Exploring Ontario

Ontario is home to Canada’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.

Niagara Falls is right on the border between Canada and the US. There are three falls the largest being Horseshoe Falls stretching between Niagara Falls, Canada, and Niagara Falls, New York in the US. The falls are located in the city of Niagara Falls and you can find many tourist attractions along the main strip.

Algonquin Provincial Park is located in southern Ontario. It has hiking trails, a lovely lakefront with campgrounds, and other attractions.

Bruce Peninsula National Park lies on the shores of Lake Huron and Georgian Bay.

Take a look at the interesting petroglyphs at Petroglyphs Provincial Park northeast of Peterborough. You can see amazing 500 to 1,000-year-old aboriginal rock carvings.

There are petroglyphs lining the cliff walls on the shoreline of Lake Superior at Lake Superior Provincial Park.

Canada’s Wonderland is a fun theme park located northwest of the city center of Toronto, Ontario. It operates during the summer months and has roller coasters and thrill rides. There are also a water park, dinosaur park, and live shows Two new rides were added in 2023 the Tundra Twister and Snoopy’s Racing Railway.

Thousand Islands are on the St, Lawrence River and are on a granite shelf that extends from the Canadian Shield to the Adirondack Mountains in the US along the US-Canadian border. It is a great place to take a holiday.

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

The historic Trent-Severn Canal was built in the late 1800s to early 1900s. It is a system of waterways that link Lake Ontario with Georgian Bay on Lake Huron. The canal makes its way through rivers and lakes like the Trent River and Lake Simcoe east of Ontario.

The Trent-Severn Waterway is part of Parks Canada and is officially known as the Trent-Severn Waterway National Historic Site of Canada. It is used for recreational boaters and tourism.

A great way to get to know this waterway is on a Kawartha Voyageur Cruise.

Cottage Country or Muskoka is a region that centers around Lake Muskoka. It is a well-known summer vacation spot. Cottages and summer homes dot the lakes and some are rentable.

The primary town here is Gravenhurst along the shores of Lake Muskoka.

Fort William Historical Park was operated by the Northwest Company during the Canadian fur trade from 1803 to 1821. The fort is located on the banks of the Kaministiquia River south of Thunder Bay. There are 57 buildings. You can learn about the fur trading life.

On the grounds is also the David Thompson Astronomical Observatory DTAO which is home to one of the largest public telescopes in Canada.

You’ll find beautiful nature in the Lake of the Woods area. This large body of water lies on the borders of Manitoba and Ontario and leads into the US state of Minnesota. There are many cottages here and tourists come for fishing trips. You can take walks through the lovely Canadian wilderness.

The main town is Kenora where there is lodging, supplies, fishing guides, and you can plan charter flights.

Blue Mountain Resort is located just outside the town of Collingwood on the shores of Georgian Bay. It is among the most popular ski resorts in Ontario. The resort is open year-round offering summer activities of rock climbing, ziplining, hiking, and mountain biking.

The mission station Sainte-Marie Among the Hurons lies east of Midland on the Wye River. It was founded by Jesuits in 1639. It was reconstructed in the 1960s and designated a national monument. Here you can learn about the history of the station and pioneer life in Canada.

Discovery Harbor has two restored sailing ships on display the HMS Bee and the HMS Tecumseth. You can tour historic maritime homes among them the Sailor’s Barracks, Commander’s Home, and others.

Rideau Canal is a UNESCO World Heritage site dating from the early 19th century, You can walk along the pathways and watch the boats passing through the locks.

Take the Rideau Canal Cruise on a 100 percent electric-powered passenger vessel. It passes by top attractions like the Chateau Laurier National Arts Centre and the Canadian Museum of Nature.