough museum of Canada’s political past.

Eaton Centre mall in downtown Toronto. Jon Bilous/Shutterstock

Toronto has many malls, but the grandest is the enormous Eaton Centre , located on Yonge Street — the centre of downtown shopping. Higher end stores can be found many blocks north, in the elite Bloor Yorkville neighborhood. The long Queen Street is home to trendy and unique boutique-style stores. An even bigger, grander mall, the Yorkdale Shopping Centre , is about a 30 minute drive from downtown. It also has its own subway stop.

Kensington Market is an eccentric and bohemian downtown shopping district full of quirky independent stores and restaurants. Way on the other end of town is the indoor St. Lawerence Market , a historic marketplace with dozens of artisanal vendors selling fresh goods like meat, fish, cheeses, baked goods, candy, and more.

Benedict Cumberbatch (b. 1976) signs autographs at the 2013 TIFF .

Toronto has an entire neighborhood south of Richmond Street West known as the Entertainment District that’s home to an assortment of popular bars and nightclubs. Toronto’s large gay scene makes its home in an area around northern Church Street known as Church-Wellesley Village .

The Canadian National Exhibition , better known as the CNE or simply “ the Ex ,” is a large outdoor fair that’s been hosted by Toronto every year since 1879. Held during the final three weeks of summer, the CNE features rides, animal shows, shopping pavilions, live music, and plenty of things to eat.

Toronto Pride is one of the biggest LGBT celebrations anywhere on earth. It now consumes the entire month of July, though most of the partying still revolves around the massive Pride Parade held on the month’s first weekend.

The Toronto International Film Festival takes over the city every fall. Many Hollywood blockbusters make their debut here, along with numerous indie films. Movies are shown all over the city, though the ease of getting tickets will greatly vary. Directors and actors often show up for post-movie Q and A sessions.

Spectator Sports

Toronto is home to Canada’s only NBA team, the Toronto Raptors , who play in the Air Canada Centre , as well as the country’s only MLB team, the Toronto Blue Jays , who play in Rogers Centre   (formerly known as the SkyDome ).

Toronto’s long-suffering NHL team, the infamous Toronto Maple Leafs , play in the Air Canada Centre when the Raptors don’t.

The Rogers Centre arena during a Blue Jays game. Stephen Staley

Relaxing Adirondack chairs are a common symbol of Ontario cottage country, seen here on the shore of Lake of Two Rivers in the Haliburton Highlands .

Ontario Tourism Outside Toronto

Located in the city of  Vaughan ,   Canada’s Wonderland is the biggest amusement park in Canada with giant roller coasters, a water slide park, acrobat shows, and more. Fun for the whole family!

Canada’s most famous tourist attraction of all, the epic waterfalls of Niagara Falls are located about 90 minutes from downtown Toronto along the bank of the Niagara River , which also serves as a US-Canadian border. The two falls, Horseshoe Falls and Bridal Veil Falls , can be viewed up close by special boat tours, while the area around them, known as Clifton Hill , has grown into a sprawling, Las Vegas-like tourist trap complete with casinos, arcades, wax museums, a ferris wheel, haunted houses, buffets and bars galore. A short drive from the falls is Marineland , an aquarium park famous for its whales, dolphins, and seals. The greater Niagara Falls area is home to Ontario’s wine country , with ample vineyards for tours and tastings.

During the summer months, Ontarians love to run away to their so-called “ cottage country ,” the term for the south-central, wooded region of the province where many families rent a second home. The most popular area is the city of  Muskoka , located on the coast of Lake Huron’s   Georgian Bay , though the  Haliburton Highlands , near the Quebec border, and the Kawarthas  region, on the eastern coast of Lake Ontario are hot spots as well.

Parliament Hill

Parliament's Peace Tower is illuminated as part of festivities to commemorate Canada's 150th birthday. On important dates, colorful lights and projections transform Parliament into the centerpiece of a dramatic light show.

Ottawa Tourism

The capital city of Canada.

Ottawa sits on the bank of the Ottawa River , which functions as a border between Ontario and  Quebec . Many of the city’s most famous sights are clustered around the coast, and the city on the Quebec side, Gatineau (previously known as, and still often called, Hull ) — which is easily reached by multiple bridges — is considered part of “Greater Ottawa.” The Rideau Canal and the larger Rideau River both flow from the Ottawa River and cut through the eastern part of the city. In the winter, the frozen Canal is popular for skating.

Ottawa’s skyline is dominated by Parliament Hill , and the grand, gothic Parliament Buildings that serve as the seat of Canada’s  government . The enormous Peace Tower clock rises from the middle of a building known as Centre Block , which contains the chambers of the House of Commons and Senate , as well as the offices of many senior politicians. Unfortunately, the entire Centre Block is currently under renovation and cannot be visited by the public until at least 2029. Temporary chambers of parliament have been set up in adjacent office buildings to the east and west of Centre Block, known as East Block and West Block , respectively. These buildings, which also feature historic recreations of offices of famous figures from Canadian history can be visited by the public.

• Visit Canada’s Parliament

Downtown Ottawa contains numerous monuments of significance, chiefly the massive National War Memorial arch, which commemorates Canada’s war dead, and the new National Holocaust Monument , which honours those murdered by Germany’s Nazi regime (1933-1945). Smaller monuments include the Canadian Tribute to Human Rights and the National Peacekeeping Monument , which honour Canada’s commitment to peace.

• Official website, Tourism Ottawa
• Top 10 Things to Do in Ottawa, TripAdvisor

A Chief Wakas Totem Pole in the Canadian Museum of History .

Most of Canada’s greatest museums are located in Ottawa, and for anyone interested in learning more about Canadian art, history, science, and culture the city offers an endless bounty. Leading attractions include the Canadian Museum of History , the Canadian War Museum , the National Gallery of Canada , the Canadian Museum of Nature , the Canada Science and Technology Museum , the Canadian Aviation and Space Museum , and the Canada Agriculture and Food Museum . All are large, well-funded and contain some of Canada’s top artifacts and exhibits.

Many major institutions of the Canadian federal government also offer tours and museum-like exhibitions, including the Supreme Court of Canada , the Bank of Canada , the Royal Canadian Mint , and Rideau Hall (the official residence of Canada’s Governor General ).

Inside the halls of the Byward Covered Market .

Ottawa’s most iconic shopping area is the  ByWard Market , a collection of open-air vendors selling fresh produce, meats, baked goods and more, surrounded by various shops, cafes, and restaurants.

Despite the name, the Sparks Street Mall is actually another outdoor shopping district, known for its independent shops and lively street performers. The city’s biggest actual mall is the Rideau Centre , with over 160 stores.

As the nation’s capital, Ottawa is home to the country’s grandest celebrations of Canada’s patriotic holidays . Canada Day festivities consume the city every July 1, with outdoor concerts, food carts, and fireworks. Remembrance Day on November 11 is a massive event of a decidedly different tone, as enormous crowds gather around the National War Memorial to watch the prime minister, governor general, and other important people lay wreaths and give speeches in honour of Canada’s war dead.

Winterlude , which is held the first three weekends of February, brings some cheer to Ottawa’s notoriously grim winters. The area around the frozen Rideau Canal is transformed into a sprawl of ice sports, ice sculptures, and children’s playgrounds.

In May, the city is enveloped by the Canadian Tulip Festival , another family-friendly celebration featuring live music, cultural pavilions, and fireworks, held amid vast gardens of tulips that spring up all over the city.

Ottawa has an NHL team called the Ottawa Senators who play at the Canadian Tire Centre . The city’s CFL team, is the Ottawa Redblacks (previously called the Rough Riders ) who play at TD Place .

An ice sculpture at Winterlude 2014. Vlad G./Shutterstock

Ontario tourism resources.

• Official Ontario Tourism Website
• Ontario, Lonely Planet
• Ontario Travel Guide, Fodor's

The top 10 attractions in Ontario

Things to do

Big buildings, big festivals and big adventure fill one of Canada’s biggest provinces. No wonder so many people come to visit. 

Niagara Falls

You might think that if you've seen Niagara Falls External Link Title once, you've seen it all. But the sound of the water as you approach it, the mist you feel on your face as you look up 165 feet at a true natural wonder, and the sheer power of the falls that you can feel to your bones... those things never really get old. Either way, there are a bunch of different ways to experience Niagara Falls. Taking a boat cruise for an up-close and soggy view might be the most classic approach. But you can also Journey Behind the Falls, travelling through tunnels until you're literally behind a wall of water. Or maybe you want to take them in from above in a helicopter, or wait until nightfall when the Falls light up in color. Throw in all the attractions and entertainment in the surrounding neighborhood, and you start to realize why a classic stays a classic. 

Algonquin Park

If you were to make a general list of all the outdoor activities you can think of, you could probably find a solid 90 percent of them in Algonquin Park External Link Title . Ontario's very first provincial park is overflowing with activities for every taste and preference. In the warmer seasons, you've got backcountry camping, backpacking, biking, boating, fishing, picnicking, swimming, whitewater canoeing and wildlife watching (say that five times fast). Then in the winter, you can add on skiing, snowmobiling and dog sledding. Over 1,500 lakes and nearly 750 miles of streams and rivers are located within the park, and you'll find over 1,200 campsites along their shores. In other words, there's no shortage of reasons to visit.

Stratford Festival

It isn't always easy to time your travel to the exact dates of a particular festival you want to visit. This isn't really an issue when it comes to The Stratford Festival External Link Title , the leading classic theatre festival in North America which runs for seven months every year. Between April and October, you see a multitude of high-quality theatre productions, crossing genres and generations. From Shakespeare to Moli?re, tragedy to comedy, choreographed musicals to one-person shows, the Stratford Festival is really the best place in the country to put on your Sunday best and take in a play. 

The CN Tower's EdgeWalk

The CN Tower External Link Title is one of Canada's most well-known landmarks. But a visit to the 1,815-foot building isn't just about seeing the sights. Those who feel a bit bold can walk across the glass floor, only 2.5 inches thick, 113 stories above the ground. Those who are feeling even more bold might travel up another 33 stories to the SkyPod observation platform for the best views of the city. But the real draw, the attraction unlike anything else in the world, is the EdgeWalk. Strap on a harness, head outside the tower and walk along the building's edge with nothing but air between you and the ground. This is not for those with a fear of heights or the faint-of-heart. It is for those who want a serious adrenaline rush, and the ability to tell their friends they did the highest hands-free walk in the world.

Parliament Hill

Canada's Parliament Hill External Link Title isn't just home to the country's government; it's also a cultural and community hub whose activities are hosted in a really incredible setting. You can, for example, do yoga on Parliament Hill. Every Wednesday at noon during the summer, hundreds of people flood the hill with mats and yoga pants to stretch out in front of the iconic buildings. You can also take the Sound and Light show, which for 30-minutes projects a beautiful, engaging story onto the Parliament Buildings themselves. And then there are the more traditional activities. Visit the historic Peace Tower for a 360-degree view of the city and take in the Changing of the Guards, before heading inside for a building tour.

Ottawa River Rafting

Northwest of the nation’s capital, the Ottawa River surges through the Canadian Shield. This waterway, once crossed by First Nations and fur traders, is now home to pure whitewater adventure. In fact, the Ottawa Valley is known as the Whitewater Capital of Canada. Choose one of the local rafting companies and, with experienced guides at the helm, safely splash and roll through one of the world’s great whitewater routes. The difficulty and force of the river varies, so you don’t need to be an experienced paddler to enjoy being on the water. Just hop in the boat and enjoy yourself.

Great Spirit Circle Trail

The Great Spirit Circle Trail External Link Title is a real cultural experience, exposing visitors to the lives of the Anishinaabe people of Manitoulin Island, the largest freshwater lake island in the world. From waterfalls to breathtaking views, the natural beauty of the island is only surpassed by the culture and tradition that it houses. Seven First Nations reserves can be found on Manitoulin, and the rich Aboriginal history is extremely important to all of its residents. The Great Spirit Circle Trail puts you in the hands of a local guide, who will walk you through the history of the island, its nature and its peoples. Hear their stories, share in their food and even take part in a traditional ceremony.

Agawa Canyon Tour Train

Riding the rails isn't what it used to be. On the Agawa Canyon Tour Train External Link Title , you'll spend one day in the total comfort of a modern train while traveling through the heart of the Canadian wilderness. Explore the province's western edge, seeing its lakes and rivers, Canadian Shield forests, and granite rock formations through the big windows of your train car. Listen to an audio tour as it points out interesting landmarks and explains the history of the region, from Ojibwe origins through modern explorers. Best of all, travel 500 feet down to the floor of the Agawa Canyon, and marvel at the power of the last ice age as you step off the train and explore the canyon from its base or from the lookout 250-feet above.

Fort William Historical Park

Travel 200 years back in time and live the life of a voyageur at Fort William Historical Park External Link Title . The park was headquarters of the North West Company's inland fur trade during the early 1800s, trade which played a key role in the foundations of Canada. Feel as though you've stepped back in time as you walk among 42 historic buildings, painstakingly reproduced based on archeological evidence and research. Interact with members of 19th-century fur trade society - Scottish fur traders, French voyageurs, artisans, farmers, First Nations Ojibwe and M?tis - and hear their personal stories. Witness demonstrations such as canoe building, blacksmithing and tinsmithing. Be part of an era gone by, and come away with a keen understanding of how fur traders lived their lives.

1000 Islands

Located on the St. Lawrence Seaway, close to the Ontario border with the United States, the 1000 Islands External Link Title region offers an island getaway not too far from home. Most people will hop on a boat tour and learn about the region's history, from real pirates and bootleggers to the politicians who lived and traveled there. You'll marvel at the castles and mansions where the rich and famous came to play on the weekend. You're also going to want to take advantage of all the opportunities for outdoor adventure. Scuba dive among the 200 shipwrecks in the region or go fishing for the big one. There are also 30 public golf courses in the area and plenty of kayaking and canoeing opportunities. Or you might just want to relax and enjoy the beautiful setting with some local food and drinks.

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• Destinations

25 Best Places to Visit in Ontario, Canada

Niagara falls.

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The capital of Canada, Ottawa is located in southeast Ontario, near the U.S. border and neighboring city of Montreal. Situated along the shimmering Ottawa River, the city boasts marvelous Victorian architecture and world-renowned museums that include the National Gallery of Canada. During the summer, the park-lined Rideau Canal is overflowing with boats; during the winter however, visitors will find plenty of ice-skaters taking advantage of the frozen conditions. One of Ottawa’s top attractions is its legislature complex, better known as Parliament Hill. Located on Crown land, The Hill is a magnificent display of Gothic revival architecture. From Winterlude to the Canadian Tulip Festival to Canada Day, Ottawa is a vibrant city with much to celebrate.

Niagara Falls is a regional municipality of Southeastern Ontario, Canada. The city serves as a central port along the Niagara River, opposite its United States counterpart, New York. The city also overlooks the Horseshoe, sometimes referred to as the Canadian Falls; a crescent-shaped cataract measuring 177 feet in height. This portion of the falls carries approximately nine times the amount of water that the United States side does. The two countries are connected by several bridges that include the Lewiston-Queenston Bridge, the Whirlpool Rapids Bridge, and the Rainbow Bridge. Niagara Falls offers a myriad of fascinating attractions, such as Queen Victoria Park, the Skylon Tower, and Niagara Parks Botanical Gardens.

Hamilton is an industrialized port city located along the west end of Lake Ontario in the Canadian province of Ontario. It boasts impressive dramatic architecture, gorgeous parks, and several magnificent historical sites. This includes the Royal Botanical Gardens, the HMCS Haida National Historic Site, Dunduen Castle and the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum. Popular attractions include the African Lion Safari Park, the Art Gallery of Hamilton, the Canadian Football Hall of Fame, and the Cathedral of Christ the King. It is home to several also home charming and vibrant neighborhoods as well as several natural areas such as Sam Lawrence Park, Bayfront Park, and Webster’s Falls.

Kingston is a small city located halfway between Montreal and Toronto, situated along the stunning shores of Lake Ontario. Established in 1673, this charming, old city originally served as a French trading post. Today, it is known for its rich history and culture and acts as the gateway to the UNESCO-designated Rideau Canal and the legendary 1000 Islands. Often referred to as the Limestone City, downtown Kingston is home to several of its extraordinary limestone historic buildings such as Hendry House, Westbourne Terrace, and Parkview House. The city also features several art galleries, museums, and historical sites like Fort Henry, used during the War of 1812.

Thunder Bay

Thunder Bay is a waterfront city situated along one of North America’s Great Lakes – Lake Superior, in the northwestern region of Ontario, Canada. Thunder Bay offers an exciting variety of active and urban lifestyles. The city is set against a marvelous backdrop of lush boreal forest, pristine rivers and lakes, the rugged Canadian Shield, and countless trail systems. Visitors will enjoy breathtakingly serene surroundings with opportunities for outdoor recreation at every turn. Some of the fun and exciting activities to enjoy around Thunder Bay include fishing, hiking, mountain-biking, boating, jet-skiing, and horseback riding. The Terry Fox Monument, Fort Williams Historical Park, and Hillcrest Park, are just a few of the city’s top attractions for visitors to explore.

Burlington is situated between Niagara Falls and Toronto along the edge of Lake Ontario. A magnificent city that often gets overlooked, Burlington boasts an exquisite gastronomy, gorgeous gardens, a thriving art scene, historic architecture, and several famed natural areas. The latter includes the Niagara Encarpment, a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve, the Mount Nemo Conservation Area, and Spencer Smith Park. It is home to several unique attractions including the Brant Street Pier, a nearly 450-foot, S-shaped pier extending out over Lake Ontario and the legendary Discovery Landing, a 14,200-square-foot landmark building. It boasts an observatory outfitted with grand, floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the picturesque Royal Centennial Pond.

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Georgian Bay

Often considered the sixth Great Lake, Georgian Bay boasts 1,242 miles of gorgeous shoreline and is home to over 30,000 islands. The area consists of majestic towering cliffs, windswept pines, and endless beaches with crystal clear blue waters creating a serene beauty. It is a freshwater playground for anglers, boaters, and kayakers during the summer and a white wonderland for snowshoers, snowmobilers, and skiers in the winter. Georgian Bay’s 30,000 islands and 32 historic lighthouses makes up the biggest freshest archipelago in the world as well as Georgian Bay Islands National Park. This area can be explore by canoe using a local outfitter such as White Squall.

Greater Sudbury

Greater Sudbury is located in the heart of Northeast Ontario. Known as the city of lakes, its home to 330 lakes including its largest, Lake Wanapitei. As the largest municipality in the providence, Greater Sudbury offers urban comforts, world-renowned attractions, and natural areas. The latter includes Lake Laurentian Conservation Area, Fairbank Provincial Park, Wanapitei Provincial Park, Fielding Bird Sanctuary, and Kivi Park. These Parks are popular for a wide variety of outdoor recreation adventures like hiking, biking, cross-country skiing, camping, bird-watching, swimming, and boating. Several interactive museums can be found throughout the city such as science museums Science North and Dynamic Earth and history museums Anderson Farm Museum and the Northern Ontario Railroad Museum.

Algonquin Provincial Park

Algonquin Provincial Park consists of nearly 3,000 square miles situated between the Ottawa River and Georgian Bay in Ontario. Its home to rocky ridges, maple hills, thousands of lakes, and over 750 miles of rivers and streams as well as various plant and wildlife like wolves, moose, deer, and beaver. The park provides visitors with an array of outdoor activities year-round including camping, fishing, horseback riding, mountain biking, cross-country skiing, and day hiking. There are 19 interpretive trails throughout the park ranging in length and difficulty from 0.62 to 7.21 miles. Each trail is equipped with a trail guide and is designed to introduce visitors to a particular aspect of Algonquin’s history of ecology.

Bruce Peninsula National Park

Located on a section of UNESCO’s Niagara Escarpment World Biosphere Reserve, Bruce Peninsula National Park boasts 97 square miles of beautiful and varied landscape. Dramatic cliff sides dotted with ancient cedar trees jut out above the magnificent turquoise waters of Georgian Bay. The park is home to large expanses of mixed-wood forests, clear-water lakes, diverse wetlands, limestone coasts, and vibrant orchids. It is the traditional home for the people of the Saugeen Ojibway First Nations, and serves as a protected preserve for over 200 species of birds, amphibians, mammals both large and small and a few rare reptiles. The park is a captivating outdoor playground providing year-round activities including hiking, scrambling, swimming, camping, and cross-country skiing.

Lake Erie is one part of the five Great Lakes located in North America. It is nestled along the International Boundary between the United States and Canada with its northern shore occupying the Canadian province of Ontario. The lake is believed to have anywhere from 1,400 to 8,000 shipwrecks making a popular destination for divers. However, there are only 270 confirmed shipwreck locations to date. Several public parks surround the lake including UNESCO’s Biosphere Reserve, Long Point Provincial Park and Sand Hill Park. Lake Erie is also home to several diverse islands. The popular, Pelee Island boasts a unique and dynamic ecosystem with rare plant and wildlife, it’s reachable via a ferry from Leamington, Ontario.

Lake Ontario

Bounded by New York on the south and Ontario on the north, Lake Ontario is the most easterly and smallest of the Great Lakes. Many of Ontario’s most popular cities are located along the lakes northern and western shores, this includes Hamilton and its capital city Toronto. It is the home of several islands, the Toronto islands as well as islands, Wolfe, Association, Amherst, Simcoe, Waupoos, Big, and Garden situated in Ontario. Several lighthouses are scattered along its shores such as Gibraltar Point and Presqu’ile. The lake features over 100 beaches and houses the second oldest shipwreck of the Great Lakes.

London is located in southwestern Ontario just a two-hour drive away from Niagara Falls and Toronto as well as the United Stated border at Michigan and New York. It is surrounded by the largest freshwater lakes in the world and is known as the Forest City with more than 200 parks. It is home to Budweiser Gardens, a premier sports entertainment center, The Grand Theatre, Canada’s oldest professional theatre, Museum London, and The London Children’s Museum. The city features a thriving arts scene, charming famers markets, and a vibrant nightlife. It is also known for its rich historic roots, impressive architecture, and diverse culture including 175 churches, cathedrals, temples, synagogues, and mosques.

Mississauga

The sixth largest city in Canada, Mississauga is a corporate capital and home to the largest airport in the country, Toronto Pearson International servicing 32 million passengers a day. Ranked as the safest city in the nation for eight years straight, Mississauga is home to several family-oriented attractions and activities with an emphasis on the arts, outdoor recreation, history, and sports. The city features over 480 parks and more than 20 primary trail systems including a waterfront trail that runs from the Quebec border to Niagara-on-the-Lake. Visitors can also explore several of Mississauga’s charming historic villages like Port Credit situated along the Lake Ontario shoreline.

A regional municipality of Central Ontario, Canada, Muskoka has a variety of fun things for visitors to see and do year-round. Muskoka has several pristine, shimmering lakes that are ideal for a day of boating and water recreation; visitors will be able to enjoy fishing, tubing, wakeboarding, and waterskiing. The lakes are also perfect for boat tours and dinner cruises, paddle boarding, canoeing, kayaking, and swimming. The area’s beautiful, natural surroundings can be explored by ATVs, mountain bike trails, zip line, aerial parks, and picturesque hiking trails. Santa’s Village Family Entertainment Park has been one of Muskoka’s top attractions for more than 60 years now, and is a must visit when in the province of Ontario.

Niagara-on-the-Lake

Niagara-on-the-Lake is a charming waterfront town situated in the southern part of Ontario, Canada, along Lake Ontario’s picturesque shores. The small town is known for its summer Shaw Festival and award-winning wineries. The tree-lined, flower-filled old town features several 19th-century buildings, many of them located along Queen Street. Visitors will find several points of interest to explore around town, including the Fort George National Historic Site of Canada, Queenston Heights Park, and the McFarland House. Lake Ontario is the perfect playground for boating, jet-skiing, wakeboarding, waterskiing, fishing, paddle-boarding, canoeing, kayaking, and so much more. The town’s visitors will be just a short 15-minute drive from one of Canada’s biggest attractions, Horseshoe Falls – Niagara Falls.

Peterborough

The perfect city for outdoor enthusiasts, Peterborough is situated along the beautiful Otonabee River in Central Ontario, Canada. The river offers an idyllic setting for enjoying water activities such as jet-skiing, boating, fishing, waterskiing, paddle-boarding, wakeboarding, swimming, and tubing. Apart from river activities, visitors can partake in a variety of outdoor adventures that include spelunking through glacier formed caves, hiking the area’s picturesque trails, or golfing at one of the city’s championship courses. Peterborough has many attractions and points of interest to explore, including Petroglyphs Provincial Park, the Peterborough Lift Lock, Riverview Park and Zoo, and Canadian Canoe Museum. Visitors will appreciate the city’s plentiful wilderness areas, sparkling waters, and lush forests.

Sault Ste. Marie

Sault Ste. Marie is city situated along St. Marys River, Lake Superior, and the United States border in Ontario, Canada. The city is famous for its 19th-century Sault Ste. Marie Canal – a National Historic Site that’s also part of the country’s national park system. The Canadian Bushplane Heritage Centre has a vast collection of flight simulators and aircraft for visitors to explore. Some of the city’s other attractions include the Art Gallery of Algoma, the Sault Ste. Marie Museum, Hiawatha Highlands, and Kinsmen Park. Sault Ste. Marie is perfect for outdoor recreation all year-round, including hiking, kayaking, ice climbing, mountain biking, zip-lining, and rock climbing.

The Blue Mountains

The Blue Mountains is a small, charming town situated along the shimmering Nottawasaga Bay in Ontario, Canada. From families to groups of friends to couples seeking a romantic getaway, this little town has the perfect activity or adventure for everyone. Thrill-seekers will appreciate the town’s bike park and rugged mountain-biking trails during the summer, and freshly powdered ski slopes in the winter. The bay offers up plenty of opportunity for fun water activities, such as sailing tours, boating, fishing, paddle-boarding, kayaking, and jet-skiing. Visitors will enjoy unique shopping experiences, sensational waterfront dining, world-class attractions, and breathtaking scenery around every corner.

Thousand Islands

Thousand Islands is a North American Archipelago, or group of islands, located in the St. Lawrence River near Ontario, Canada. Comprised of over 1,800 unique islands, Thousand Islands offers plenty of opportunity for outdoor recreation, and provides an idyllic setting for a peaceful vacation. Located along the United States and Canada borders, the region features rich history, unique culture, and endless, picturesque shorelines. Visitors will have several fun and interesting activities to choose from, including guided boat tours, fishing tours, wakeboarding, and jet-skiing. Visitors will have the chance to explore some of the region’s more popular attractions, like the Kingston Waterfront, Brockville Railway Tunnel, and Fort Henry National Historic Site.

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Tobermory is a charming harbor village located on the Bruce Peninsula of Canada’s Ontario province. The land around Tobermory is renowned for its marvelous natural setting, truly a photographer’s paradise. The region features miles of lush forest with tall cedars and pines, majestic cliffs, and beautiful turquoise waters. Tobermory proudly serves as the home to North America’s greatest concentration of native orchid flowers. Visitors hiking along the area’s magnificent trail system may be lucky enough to catch a glimpse of a gorgeous Showy Lady’s Slipper Orchid, or rare Calypso Orchid. The village is situated near Fathom Five National Marine Park, the site of 19th-century lighthouses, the Flowerpot Island sea stacks, and a number of shipwreck dive sites.

Wasaga Beach

Recognized as one of Ontario, Canada’s, premier tourist destinations, Wasaga Beach is a 14-kilometer beach that stretches along the shimmering Nottawasaga Bay. Visitors will enjoy a pristine, white sand beach, clean warm waters, and breathtaking, panoramic mountain views. Wasaga Beach offers a tremendous variety of excellent restaurant and accommodation options. One of the area’s best kept secrets is the recreation trail system. The picturesque trails are perfect for snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, mountain-biking, and hiking. Wasaga Beach also provides plenty of opportunity for exciting water activities, such as boating, jet-skiing, fishing, tubing, wakeboarding, kayaking, and waterskiing. Thrill seekers can go skydiving over the beach, giving them the chance to admire its beauty from a one-of-a-kind perspective.

An International Gateway between the United States of America and Canada, Windsor is a city in Ontario that offers fascinating cultural and historical landmarks, unparalleled waterfront gardens and parks, and world-class entertainment. Visitors will enjoy a city that is committed to being one of the most vibrant and creative destinations, where artistic expression is encouraged, and cultural diversity is celebrated. Whether visitors are interested in artistic and intellectual experiences, or some of the best recreational and heritage sites around, the city has it all. Some top attractions include Windsor Sculpture Park, the Art Gallery of Windsor, and the Chimczuk Museum.

• 2. Niagara Falls
• 3. Hamilton
• 4. Kingston
• 5. Thunder Bay
• 6. Burlington
• 7. Casa Loma
• 8. Georgian Bay
• 9. Greater Sudbury
• 10. Algonquin Provincial Park
• 11. Bruce Peninsula National Park
• 12. Lake Erie
• 13. Lake Ontario
• 15. Mississauga
• 16. Muskoka
• 17. Niagara-on-the-Lake
• 18. Peterborough
• 19. Sault Ste. Marie
• 20. The Blue Mountains
• 21. Thousand Islands
• 22. Toronto
• 23. Tobermory
• 24. Wasaga Beach
• 25. Windsor

Last Updated By VI on March 15, 2024 in Things to Do in Canada & Places to Visit

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Ontario may not have the tourist profile of the Rockies out west, but the province still boasts many of Canada’s top attractions: Niagara Falls is the country’s most visited sight; Ottawa makes an engaging capital, while Toronto is one of the most visited cities in North America; and Algonquin Park is an especially fine tract of pristine wilderness. It’s also very, very big – a giant slab of land, Canada’s second-largest province, stretching all the way from the St Lawrence River and the Great Lakes to the frozen shores of Hudson Bay, a landscape studded with thousands of lakes from which Ontario gets its name – literally “glittering waters” – given by its earliest inhabitants, the Iroquois.

Algonquin Provincial Park

The bruce peninsula, moosonee and moose factory island, sault ste marie, thunder bay.

Spreading along the northern shore of Lake Ontario to either side of Toronto is a chain of towns that are often lumped together as the Golden Horseshoe , a misleadingly evocative name that refers solely to the area’s geographic shape and economic success. This is Ontario’s manufacturing heartland, a built-up strip whose most notable attraction is the Royal Botanical Gardens , close to steel-town Hamilton . Further round the lake are the famous Niagara Falls , easily Ontario’s most popular attraction, and Niagara-on-the-Lake , one of the province’s quaintest towns. West of the Golden Horseshoe, much of Southwest Ontario is profoundly rural, an expanse of farmland sandwiched between lakes Huron and Erie. High points here include Goderich and Bayfield , two charming little towns tucked tight against Lake Huron; Stratford , with its much-vaunted theatre festival; and Georgian Bay , whose Severn Sound is the location of the astoundingly beautiful Georgian Bay Islands National Park , an elegiac land and waterscape of rocky, pine-dotted islets and crystal-blue lake. The national park – and its campsites – are best approached by boat from tiny Honey Harbour, but you can sample the scenery on a variety of island cruises from Penetanguishene, Midland and the dinky little port of Parry Sound . Also here on Severn Sound are a pair of top-notch historical reconstructions, the one-time British naval base at Discovery Harbour and the former Jesuit mission at Sainte-Marie among the Hurons .

Central Ontario, inland from the coastal strip bordering Georgian Bay, is largely defined by the Canadian Shield , whose endless forests, myriad lakes and thin soils dip down from the north in a giant wedge. This hostile terrain has kept settlement down to a minimum, though latterly the very wildness of the land has attracted Canadian holidaymakers, who come here to hunker down in their lakeside cottages – hence the moniker “cottage country”. The centre of this is the Muskoka Lakes , a skein of narrow lakes and rivers, and their main supply towns, Gravenhurst and Bracebridge . The Muskoka Lakes may be relatively domesticated, but neighbouring Algonquin Provincial Park is certainly not, comprising a wilderness tract with abundant wildlife and a mind-bogglingly large network of canoe routes.

The implacability of the Shield breaks up as it approaches the St Lawrence River at the east end of Lake Ontario, and it’s here you’ll find a string of historic towns and villages. The pick is Kingston , renowned for its fine limestone buildings and a pleasant stepping stone on the road east to either Montréal or Ottawa , Canada’s appealing capital city, which boasts some of the country’s finest museums and a first-rate restaurant and bar scene.

Stretching north from the shores of Lake Huron and Lake Superior, northern Ontario is almost entirely flat, give or take the odd ridge and chasm, an endless expanse of forest and lake pouring over the mineral-rich rocks of the Canadian Shield. It was the north which once produced the furs that launched Canada’s economy, but the travelling is hard and time-consuming and, unless you’re after some hunting and fishing , the region’s charms are limited. Two main roads cross this immense, sparsely populated region, Hwy-11 in the north and the much more enjoyable Hwy-17 to the south. Highlights of Hwy-17 begin with Sault Ste Marie , the terminus for a splendid wilderness train trip on the Algoma Central Railway , and continue with the string of parks bordering Lake Superior , notably the extravagantly wild Lake Superior Provincial Park and Pukaskwa National Park . Beyond lies the inland port of Thunder Bay , the last place of much appeal before Winnipeg, a further 680km to the west. Hwy-11 , on the other hand, links a series of far-flung mining towns and has little to offer with the possible exception of the Polar Bear Express train , which strikes north from Cochrane beyond the road network to Moosonee on the frozen shores of James Bay – though to be frank, the rail journey across these northern wastes can seem interminable, the mosquitoes infuriating the moment you disembark.

Brief history

The first Europeans to make regular contact with the region’s Aboriginal Iroquois and Algonquin peoples were the French explorers of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, most famously Étienne Brûlé and Samuel de Champlain. These early visitors were preoccupied with the fur trade , and it wasn’t until the end of the American War of Independence and the immigration of the United Empire Loyalists from New England that mass settlement began. Between 1820 and 1850 a further wave of migrants, mostly English, Irish and Scots, made Upper Canada , as Ontario was known until Confederation, the most populous and prosperous part of Canada. This pre-eminence was reinforced towards the end of the nineteenth century by the industrialization of the region’s larger towns, a process underpinned by the discovery of some of the world’s richest mineral deposits: in the space of twenty years, nickel was found near Sudbury, silver at Cobalt, gold in Red Lake and iron ore at Wawa.

In 1943, the Progressive Conservative Party (PCs) took control of the provincial government and remained in power for over forty years. The PCs followed a right-of-centre, pro-business agenda and their skill in handling the popular vote earned them the nickname the “Big Blue Machine”. Nevertheless, the PCs did move with the times, passing a string of progressive acts such as, for example, Canada’s first Fair Employment Practices Act against discrimination and the Female Employees Fair Remuneration Act, both in 1951. In 1985, the PCs finally lost a provincial election, but returned to power ten years later with a flinty right-wing agenda that owed much to Britain’s Margaret Thatcher. The PCs were much taken up with privatization and tax cuts (plus endless carping about welfare scroungers), but this did not play well with a sizeable chunk of the population and, much to the relief of the Left, the Liberals have defeated them in the last four elections, with 2014 seeing Kathleen Wynne elected as the first female leader of the majority winner.

Economically , Ontario’s timber and mining industries, massive hydroelectric schemes and myriad factories have kept the province at or near the top of the economic ladder for decades. The province’s industrial success has also created massive environmental problems , most noticeable in the wounded landscapes around Sudbury and the polluted waters of lakes Erie and Ontario – problems which the provincial government has started to tackle, albeit somewhat tardily.

Created in 1893 at the behest of logging companies keen to keep farmers out, Algonquin Provincial Park is Ontario’s oldest and largest provincial park and for many it comprises the quintessential Canadian landscape. Located on the southern edge of the Canadian Shield, the park straddles a transitional zone , with the hilly two-thirds to the west covered in a hardwood forest of sugar maple, beech and yellow birch, while in the drier eastern part jack pine, white pine and red pine predominate. Throughout the park, the lakes and rocky rounded hills are interspersed with black spruce bogs, a type of vegetation typical of areas far further north. Canoeing is very popular here and with an astounding 1600km of routes there’s a good chance of avoiding all contact for days on end. Wildlife is as varied as the flora – any trip to Algonquin is characterized by the echo of birdsong, from the loons’ ghostly call to the screech of ravens. Beavers, moose, black bears and raccoons are all resident, as are white-tailed deer, whose population thrives on the young shoots that replace the trees felled by the park’s loggers. Public “howling parties” – which can attract up to two thousand people – set off into the wilderness during August in search of timber wolves , or rather their howls: many of the rangers are so good at howling that they can get the animals to reply.

Whether you’re after the full wilderness experience or just a quick dabble, access to Algonquin’s backcountry is via the 56km Parkway Corridor – also known as the Frank McDougall Parkway (Hwy-60) – the park’s only significant road linking the West Gate, 45km east of Hwy-11, and the East Gate, on the long road to and from Ottawa.

The beaver is Canada’s national animal: it appeared on the first postage stamp issued by the colony in 1851, and now features on the back of the 5¢ piece. There was nothing sentimental about this choice – beaver pelts kick-started the colonial economy – and only recently has the beaver been treated with some restraint and protected from being indiscriminately polished off.

Beavers are aquatic rodents, growing to around 75cm in length and weighing about 35kg. Aboriginal peoples hunted the beaver for its thick, soft pelt , composed of long guard hairs and a dense undercoat, to use for clothing. In the seventeenth century. European fur traders realized the value of beaver pelts, particularly in the manufacture of the all-weather, all-purpose hat worn by every man of any substance. To keep up with demand the beaver was extensively trapped, and the French voyageurs pushed further and further west along the lake and river systems in pursuit of the animal, thereby opening up much of the interior. The beaver was hunted to the point of extinction in much of eastern Canada, but had a reprieve when the beaver hat went out of fashion in the late nineteenth century; today beavers are comparatively commonplace.

Beavers start to build their dams , which can be up to 700m wide, by strategically felling one tree across a stream. This catches silt and driftwood and the beaver then reinforces the barrier with sticks and stones plus grass and mud, which is laboriously smoothed-in as a binding element. The lodge is constructed simultaneously; sometimes it forms part of the dam and sometimes it is fixed to the shore or an island in the pond. It is about 2m in diameter and has two entrances – one accessible from land and one from underwater – both for its own convenience and to be able to escape predators in any emergency, along with a lot of tail slapping to give the alarm. Lodges are topped with grass thatch and a good layer of mud, which freezes in winter, making them virtually impenetrable. During the autumn, the beaver stocks its pond with the soft-bark trees and saplings that make up its diet. It drags them below the water line and anchors them to the mud at the bottom before retiring to the lodge for the winter, only emerging to get food from the pond or repair the dam. Beaver lakes are not the tree-fringed paradises portrayed by some nature-film makers; nearer the mark is a mud-banked pond, surrounded by untidily felled trees and with a bedraggled-looking domed heap of sticks and sludge somewhere along its banks.

BRANTFORD , a quick 40km west of Hamilton on Hwy-403, takes its name from Joseph Brant , an Iroquois chieftain who was one of the most intriguing figures of colonial Canada. Brant helped the British during the American War of Independence and, after their defeat, he and his followers were obliged to make a hasty exit from New York State before the Americans could take their revenge. The British stayed loyal to their ally (just about) and in 1784 Brant was ceded a large tract of land beside the Grand River on the site of what is today Brantford. European settlers reached the area in numbers in the 1850s and subsequently Brantford developed as a manufacturing centre churning out agricultural equipment by the wagon load. By the 1980s, however, the town was in decline as many of its factories and foundries went bust or relocated. Brantford still bears the scars of this de-industrialization, but a concerted effort has been made to breathe new life into the centre and, for the most part, this has been a success with a batch of new leisure facilities and shopping malls. For Canadians, Brantford is most famous as the home town of Wayne Gretzky , probably the greatest ice-hockey player of all time; for everyone else, the town is best known as being the one-time home of the inventor of the telephone, Alexander Graham Bell .

The Mennonites of Kitchener–Waterloo and St Jacobs

The twin industrial cities of Kitchener and Waterloo hog a slab of flatland to the west of the Grand River. They have a distinctive pedigree, as the first white settlers to arrive in the area in numbers were the Mennonites, a tightly knit Protestant sect who migrated here in the 1790s from the US, where their pacifist beliefs had incurred the wrath of their neighbours during the American Revolution. Over the years, the Mennonites gradually drifted out of the twin cities and now own much of the farmland immediately to the north.

They are unmistakeable, with the men wearing traditional black suits and broad-brimmed hats, or deep-blue shirts and braces, the women ankle-length dresses and matching bonnets, and many navigate the roads in black, horse-drawn buggies. Despite appearances, however, the Ontario Mennonites are far from a homogeneous sect. Over twenty different groups are affiliated to the Mennonite Central Committee (MCC). They all share certain religious beliefs reflecting their Anabaptist origins – the sole validity of adult baptism being crucial – but precise practices and dress codes vary from group to group: for instance, members of the traditional wing of the movement, called Old Order Mennonite, own property communally and shun all modern machinery.

To explain their history and faith, the MCC runs a small but intriguing interpretation centre, The Mennonite Story, at 1406 King St North in the village of St Jacobs, just north of Waterloo via Hwy-85. Also in St Jacobs, along the short main street, are several Mennonite stores selling home-made farm produce – the maple syrup is simply magnificent. Mennonite traders are also prominent at the much-lauded Farmers’ Market, back in the centre of Kitchener on King Street East (Sat 7am–2pm; kitchenermarket.ca ).

Separating the main body of Lake Huron from Georgian Bay, the Bruce Peninsula holds two of Ontario’s national parks. The more distinctive is the Fathom Five National Marine Park , at the northern tip of the peninsula, which provides wonderful sport for divers. The second is the Bruce Peninsula National Park , comprising two slabs of forested wilderness on either side of Hwy-6, its northern portion offering magnificent coastal hiking on a small section of the Bruce Trail. There’s camping at both parks and a reasonable choice of hotel and motel accommodation at lively Tobermory , from where you catch the car ferry over to Manitoulin Island.

Fathom Five National Marine Park

Fathom Five National Marine Park comprises a scattering of uninhabited islands and the waters that surround them at the end of the Bruce Peninsula, offshore from Tobermory. To protect the natural habitat, only Flowerpot Island , 4km from the mainland, has any amenities, with limited space for camping – six sites only – and a couple of short hiking trails that explore its eastern reaches. A delightful spot, Flowerpot takes its name from two pink-and-grey rock pillars that have been eroded away from its eastern shore – and these are readily seen on the islet’s hiking trails.

Fathom Five is known across Canada for its excellent diving – the waters are clear, there are extraordinary rock formations and a handful of shipwrecks. Prospective divers must register in person at the national park office. Diving gear can be rented down by Tobermory harbour at G&S Watersports (519 596 2200, gswatersports.net ), who also offer diving lessons and kayak rental.

With a population of around 500,000, HAMILTON lies at the extreme western end of Lake Ontario, about 70km from Toronto. The city takes its name from George Hamilton, a storekeeper-turned-landowner, who surveyed the area after he moved here following the destruction of his homestead during the War of 1812. By the early 1900s, Hamilton had become a major steel producer and today its mills churn out about half the country’s output, though the city’s industrial heyday has faded and in recent years it has struggled to keep itself afloat. Industrial cities are rarely high on tourist itineraries and Hamilton is no exception, but it does have one or two quality attractions, most notably the sprawling Royal Botanical Gardens . Other than the gardens, all the city’s key attractions are in – or within comfortable walking distance of – a surprisingly compact downtown core . This runs east to west parallel to the lake shore along King Street West and Main Street West, between Bay Street North and James Street North. Beyond here, Hamilton becomes a large and sprawling city with a confusing one-way street system.

The Royal Botanical Gardens (RBG)

The delightful

Royal Botanical Gardens

cover some twelve square kilometres just across Burlington Bay from downtown Hamilton, its several sections spread over 15km of wooded shoreline. The flower displays here are simply gorgeous with highlights including

Hendrie Park’s Rose Gardens

(best June–Oct) and nearby

Laking Garden

with its irises and peonies (May & June). Hendrie Park adjoins the main

RBG Visitor Centre

, where there’s a shop, café and several inside areas featuring forced bulbs, orchids and cacti. Wilder parts of the RBG are round to the west with the 800-hectare

Cootes Paradise Sanctuary

latticed with hiking trails.

Birthplace of the rock singer Bryan Adams but prouder of its handsome limestone buildings, the city of KINGSTON , a fast 260km east of Toronto along Hwy-401, is the largest and most enticing of the communities along the northern shore of Lake Ontario. The town occupies an attractive and strategically important position where the lake narrows into the St Lawrence River, its potential first recognized by the French who built a fortified fur-trading post, Fort Frontenac , here in 1673. It was not a success, but struggled on until 1758 when it fell to a combined force of British, Americans and Iroquois, a victory soon followed by an influx of United Empire Loyalists, who promptly developed Kingston – as they renamed it – into a major shipbuilding centre and naval base. The money rolled in and the future looked rosy when the completion of the Rideau Canal, linking Kingston with Ottawa in 1832, opened up its hinterland. Kingston became Canada’s capital in 1841 and although it lost this distinction just three years later it remained the region’s most important town until the end of the nineteenth century. In recent years, Kingston – and its 160,000 inhabitants – has had as many economic downs as ups, but it does benefit from the presence of Queen’s University , one of Canada’s most prestigious academic institutions, and of the Royal Military College , the country’s answer to Sandhurst and West Point.

Central Kingston’s medley of old houses and offices displays every architectural foible admired by the Victorians, from neo-Gothic mansions with high gables to elegant Italianate villas, but the cream of the architectural crop are the city’s Neoclassical limestone buildings, especially City Hall and the Cathedral of St George . Kingston also holds the first-rate Agnes Etherington Art Centre gallery and Bellevue House , once the home of prime minister Sir John A. Macdonald. Add to this several superb B&Bs, a cluster of good restaurants and scenic boat trips round the Thousand Islands just offshore, and you have a city that is well worth a couple of days.

Kingston’s elongated centre slopes up from Lake Ontario. Most of the key sights and the pick of the city’s bars and restaurants nudge together along the first few blocks of the main commercial drag, Princess Street .

A watery detour: the Rideau canal

If you’re travelling from Kingston to Ottawa , the obvious route is east along Hwy-401 and then north up Hwy-416, a journey of 175km. With more time, however, it’s worth considering a slower route along two country roads – Hwy-15 and then Hwy-7 . En route, you’ll pass a battery of signs to the 24 lock stations of the 202km-long Rideau Canal ( t 613 283 5170, w pc.gc.ca ), which cuts through the slab of coniferous and deciduous forest, bogs, limestone plains and granite ridges that separate Ottawa and Kingston. Completed in 1832 after a mere six years’ work, the canal was built to provide safe inland transport at a time of poor Anglo-American relations, but after the political situation improved it developed as an important route for regional commerce. The canal’s construction led to the development of Bytown , renamed Ottawa in 1855, but in the second half of the nineteenth century the railways made the canal obsolete and today it’s plied by holiday boats. For the motorist, one of the more impressive lock stations is Kingston Mills (Locks 46–49), 12km inland from Kingston on Hwy-15, where a steep flight of locks negotiates a wooded ravine overlooked by a blockhouse and lock offices. It’s a lovely spot and there’s more of the same, albeit in a wilder setting, at Jones Falls (Locks 39–42), 3km off Hwy-15 and about 40km from Kingston. Here, a huddle of old timber buildings is a prelude to a rickety footbridge that leads over a lake to a steep flight of locks guarded by several old stone buildings. By boat it takes five days to get from Kingston to Ottawa on the Rideau Canal with Ontario Waterways ( t 705 327 5767, t 1 800 561 5767, w ontariowaterwaycruises.com ); there are between three and six cruises monthly from mid-May to mid-September, the cost is $1951, and reservations are essential.

The Crees have been hunting and fishing James Bay, a southerly extension of Hudson Bay, for several thousand years and they make up the majority of the population of MOOSONEE , which occupies an incredibly remote and solitary bayside location well to the north of the road network. A French fur-trading company, Révillon Frères, founded Moosonee in 1903 and the Révillon Frères Museum (late June to early Sept daily 10am–6pm; free; t 705 336 1209), in one of the original company buildings, traces the history of the settlement and its largely unsuccessful attempt to challenge the local monopoly of the Hudson’s Bay Company . The latter had established the trading post of Moose Factory Island , just offshore, in 1673, which makes it the oldest English-speaking community in Ontario. Water taxis ($10 one way) zip travellers from the jetty at Moosonee to the island, where the Moose Factory Centennial Museum Park (late June to early Sept daily 9am–5pm; free; t 705 658 2733) holds the original blacksmith’s shop, graveyard, powder magazine (the island’s only stone building) and a teepee where the locals sell bannock (freshly baked bread). South of here, St Thomas Anglican Church , built in 1860, has an altar cloth of beaded moose hide, prayer books written in Cree and removable floor plugs to prevent the church floating away in floods.

OWEN SOUND , just under 200km northwest of Toronto and 130km north of Goderich, occupies the ravine around the mouth of the Sydenham River, at the foot of the Bruce Peninsula. In its heyday, Owen Sound was a rough and violent port packed with brothels and bars, prompting the Americans to establish a consulate whose main function was to bail out drunk and disorderly sailors. For the majority it was an unpleasant place to live, and the violence spawned an especially active branch of the Women’s Christian Temperance Organization, whose success was such that an alcohol ban was imposed in 1906 and only lifted in 1972. The town was in decline long before the return of the bars, its port facilities undercut by the railways from the 1920s, but it’s managed to reinvent itself and is now an amiable sort of place well worth at least a pit stop, though navigation can be confusing: avenues run north–south and streets east–west, while the river, which bisects the town centre, separates avenues and streets East from those marked West.

Blue Mountain ski resort

The small-time port of Collingwood , 65km east of Owen Sound on Nottawasaga Bay, is the gateway to the Blue Mountain , a segment of the Niagara Escarpment whose steepish slopes are now a major winter sports area, mainly for alpine skiing though several cross-country trails have also been developed. To get there from Collingwood, take the Blue Mountain Road (Hwy-19) which reaches – after about 10km – the downhill ski slopes at the Blue Mountain Resort ( t 705 445 0231, t 1 877 445 0231, w bluemountain.ca ), a large and modern sprawl comprising hotels, shops, restaurants and cafés. In total, the Blue Mountain ski area has 36 downhill ski slopes of varying difficulty with a maximum vertical drop of 219m. The prime season is from mid-December to mid-March.

Strategically situated beside St Mary’s River, the tortuous link between lakes Superior and Huron, industrial SAULT STE MARIE – more popularly The Soo – sits opposite the Michigan town of the same name and sees constant two-way traffic, with two sets of tourists keen to see how the other lot lives. The Soo, 300km from Sudbury, is northern Ontario’s oldest community, originally settled by Ojibwa fishing parties. The French called these Ojibwa Saulteux (“people of the falls”) and the Jesuit missionaries who followed added the Christian sobriquet to give the town its present name. Initially, The Soo flourished as a gateway to the fur-rich regions inland, but it was the construction of a lock and canal in the nineteenth century that launched its career as a Great Lakes port and industrial centre, churning out pulp, paper and steel. Too industrial to be pretty,

Some 2km long and three blocks wide, The Soo’s downtown core runs parallel to the waterfront to either side of the main drag, Queen Street East . All the principal sights and most visitor facilities are located here, the pick of which stretch along the waterfront , but its real appeal is as the starting point for a splendid wilderness train ride on the Algoma Central Railway .

The Algoma Central Railway

The 476km-long Algoma Central Railway (ACR) was constructed in 1901 to link the Soo’s timber plants with the forests of the interior. the first recreational users were members of the group of Seven, who shunted up and down the track in a converted boxcar, stopping to paint whenever the mood took them. the ACr’s timber days are long gone, but today the railway offers one of Ontario’s finest excursions, with the train snaking through a wonderful wilderness of deep ravines, secluded lakes and plunging gorges. to see it all, sit on the left-hand side – otherwise you’ll end up looking at an awful lot of rock. there are several tours to choose from, though only two stand out, and all depart from the Algoma Central railway terminal, in downtown Soo at 129 Bay St and dennis (t 705 946 7300, t 1 800 242 9287, w agawacanyontourtrain.com).

The Agawa Canyon Tour Train takes a day to cover the first 200km of track and back (late June to mid-Oct departs daily at 8am, returns 6pm; $84; $102 in autumn). Reservations are strongly advised and essential in the autumn, when the leaves turn. A two-hour stop within the canyon’s 180m-high walls allows for a lunch break and a wander around the well-marked nature trails, which include a lookout post from where the rail line appears as a thin silver thread far below. Unless you are properly equipped don’t miss the train back – the canyon gets very cold at night, even during the summer, and the blackflies are merciless.

A regular passenger train service from The Soo to the remote francophone township of Hearst three times weekly was suspended in the summer of 2015. Previously passengers on this train could get off and on at various points along the line; check w algomapassengerrail.com for the latest on the ongoing efforts to get this service reinstated.

STRATFORD , some 150km west of Toronto, is a likeable country town of thirty thousand people, which rises head and shoulders above its neighbours as the host of the Stratford Festival , originating in 1953 and now one of the most prestigious theatrical occasions in North America, attracting no fewer than half a million visitors every year. It only takes an hour or so to work out what is where in Stratford, beginning with the town’s downtown core, on and around the junction of Ontario and Downie streets, where a handsome set of nineteenth-century brick facades reach an idiosyncratic hiatus in the grandiose city hall , a brown-brick fiesta of cupolas, towers and limestone trimmings. The town is also bisected by the meandering Avon River , whose leafy banks are lined with immaculately maintained footpaths and overlooked by the largest of the town’s four theatres, the Festival Theatre .

The Stratford Festival

Each year, North America’s largest classical repertory company puts on the Stratford Festival ( t 519 273 1600, t 1 800 567 1600, w stratfordfestival.ca ), featuring two of Shakespeare’s tragedies and one of his comedies; this programme is augmented by other classical staples – Molière, Chekhov, Jonson and so forth – as well as by the best of modern and musical theatre. The festival also hosts a lecture series, various tours (of backstage and a costume warehouse, for example), music concerts, an author reading series and meet-and-greet sessions with the actors. The festival runs from mid-April to late October and there are performances in four downtown theatres – the Festival, the Tom Patterson, the Avon and the Studio. Regular tickets cost between $50 and $80 depending on the performance and seat category, though there are all sorts of discount deals for students, seniors, same-day performances and previews; many plays are sold out months in advance. Call or check the website to book.

The Lake Superior port of THUNDER BAY , some 110km from Nipigon, is much closer to Winnipeg than to any other city in Ontario, and consequently its 120,000 inhabitants are prone to see themselves as Westerners. Economics as well as geography define this self-image, for this was until recently a booming grain-handling port – for grain harvested in the Prairies. Some grain still arrives here by rail to be stored in the town’s gigantic grain elevators on its way to the Atlantic, but since the 1990s the economics of the trade have favoured Canada’s Pacific ports and many of the elevators that dominate the harbourfront are now literally rotting away.

Scarred by industrial complexes and crisscrossed by rail lines, Thunder Bay is not immediately enticing, but it does have enough of interest to make a pleasant stopover on the long journey to or from Winnipeg and points west. The most agreeable part of town is the few blocks stretching inland from behind the marina in Thunder Bay North , north of Central Avenue, where you’ll also find several good cafés and restaurants. Thunder Bay South is much less appealing, but on its outskirts is the city’s star turn, the replica fur-trading post of Fort William Historical Park .

Thunder Bay was created in 1970 when the two existing towns of Fort William and Port Arthur were brought together under one municipal roof. Fort William was the older of the two, established in 1789 as a fur-trading post and then becoming the upcountry headquarters of the North West Company. It lost its pre-eminent position when the North West and Hudson’s Bay companies merged, but it remained a fur-trading post until the end of the nineteenth century. In the middle of the nineteenth century, rumours of a huge silver lode brought prospectors to the Lake Superior shoreline just north of Fort William, where Port Arthur was established. The silver didn’t last and the Port Arthur, Duluth & Western Railway (PD&W), which had laid the lines to the mines, was soon nicknamed “the Poverty, Distress & Welfare”. The Canadian Northern Railway, which took over the abandoned PD&W lines, did much to rescue the local economy, but did not bring Fort William and Port Arthur closer together. Rudyard Kipling noted that, “The twin cities hate each other with the pure, passionate, poisonous hatred that makes cities grow. If Providence wiped out one of them, the other would pine away and die.” Fortunately, the 1970 amalgamation bypassed Kipling’s prediction and nowadays these parochial rivalries have all but vanished.

West from Thunder Bay to Winnipeg

Heading west from Thunder Bay, it’s almost 700km to Winnipeg in Manitoba. The logical place to break your journey is Kenora , almost 500km away along Hwy-17, through the interminable pine forests of the Canadian Shield. Remember to put your watch back one hour when you cross into the Central time zone , about 60km west of Thunder Bay.

Discover more places in Canada

• The Lake Huron shoreline
• Lake Superior’s north shore
• Manitoulin Island
• The Muskoka Lakes
• Niagara Falls and the Niagara River
• Severn Sound
• The upper St Lawrence River

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33 Best Weekend Getaways in Ontario, Canada

Written By: ThePlanetD Team

Updated On: February 19, 2024

Ontario has some of Canada’s best cities and towns in Canada from Toronto to Paris (named one of the prettiest little towns in Canada) and it is filled with awesome outdoor adventures. In a nutshell, Ontario has it all . So if traveling abroad isn’t in the cards, you can still take a break to enjoy these best weekend getaways in Ontario.

Ontario offers year-round options for a fun filled weekend trip, and there is plenty of beauty and culture to be found. If you are looking for the best weekend getaways in Ontario, rest assured you have many places to choose from. And we’ve rounded them up all in one place for you.

Table of Contents

Weekend Getaways in Ontario

We’ll cover all the best weekend getaways – splitting the guide into outdoor, urban, family, and resort getaways. So let’s start with the top weekend getaways in Ontario to enjoy one of these lovely city breaks in Ontario..

Cities and Towns

Ready to support local businesses, explore charming towns, and treat yourself to retail therapy? These are the best cities and towns for weekend getaways in Ontario. From small towns to major cities, we’ve got a fantastic range to suit everyone’s interests.

Tiny Paris was named the “Prettiest little town in Canada,” and it is certainly is one of the best small towns to visit for a fun Ontario weekend getaway. The town is famed for its stone buildings, cafes, and window shopping culture.

We may be slightly biased with this one because Paris is our home town but it is lovely here. Hiking and biking trails, great dining, spas, and scenery surround us.

Apart from shopping and enjoying cafes, you can enjoy some activities like river tubing, fly fishing, or kayaking on the Grand River. Paris is located at the junction of the Nith Rivers and Grand River, so it offers lots of outdoor entertainment including hiking on the Grand Trail following the Grand River from the portage area at the dam.

For a weekend getaway for couples, book a room at the Arlington Hotel and take a stroll through the streets. Pick up a coffee at the Paris Bakery and browse the many boutique shops and the shops at Wincey Mills. Book a massage at the Ah Spa in the afternoon and then book dinner at Stillwaters.

Accommodation in Paris – The best accommodation in Paris is the  Arlington Hotel . This central hotel was established in 1851 and offers historical, chic accommodation in the heart of Paris, just opposite the Grand River. The luxury boutique hotel has a restaurant, tranquil updated rooms, and unique decor. Read more: 27 Things to do in Paris Ontario – A Local’s Guide

Ottawa is an all-around golden child and it is our absolute favorite city in Ontario. We’ve been many times and it’s impossible to round up everything in one short paragraph of things to do. It has an abundance of museums , historical sites, landmarks, nature, an exciting food scene, and some great restaurants.

Ottawa is a big city with a small-town feel bringing an extra depth of character to the place. It is easily accessed and makes for a rewarding weekend break for anyone looking for an Ontario city experience. Check out the best Ottawa tours here.

Ottawa is home to thousands of  things to do , including the Canadian National Gallery, Canadian War Museum, and Parliament Hill. Visitors can fly straight into Ottawa or drive there from major cities like Montreal (which Ottawa is a two-hour drive from). The capital of Canada is perfect for winter, autumn , spring , or summer adventures .

Best accommodation option in Ottawa – You will have hundreds of accommodation options in Ottawa.  Fairmont Chateau Laurier  is particularly luxurious if you want to splash out a little. Read more: 33 Things to do in Ottawa – A Complete Guide to the City

3. Prince Edward County

Prince Edward, aka Prince Edward County, is technically an island. The island community is known for its local artists, beautiful beaches, and wineries. And, just a two-hour drive from Toronto , Prince Edward County is one of the most charming places for a weekend getaway.

While you eat, drink, and be merry, keep your eyes out for Amelia’s Garden Restaurant. The fine dining restaurant prides itself on organic, seasonal produce from nearby farms. It even offers accommodation packages too, so you can stay and dine. If you are traveling with children, Cottage Country Factory is more suitable than fine dining.

Just a short drive from Prince Edward County, this famed sweet shop is the ultimate place for children to pick up their favorite candy. And with so many outdoor  activities on Prince Edward , their sugar rush may come in handy.

Best accommodation option in Prince Edward County – There are plenty of great options, but  Angeline’s Inn  is the quirkiest. The historic inn has bold, colorful decor and warm service.

4. Niagara on the Lake

Niagara-on-the-Lake is a brilliant small-town getaway for both summer and winter. Filled with historic charm, this town in Ontario is packed with culture, from post-1812 war buildings to world-class theater productions. Read more: 15 Amazing Things to do in Niagara on the Lake – Canada

Many people liken visiting Niagara-on-the-Lake to stepping back into the 19th century as they ride horse carts, sip wine and eat at a fine dining restaurant before relaxing in a luxury hotel. As a weekend destination, it sure packs a punch.

When you aren’t visiting historical attractions, squeeze in a winery or two. Niagara-on-the-Lake is well-known for its successful wineries, and you can experience its produce with wine tasting. Wine tasting tours can be booked here.

Niagara-on-the-Lake is an hour’s drive from  Hamilton  and an hour and a half’s drive from Toronto. This half day wine tour takes you to sample wines at Pillitteri Estates, Inniskillin, and Konzelmann Estates followed by free time to enjoy Niagara on the Lake.

Best accommodation option in Niagara-on-the-Lake – The Pillar and Post Inn and Spa  – is a Niagara institution renovated in a historic building. It has full modern amenities with indoor and outdoor pools, and exotic hot springs pool at 100 Fountain Spa.

• The Pillar and Post Inn and Spa  – is a Niagara on the Lake institution renovated in a historic building. It has full modern amenities with indoor and outdoor pools, and exotic hot springs pool at 100 Fountain Spa.
• The Prince of Wales  – is another favourite set in a Victorian landmark downtown. With a pool, fitness center, and make sure to book at an appointment at the Secret Garden Spa, it is a perfect choice for an elegant vacation in Niagara on the Lake.
• There are plenty of luxurious AirBnBs in Niagara on the Lake.  This one is a lovely cottage  that is two blocks from downtown’s main street.
• Read our full guide – Where to Stay in Niagara Falls – Best Hotels

5. Niagara Falls Getaway

Niagara-on-the-Lake and Niagara Falls are as different as salt and pepper. A Niagara Falls getaway features the falls, however, the town has a much livelier atmosphere, with tourist attractions like wax museums and casinos.

You can get up close and personal in Journey Behind the Falls or the Hornblower, enjoy the excitement of Clifton Hill, nightlife and attractions of the Fallsview area and make sure to ride the awesome Ferris wheel.

If you are looking for fun a weekend getaway in Ontario with a bit of adventure, nightlife, and excitement, Niagara Falls is an excellent idea. Plus, there is  romance to be found if you know where to look .

A Niagara Falls Getaway is our favorite Ontario weekend getaway because we always find something new to do. In the past 25 years we have visited Niagara Falls for at least one weekend. And we always love it!

Niagara Falls is an hour’s drive from Hamilton and an hour and a half from Toronto. Read more: The Best Things to do in Niagara Falls

Best accommodation option in Niagara Falls – This town offers many great accommodation options, many of which provide waterfall views.  Niagara Falls Marriott Fallsview Hotel & Spa  is a good one, and we’ll attach a link here if you’d like to take a look. Read more: Where to Stay in Niagara Falls – Best Areas

6. Grand Bend

Grand Bend is another small-town gem, perfect for a getaway. My family had a cottage here growing up and my parents retired here for about 10 years, so we know Grand Bend well. Plus, I spent a season at Huron Country Playhouse singing in one of their shows. This place is rockin’!

Set on the shores of Lake Huron, Grand Bend town lives and breathes anything water-related. You could go swimming, kayaking, or mix things up with a parasailing experience. Its beach is always packed with people and activities. Check out: 25 Best Places to Camp in Ontario, Canada

There’s also Pinery Provincial Park to enjoy, which we will chat about further down. The town is approximately two hours from Hamilton and one hour from Windsor and is ideally situated for a relaxing getaway. You can book this guided day tour to Pinery Provincial Park on the shores of Lake Huron and then explore the beach town of Grand Bend.

Best accommodation option in Grand Bend – Amber Hotel is the best accommodation option and is an excellent mid-range choice. You can check the property out on TripAdvisor here.

Toronto has the best city scene in Ontario and we called it home for 20 years. Its cityscape is recognized worldwide – from the CN Tower to its famed Lake Ontario waterfront. Check out all the top activities in Toronto and book a day tour here. You can choose from the CN Tower to Toronto Islands, Casa Loma and more. Browse tours here.

If you want one of Ontario’s most iconic weekend getaways, Toronto is easily one of the top three. As the province’s metropolis capital, it has stacks and stacks of things to do and is a breeze to access by flight.

You can check out amazing restaurants with multi-course meals, historic buildings like the parliament buildings, and delicious local craft beer at bars across the city. Plus, there are museums like the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) and the Railway Museum. Get your entry ticket here to the ROM and other Toronto Museums.

Check out more at The Best Things to Do in Toronto – A Guide to the Top Attractions

Best accommodation option in Toronto – There are many fantastic accommodation options in Toronto, but the Ritz Carlton is our favorite. It’s close to Roy Thompson Hall and the Princess of Wales Theatre, The CN Tower, the Entertainment District, and Harbourfront.

If you are looking for more affordable accommodations, The Chelsea is located at Dundas Square and is central to everything. Plus, it’s where we spent our honeymoon night 25 years ago! Don’t worry, it’s been renovated since. Read more: Where to Stay in Toronto – A Guide to the Best Neighborhoods

8. Kingston

The former capital of Canada is an amazing weekend trip. This small city on Lake Ontario, The Rideau Canal, and the St. Lawrence River is filled with historic charm, fine dining, and nightlife. Located just a three-hour drive from Toronto or two hours and twenty minutes by train.

Kingston is one of the few weekend getaways linked to a major city with public transport in Ontario – so jot it down if you don’t drive or don’t want to rent a car. The city is nicknamed the ‘limestone city’ after its signature limestone architecture. It is a stunning place to just explore on foot.

We’ve planned a full ultimate  itinerary for Kingston . So follow that to make your own weekend getaway perfect. You can also book Kingston day tours here . Choose from Thousand Island Cruise, helicopter flights or a haunted walking tour. More details here.

As a quick note, make sure to visit Kingston Penitentiary, Agnes Etherington Art Centre, Bellevue House National Historic Site, and Murney Tower National Historic Site of Canada. Read more: Things to do in Kingston – Don’t Miss This Ontario Gem

Best accommodation option in Kingston – There are lots of options when looking for places to stay in Kingston.  Delta Hotels by Marriott Kingston Waterfront  is beautiful, though. The three-star hotel features an indoor rooftop pool and an onsite restaurant.

For a romantic weekend, we recommend Secret Garden Inn , a beautiful boutique manor home is located within walking distance from the waterfront, Princess Street, and many of Kingston’s top attractions it is a great choice to stay and the breakfasts are delicious.  

Elora is another of our favorite small towns and is best known for its 19th-century architecture and striking limestone buildings. The town was founded by Roman Catholic missionaries, and its name translates as ‘sun ray’ or ‘god is my light’ in Hebrew.

Today it remains enticing for visitors wanting a romantic getaway to a pretty, small town. It is just an hour and a half from Toronto, so it is a straightforward destination to reach by car. Plus, my Great aunt lives there too!

Elora is also located next to Elora Gorge – a dramatic gorge cutting through cliffs with the Grand River running through the middle. You can admire the gorge from multiple viewpoints. If you feel nice and inspired afterward, go tubing or kayaking on a different section of the Grand River. Read more: 25 Day Trips from Toronto to Escape the City

Best accommodation option in Elora – The best accommodation option is  Elora Mill Hotel & Spa. The historic hotel is set in an old riverside mill and features rooms with a fireplaces, a full service spa, gym, and yoga facilities.

Wine Region Weekend Getaways in Ontario

There’s something special about visiting wine regions; wine tasting at top-rated vineyards is a romantic way to spend a weekend. These are the best wine regions to visit in Ontario for a weekend getaway. Get ready to sample some stunning wines.

10. Lake Erie North Shore

Did you know that Lake Erie and Pelee Island are at the same latitude as Tuscany in Italy and Bordeaux in France? The Southern Ontario region is the oldest wine-producing area in Canada. The first winery opened in 1866. Since then, the region has been carving an ever-growing name for itself in the international wine industry.

Some of the best wineries are Pelee Island Winery Pavillion, Copper’s Hawk Vineyards, Viewpointe Estate Winery, and Mastronardi Estate Winery. Sprucewood Shores Estate Winery is also Ontario’s only beachfront winery – a unique selling point, you’ll agree. The variety of vineyards makes Lake Erie North Shore a wonderful weekend trip. Depending on which area you visit in the region, you can either drive a short distance from London or a few hours from Hamilton or Toronto.

Plus, this was my stomping grounds as a teenager. I’d wash my car every Sunday morning and cruise the beaches of Lake Eerie with my friends Lorri and Kathy for hours on end. Dave and I still head out for Sunday drives to this part of Ontario on a regular basis.

Best accommodation option in Lake Erie North Shore – The region covers such a span of towns and different hotels that this is a hard choice.  Retro Suites Hotel  is located in the center of Chatham, just a short walk from the Chatham Downtown Mall and Milner Heritage Home. Guests get complimentary breakfast on weekdays, a gym pass, and a golf course pass. Plus, you are just a ten-minute drive from Early Acres Estate Winery.

11. The Niagara Peninsula

When you think of Niagara Getaways, your mind very likely jumps to Niagara Falls. Draw your mind away from images of crashing waterfalls. Instead, picture a glass of Riesling, pinot noir, or even a chardonnay if you wish. The Niagara Peninsula is home to over fifty wineries and is one of Ontario’s most prolific wine-producing regions.

Some of the best wineries are Inniskillin, Peller Estates, Calamus Estate Winery, King’s Court Estate Winery, and Flat Rock Cellars. If you want a  romantic getaway , book a wine tour and a relaxing hotel for you and your significant other. The best part about the Niagara Peninsula is that it’s on the doorstep of major cities like Hamilton and Mississauga. It is one of the most accessible weekend getaways in Ontario.

Best accommodation option in the Niagara Peninsula – There are plenty of luxurious AirBnBs in Niagara on the Lake.  This one is a lovely cottage  that is two blocks from downtown’s main street of Niagara on teh Lake.

For a modest budget, A Vineyard View Bed and Breakfast  ticks many impressive boxes. The Victorian B&B has a stunning communal patio with vineyard views, and select bedrooms overlook private views of the unique scenery.

12. Hamilton’s Region of the Niagara Escarpment

The Niagara Escarpment is a long slope, and it is famed as Niagara Falls falls over one part of the escarpment. It actually spreads throughout Canada and the United States. Still, for the purpose of this section, we will be concentrating specifically on Hamilton’s section.

Hamilton’s section of the escarpment is a fantastic Ontario weekend getaway. The region is prime for fruit growing, making it ideal for wine production – plus, it lies in the accessible shadow of many major cities.

Best accommodation option in Niagara Escarpment (Hamilton Area) – You can make a base in Burlington to explore the Hamilton portion of the Niagara Escarpment and we recommend The Pearl Hotel & Spa is Burlington’s latest luxury escape that is perfect for pampering. Located directly on the waterfront with beautiful views of Lake Ontario, 

Resort Weekend Getaways in Ontario

A resort getaway ticks a box that not much else can. These are the best resorts for weekend getaways in Ontario.

13. Sir Sam’s Inn and Spa

For the ultimate romantic getaway in Ontario, consider booking a couples retreat. Sir Sam’s Inn and Spa is a relaxing weekend getaway in a dramatic stone-and-timber mansion. The resort features every luxury – from an indoor water spa to an outdoor heated pool with Eagle Lake views to snowmobile parking and private fireplaces. There is also a fine dining restaurant located directly onsite.

And when you aren’t enjoying outdoor activities around  Haliburton , you can enjoy complimentary spa access. Sir Sam’s is a three and a half hour’s drive from Ottawa, so well-placed for a weekend of luxury.

You can enjoy hiking and boating in the summer and snowmobiling and cross country skiing in the winter. Haliburton is a beautiful small town in Ontario and you can visit our friend Dana’s gorgeous photography studio to pick up stunning metal prints of the Haliburton region. Book your weekend getaway here

14. Fern Resort

Fern Resort in Orillia is a beautiful family-friendly resort but also romantic for couples too to choose from in Ontario. The resort sits next to Lake Couchiching, and its all-inclusive package includes complimentary meals and activities. You can explore the local area or enjoy onsite entertainment like cross-country skiing, giant chess, a spa, or ice skating.

Fern Resort is just under a two-hour drive from Toronto. It is ideal for those wanting an action-packed, family-friendly resort experience. See more details here .

15. Couples Resort

Looking for a romantic Ontario weekend getaway? Couples Resort is a beautiful resort, only open to couples and situated overlooking Galeairy Lake in Algonquin Park. The all-inclusive package includes breakfast, five-course dinners, activities like horse riding and ice skating, and access to facilities like a saltwater swimming pool.

Being in the middle of nature there are plenty of hiking trails, paddling and canoe options in the summer with cross-country skiing and snowshoeing in the winter. We visited this pre-pandemic and see that it is now a bit rundown now. Hopefully, by the 2023 season they will have given it a refresh because we loved its tranquil setting that was perfect for a romantic getaway.

The resort is three hours from Ottawa or nearly four hours from Toronto. If you want somewhere surrounded by Canadian wilderness, Couples Resort is the one. See more availabiltiy and rates on TripAdvisor

16. Deerhurst Resort

Deerhurst is an upscale resort with a lot to offer. The Ontario resort is tucked up near the Hidden Valley Highlands. Come winter, it is an ideal base for a ski holiday. For the rest of the year, though, Deerhurst Resort stands out for its two golf courses, hot tub, spa, and outdoor activities. It is also one of the most romantic places in winter.

Deerhurst is a flexible weekend getaway; it can be considered family-friendly or one of the best romantic weekend getaways – it’s up to you to decide which. Deerhurst is a two-and-a-half-hour drive from Toronto, so nice and feasible as a weekend base. Check out details here.

• Deerhurst Resort in Huntsville is 2 hours and 45 minutes drive  from Toronto
• You can book a weekend stay at  Deerhurst Resort.

17. Cedar Grove Lodge

We loved our romantic escape to Cedar Grove Lodge in Huntsville. What could be more romantic than booking your own log cabin in the woods? Snuggling up by the fire in the snowy landscape is one of the most romantic places in Ontario. There are plenty of things to do in Huntsville to keep you busy as well. Things to do in Muskoka in Winter

Cedar Grove Lodge is located on 150 feet of lakefront property on  Peninsula Lake. Each room has its own wood-burning fireplace and this romantic retreat has all-inclusive packages where you can eat three meals a day in the dining room. Check availability and rates for Cedar Grove on TripAdvisor

18. Severn Lodge

Severn Lodge is a lovely lakeside resort on the shores of Glouster Pool in Port Severn Township. The property dates back to the 1800s and still has traditional features like beamed ceilings and historical decor. Severn Lodge’s facilities are as extra as it gets, including a heated pool, onsite beach, private dock, and patios or balconies overlooking the lake.

Severn Lodge is just forty minutes by car from Barrie and two hours from Toronto. It is the ideal weekend getaway for anyone wanting a traditional, historical base for a few days. Make reservations here.

18. Idlewyld Inn and Spa

Idlewyld Inn and Spa is the number one destination for an elegant weekend getaway in Western Ontaro. Located in London Ontario Idelwyld Inn and Spa is set in a classic mansion, the property features a full-service spa, onsite restaurant, courtyard garden, and stained glass windows throughout. It is perfect for anyone wanting an inspiring property for a relaxing city break. Get ready to step back in time.

Apart from its facilities, Idlewyld Inn and Spa also offers an all-inclusive package with a complimentary breakfast. And located in the heart of London, it is a deluxe base for a city break. See more details here.

19. Langdon Hall – Cambridge

Another complete Romantic Ontario getaway is Langdon Hall in Cambridge. My friend Kelly had her wedding here and we had the chance to experience the spa and luxury fireplace suites. This hotel is one of the most romantic places in Ontario.

This property has the distinction of being recognized by Relais & Châteaux for a standard of excellence. The Five Diamond dining experience is the perfect romantic evening out and its spa packages include a half-day retreat of a Swedish massage, facials, and manicure and pedicure. Add a glass of champagne and lunch and you have a full day of luxury with the one you love. There is a huge hot tub, saunas, and steam rooms to chill out in for the afternoon. 

One thing we are very thrilled to share is that Langdon Hall has partnered with The Keep Refillery to become the first hotel in Ontario to have an in-house refillery. They have overhauled their in-room amenities to a more sustainable model by refilling in-room essentials such as shampoo, conditioner, body wash, body lotion, shower steams and bath bombs. This move will keep 2000 bottles out of landfills this year. Compare prices on TripAdvisor

Part 4 – Family Getaways in Ontario

Ontario is fantastic for family fun. The whole state is excellent for families that love adventure and bonding time, with lots of green spaces, children’s attractions, and great accommodation options. But some places are even more exciting and special for families than others. We’ve picked these extra-special places for our next section; these are the best family weekend getaways in Ontario.

20. Blue Mountain Ski Resort

Blue Mountain Resort is one of the most adventurous and romantic getaways. We put this under family Ontario getaways because there is so much to do. But Dave and I have had many romantic getaways here on our own in Blue Mountain. So, it has the best of both worlds!

Blue Mountain resort and village is a year round retreat and, in winter, offers skiing and snowboarding galore. When you aren’t zipping down the slopes, you can be in the spa soaking in an outdoor hot tub or enjoying one of the great restaurants onsite.

Blue Mountain Village, is just over a two-hour drive from Toronto and is  full of things to do . It is a short, pleasant drive easily factored into a weekend trip. And Blue Mountain Resort is perfect for any avid snow sports lovers.

In the Winter, we love to stay at the  Blue Mountain Inn  Slopeside.  It is located directly at our favourite black diamond runs.

In the summer our choices are the gorgeous  Westin Trillium House ,  located at Millpond overlooking Blue Mountain Village it’s set a little away from the crowds of the village. But we are also fans of the Mosaic Boutique Suites smack dab in the center of the Blue Mountains. Its year-round heated outdoor pool and hot tub is to die for.

21. Great Wolf Lodge Water Park Resort

Great Wolf Lodge is a magical weekend getaway. The four-star property is amazing for anyone who wants a fun-filled, action-packed holiday in Ontario. Great Wolf Lodge has an all-inclusive package with unlimited access to its onsite indoor water park, 24/7 entertainment, and ultra-speed wifi.

Situated in Niagara Falls, Great Wolf Lodge is an ideal base to visit Canada’s most famed waterfall and make the most of a fantastic all-inclusive package. It is only a short drive from cities like Hamilton and Toronto. I have stayed here before but for some reason I couldn’t find a picture. We had the good fortune of staying at Great Wolf Lodge when I worked for YTV and had a blast in its waterpark. Check prices and reservations here.

22. Collingwood

Collingwood is an action-packed weekend getaway for families. In the summer, you can explore limestone caves, and in the ski season, you can get all your family zipping down the slopes. Collingwood has plenty of indoor attractions for rainy days, including the Collingwood Museum, Butter Gallery, and multiple theaters. There are also more challenging adventures for older children, like ATV adventure tours, snorkeling tours, and off-roading. Collingwood is just under two hours from Toronto by car, too, so families will find it feasible to reach.

Best accommodation option in Collingwood

The best accommodation option in Collingwood is The Living Water Resrot and Spa . It is walking distance to historic downtown collingwood, it has an indoor pool plus indoor and outdoor hot tubs and Collingwood’s only waterfront restaurant. A more affordable option is the Days in by Wyndham.

23. Hamilton

Hamilton needs little introduction, and the major city in Southern Ontario has already been mentioned in this guide as a reference point. However, Hamilton is also an ideal family weekend getaway. One of the coolest activities in Hamilton is the exotic super car driving experience. Get behind the wheel of your dream car on a test drive adventure.

The city is smaller than Toronto and packed with kid-friendly activities like Spencer Smith Park, lots of short waterfall walks, and the beloved Theodore Tugboat tours. You can easily head to rural sections for outdoor activities and are just a short drive from Niagara Falls. Read more: The Best Things to do in Hamilton, Ontario

Best accommodation option in Hamilton – The best family-friendly option in Hamilton is Staybridge Suites Hamilton Downtown

24. Peterborough

Peterborough sits just off the Otonabee River and perfectly treads the line between urban and residential suburban. You’ll find it much cheaper to visit Peterborough than Toronto, and the friendly downtown atmosphere and price tags are perfect for families covering lots of heads.

On a weekend getaway, you’ll have any attractions to tick off – including the Canadian Canoe Museum, Peterborough Museum, a rock climbing center, and Riverview Park. The attractions are just a short walk apart – handy for those little legs. Toronto is just an hour and twenty minutes away by car as well.

Best accommodation option in Peterborough – Peterborough’s best accommodation for families is Holiday Inn Peterborough-Waterfront. The property has a policy where children 19 and under stay free with an adult, and kids 12 and under eat free.

25. Sauble Beach

Sauble Beach is a fantastic destination for a family weekend getaway. The quaint town is a tiny beach community on the shores of Lake Huron. Its calm, shallow waters are perfect for younger children to learn to swim and older children to hone their water skills.

After you’ve spent a day swimming, Ascent Aerial Park is a great family attraction. You can tackle a high ropes course for some quality bonding. There’s also Sauble Falls Provincial Park to hike and fish in. Plus, Toronto is just under a three-hour drive away.

Best accommodation option in Sauble Beach – It’s a tough call, but Sauble Beach’s best accommodation is Bel-Air Motel & Cottages. The property is family-orientated, with a playground, fire pits, basketball hoops, and BBQ facilities to enjoy.

Part 5 – Outdoor Weekend Getaways in Ontario

Do you want a weekend getaway where you can enjoy rolling hills and wildlife? Are you looking to getaway from the hustle and bustle of life? Ontario has amazing national parks and provincial parks that are open all year long. So even if it is winter, put on your parka, cozy up by the fire or head out for some cross country skiing and snowshoeing. In summer, take advantage of all the pristine hiking and biking trails and some of the best wildlife spotting on earth.

26. Algonquin Provincial Park

Algonquin Provincial Park is heaven on Earth for nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts. The park is over a whopping 1.9 million acres of natural beauty and full of marked hiking trails and campsites – making it an accessible, beginner-friendly outdoor getaway in Ontario. Read more: Most Beautiful National Parks in Canada

Its famous trails, like Lookout Trail and Centennial Ridges Trail, are perfect scenic hikes to squeeze into a weekend itinerary. Think of minimal time commitment but extremely high reward. In winter, there are dog sled tours and snow activities. And you have attractions like the Algonquin Logging Museum and Algonquin Art Centre all year round if you fancy a bit of culture.

Algonquin Park is just a three-hour drive from Ottawa and three and a half hours from Toronto, so it is easily reached from a major city. If you don’t have your own car, you can arrange a car rental from one of the many car rental companies in the cities and drive yourself to the park.

Best accommodation option in Algonquin Provincial Park – When you visit on a weekend getaway, make sure to book a campsite in advance for that ultimate wilderness experience. But, if you want a bit of extra luxury,  Killarney Lodge  is an all-inclusive park hotel with rustic lakeside cabins – well worth a look at.

27. Sandbanks Provincial Park

Sandbanks Provincial Park offers some of the best sand beaches in all of Ontario. It is one of the best weekend getaways for a stunning coastline and pristine white beaches, and it has plenty of hiking trails under its belt. You could spend weeks in Sandbanks Park, although a day or two will have to do.

The best things to do in Sandbanks Park are visiting Dunes Beach and Outlet Beach, but Cedar Sands Nature trail is a short walk worth an itinerary spot. This trail follows the Outlet River and has beautiful marshland viewpoints.

Sandbanks is two hours and twenty minutes by car from Toronto, so it is easy to reach if you rent a car. The route is scenic too, and you’ll skirt along the north shores of Lake Ontario and its little lakeside towns.

Best accommodation option in Sandbanks – There is a high-quality handful of fantastic accommodation options in Sandbanks Park. The best is  Log Cabin Point Cottage Resort.  The 1830s log cabin has traditional features like a wood-burning stove and a claw foot tub. And you can even rent a boat or bike for your stay.

28. Pinery Provincial Park

Pinery Park is a wonderful weekend getaway in Ontario. The beautiful coastal park is located on the shores of Lake Huron and is over 6,000 acres in size.

It is home to gorgeous beaches and a protected forest that houses numerous endangered flora and fauna species. Opened to the public in 1959, Pinery Park is a much-loved park in Southern Ontario and a well-known outdoor getaway.

It has a 14km biking trail called the Savanna Trail that cyclists will love. There are also water activities like fishing and canoeing on offer. Pinery Park is a compact area with many activities and things to do, making it an ideal weekend trip. It is also a fifty-minute drive from London and just over two hours from Hamilton – extremely feasible driving distances.

Best accommodation option – Most accommodation options are scattered around Pinery Park, just outside the park boundaries.  Port Franks Getaway  is one of the closest and best options. A luxury, adults-only wellness retreat, it offers homely facilities just a stone’s throw from the park. In the summer months the Pinery is one of the best places for camping in Ontario.

29. French River Provincial Park

French River Provincial Park is another of our fabulous Ontario weekend getaways. The park is mainly situated around the French River (as you may have guessed from the name), which was the first-ever Canadian Heritage River. This is a weekend trip best appreciated by canoe or kayak.

There is over 105 km of canoe route to enjoy and explore. The trail stretches from Lake Nipissing to Georgian Bay, incorporating lakes, rapids, and gorges for the ultimate fun-filled weekend.

You can also use riverside hiking trails like the Recollet Falls Trail. The park is just a fifty-minute drive from the city of Sudbury and a three-and-a-half-hour drive from Toronto, so a fantastic weekend getaway if you love water activities.

Don’t have a car? Book this day trip from Toronto to hike one of the most beautiful hiking trails in Ontario, The Crack. You will also visit the suspension bridge at French River Provincial Park.

Best accommodation option in French River Provincial Park

The best accommodation option in French River Park is  Great Escape Cabins. The one or two-bedroom cabins are set right next to the river and make for a scenic base when visiting the park.

30. Batchawana Bay Provincial Park

Batchawana Bay Provincial Park is a fantastic weekend getaway and is a 418-acre lakeside park with gorgeous beaches. You’ll have lots to do, whether you enjoy water activities on Lake Superior, relax on the beaches, or get active on the local trails.

Batchawana Bay Park is a fifty-minute drive from Sault Ste Marie, a small city with fantastic mountain biking trails. If you love mountain biking, check out the Berm Baby Berm or Bee Sting trails.

Batchawan Bay is about an 8 hour drive from Toronto so this is best for a long weekend getaway in Ontario

Best accommodation option in Batchawana Bay – If you fancy going RV camping, Wild Rose RV Park is a fantastic seasonal option. If you prefer resorts, Sunset Shores Resort offers cabins just outside the park. Check rates and availaibity

31. Bruce Peninsula National Park

Bruce Peninsula Park is over 30,000 acres in size and is an absolute haven for outdoor enthusiasts. You’ll be well entertained, from swimming and bouldering to backcountry camping opportunities.

The park straddles the famed Niagara Escarpment and Georgian Bay coastline to enjoy – making Bruce Peninsula Park one of the most diverse places for a weekend getaway.

The best thing to do in the park is to visit its natural attractions, like Flowerpot Island, Little Cove, and Fathom Five National Marine Park.

You can book a day trip from Toronto to Tobermory. This tour includes a guide and driver that takes you to visit the lighthouse and hiking to see the beautiful cliffs of Georgian Bay. You’ll visit The Grotto, Indian Head Cove and Marr Lake.

Bruce Peninsula Park is surrounded by little towns, including Tobermory (read our  guide on things to do in Tobermory ). From Toronto, it is a three-and-a-half-hour drive. It’s ideal for a weekend trip and is surrounded by towns with urban amenities.

Best accommodation option in Bruce Peninsula – One of the best ways to book accommodation in Tobermory is to book vacation rentals. You can look for accommodation on TripAdvisor – Tobermory . This  beautiful waterfront cottage  is 5km from downtown Tobermory. It offers kayaking and beautiful views for sunset.

Camping is one of the best options for accommodation in Tobermory in the summer.  Tobermory Village Campground  or  Cyprus Lake Campground . The campground has many facilities, including showers, flush toilets, and drinkable water. It is an excellent base for an outdoor adventure.

32. Pukaskwa National Park

Pukaskwa National Park is a 460-acre park on the shores of Lake Superior. It is the perfect destination for beginner-friendly water activities, hiking, and camping – especially if you want to get away from the busier parks around Toronto.

Visitors should definitely make time to hike the Bimose Kinoomagewnan Trail. This trail is essential to indigenous Anishinaabe culture and is an excellent mix of cultural and outdoor activity. Read more: The Wild Coastal Trail of Pukaskwa National Park

Like Bruce Peninsula Park, Pukaskwa is quite far from major cities. It will take around eleven hours to reach Pukaskwa from Winnipeg or Toronto. Pukaskwa is perfect for road trip lovers .

Best accommodation option in Pukaskwa NP – The best accommodation in Pukaskwa is  Pic River Guest Suite . The property is the closest option to the park unless you want to camp and is beautifully situated overlooking the river. You also have the choice to purchase yoga and canoeing packages.

For more Ontario inspiration, you can check out our guides on the  best places to visit  and  things to do  across the province. We also have a special guide on the  best things to do  when visiting Ontario in winter and another on the province’s  best hiking trails .

It’s easy to see that you won’t be short of weekend getaways in Ontario. Whether you want charming towns with great restaurants, family-friendly destinations with entertaining attractions, or remote wilderness getaways, Ontario has an option for you.

It is safe to say that we love Ontario, and we bet you will too when you try these weekend getaways. Have a fantastic experience.

• The Greatest Things to do in Winter in Ontario
• Romantic Ontario Getaways – The Best Couples resorts and Destinations
• Top 15 Ontario Hiking Trails
• 22 Most Epic and Thrilling Things to do in Ontario
• Best Places to See the Northern Lights in Ontario
• 9 VALENTINE’S DAY GETAWAYS IN ONTARIO, CANADA
• 35 Iconic Places to Visit in Ontario, Canada

Travel Planning Resources

Looking to book your next trip? Why not use these resources that are tried and tested by yours truly.

Flights: Start planning your trip by finding the best flight deals on Skyscanner

Book your Hotel: Find the best prices on hotels with these two providers. If you are located in Europe use Booking.com and if you are anywhere else use TripAdvisor

Find Apartment Rentals: You will find the cheapest prices on apartment rentals with VRBO . 

Travel Insurance: Don't leave home without it. Here is what we recommend:

• Allianz - Occasional Travelers.
• Medjet - Global air medical transport and travel security.

Need more help planning your trip? Make sure to check out our Resources Page where we highlight all the great companies that we trust when we are traveling.

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• About Northern Ontario
• Canadian Canoe Culture
• Explore Indigenous Culture
• Group of Seven
• How to Fish
• Plan A Road Trip
• Plan Your Fall Trip
• Plan Your Summer Trip
• Plan Your Winter Trip
• Where to Eat
• Algoma Country
• Northeastern Ontario
• Sault Ste. Marie
• Sunset Country
• Superior Country
• Thunder Bay
• Motorcycle Touring
• Outdoor Adventures
• Snowmobiling

11 of Ontario’s Most Jaw-Dropping Natural Landscapes

There’s no shortage of tourist sites in Ontario. People from around the world flock to climb Toronto’s CN Tower , gaze at the misty torrents of Niagara Falls , and experience the museums and urban greenspace of Ottawa’s National Capital Region . Central Ontario attractions like Algonquin Provincial Park and the Bruce Peninsula’s Fathom Five National Marine Park are also renowned for their natural splendor.

There’s no problem with these attractions—but to focus on them alone is to miss out on the northern half of Ontario, which spans an immense area including the pine and granite of the Canadian Shield, the Great Lakes’ rugged shorelines and the endless boreal forest of Northwestern Ontario. Not to mention the big wild of the Far North and the James and Hudson Bay coasts.

Open the map and look beyond the boundaries of Southern, Eastern and Central Ontario. Use these 11 beautiful Ontario outdoor destinations as your starting point; we promise you’ll find even more.

1. Agawa Canyon

This spectacular landform north of Sault Ste. Marie was described as the “original site of the Garden of Eden” and “a little Yosemite” by Group of Seven artist J.E.H. MacDonald. In fact, scenes from the Agawa Canyon and the surrounding wilderness comprise a large part of the canvases that defined Canadian landscape painting a century ago.

The Agawa Canyon remains a remote treasure, accessible only on a one-day train adventure starting in Sault Ste. Marie. Visitors have time to hike easy trails for breathtaking views of the deep, pine-cloaked canyon carved by the Agawa River and cascading waterfalls.

Things to Do in the Area:

• The brand-new Agawa Tour Train Station in Sault Ste. Marie’s historic Canal District includes a brew pub restaurant and more. Check out the Mill Steakhouse and Wine Bar next door for fine dining.
• The Sault Ste. Marie Canal National Historic Site of Canada is another great attraction that blends the rich history of what was once the world’s longest lock with scenic trails and abundant wildlife. The footpaths and boardwalks provide easy walking and versatile fat bikes are available to rent on site.
• Check out the Art Gallery of Algoma’s collection of Group of Seven paintings to view artists’ renderings of the Agawa Canyon scenery.
• Visit the Canadian Bushplane Heritage Centre in downtown Sault Ste. Marie for interactive displays capturing the history of aviation in the Canadian wilderness. The Northern Superior Tap Room , located next door, offers local beers and pub fare with a large outdoor patio adjacent to the St. Marys River.

2. Lady Evelyn River

The Lady Evelyn River carves through the heart of the Temagami wilderness in Northeastern Ontario. This wild waterway is more appropriately described by its Indigenous name: Menjamagosipi , the “Trout Streams.” The river flows in two branches with countless cascades and tricky portages, making it a favourite for experienced canoeists. The payoff for all the hard work are secluded campsites and a sense of accomplishment for having tackled one of Ontario’s best canoe routes.

However, you don’t have to be an experienced paddler to visit the only cabin accommodations in Lady Evelyn-Smoothwater Provincial Park . The fly-in Cabin Falls Ecolodge is owned and operated by legendary canoe guide, author and artist Hap Wilson, and offers a stunning place to stay overlooking a tumbling waterfall. The lodge is a popular destination for photographers, nature enthusiasts and those looking to learn wilderness canoe tripping skills from experts.

• Most visitors to the Lady Evelyn River arrive by way of the Northeastern Ontario town of Temagami, located on Highway 11. Temagami Outfitting Company provides rental canoes and gear, as well as all-inclusive guiding, for backcountry trips.
• Temagami-based Lakeland Airways provides spectacular aerial tours of the wilderness aboard historic deHavilland floatplanes, as well as shuttles for intrepid canoeists, and servicing a range of fly-in outpost fishing camps on remote lakes.
• Be sure to hike to the Temagami fire tower , accessible via Highway 11, for a scenic overview of old-growth pine forests and gem-like lakes.

3. Sleeping Giant

This iconic landform in Northwestern Ontario is one of Canada’s most recognizable vistas, resembling a prostrate giant rising from the silver waters of Lake Superior and dominating the viewscape from downtown Thunder Bay . Hikers can access over 100 km of trails at Sleeping Giant Provincial Park via the Trans-Canada Highway and Highway 587, about an hour’s drive from city limits. Plan on a full day to complete the challenging 21.8-km hike to the summit—and be prepared for a jaw-dropping view at the top of Ontario’s tallest vertical cliffs.

It’s easy to spend a weekend or more at Sleeping Giant’s drive-in Marie Louise Lake campground exploring all the Sibley Peninsula has to offer. The campground features family-friendly beaches and paddling options; mountain biking is allowed on several park trails; and the park is renowned among birders, with dozens of songbirds and raptors calling it home. Backcountry campers will find 27 hike- and paddle-in sites, most of which are along the Lake Superior coastline. The backcountry campsites at Tee Harbour can be reached by bicycle as well.

• Looking for cabin-based accommodations? Book a lakeside retreat at Beyond the Giant , a waterfront resort offering easy access to Sleeping Giant hiking and biking trails.
• Over a century ago, the mine at Silver Islet was one of the world’s most lucrative. Today, it’s a quaint cottage community with a 150-year-old general store and tea room on the Lake Superior shore.
• Experience the Sleeping Giant from the water with Sail Superior , which offers sailing and Zodiac powerboat trips departing downtown Thunder Bay.

4. French River

The French River flows between Lake Nipissing and Georgian Bay and was an Indigenous canoe route long before it was a key link in the Canadian fur trade. Today, the polished granite shores of the French River echo with voices of the past; it remains one of Ontario’s best routes for novice and intermediate paddlers and backcountry campers. Most canoeists access the French River at Dry Pine Bay, east of Highway 69. Sea kayakers, meanwhile, usually launch west of the highway at Hartley Bay to reach the myriad pine-topped islands that mark the river’s mouth at Georgian Bay.

Black Feather Wilderness Adventures offers a wide array of guided French River trips, including family-friendly, four-day canoe adventures and sea kayak trips on Georgian Bay. The Parry Sound-based outfitter celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2022 and is noted for professional guides and great meals.

• Would you prefer a more refined experience? The Lodge at Pine Cove provides some of Ontario’s best wilderness accommodations, with options for canoeing and paddleboarding with the benefit of gourmet meals
• Just driving through? Be sure to stop at the French River Visitor Centre and stretch your legs on the easy 4-km hiking trail to Recollet Falls.

5. Manitoulin Island

Manitoulin Island is the largest island on the Great Lakes with an abundance of outdoor attractions for visitors. For starters, getting to the island is an adventure in itself, with a half-day ride on the MS Chi-Cheemaun ferry from Tobermory. You can also drive to Manitoulin via the Trans-Canada Highway, through the town of Espanola on Highway 6 and over the swing bridge at the town of Little Current.

Manitoulin is an extension of Southern Ontario’s Bruce Peninsula. You’ll find the same great scenery—without the crowds—on the Cup and Saucer trail , a half-day hike located near Little Current. Many adventure-seekers come to Manitoulin for road cycling, with countless options for scenic tours on quiet roads. Sign up for the all-inclusive Alvar Cycle Tour for a taste of some of Ontario’s finest cycling.

• Stay at Manitoulin Eco Park , which provides tent and trailer campsites as well as bunkie and tipi rentals. The park is recognized as a Dark Sky Preserve and offers some of the finest star-watching in the province.
• Visit Wikwemikong First Nation for an authentic Indigenous experience.
• Manitoulin Brewing Company has a patio and food truck on the water in Little Current.

6. Killarney

Killarney was a sleepy Georgian Bay fishing village long before landscape painters with the Group of Seven made its austere quartzite surroundings famous and Killarney Provincial Park earned the moniker “Ontario’s crown jewel.” Today, the village is one of the most scenic tourist destinations in the province, located adjacent to the stunning George Lake Campground , and providing a wide range of accommodation and dining options for paddlers, hikers and campers seeking wilderness adventures in Northeastern Ontario.

Killarney draws visitors for its rugged Georgian Bay coastline (a dreamscape for intermediate to advanced sea kayakers) and interior network of lakes and canoe portages. Killarney Kanoes and Killarney Outfitters both offer canoe and kayak rentals and insider advice on the best paddling routes.

Hikers can get an intimate glimpse of Georgian Bay on the easy, 2-km-long Chikanishing Trail and panoptic views of Killarney’s inland hills from The Crack , a towering lookout on a rugged 6-km trail. Backpackers, meanwhile, rank the 78-km La Cloche Silhouette Trail as Ontario’s finest.

• Killarney Mountain Lodge is a favourite place to spend a luxurious night, complete with fine dining on Killarney’s waterfront. For an off-grid experience, make a booking at Avalon Eco Resort , with waterfront cabins and campsites located just up Highway 637 at Tyson Lake.
• Make sure you grab a meal of local fish and chips at Herbert Fisheries .
• The scenery around Nellie and Grace lakes on the west side of Killarney Provincial Park is just as pretty. But rocky hills and aquamarine lakes come with seriously rugged portages—accessible via Highway 6 and the Widgawa Lodge . Be sure to book your campsites early from this (and other) Killarney access point.

7. Lake of the Woods

Lake of the Woods offers world-class canoe tripping, kayaking and camping in the heart of the continent. Hidden bays and countless islands make Lake of the Woods legendary. The city of Kenora in Northwestern Ontario is your gateway to countless lakes, with easy access on the Trans-Canada Highway between Thunder Bay and Winnipeg. The region is also within a day’s drive of the U.S. Midwest.

Life here revolves around the waterfront . Rent a canoe or kayak from Green Adventures and launch right from Kenora’s bustling downtown. Experienced paddlers can plan a longer trip on the Path of the Paddle , a water trail segment of the Trans-Canada Trail, which traces the shore of Lake of the Woods and passes through nearby Rushing River Provincial Park .

• Houseboating is a classic Kenora outdoor vacation, and there’s plenty of space to bring a kayak or SUP along to explore the shore. Book your trip with Houseboat Adventures or Lake Life Houseboats .
• You’ll find a full-service campground for tents and RVs at Blue Lake Provincial Park , with great fishing, paddling and beaches.
• Lake of the Woods has plenty of lodges, too, if you’re looking for a more upscale stay. This Accommodations Finder tool is a great place to start your search.
• Prefer land-based activities? Check out the Rat Portage Urban Trail , an 8-km route in Kenora that links greenspace, waterfront, and the restaurants and shops of downtown. Or plan a stay at Minaki Yurt Adventures , featuring unique accommodations with easy access to hiking trails.

8. Quetico Provincial Park

This vast wilderness park west of Thunder Bay is Northwestern Ontario’s answer to Algonquin Provincial Park. Quetico Provincial Park is a canoe tripper’s dream, with an astounding 2,000 lakes and over 500 portages. Quetico has something for everyone, including long-distance routes spanning a week or more and shorter trips suitable for beginners and families. The park has great fishing for trout, bass and pike, and provides the chance to visit Indigenous pictograph sites and to see iconic wildlife like moose.

Atikokan , Ontario, AKA the canoe capital of the world, is the park’s main entry point. Voyageur Wilderness is a local outfitter with services ranging from cabin and lodge accommodations on the wilderness edge to guiding and complete canoe trip outfitting. DIY trippers are well-advised to book their backcountry campsites up to five months in advance.

• Do you prefer to fish and hunt? There are dozens of great outfitters in Northwestern Ontario, including Camp Quetico (drive-in) and Kashabowie Outposts (fly-in). Canoe Canada Outfitters appeals to hunters, anglers and paddlers.
• U.S. paddlers can enter Quetico via Minnesota’s Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness using a remote area border crossing permit, available from the Canadian Border Services Agency .
• For a frontcountry adventure, check out Quetico’s Dawson Trail Campground , with drive-in tent and trailer sites and access to swimming beaches, great paddling and easy hiking trails.

9. James Bay Frontier

You don’t have to be a hard-core adventurer to visit some of the most remote communities in Ontario. The James Bay towns of Moosonee and Moose Factory are accessible via the Polar Bear Express , a passenger rail service departing Cochrane, located on Highway 11 in Northeastern Ontario. The day-long train journey traverses boreal forest wilderness, tracing the edge of the rugged Canadian Shield and entering the endless muskeg of the James Bay Lowlands.

Moosonee is located at the end of the line at the mouth of the Moose River, mere kilometres from the tidal water of James Bay. Moose Factory , meanwhile, is located on an island just offshore and accessible by water taxi. This Indigenous community is one of the oldest in Ontario; it was once the site of a Hudson Bay Company post and today offers unique accommodations at the Cree Village Ecolodge . Book a stay and get a taste of the James Bay Frontier, with authentic Indigenous food and cultural experiences (including wildlife tours and more).

• Experienced canoeists can paddle to Moosonee and Moose Factory on the Missinaibi River , one of Ontario’s finest wilderness canoe trips. Go guided with MHO Adventures .
• Cochrane is your starting point for a bucket-list adventure. Spend an afternoon in Cochrane at the Polar Bear Habitat , where you’ll encounter three resident polar bears and learn more about their biology.
• Book a room at the historic Ontario Northland Station Inn Hotel in Cochrane before and after your train trip.
• Nearby Kesagami Wilderness Lodge is a fly-in outfitter offering some of the best fishing in the province.

10. Woodland Caribou Provincial Park

The dense spruce and birch of the boreal forest blends into the expansive skylines of the Canadian Prairies in Woodland Caribou Provincial Park , located in the northwest corner of Ontario. Woodland Caribou appeals to canoe trippers and diehard anglers, with hundreds of kilometres of established backcountry routes, picture-perfect campsites, and world-class fishing for walleye, northern pike and lake trout.

Goldseekers Canoe Outfitting and Wilderness Expeditions is located on Woodland Caribou’s doorstep in Red Lake, Ontario. The outfitter offers trip planning services, rentals, and guided trips for paddlers and anglers alike. Chukuni Outdoor Supply sells outdoor gear, and offers guided canoe and fishing trips. Hard-core anglers and hunters can check out Viking Outposts for remote walleye fishing and moose hunting, while Sunset Lodge offers drive-in accommodations on Red Lake.

• Nature’s Inn offers suites in Red Lake and several other Northwestern Ontario communities. Meanwhile, Howey Bay Resort provides waterfront cabins and a lodge experience with facilities in Red Lake and six fly-in outpost camps.
• Visit Wabakimi Provincial Park for a similar wilderness canoe experience in the boreal forest, north of Thunder Bay. Wabakimi Outfitters is a great resource for trip planning, rentals and vehicle shuttles.

11. Pukaskwa National Park

Anyone who has driven the Trans-Canada Highway between Sault Ste. Marie and Thunder Bay knows that Lake Superior is best described as an inland sea. The best spot to experience this rugged, wild shoreline is in Pukaskwa National Park , located between the towns of Wawa and Marathon in Northern Ontario. Pukaskwa has something for everyone, from a peaceful drive-in campground with access to gorgeous sand beaches and easy hiking trails, to some of the wildest backcountry camping in the province.

The Lake Superior coastline is fantastic for hiking. Book a water taxi with North Shore Adventures to access the southern trailhead of the 60-km Coastal Backpacking Trail . The trail traces an isolated shoreline of beaches and stalwart headlands north to the Pukaskwa visitor centre, and ranks among the toughest—and most scenic—treks in Ontario. Intermediate backpackers can get a glimpse of the same type of scenery on the two- to three-day Mdaabii Miikna (“go to the shore”) trail. Meanwhile, fit day-hikers can follow a 7.5-km linear route through the boreal forest to an impressive suspension bridge atop a roaring gorge on the White River.

• Of course, Lake Superior also offers outstanding wilderness paddling for experienced sea kayakers. The Coastal Paddling Route from Pukaskwa National Park headquarters at Hattie Cove, near Marathon, to Michipicoten River, near Wawa, takes 10 to 14 days for a typical group. Novice and intermediate paddlers can go guided with Naturally Superior Adventures , benefitting from great meals, expert leadership and local knowledge.
• A Pukaskwa expedition with the Ontario Sea Kayak Centre is a good option for experienced paddlers looking to join a group (and earn Paddle Canada sea kayak certification).
• Wawa’s Rock Island Lodge provides the area’s only accommodations on Lake Superior. This stunning four-bedroom bed and breakfast located at the mouth of the Michipicoten River is beloved by photographers and paddlers; you can sign up for a photo workshop or register for kayak, SUP or canoe day trips and instruction .

Explore Northern Ontario’s Best Tourist Attractions

Beaches, canyons, waterfalls, endless forests and oceanic shores: it would be easy to spend a lifetime exploring Northern Ontario. Use this list as your start—and prepare to discover more hidden gems when you experience the region for yourself.

Interested in visiting other Group of Seven painting sites?

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Conor Mihell is an award-winning environmental and adventure travel writer based in Sault Ste. Marie. Read his work in the Globe and Mail, Explore, Cottage Life, Canoe & Kayak, ON Nature, and other magazines and newspapers. He's been a sea kayak guide on Lake Superior for close to 20 years, and has paddled from Sault Ste. Marie to Thunder Bay. 

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Welcome to Ontario Away!

Ontario Away is a website with a focus on the Canadian province of Ontario. From cities and hikes to wineries, attractions, and more – we’ll help you explore this beautiful province. Sorry, Muskoka chairs not included!

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As an Ontario-born Canadian, I have seen lots of my home province while Lisa, my German partner, is just getting started. Living in Ontario together, we plan on exploring every corner of this province one piece at a time.

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Add these 3 charming ontario towns to your summer bucket list.

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Beautiful Elora Streets; Ontario, Canada

Ontario is known for summer road trips and with warmer weather finally here it’s time to pick a small town and start exploring. Canada's second largest province covers over 415,000 square miles and borders the United States and the mighty Great Lakes. Toronto, Ontario’s capital city, is a fun and convenient home base with vibrant multicultural communities and endless adventures, so you may want to arrive early. Then get ready to discover Ontario’s diverse landscapes and rugged beauty on a road trip to one of these charming Canadian towns.

The old mill in Elora, Canada and the Tooth of Time, Ontario

Elora is known as Ontario’s most beautiful village and it’s easy to see why upon arrival. You are welcomed with stunning view of the Elora Mill set against the riverfront and small town charm. The Elora Mill Hotel & Spa has been part of the community for over 175 years and towers above rushing falls and boasts stunning views. Elora is an hour and a half drive from downtown Toronto and located in the township of Centre Wellington along the banks of the Grand and Irvine River. The walkable downtown area has cute boutiques, restaurants, historical buildings, and galleries packed with original artwork. Art lovers can take a studio tour or even participate in a class and make their own masterpiece.

People relax in the water at Elora Quarry Conservation Area near Guelph Ontario Canada on a sunny ... [+] day

Nature lovers will be in their element at the famous Elora Gorge with 80-foot limestone cliffs, cascading waterfalls, and hiking trails like the Riverside trail for spectacular views of the water below. Be on the lookout for my favorite spot inside the Grand River Conservation Authority – Hole in the Rock – a massive rock you can literally walk right through to get to another trail. Or head to Elora Quarry (opens in June), a bucket list Ontario activity with an ‘old swimming hole’, rich forests, and sheer cliffs. Tickets to the Quarry must be purchased in advance online.

Big Tub Lighthouse located in the Bruce Pininsula of Tobermory, Ontario, Canada.

A trip to Tobermory guarantees you beautiful surroundings with sparkling fresh water, a gorgeous shoreline, and endless natural wonders. Located at the Bruce Peninsula’s northernmost point, it’s about a four-hour road trip from downtown Toronto.

Fathom Five National Marine Park, Tobermory, Ontario

Start your adventure at Flowerpot Island in Fathom Five National Marine Park. This beautiful island known for its amazing “flowerpot” rock pillars is accessible only by boat and also has historic caves and a lovely light station. Boat tours leave from Tobermory and if you start at Beachy Cove you can hike over to the flowerpots, explore the area, and have a picnic. Anther fun adventure to add to your Tobermory list is Big Tub Lighthouse. This magnificent 43-foot lighthouse at the entrance to Big Tub Harbour has a rich history and is a fun place to watch the Chi-Cheemaun ferry arriving and departing. When visiting Tobermory you can stay at cozy bed and breakfasts, cottages, hotels, or get back to nature at a wilderness campground. Starting on Victoria Day the Lion’s Head Farmers Market sells local produce on Saturday mornings and has live music at the beach.

"The lighthouse at the entrance to Big Tub Harbor in Tobermory, Ontario.Click on the banner below ... [+] for more lighthouse photos:"

Boston Pizza restaurant along the Muskoka river in downtown Huntsville, Muskoka region, Ontario, ... [+] Canada, at twilight blue hour.

Beautiful Huntsville is located in the heart of the Muskoka Region , known to locals as cottage country, and a dream warm weather destination. If you are looking for outdoor activities there are many to choose from including picture perfect walking trails, park picnics, and family friendly playgrounds. For beach time and water activities check out one of the many local beaches including Avery Park Beach with access to Trans Canada Trail or Longs Lake Beach that beautifully flows into Three Mile Lake before reaching Lake Rosseau.

Red muskoka chairs at Bruce Peninsula National Park, Tobermory, Canada

Save time to stroll through town exploring galleries and paintings by talented artists. Group of Seven Outdoor Gallery has stunning mural collections showcasing Huntsville, Lake of Bays, and Algonquin Provincial Park. There are over 90 hand painted murals by Canadian artists, with many displayed on buildings around town. History buffs can check out the multiple museums, Tom Thomson Memorial, Historic Brunel Lift Locks, and historic Swing Bridge. Top off your small town visit with a tasty cup of Joe from Row & Roast Coffee Co. on Deerhurst and a walk along the quaint downtown streets shopping for unique treasures.

Canadian Ontario touristic destination place landmark. Red word sign Muskoka on empty road in ... [+] Canada. Summer adventure trip on road. National place for vacation, travel and sightseeing outdoor.

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Experience a vacation like no other when you book one of our fun and exciting best-rated hotels and resorts in Ontario! more less

Map of Best-Rated Hotel Resorts in Ontario

Best-rated resorts in ontario.

Stay, play, and explore one of Canada?s most vibrant cities at Delta Hotels Toronto. With panoramic views boasting Toronto?s waterfront and skyline, as well as key essentials like complimentary WiFi, ...

Caesars Windsor defines modern luxury in the midst of timeless elegance. Step inside to discover the essence of indulgence, comfort and luxury in our masterfully appointed guestrooms and suites.  The ...

Our modern downtown Ottawa hotel is located in the Ottawa business district across from the Rideau Canal, an UNESCO World Heritage Site. Our renowned Shore Club restaurant is a popular dining choice f...

At The Ritz-Carlton, Toronto, you will discover what it means when a luxury hotel enlivens all five senses. We invite you to find the total sensory experience that awaits you in our Forbes Five Star H...

Torontos First Luxury Hotel - Built in 1903 and reimagined for the 21st century. Timeless elegance and tradition combine with modern amenities and luxury in the heart of downtown Toronto. The citys ol...

Sitting pretty in Toronto's iconic Bloor - Yorkville neighbourhood on Bloor Street, in the indie-cool-meets-approachable-luxury Annex neighbourhood, Kimpton Saint Georges refined bohemian spirit refle...

Home2 Suites by Hilton Milton is conveniently located just north of Highway 401 and 10 minutes from Toronto Premium Outlets Mall and Mohawk Racetrack & Casino. Set in the heart of the beautiful Es...

With exceptional dining, an on-site spa and Downtown's best address, The St. Regis Toronto is redefining the standard for five-star luxury in Downtown Toronto, Canada. Trendsetting and boundary breaki...

Park Hyatt located in Yorkville offers 219 guestrooms including 40 well-appointed suites. The hotel will feature a restaurant and bar on the lobby level, cocktail bar with seasonal terrace located on...

InterContinental Toronto Centre is set in the heart of the financial district in upbeat Toronto. Just steps away from the CN Tower, Scotiabank Arena, Rogers Centre, and Ripleys Aquarium, our four-diam...

Four Seasons Hotel Toronto is in the fashionable Yorkville neighbourhood near trendy shopping dining and entertainment. The hotel is only minutes from the business district via complimentary morning ...

The Yorkville Royal Sonesta Hotel offers 212 forms of accommodation with minibars and a safe. Beds feature premium bedding. Televisions come with premium cable channels and pay-per-view films. Bathroo...

The Hilton Toronto/Markham Suites Conference Centre & Spa hotel is located north east of Toronto, Canada, just 25 minutes from both downtown Toronto and Lester B. Pearson International Airport. Th...

Welcome to the fully renovated Hilton Toronto Airport Hotel & Suites. Our Mississauga hotel location is directly across from Pearson International Airport (YYZ), but away from flight paths, and of...

Organize a conference, product launch, or celebration at the Hilton Mississauga/Meadowvale hotel with over 40,000 sq. ft. event space and the very latest audio/visual technology. Work with our caterin...

As the citys only waterfront full-service hotel, Delta Hotels Sault Ste. Marie Waterfront invites you to explore downtown while soaking up sweeping views of St. Marys River. You will have unbeatable a...

Enjoy the thoughtful amenities and professional service you deserve at Delta Hotels Kingston Waterfront. Whether you are visiting Kingston, Canada for work or play, a wonderful experience awaits your ...

Enjoy a relaxing stay in Ottawas city centre when you stay at Delta Hotels Ottawa City Centre. Explore downtown Ottawa with ease. Our hotel is near Parliament Hill, the ByWard Market, Rideau Canal and...

Reflecting the confidence, dignity and style of Canada's capital city, Fairmont Château Laurier stands as a testament to this dynamic, thriving city.  Located next door to the Parliament Buildings,...

Located in the heart of the city, The Fairmont Royal York has everything you need for a memorable stay – opulent surroundings, a knowledgeable Concierge team, fine dining, state-of-the-art exercise...

Escape to our Toronto hotel on the water, offering the perfect balance of premium amenities and prime location. Located in downtown Toronto, in the heart of the revitalized waterfront district, The We...

The Westin Harbour Castle, Toronto is a CAA/AAA Four Diamond hotel located in the heart of downtown Toronto. Guests can easily access the citys most thrilling destinations, from the bustling financial...

The Westin Toronto Airport is located less than five minutes from the YYZ airport and close to both the International Centre and the Toronto Congress Centre. For easy business travel, our hotel offers...

The Hilton Toronto hotel offers superb fine dining, elegantly stylish guestrooms and the ideally located steps from stunning Toronto attractions. Across the street from the Four Seasons Centre of Perf...

Our Favorite Best-Rated Resorts in Ontario

Right now on Apple Vacations, there are 36 Best-Rated hotels and resorts in the gorgeous Ontario region of Canada. These Best-Rated hotel resorts offer a selection of great amenities, delicious dining options, and exciting activities to make your Best-Rated trip in Ontario worth remembering, you can book a Best-Rated hotel resort in some of the most popular cities in Ontario, including Toronto, Windsor, and Ottawa. A premier Best-Rated hotel resort in a prominent region with luxurious amenities and at an amazing low rate? We can deliver all of that and more. Book your Best-Rated Ontario hotel with Apple Vacations today!

Check Out These Top-Rated Best-Rated Ontario Resorts

If you're looking only for the top Best-Rated Ontario hotels, we let you compare ratings on all of our best properties. Our top Ontario Best-Rated hotels and resorts rate an average of 4 stars, and travelers love our deals! When you're planning to book a Best-Rated hotel package in the Ontario region for your next trip, you want to know you will experience all of the luxury of a top resort. Book with confidence because Apple Vacations has Best-Rated hotels in Ontario to fit your every need. Here are our highest-rated Ontario hotels and resorts:

• Four Seasons Hotel Toronto in Toronto has a 5-star rating.
• The St Regis Toronto in Toronto has a 5-star rating.
• The Ritz-Carlton Toronto in Toronto has a 5-star rating.
• The Westin Prince, Toronto in Toronto has a 4-star rating.
• Delta Hotels by Marriott Toronto Mississauga in Mississauga has a 4-star rating.

Best-Rated Hotels and Resorts in Ontario Come with Amazing Perks

Visiting the scenic landscapes in front of your Best-Rated Ontario hotel may be why you are booking today, but don't forget the amazing perks that are included with a Best-Rated resort package from Apple Vacations. Amenities include spas, outdoor pools, free high speed internet connections, airport shuttle service and much more are practically standard throughout Ontario's stunning Best-Rated hotels.

Book the Lowest Rates on Ontario Best-Rated Hotels and Resorts

Review star ratings and amenities offered to help decide on your Ontario Best-Rated hotel or resort near popular sights, but price is what it ultimately comes down to. That's why Apple Vacations offers some of the lowest rates online for Best-Rated Ontario exclusive hotel and resort packages. Check out our best Ontario Best-Rated hotel and resort deals below:

• Delta Hotels by Marriott Toronto in Toronto.
• Caesars Windsor in Windsor.
• The Westin Ottawa in Ottawa.
• The Ritz-Carlton Toronto in Toronto.
• The Omni King Edward Hotel in Toronto.

FAQs About Best-rated Ontario Resorts

What are some great best-rated resorts in ontario.

Popular Best-Rated hotels in Ontario are below. Check out the exclusive amenities, local activities, and sight-seeing for the whole family to enjoy. Book your dream getaway today:

• Delta Hotels by Marriott Toronto in Toronto has a 4-star rating.
• Caesars Windsor in Windsor has a 4-star rating.

What are the typical amenities included in best-rated resorts in Ontario?

Our Best-Rated hotel properties in Ontario have exclusive amenities including Spa, Restaurant, Exercise Gym, Room Service and Babysitting. Compare what our Best-Rated hotels and resorts have to offer and book the perfect getaway in Ontario!

What other types of hotels and resorts are available in Ontario?

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What cities in Ontario have the most best-rated hotels and resorts?

Check out these cities in Ontario that offer the widest selection of Best-Rated hotels and resorts:

• Toronto: 21
• Mississauga: 3
• Niagara Falls: 2

How many best-rated resorts are currently available in Ontario?

Right now there are 36 different Best-Rated hotel resorts available in Ontario. Browse luxury Ontario hotels and resorts with Apple Vacations, and book today!

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More canada regions with best-rated resorts, explore cities with best-rated hotels in ontario, find cities in ontario with other types of hotels and resorts.

3 attractions in Ontario ranked among most breathtaking landmarks in Canada

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Three attractions in Ontario have been ranked among the top 10 most breathtaking in all of Canada, according to a recent report.

There's no arguing that the True North is home to some seriously awe-inspiring sights and experiences, but, when stacked against each other, which of Canada's landmarks really takes the cake?

According to a new analysis by Ontario Casinos , three attractions in Ontario — including one in Toronto — have landed within the list of the top ten most breathtaking Canadian landmarks.

The study looked at Google reviews from the country's most popular landmarks and calculated the percentage of reviews that included terms like 'breathtaking,' and 'wow,' ranking them by percentage.

Coming in at fourth place, Ottawa's Rideau Canal is a no-brainer. Home to the largest naturally-frozen skating rink each winter (well, most winters ,) and peaceful boat tours in the summer, the manmade water way is certainly a crowning jewel of the province.

Another gem from the nation's capital, Ottawa's National Gallery of Canada is caught in a three-way tie with New Brunswick's Reversing Falls and PEI's Green Gables.

Rounding out the list, Toronto's own ( recently re-opened ) Art Gallery of Ontario came in at tenth place.

The complete list of Canada's most breathtaking attractions. By Ontario Casinos.

Which of the country's landmarks managed to come in first place, you ask? None other than Alberta's Lake Louise, which has also been ranked the fourth most scenic lake in the world.

While the news of Lake Louise taking the cake comes as no surprise, I'm still shocked that a few of the country's greatest hits, like Niagara Falls or the McDonalds at Queen and Spadina didn't make it.

To each their own, I guess.

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Visite des points forts de la baie Georgienne

Voyez de vos propres yeux certains des paysages les plus exceptionnels de l'Ontario dans le cadre d’une escapade routière le long du littoral de la baie Georgienne jusqu’à Muskoka.

Jours Suggérés : 8

La Terre de nos Ancêtres

Partez vers le nord, de  Toronto  à Sainte- Marie-au-pays-des-Hurons, premier foyer de peuplement européen de l’Ontario. Une incroyable plongée au coeur du XVII e siècle. Écoutez des contes autochtones dans une maison longue, découvrez la médecine huronne et regardez un forgeron exercer son métier à la chaleur d’un feu de bois.

Envie de plein air? Situé sur l’escarpement du Niagara et surplombant les eaux de la baie Georgienne,  Blue Mountain Resort  offre un large éventail d’activités, notamment parcours dans les arbres, tyrolienne, VTT et Segway (et ski en hiver !). Faites des balades en gyropode ou un tour en gondole pour découvrir des vues panoramiques.  Scenic Caves Nature Adventures  vous propose de découvrir d’anciennes formations rocheuses et des vues époustouflantes : pour une montée d’adrénaline, optez pour le marché sur la cime des arbres et le tour zipline eco adventure.

Reprenez des forces dans l’environnement paisible du  Scandinave Spa . Le village piéton très animé de Blue Mountain conjugue hébergements, shopping et restauration, et propose des festivals et des événements tout au long de l’année.

Vers le Bruce

Remontez vers le nord et la beauté sauvage du  parc national de la Péninsule-Bruce , maillon d’une réserve de biosphère classée au Patrimoine mondial de l’UNESCO, façonnée par d’anciens glaciers. Explorez les falaises et les grottes du célèbre  sentier Bruce , le plus ancien et le plus long chemin de randonnée du Canada. Embarquez à bord d’un bateau à fond à fond de verre pour découvrir des épaves ancestrales et la saisissante île Flowerpot, rattachées au  parc marin national Fathom Five . Ou préférez l’option plongée sous-marine pour approcher les épaves d’encore plus près!

De  Tobermory , à la pointe du « Bruce », embarquez à bord du  MS Chi-Cheemaun ferry pour rejoindre l' Manitoulin Island . Wikwemikong Tourism propose un tourisme naturel et culturel selon une perspective autochtone.

Le Joyau de la Couronne

Remontez vers le nord de Manitoulin pour rejoindre  Killarney  – joyau des parcs provinciaux de l’Ontario. De loin, déjà, on découvre ses sommets de quartzite, qui se détachent au-dessus des eaux cristallines entourées de pins battus par les vents. En vous rapprochant, vous comprendrez pourquoi la région a inspiré le célèbre Groupe des sept à peindre ces paysages emblématiques de l’Ontario. Campez et marchez dans le parc ou explorez-le en canot. Les amoureux de la nature peuvent aussi se faire dorloter en réservant quelques nuits au  Killarney Mountain Lodge  et savourer des repas faits maison. Faites une randonnée guidée jusqu’au sommet des montagnes La Cloche afin d’admirer le panorama. Finissez la journée en beauté avec une sortie en voilier au crépuscule – une expérience inoubliable.

La Beauté à son Summum

Envie de paysages immaculés ? Partez à la découverte du  parc provincial Algonquin . Sur 7,653 km 2 , il recense pas moins de 2,400 lacs ! Nagez, pagayez dans des eaux cristallines ou partez à vélo le long d’une voie de chemin de fer désaffectée. Des randonnées sont également possibles sur des sentiers d’interprétation. À n’en pas douter, vous rencontrerez les autochtones, notamment les orignaux et les castors. Les pêcheurs sauront taquiner la truite grise ou mouchetée sur les spots de pêche parmi les plus courus de la planète. Soyez à l’affût du cri du huard tout en prenant un repos bien mérité dans le confort d’une auberge locale ou d’un chalet  Voyageur Quest . en bord de lac. Explorez le parc en canot ou détendez-vous, tout simplement avec un stage de yoga de Northern Edge Algonquin.

La Magie de Muskoka

Découvrez cette région pittoresque réputée pour ses lacs d’un bleu intense, ses paysages granitiques accidentés et ses forêts boréales. À Gravenhurst, faites une croisière le long de luxueux chalets à bord du navire d’époque  RMS Segwun  Explorez des villes pleines de charme comme  Bala  et  Port Carling . Flânez dans les ateliers d’artistes et les galeries locales. Ou préférez le circuit découverte Bog to Bottle  sur la ferme et vignoble de Muskoka Lakes . 

Non loin, approchez d’une meute de loups pleins d’énergie ou faites une promenade dans les nuages parmi les  cimes des arbres  de la  forêt et réserve faunique de Haliburton  – n’ayez pas peur ! Dans toute la région, vous serez émerveillé à l’automne par la féérie des feuillages rouges, jaunes et orange. En hiver, vous adorerez une expérience en chiens de traîneau à travers la quiétude de la forêt avec Winterdance. Choisissez l’hébergement qui vous convient, des confortables chalets en autonomie aux somptueuses résidences en bord de lac en passant par des complexes raffinés, à l’instar du  JW Marriott The Rosseau Muskoka  et du  Deerhurst Resort .

Mis à jour :  16 mai 2023

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