Places to vacation in ontario
Canada is the second largest country in the world (after Russia). It is located in the northern part of America. Canada is a federation of provinces and territories. Besides, it has three territories and ten main parts. The main parts are British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario and Quebec. Each province has its own capital.
Canada is a country that has a lot to offer to tourists. It has beautiful landscapes, great cities and lots of history. There are many places in Canada where you can have a great time and enjoy yourself.
Canada can be confusing to many people when they are planning a vacation. There are several provinces that you may want to visit and they each have their own special charm. That’s why we’ve created this article to help you understand the different cities of Canada and what they offer.
Places to vacation in ontario
Niagara Falls
Niagara Falls is a series of three awe-inspiring waterfalls situated on the border of Canada’s Ontario and the United States’ New York. The Ontario side of the Falls is called Horseshoe Falls and offers the best views and most attractions. The immediate area surrounding the Falls is a premier tourist spot teeming in observation towers, restaurants, souvenir shops, casinos and high-rise hotels.
Its sister city in New York is known as the ‘honeymoon capital of the world,’ and one of the only places where you can get a marriage license without a waiting period. Those looking for both romance and adventure will find it here, with a long list of exciting things to see and do.
One of the best places to view the Niagara Falls on the Ontario side is from Queen Victoria Park where the Falls are illuminated and fireworks are displayed nightly during the summer. See them from above or below – it’s your choice – with helicopter tours, jet boat tours, an observation deck next to Skylon Tower, and elevators that take you down behind the falls.
Ontario’s Provincial and National Parks
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.
Royal Ontario Museum (ROM)
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.
Canada’s Wonderland
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. Visiting Wonderland is an easy day trip from Toronto.
Toronto’s CN Tower
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.
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 Ottawa
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.
National Gallery of Canada
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 Canadian Museum of History, or stroll over to the wonderful ByWard Market for a bite.
Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF)
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.
Art Gallery of Ontario
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 sculpture 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.
Thousand Islands
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. Gananoque is the principle resort town in the area and the main gateway to the Thousand Islands.
Fishing in Northern Ontario
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.
Trent-Severn Waterway National Historic Site of Canada
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 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.