Vacation In Southern Ontario
Southern Ontario boasts of one of the most beautiful sub-tropical climates. The region is a paradise for traveling and tourism. Most of the cities in Southern Ontario are filled with historical and cultural significance that make this place stand out.
If you’re looking for vacation destinations, you don’t need to fly all over the world! Beautiful scenery and exciting fun are waiting for you in Southern Ontario.
Andrew is a tourist guide. He gave us a tour of Southern Ontario, Quebec and New York. We enjoyed the trip very much. We had a great time; it was fantastic, interesting and exciting. The air was so fresh there. The food was really delicious.
Where does one go for an idyllic week away to relax and enjoy the scenery, eat amazing food and soak in the local culture? Southern Ontario, of course!
If you like to get away to nature, hike and camp, you should consider visiting the Bruce Peninsula.
Ontario is a Canadian province and it is situated in the east of Canada. The region spreads more than 800,000 square kilometers and consists of varied climatic conditions from an arctic climate in the north to a humid continental climate in the south. Ontario has more lakes than any other Canadian province as it is flanked by two bodies of water– Lake Superior on the north and Lake Erie on the south. It has fantastic vacation spots that lure thousands of tourists from around the globe every year.
Vacation 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.
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1. Niagara Falls
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 at 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.
2. 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.
Official site: https://www.cntower.ca/intro.html
Accommodation: Where to Stay in Toronto: Best Areas & Hotels
3. 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.
Official site: https://visit.parl.ca/sites/Visit/default/en_CA/
Accommodation: Where to Stay in Ottawa: Best Areas & Hotels
4. 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.
5. 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