visit ontario 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

Discover Together – Ontario, Canada

Diverse outdoor and urban adventures with the perfect blend of heritage and modern charms..

Discover a world in Ontario, Canada – home to world-famous icons and awe-inspiring nature, vibrant communities and pristine wilderness, hidden gems and unexpected experiences. Wander off the beaten path to discover our distinctive culture and inventive cuisine. No matter where you go and which experiences you choose, you will encounter welcoming locals, proud to share their stories. Ontario is sure to satisfy the outdoor adventurer, passionate foodie and cultural explorer in all of us.

Where we are

From the temperate southernmost tip of Point Pelee in Lake Erie to the remote northern saltwater shores of Hudson Bay, Ontario covers more than 1,000,000 square kilometres, that's larger than France and Spain combined.

Discover The Best of Ontario

We’re sharing some Ontario essential experiences to inspire your trip. And for more locals’ tips for your escape, browse our latest Ontario Guide .

Trendy areas to visit in Ontario

Toronto to Ottawa road trip

Celebrity-inspired getaways in Ontario

Instagrammable accommodations in Ontario

Quintessential Canadian foods to try in Ontario

Top parks to visit in Ontario, Canada

The best ways to experience Ontario's waterways

Best restaurants for foodies in these Ontario destinations

Toronto guide for nature lovers

Things to do in Toronto at night

Ways to experience Indigenous culture across Ontario

Lakeside summer getaways in Ontario

Guide to Ontario's Icewine

Quaint & charming small towns in Ontario

Connect with nature at Ontario Resorts

10 reasons to love the fall season in Ontario, Canada

Best winter experiences in Ontario

Take a walk on the edge: EdgeWalk CN Tower

Ultimate Ontario fall colour lookouts

Cool things to do in Toronto this winter

Group of Seven experience route: Algoma Country, Sault Ste. Marie and the North Shore of Lake Superior

Chilly Toronto’s Warm Welcome for Foodies

Places to explore

Ontario is a mosaic of vibrant cities, charming towns and unique villages in addition to the iconic cities of Toronto, Niagara Falls, and Ottawa. This map shows some of our most popular destinations

Niagara Falls

Sault Ste. Marie and Algoma

Algonquin Park, Muskoka and Parry Sound

Haliburton Highlands to the Ottawa Valley

The Blue Mountains

Manitoulin Island

Peterborough and the Kawarthas

Thunder Bay

Hamilton, Halton and Brant

Prince Edward County

Gananoque and the 1000 Islands

St. Jacobs and Elmira

Itineraries

There’s a new discovery around every corner in Ontario! Use our suggested itineraries as inspiration for your own perfect vacation in Ontario. Customize the route to suit your interests and time. 

11-day Canadian canoe trip

Classic Ontario road trip

Georgian Bay highlights tour

Top things to do in Niagara

13-day adventure trip: Northern Ontario

6-day road trip: Southwest Ontario

15-day Ontario family road trip

Top things to do in Toronto

Top things to do in Ottawa

Travel resources.

Planning a trip to Ontario? We’ve assembled some resources to help get you started.

Weather in Ontario

About ontario, travel with pets, accessible travel, sustainable travel, french language services.

Last updated:  April 24, 2024

Explore more of Ontario

Tag your photos with #DiscoverON to inspire others.

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Must Do Canada

The Best Things to Do in Canada

The ULTIMATE Guide to the Best Things to Do in Ontario

June 9, 2020 By Matthew G. Bailey

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Last updated: May 15th, 2022

Ontario is one of the biggest and most populated provinces in Canada and is home to some amazing cities, attractions, and nature. Ranging from the massive cosmopolitan city of Toronto to the scenic landscapes of Algonquin Provincial Park, there are so many things to do in Ontario. From kayaking next to loons to experiencing Canada Day on Parliament Hill, Ontario is definitely one of the most popular provinces to visit in Canada.

Some of the wonderful attractions in Ontario included taking a helicopter tour over Niagara Falls , visiting world-class museums in Toronto, enjoying the thrill of some of the world’s best roller coasters at Canada’s Wonderland, canoeing some of Canada’s best lakes and rivers, and visiting some of Canada’s top wineries, just to name a few.

Whether you’re visiting in the summer or in the winter, looking to do one of the many Ontario road trips , or looking for the best activities and attractions for your next trip to Ontario, we’ve got you covered in this extensive guide to the best things to do in Ontario.

Table of Contents

Travel Video: What To Do in Ontario

Back in 2017, we embarked on a 150-day road trip to celebrate Canada’s 150th birthday. Since Ontario is home to the nation’s capital, we made sure we were in Ottawa for July 1st to enjoy one of the biggest Canada Day celebrations Canada has ever had. But that’s not all. We also visited many of the best museums in the country in Ottawa and in Toronto, went into an underground bunker that was built during the Cold War, enjoyed some of the best views of Niagara Falls thanks to a short cruise and helicopter ride, went canoeing in Algonquin Provincial Park, and sampled some of Canada’s best wine. We’ve since been back many times to continue going deeper and deeper into the best things to do in Ontario, but that trip will forever be in our hearts. Watch the video above to see it all in action!

Things to Do in Ontario: Ottawa

Ottawa is a beautiful and vibrant city, which is also home to Canada’s federal government. Here you’ll find incredible museums, the Rideau Canal, Parliament Hill, and so much more. You can also walk across the bridge and visit Quebec!

Canadian Parliament Buildings

Without a doubt, the icon of Ottawa is Canada’s parliament buildings. It’s just one of those sights you simply shouldn’t miss when visiting Canada’s capital city. From the Clock Tower to the gothic architecture, the buildings are stunning to admire from the lawns in front of the building. In addition, if you want to go inside, you can take one of the free tours and learn about Canada’s political system.

Rideau Canal

Located right next to the parliament buildings, the Rideau Canal is well worth a visit. In fact, it’s hard to miss. This UNESCO World Heritage Site was actually built to protect against war with the USA but has now become a very popular spot with boaters, connecting the city all the way to Lake Ontario. While you’re there, stop into the Bytown museum as well, which we’ll talk more about below.

Bytown Museum

This great little museum is a great place to visit if you want to learn about Ottawa’s history as well as the Rideau Canal, which is located right outside the front doors! There are a lot of cool artifacts and we learned so much about Ottawa and Canada’s confederation.

Canadian Museum of History

This massive, fascinating museum explores Canada’s 20,000 years of human history while offering some of the best views of Parliament Hill from across the river. Although it’s actually located in Gatineau, Quebec, it’s walking distance from Ottawa.

I really loved the strong emphasis on Canada’s first peoples and learning about the aboriginal culture both before and after the Europeans arrived. It was also cool to learn about some of the most important moments from Canada’s last 150 years.

Diefenbunker Canada’s Cold War Museum

How often do you get to go into a massive 100,000-square-foot underground bunker built for a nuclear war? Well, a visit to the Cold War Museum allows you to do just that! Thankfully, this place was never used for its intended purpose and it’s now the perfect location for the world’s largest escape room, which we got to try out after our tour of the facility.

We loved running around an actual military bunker as if we were action heroes, solving clues with limited time. Very cool experience!

Nordik Spa-Nature

Although this spa is located in Chelsea, Quebec, it’s only 20-minutes from Ottawa by car. As of now, it’s North America’s largest spa and it truly is an incredible place to spend the day. Think of it as a relaxing adult playground.

They have multiple steam rooms, a variety of hot and cold pools, a salt-water floating pool, fire pits, saunas, and so much more. We always spend a good 8 hours or more when we visit, taking the time to also indulge in a massage as well as some food and drink.

For more, check out our guide to the best things to do in Ottawa !

Fun Things to Do in Ontario: Niagara Falls

As one of the world’s most popular natural attractions, Niagara Falls is a beauty to behold and one of the tourist attractions in Ontario. There are so many ways to experience the falls and we tried every possible way there is, except go over them in a barrel, which is not recommended.

Besides seeing the falls, there are lots of other things to do in the area, including wine-tasting and food tours in Niagara-on-the-Lake.

Niagara Helicopters

Helicopter rides are always awesome and you can probably imagine how cool it is to take a helicopter over one of the world’s biggest waterfalls. We got a birds-eye perspective of the falls and the huge cloud of mist rising into the air. It really looked like a hole in the Earth. It’s definitely a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see a former world wonder from the sky.

Journey Behind the Falls

This may just be my favourite way to see the falls. Not only do you get to go right beside the falls but you can also take your time to enjoy the view for as long as you want. It’s really incredible to admire the falls from so close and if you’d like, you can also go down a tunnel and be just a few feet behind the falls, which is a good way to see just how powerful they really are.

Hornblower Niagara Cruises

There’s a reason why taking a cruise into the mist has long been a favourite activity for visitors to Niagara Falls. The boat gets you super close to the bottom, allowing you to get soaked from the mist and experience the force while looking up as the water flows over the edge.

White Water Walk

Some people admiring the falls forget about the raging river it creates after the water makes its plunge. This walking path gets you right next to the river, allowing you to walk next to class-6 rapids and a raging river flowing along at around 40 km/h. The water is too dangerous for boats but is perfect to admire from the sidelines.

Whirlpool Aero Car

Another popular attraction in the area is the whirlpool, which is located downstream from Niagara Falls. Here you can take an antique cable car over the whirlpool to get beautiful views of the surrounding area.

Niagara Culinary Tours

If you’re looking to sample wines and food, head to Niagara-on-the-Lake, a beautiful little town right on the edge of Lake Ontario and the U.S. Border. If you’re looking to sample a variety of foods while learning about the history, take a food tour with Niagara Culinary Tours. We walked all over town with our guide, Chris, learning about the area’s history while trying a variety of food, including Thai soup, beer and cheese pairings, and some of the town’s famous desserts. It was awesome!

Butterfly Conservatory

Located just 9 kilometres (5.6 miles) north of Niagara Falls, this 99-acre Butterfly Conservatory is home to a 200-seat theatre, gift shop, and climate-controlled greenhouse. Most importantly, it’s home to over 2,000 tropical butterflies from over 60 different species.

The conservatory glass dome is a whopping 11,000 square feet and is home to 180-metres worth of paths. Whether you’re wanting to have a butterfly land on you or just admire them from a distance, this is the place to go.

Skylon Tower

If you’re looking for a view somewhat similar to a helicopter, you might want to head up to the top of the Skylon Tower to see Niagara Falls from 520-feet above street level. The tower also has two restaurants at the top, including the Revolving Dining Room and the upper Summit Suite Buffet for those looking to have a bite to eat with an incredible view!

Niagara SkyWheel

Where else can you take a ride on a Ferris wheel while enjoying views of one of the world’s natural wonders? This 175-foot (53.3 metres) tall Ferris wheel offers 42 fully enclosed passenger cars that each carry nine people for a 12-15 minute ride with views of Niagara River, Horseshoe Falls, and American Falls. In the winter, the cars are even heated whereas, in the summer, they are air-conditioned.

For a more exhaustive list of things to do in the area, check out our guide to the best things to do in Niagara Falls as well as our guide to the Best Views of Niagara Falls

Toronto, Ontario, Things to Do

Canada’s biggest city is home to a vast amount of incredible museums, attractions, restaurants, and more. There’s also a beautiful harbour, Toronto Island, and a multi-cultural scene unlike anywhere else in the country. We had only four days in the city and made sure to pack in as many things as we could.

The CN Tower dominates the Toronto skyline and is a great place to get a view of the entire city as well as Lake Ontario and Toronto Island. It might not be the tallest building in the world anymore but it’s still an architectural marvel and a great place to go for sunset.

Royal Ontario Museum

This is the biggest museum in Canada and one of the biggest in North America. Home to more than six million items and 40 galleries, you could explore this place for days.

We happened to be there during a special exhibit called “Out of the Depths, the Blue Whale Story”. This was incredibly interesting and beautiful and gave us insight into the world’s biggest mammal. We saw the real skeleton and an actual heart, which is almost as big as a smart car! If you’re interested in nature or history or art or almost anything else, this is the place to go.

Art Gallery of Ontario

This massive art museum consists of 480,000 square feet of space, housing around 95,000 works spanning the first century to the present day. It’s one of the largest galleries in North America, including significant collections of Canadian art, Renaissance art, European art, African art, and a vast modern and contemporary collection.

You’ll also find photography, sculptures, and other kinds of art such as miniatures, frames, books, film and video art, installations, architecture, and more. The Art Gallery of Ontario is the second most visited museum after Toronto’s ROM and is recommended for anyone interested in, well, art!

Hockey Hall of Fame

For those interested in hockey or insight into the sport that Canada is most known for, head on down to the Hockey Hall of Fame . The beautiful building houses exhibits featuring players, teams, NHL records, memorabilia, and even trophies, including a replica of the Stanley Cup. There are even some interactive games where you can play games and test your hockey skills.

Tasty Tours Food Tour

The food tour with a sweet twist. If you’re looking to try some interesting food while getting a taste for the culture, this is a great tour to take. I loved meeting the shop owners and learning their stories. In fact, that’s what makes this tour special.

I enjoyed hearing about how the businesses got started and we actually ended up interviewing a lot of the people we met through this tour. Highly recommended!

Bruce Bell Historical Walking Tour

I really think historical walking tours are the best thing to do when you first arrive in a new city. They really help bring the city to life and that’s what happened when we took a tour with Bruce Bell, a man well known for his incredible St. Lawrence Market tours. This is where Toronto got its start and it was so interesting to learn about the market and the surrounding area.

uFly Flight Simulator

I’ve been wanting to try a flight simulator for quite some time and finally got the chance in Mississauga! Home to North America’s only 180-degree full HD screen to the fully motorized throttle quadrant of the 777-200LR in the country, this is one of the best public flight simulators in the world.

This is a really cool way to experience life as a pilot without actually leaving the ground. It’s incredibly realistic and you get a real pilot next to you to help you take off, fly, and land while answering any questions you might have. This simulator is located in Mississauga and is a 40-minute drive from downtown Toronto.

Steam Whistle Brewery

As one of the most photographed places in Toronto, the Steam Whistle Brewery is a really cool place to visit in downtown Toronto. Take a tour, sample the beer, and learn about the history behind this really cool iconic Canadian-owned beer company. In fact, they’re so cool that they even hosted our Road to 150 Toronto meetup! Thanks, Steam Whistle!

It’s hard to believe that a big city like Toronto is home to one of Canada’s very few castles. While it’s not really a “real castle”, it is a Gothic Revival style mansion that was built back in 1911 by financier Sir Henry Pellatt.

Not only is it quite close to downtown Toronto but it also offers a beautiful view of the city, including the CN Tower. If you decide to take the popular Hop-on-Hop-off bus, this attraction is one of the stops.

Toronto Islands and a Toronto Harbour Cruise

The best way to see Toronto’s stunning skyline is to go for a cruise along the harbour . This is also a great way to see the Toronto Islands, a chain of small islands in Lake Ontario that provides summer fun for locals and tourists alike.

The islands host a variety of hiking trails, picnic areas, beaches, yacht clubs, and even an airport. In addition, if you decide to take the popular Hop-on-Hop-off bus , this attraction is included in the price.

Canada’s Wonderland

Located just outside Toronto in a suburb called Vaughan, you’ll find the largest amusement park in Canada! In fact, it’s one of the best amusement parks in the world, with more than 330-acres of excitement, including 70 attractions, 17 of which are roller coasters.

There’s also a 20-acre water park and a month-long “Canada Day” celebration called Celebration Canada. For those seeking thrills, our favourite rides are Leviathan, Behemoth, and the new Yukon Striker, which is the world’s tallest, fastest, and longest dive coaster.

For more, check out our ultimate guide to the best things to do in Toronto !

Things to Do in Sudbury, Ontario

If you’re planning to drive west towards Manitoba or explore the Lake Superior region, you might end up in Sudbury. Here are some of the wonderful things you can do.

Visit the Big Nickel

If you love huge roadside attractions, this is one you don’t want to miss out on. This nine-metre high nickel is the city’s most famous landmark. And is a replica of a 1952 Canadian nickel, which can be found on the grounds of the Dynamic Earth science museum, which we talk about below.

Explore Dynamic Earth

After looking up at the giant nickel, head in and explore Dynamic Earth, an interactive science museum focusing on the city’s mining history. This is the city’s top attraction and is operated by Science North, another one of the top things to do in Sudbury . It’s an interactive science museum established in 2003 that focuses on the city’s mining history. Dynamic Earth has a wide variety of displays and exhibits where the kids can learn how to mine, climb a mineral wall, look at diamonds, and identify different minerals. There are gold panning experiences and displays of fossils and meteorites. They can also go on an underground tour of the mines that takes them deep into the earth and displays the work done by the miners over the years, as well as the technological changes that have taken place. There is also a giant sandpit complete with manually operated diggers, and huge mining machinery they can climb around.

Lake Laurentian Conservation Area

This 97-hectare Lake Laurentian Conservation Area stretches from Lake Ramsey to the Southeast Bypass, creating an excellent conservation area filled with lakes, trails, and wildlife.

It’s a lovely place to get into nature and consists of many hiking trails or even cross-country skiing trails in the winter. It’s also great for bird-watching. In addition, we totally recommend visiting the A.Y. Jackson Lookout to see the impressive 55-metre cascading Hall Falls.

Go Snowmobiling

It’s not tough finding fun things to do in Ontario, Canada. Take this wonderland adventure for example. If you happen to be in Sudbury during the winter, the city has one of the largest groomed snowmobile trails in the world, with over 1,200 kilometres of trails connecting several communities.

These are maintained trails, complete with parking, washrooms and designated rest areas. You can even stay in lodges along the way!

Thrilling Stuff to Do in Ontario: Kingston

Another popular city is Kingston, which is just 2.5 hours east of Toronto by car and just 2 hours south of Ottawa. It’s located right on Lake Ontario and has a beautiful historic waterfront core. You can also arrive via the ViaRail train or the regional airport.

Take a Kingston Trolley Tour

One of the most popular things to do in Kingston is to take a tour on the red Trolleys, a “hop-on-hop-off” style tour that takes you to all the city highlights. The trolleys have live commentary from the driver and/or audio guide, which also makes it a great way to learn about the historical points of the city.

Take a 1000 Island Boat Cruise

Another awesome thing to do around Kingston is to visit the 1000 Islands via the 1000 Island Boat Cruise . This is one of Canada’s national parks and is both a historic waterway and a beautiful place. There are many different boat tours, some of which are short and some of which are long. You can even take a sunset dinner cruise if you want to enjoy the sunset and a delicious meal.

Go Shopping on Princess Street

Since many people love to do some shopping when they travel, the place to do so in Kingston is Princess Street, which cuts right through downtown and proceeds right to the waterfront. There are many shops here, including local food and artisan crafts and clothing, and it’s also a beautiful area to just walk around and enjoy.

Visit Historic Fort Henry

If you’re up for some military history, you’ll want to visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Fort Henry. This fort is actually part of a larger historical site known as the Kingston Fortifications National Historic Site.

This site includes the old fortifications around Kingston Harbour and the entrance to the Rideau Canal. It also includes the historic Shoal Tower (located in the waterfront downtown), the Murney Tower, and the tower/walls of Fort Frederick.

Other Cool Places to Visit in Ontario

While so many tourists go to the main areas of Toronto, Ottawa, and Niagara Falls, there is SO MUCH MORE for those wanting to get deeper into the province and see some of its more natural beauty. Here are some Ontario highlights and ideas for your next road trip around the province.

Algonquin Provincial Park

Algonquin Provincial Park is a beautiful slice of nature just a couple of hours north of Toronto. It’s a great place to go canoeing, kayaking, fishing, or hiking. In the fall, it’s one of the most spectacular places in Canada to witness the changing fall colours and it’s one of the most popular places to go camping in Ontario .

During our brief two nights in the park, we stayed at Arowhon Pines, a luxurious rustic lodge overlooking a lake with gourmet food served three times per day. We spent our days canoeing next to loons, paddle boarding around the lake, and jumping off the dock and into the water before watching the sunset and sitting next to the fire inside our lodge.

Getting to Ontario Canada

There are many ways to get to Ontario, including cars, buses, trains, and planes. Some people even arrive by boat from other parts of Canada.

Getting to Ontario by Plane

Ontario is home to some of Canada’s biggest cities and a variety of airports. The most popular options for arrival are the four international airports in Toronto, Ottawa, London, and Thunder Bay. Most tourists will likely arrive in either Toronto or Ottawa. There are also a number of other airports as well.

• Toronto Pearson International Airport: Toronto’s airport is one of the busiest airports in the world and is definitely the busiest in Canada. More than 180 destinations around the world are served from this airport via 65+ airlines. Being in Toronto, Toronto Pearson is connected to major highways, public transportation systems, rental car companies, express trains, taxis, and more. It’s also a 30-minute drive from the US border.
• Ottawa International Airport: Serving more than 4.5 million passengers each year, Ottawa is also one of Canada’s busiest airports. The airport is home to 11 airlines and is only 20-minutes to Canada’s capital city and only a two-hour drive from Montreal, Quebec.
• London International Airport: London’s international airport is located near the city of London, Ontario. It’s also one of Canada’s busiest airports and serves five different airlines with direct flights to 14 destinations.
• Thunder Bay International Airport: Ontario’s Thunder Bay airport is on the other side of Lake Superior, almost a 15-hour drive from Toronto. It serves around 700,000 passengers annually.

Getting to Ontario by Car

If you’re driving to Ontario, the province is bordered by Manitoba to the west, Quebec to the east, and the US to the south. It’s a massive province, taking close to 24-hours of driving to cross from west to east. The busiest area is the Toronto-Niagara-Ottawa corridor, which is at the far southeastern edge of the province. The rest of the province (to the north and to the west) is largely made up of forests, lakes, and smaller communities.

The Trans-Canada Highway crosses through the province, providing an easy way to navigate from east to west (and vice versa). It’s a great place for a Canada road trip, whether you decide to explore only Ontario attractions or other nearby provinces as well.

If you need to rent a car, there are many options, including Avis, Budget, Discount, Dollar, Hertz, National and Thrifty.

There’s also a variety of taxis, as well as Uber and Lyft.

Getting to and Around Ontario by Bus

Just like cars, Ontario is easily visited by bus. There are a variety of bus lines offering service throughout the province including:

• Greyhound: This bus company services all regions of the province.
• Ontario Northland: This bus company services Toronto, Central Ontario and Northern Ontario.
• Gray Line: This bus company provides sightseeing tours in Niagara Falls, Toronto, and Ottawa.
• Coach Canada: This bus company services Windsor to Montreal along the 401 corridors.
• Parkbus: This bus company services between Toronto and Ottawa and various provincial and national parks.
• GO Transit: This is the regional public transit service for the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area.

Getting to and Around Ontario by Train

Ontario is home to the VIA Rail lines, which offer services to and from the province, but there are also regional train lines as well.

• VIA Rail Canada: This company offers passenger service in the Greater Toronto Area, Ottawa, Niagara Falls, Southwestern Ontario and Northern Ontario, with express service available between larger communities on most routes. You can also go to other provinces across Canada.
• Ontario Northland: This company’s Polar Bear Express train provides service from Cochrane to Moosonee.
• Agawa Canyon Train Tour: Algoma Central Rail offers popular train excursions through the spectacular scenery of Algoma Country.
• Union Pearson Express: This service is an innovative air-rail link connecting Toronto Pearson International Airport and Union Station in downtown Toronto. For groups of 50 or more please complete the on-line form for special rates.

Getting to and Around Ontario by Boat

Ontario is also accessible by boat, although only from within Canada. There are a couple of ferry services you can make use of, including:

• Chi Cheemaun: This ferry runs between Tobermory and South Baymouth on Manitoulin Island.
• Glenora: This ferry connects Glenora and Adolphustown in Eastern Ontario.
• Pelee Island Ferry: This ferry runs between Leamington or Kingsville and Pelee Island in Southern Ontario.
• Toronto Islands: This ferry departs from the downtown Toronto docks and services the Toronto Islands.
• Wolfe Island: This ferry connects Kingston and Wolfe Island in Eastern Ontario.

Best Time to Visit Ontario

Ontario can be hot and humid in the summer and freezing cold in during the winter in Canada . Timing your visit will likely depend on what you’re interested in doing and what you’re comfortable with.

If you’d like to experience snow and/or partake in winter festivals or winter activities in Ontario, then you’ll want to come sometime between December and March. Other advantages to this time include fewer visitors and cheaper hotel prices.

If you’d rather experience hot temperatures and a wider array of Ontario activities, you may want to visit during Canada’s warmer months from May until September. The hottest months are July and August, which also happen to be the busiest months. Spring can also be nice and during the fall season around October, Ontario is home to some of the best fall colours in Canada .

Either way, travel in Ontario can be done all year-round, especially in cities like Ottawa and Toronto. In the summer, temperatures can reach as high as 40 degrees Celcius whereas the winter can bring temperatures of -20 degrees Celsius or even colder if you travel to the northern part of the province. However, as the saying goes, there’s no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothes.

Fun Facts About Canada Ontario

• Toronto is now known as the most multicultural city on Earth.
• St. Lawrence Market in downtown Toronto is known as the best food market in the world.
• One of the main reasons Ottawa was chosen as Canada’s capital is due to its proximity to both English and French Canada.
• Toronto is home to Canada’s only NBA and MLB sports teams.
• With more than 250,000 lakes, Ontario is estimated to have 20% of the world’s freshwater stores.
• Horseshoe Falls (part of Niagara Falls) is the most powerful waterfall in North America by volume and is often cited as one of the world’s natural wonders.

Want more? Check out our guide to the best Ontario facts .

Final Thoughts on What to Do in Ontario, Canada

As you can see in the video, we had a great time in Ontario. There are so many things to do in this massive province, including big-city entertainment and boundless nature. From massive waterfalls and beautiful lakes to vibrant multicultural cities and international cuisine, Ontario is a really cool province to explore.

For more cool things to do in Ontario and beyond, check out our other articles below:

• Ottawa in the Winter
• Things to Do in Quebec
• Things to Do in Montreal
• Things to Do in Manitoba
• Interesting Toronto Facts

Bonus Fun Fact: There’s actually an Ontario historic site located outside of Canada! It’s called Wolford Chapel and it’s located in Devon, England.

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About Matthew G. Bailey

Matthew G. Bailey is the founder and editor-in-chief of Must Do Canada. Growing up in Alberta to a mother from Quebec and a father from Newfoundland, Matt spent his childhood playing hockey under the Northern Lights and hanging out in the forest before moving to Calgary and travelling to more than 250 cities spanning 42 countries and 6 continents. He loves travel, learning new things, playing sports, writing, making videos, photography, and scuba diving. You can also find him at LiveLimitless.net .

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The breathtaking four-seasonal palette of Ontario's vast wilderness, endless forests and abundant wildlife awaits. Around 40% of Canada’s population lives here for good reason: Ontario is larger than France and Spain combined. Over 250,000 lakes, including the Great Lakes bordering the US, contain a fifth of the planet's fresh water.

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Distillery District

Old Town, Corktown & Distillery District

Centered on the 1832 Gooderham and Worts distillery – once the largest distillery in the British Empire – the 5-hectare Distillery District is one of…

Royal Ontario Museum

Opened in 1914, the multidisciplinary ROM is Canada's biggest natural-history museum and one of the largest museums in North America. You'll either love…

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Dominating Toronto's skyline, the CN Tower is a marvel. At a height of 553 metres, the communications spire stands over the city like a beacon. Queues can…

Hockey Hall of Fame

The mecca of Canada's national sport, the Hockey Hall of Fame is a Canadian institution. Even those unfamiliar with the rough, super-fast sport are likely…

Toronto's favorite green space is a wonderful spot to unfurl a picnic blanket, swim, play tennis, bike around, skate on 14-hectare Grenadier Pond or – in…

National Gallery of Canada

The National Gallery is a work of art in itself: its striking ensemble of pink granite and glass spires echoes the ornate copper-topped towers of the…

Boldt Castle

Thousand Islands

This lavish turn-of-the-century island castle in the middle of the St Lawrence is only around 25km from Gananoque, but technically in the USA, so you'll…

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Niagara Falls

The centerpiece of any visit here are the Horseshoe Falls. Named after their 670m curved shape, they have the highest flow rate of any waterfall in North…

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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

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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thu 20 apr (apr 20) 10:00 am sun 06 oct (oct 6) 5:00 pm In Bloom: Flowers and Footwear 10:00 am - (october 6) 5:00 pm

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fri 10 nov (nov 10) 11:00 am fri 31 jan (jan 31) 2:00 pm FREE Public Guided Tours at ROM Activity Event Organized By Royal Ontario Museum (november 10) 11:00 am - (january 31) 2:00 pm Region Greater Toronto & Hamilton City Toronto

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From towering dinosaur skeletons to awe-inspiring contemporary paintings, ROM is home to more than 13.5 million artworks, artifacts, and specimens from around the world and across the ages. So, it

From towering dinosaur skeletons to awe-inspiring contemporary paintings, ROM is home to more than 13.5 million artworks, artifacts, and specimens from around the world and across the ages. So, it should be no surprise ROM is also the most visited museum in Canada.

Don’t miss our FREE* 45-minute English and French tours. Tours start at the hour from 11am to 2pm daily.

*FREE with General Admission

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Museum Highlights Explore the wonders of ROM. In a 45-minute tour that brings iconic objects to life, you’ll enjoy highlights of arts, culture and nature… throughout the world and throughout time.

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Les trésors du musée Explorez les merveilles du ROM. La visite donne vie à des objets emblématiques à la croisée de l’art, de la culture et de la nature et ce à travers le monde et à travers le temps. Elle vous donnera aussi une bonne idée de l’ampleur des collections du musée.

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Marcel Dzama’s delicate and fantastical drawings made with ink, watercolour paint and root beer catapulted the Winnipeg-born artist to international fame in the late 1990s. Since then, Dzama has relocated

Marcel Dzama’s delicate and fantastical drawings made with ink, watercolour paint and root beer catapulted the Winnipeg-born artist to international fame in the late 1990s. Since then, Dzama has relocated to Brooklyn, New York, expanding his practice to include performance, sculpture, and video. Ghosts of Canoe Lake: New Work by Marcel Dzama celebrates a new body of work inspired by the artist’s interest in Tom Thomson and the Group of Seven, recalling as well his childhood spent in the landscape of Manitoba and Saskatchewan.

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Experience our world in vivid detail and see some of the most extraordinary species in ways you never imagined. Each photograph is back lit, providing exquisite quality and depth. Through

Experience our world in vivid detail and see some of the most extraordinary species in ways you never imagined. Each photograph is back lit, providing exquisite quality and depth. Through the camera’s lens, viewers become witnesses to the lives animals live and the challenges they face. Emotive, surprising glimpses of life on our planet are showcased through exceptional talent, technical expertise, and the perfectly captured moment.

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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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written by Rough Guides Editors

updated 12.05.2021

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15 best places to visit in ontario [canada] in 2024.

Home to the Great Lakes, the city of Toronto and, of course, Niagara Falls … 

Ontario has to be one of the best places to visit in Canada !

With ample spots for fishing, swimming, kayaking, canoeing, camping, hiking, and biking; it really is the nature-lover's dream.

Couple this with major cities, fantastic road networks and transport links; Ontario is super easy to visit.

But with so much to do, it’s also pretty … darn … BIG.

It’s larger than France and Spain combined!

So deciding on the best places to visit in Ontario can be tough. But don’t worry, we’ve got you covered!

After 2 months spent road tripping the entire state, we’ve whittled the destinations down to the '15 best places in Ontario'.

As well as throwing in a few useful hints and tricks for making the most of your stay.

Let’s get stuck in…

Travellerspoint

How to get to Ontario

You've got a couple of options when it comes to travelling to Ontario Province! 

Ontario is huge province so naturally, there are plenty of airports. In fact, there are around 48 of them so you've got lots of options.

However, only four of these are international; London International, Ottawa International, Thunder Bay International, and Toronto Pearson.

Flights arrive daily to these airports, so when you're planning your trip make sure you find the best deals through Skyscanner ! 

By public transport

If you're already traveling through Canada or you're in the United States then there are plenty of trains and buses that will take you to Ontario.

The most popular operators include Amtrak , Via Rail , and Ontario Northland .

If you're planning to travel by bus which can be cheaper then make sure you check out Coach Canada , Flixbus , and Mega Bus .

By car/motorhome

Many people choose to hire a motorhome and drive from the United States to Canada! If you're already in Canada, then you can simply drive through the other provinces to reach Ontario.

If you're planning to do a cross-country trip across the country then many people choose to start in the city of Vancouver on the west coast, or the provinces of Quebec or Newfoundland and Labrador.

By doing a Quebec road trip you'll be right next door to Ontario, so you can always explore both provinces in a short amount of time.

For those who'd prefer to hire a car, check out our guide to the top car rental companies in Canada !

If you're in the United States then you can always catch the ferry into Ontario. However, services are quite limited.

Due to Ontario's location, ferry routes only depart from Michigan, New York State, Ohio, and a couple of other locations.

You can find more information about the ferry routes here!

Getting Around Ontario

Ontario is home to an ultra-modern transportation system and there are various methods to get around the province.

One way to get around is by rental car. Renting a car is the best way to travel if you want to embark on a road trip to various regions.  

Driving yourself around means you can stop and go as you please and you can easily explore off-the-beaten-track locations.

However, I'd recommend hiring a campervan as there are tons of fantastic RV rentals in Ontario !  One of the best places to grab a camper is in Toronto , and this can be booked through Motorhome Republic.

Staying in an RV or a campervan allows you complete flexibility when it comes to exploring this beautiful state and you'll save money by staying at campsites too.

There are four international airports and many smaller regional airports in Ontario that offer commuter flights from city to city within the province.  This makes it easy to travel quickly over long distances.  

For example, a flight from Toronto to Thunder Bay is just over two hours whereas it takes about 14 hours to drive between the two cities. 

To find a great price on regional flights, check out available routes and book your flights on Skyscanner !

Trains are another great way to get around Ontario and there are both municipal trains and regional trains.

The Go Train is a commuter train serving the greater Toronto region but there's also the city rail transit system which operates a subway system and streetcars.  

In Ottawa, OC Transpo services that region and the Waterloo region has its own light rail service.

Via Rail operates two inter-regional train services including the Quebec City - Windsor Corridor and The Canadian which travels from Southern Ontario to destinations in Western Canada.  

Amtrak offers services between various cities in Ontario and cities across the border in New York.

Lastly, Ontario Northland connects southern Ontario to northern regions including Moosonee and James Bay.

Bus travel is another widely available transportation method in Ontario!

‍ Greyhound services the entire province including the northern regions, whereas, Ontario Northland services Toronto, central Ontario and Northern Ontario.

Megabus and Coach Canada service the southern region of the province.

Where to Stay in Ontario

When it comes to places to stay during your travels around Ontario, the possibilities are endless. 

Since accommodation is one of the things that tends to eat up a huge portion of anyone's travel budget, it's a good thing that there are many deals to be found on top-quality accommodation. 

Looking for a quiet, fully-equipped space to kick back in the center of Toronto? Booking.com has a wide range of accommodation options such as this lovely guesthouse !

How about a centrally-located hotel in Ottawa that features a restaurant, gym and hot tub?

If a treehouse overlooking a lake in Thunder Bay sounds like a dream, Airbnb has you covered. They feature a wide range of other unique accommodations all over the province.

There are some fantastic deals to be found in Ontario and we've got some great tips on how to find cheap hotel rooms ...

15 Best Places to Visit in Ontario

Canada is a land of diversity but the city of Toronto is a major cultural hub where hundreds of different cultures come together. 

Situated along Lake Ontario, this capital city is home to over two million people , but that doesn't mean there aren't many parks, trails and even beautiful sandy beaches.

Toronto is a hub for ethnic foods so you can try a different type of world cuisine every day that you're there.

Some of the must-see attractions include Ripley's Aquarium of Canada , Kensington Market , Fort York , and the Royal Ontario Museum .

If you've got time you'll also want to head to the Art Gallery of Ontario , Casa Loma , Toronto Zoo , High Park and, of course, the iconic CN Tower .

A great way to get to know the city and see the attractions at the same time is to do some sightseeing with the city's Hop-on Hop-off bus tour .

Check out our guide on things to do in Toronto for more inspiration!

2. Algonquin Provincial Park

Located in southeastern Ontario, Algonquin Provincial Park is one of the best places in Ontario to visit for the weekend. 

It's also a perfect escape into nature with 4,000 square miles of pristine wilderness consisting of lakes, bogs, rolling hills, forests and rivers.

Hiking is one of the most popular activities in the park and some of the top trails include Whiskey Rapids Trail, Barron Canyon Trail and Centennial Ridges Trail.

Because much of the park can only be accessed via waterways, kayaking is also popular and the area is home to some of the best trout fishing spots in the region.  

As you explore Algonquin National Park, make sure to watch for moose, bears and many species of birds.

Some of the must-see attractions in the park include the Algonquin Logging Museum , Head Lake Waterfall and Lookout Point.  

If you're looking for somewhere to view spectacular autumnal colors, Algonquin National Park is one of the top places to visit in Ontario during the Fall.

3. Niagara Falls

No trip to the province is complete without a visit to world-famous Niagara Falls !

These falls are one of the best places to visit in Ontario for a weekend getaway, as they're located close to the capital of Toronto.

While you're likely familiar with the beautiful waterfalls of this name, perhaps you didn't realize that Niagara Falls is also a city! This city is home to many other world-class sights besides one of the top Ontario tourist attractions.

There are many ways to experience the Falls and just as many ways to get a spectacular view of them. 

Escape the city at Niagara Falls State Park or get aerial views of the Falls from atop the Niagara SkyWheel .

You can also explore the world behind the Falls with a Journey Behind the Falls Tour or enjoy spectacular views of the Falls whilst you dine on a gourmet meal at the Skylon Tower . 

There are also plenty of gorgeous hotels that offer views of Niagara Falls so you can even wake up and walk right to your window for epic views! 

Other popular attractions in the city include the Butterfly Conservatory and Rainbow Bridge .

Don't forget to check out our guide of the best things to do in Niagara Falls !

4. Niagara-on-the-Lake

Only a half-hour drive away from Niagara Falls is one of the most beautiful places to visit in Ontario; Niagara-on-the-Lake .

It might only be a short distance away but the old buildings, rolling hills, fields and scenic location on Lake Ontario, make it seem like a whole world away.

The historic 19th-century town itself is characterized by lovely tree-lined streets, flower gardens and a scenic waterfront area. 

As you walk around the pretty little town, you'll find many art galleries, antique shops, cafes, parks and historic sites. You might even see a horse-drawn carriage making its way along the streets.  

Just outside the town is Ontario's Wine Country where you'll find many of the province's top vineyards, wineries, breweries, distilleries and fine dining restaurants. 

There's Peller Estates Winery and Restaurant , Trius Winery & Restaurant , Reif Estate Winery , and Ravine Vineyard Estate Winery .

See them all on an Ontario Wine Country Tour !

Not quite the Paris that first came to your mind, but Paris, Ontario is a very nice place nevertheless. 

This scenic little town is known for its cobblestone architecture, old-world feel, and narrow streets filled with cozy cafes, boutique shops and galleries.

Pleasant days should be spent exploring the nature trails at Barker's Bush or kayaking/canoeing in Lion's Park.  

Whereas, rainy days are best spent learning about the history and culture of the area at The Paris Museum & Historical Society , Woodland Cultural Centre , Glenhyrst Art Gallery , and Mohawk Chapel . 

Other attractions in the area include Penman's Dam, The Paris Wincey Mills Co. and the Bell Homestead National Historic Site.

Here's some more information on the best things to do in Paris , Ontario!

6. Pukaskwa National Park

Situated along Lake Superior near the town of Marathon in Northern Ontario, Pukaskwa National Park is a large wilderness area that protects an area of undeveloped shoreline. 

E njoy hikes through boreal forests with lake views on some of the park's trails including The Coastal Hiking Trail, Boardwalk Beach Trail, and the Southern Headland Trail. If you've got time then why not check out the Bimose Kinoomagewan Trail, Hattie Cove Fire Walk, and Manito Trail?

As you explore the park, you'll see many beautiful sights including picturesque suspension bridges, sandy beaches, Chigamiwinigum Falls, Otter Island Lighthouse and the Pic River Dunes. 

If you're up for an epic water adventure, try paddling along the Pukaskwa River or White River. However, just make sure you take along an action camera or pack a dry bag!

For some reason, this amazing national park doesn't see as many visitors as some of Ontario's other parks which makes it all the more desirable. 

A remote location without the crowds. Sounds like paradise!

7. Bruce Peninsula

As part of the Niagara Escarpment World Biosphere Reserve, The Bruce Peninsula is a vital area for plants and wildlife. 

The region is home to the biggest area of forest and natural habitat in southern Ontario and this forest has some of the oldest trees in North America.

The Bruce Peninsula is popular with both locals and tourists who enjoy an array of outdoor activities including hiking, fishing, camping and nature viewing. 

These activities and more can be enjoyed in the region's two national parks, Bruce Peninsula National Park and Fathom Five National Marine Park .

However, the Bruce Peninsula is one of the top places to go in Ontario!

As you explore the region, you'll see rugged cliffs, dense forests, pristine lakes and a variety of unique ecosystems. 

It's a great place to see a variety of beautiful wildflowers and wildlife too including black bears, foxes and chipmunks.

Some of the popular attractions in the region include Lion's Head Beach, Greig's Caves, Devil's Monument and Lion's Head Harbour Lighthouse. 

A number of provincial parks are also located on the peninsula including Black Creek, Ira Lake, Hope Bay Forest, Smoky Head and Johnston's Harbour.

While Toronto is the capital city of Ontario, Ottawa is the capital city of Canada and it's one of the best cities to visit in the whole country. 

Ottawa is known for its beautiful parks and green spaces, and its world-class historical and cultural attractions. 

This is where you'll learn about much of Canada's history along with the history of the city and surrounding region. 

Located along the Ottawa River, the Victorian-style buildings of Parliament Hill are the center of this bustling city.

Other attractions include the National Gallery of Canada , the Canadian War Museum , Peace Tower, and the Notre-Dame Cathedral .

You'll also want to visit the Canadian Nature Museum and Canada Aviation and Space Museum !

When you need an escape from the crowds, head to one of the parks along the Rideau Canal and watch all the boats coming and going. 

Or better yet, take a Rideau Canal Cruise and spend an afternoon taking in the sights and sounds of Ottawa from the water.

Ottawa is also one of the best places to visit in Ontario during winter! People come from all over to enjoy skating on the Rideau Canal and the great downhill skiing areas.

9. Killarney Provincial Park

Located on Georgian Bay along Lake Huron in southern Ontario, Killarney Provincial Park is an immense wilderness.  

It features spectacular scenery consisting of mountains, coastline, wetlands, forest and more than 50 lakes. When it comes to day trips, it’s one of the best Ontario destinations to spend time in nature. 

Hiking is one of the most popular activities in this park and some of the top trails include Cranberry Bog Trail, Silver Peak, Granite Ridge Trail, La Cloche Silhouette Trail, and The Crack and Chikanishing Trail. 

If canoeing or kayaking is more your thing, there are several routes connecting various lakes in the area.

As you explore Killarney Provincial Park, you'll see a wide variety of plants and likely spot some wildlife too including moose, deer, black bears, wolves, beavers, lynx and more than 100 species of birds.  

If you stick around until nightfall, you can enjoy unspoiled views of the night skies at Killarney's Dark Sky Preserve.

10. Thunder Bay

Thunder Bay is the largest city in Northwestern Ontario but it's not big enough to be away from the pristine wilderness that the area is known for. 

Situated on Lake Superior, Thunder Bay is one of the top places to see in Ontario. 

Whether you're interested in historic architecture or stunning natural vistas, you'll find what you're looking for and more.

Within the city itself, enjoy a wide variety of attractions including the Thunder Bay Art Gallery , Thunder Bay Historical Museum , Northwestern Ontario Sports Hall of Fame and the Thunder Bay Military Museum. 

At the Fort William Historical Park , you'll learn about the history of fur trading and be able to hike a trail that leads to the top of Mount McKay.

Outdoor lovers can also escape the urban landscape and head to Sleeping Giant Provincial Park on the nearby Sibley Peninsula. Here, you'll find hiking trails and have opportunities to view wildlife. 

Other nearby nature areas include Kakabeka Falls and Cascades Conservation Area.

11. Manitoulin Island

If you're thinking an island in the middle of a lake would have to be small, you don't know Manitoulin Island . 

Lake Huron is one of the biggest lakes in the world and Manitoulin Island, which is located on this lake, is the biggest freshwater island on earth. 

Another fact that you may not have been aware of is the island was also the site of the first European settlement in Canada.

Manitoulin Island is so big that it has more than 100 lakes so you can only imagine the kayaking, canoeing and fishing adventures that are to be had. 

The pace here is laid back, the crowds non-existent, the scenery incredible - making it a nature lover's dream! 

Disappear into the wilderness and along the way see the stunning Bridal Veil Falls, Providence Bay Beach, and Misery Bay Provincial Nature Reserve.

During your time here, you'll also want to see the 10-mile Point Lookout, Strawberry Island Lighthouse, and Little Current Iron Swing Bridge. 

Enjoy a day of hiking along the trails that include the Great Spirit Circle Trail and Cup and Saucer Trail. This way, you've got the chance to see wildlife and a variety of birds.

Manitoulin Island is also a place with a long history and vibrant culture. You can learn more about the island, its past and its people at the Mishibinijima Private Art Gallery , Ojibwe Cultural Foundation and the Old Mill Heritage Centre .

For some inspiration and tips on how to best see Manitoulin check out these self-guided tours that cover almost every inch of the island.

Trust me, once you've visited you'll see why Manitoulin Island is one the most unique destinations in Ontario.

12. Thousand Islands National Park

It's Canada's smallest National Park, but it's also one of Ontario's most popular ones. I'm talking about the Thousand Islands National Park which is situated in The Frontenac Arch Biosphere in the Saint Lawrence River.  

The park has 21 islands, many islets and a mainland area with a day-use park, exhibits and a visitor center where you can learn all about the nature and history of the park.

Known for being the most biodiverse area of the country, you should have no problem spotting some wildlife here including raccoons, rabbits, foxes, coyotes and deer.

You'll need to rent a canoe or a kayak or take a tour to access many of the areas of the park and as you explore it, you'll see beautiful rugged shorelines and hike around some of the islands.

Some of the area's top attractions include the Thousand Islands Bridge, Fort Henry National Historic Site, 1000 Islands Tower, Mac Johnson Wildlife Area, Brockville Museum and 1000 Islands History Museum .  

You can even embark on a ziplining adventure at Treetop Trekking 1000 Islands .

13. Prince Edward

Prince Edward County is situated along Lake Ontario in the southern region of the province. 

The County, as it's known locally, is a popular place for locals to escape the nearby cities and indulge in a more laid-back pace. 

The area is widely known for its vineyards and wineries such as Norman Hardie Winery , Sandbanks Estate Winery , and Closson Chase Vineyards .

Another notable feature of Prince Edward County is the Sandbanks Provincial Park where you'll find hiking trails and some of the nicest sandy beaches in the region.  

Nature lovers also love the Little Bluff Conservation Area and sailing and fishing on the Bay of Quinte.

Other top attractions in Prince Edward County include Macaulay Heritage Park , the National Air Force Museum of Canada , and Birdhouse City.

You can also explore Mariners Park Museum, Oeno Gallery , and Ameliasburgh Heritage Village.

14. Pancake Bay Provincial Park

Situated in the Algoma Country Region on the shores of Lake Superior in Northern Ontario, Pancake Bay Provincial Park is mostly known for its fur trading history and beautiful sandy beaches including Pancake Bay Beach. 

The park was established to protect the fragile dunes of the area's beaches. These beaches are known for their clear blue waters similar to many places in the Caribbean.

Hiking and biking are popular activities in this park.  Some of the top trails include the Pancake Bay Nature Trail and the Edmund Fitzgerald Lookout Trail. 

Kayaking, canoeing and fishing are also great activities to do here and it's possible to enjoy swimming in the summer months. 

Other attractions include Coppermine Point Lighthouse and Batchawana Falls.

The first thing you'll likely see upon entering the town of Wawa is the giant 28-foot-tall Canada goose monument that graces the entrance to this pretty little town. 

Situated in northern Ontario, people from all over flock to this area for the incredible sport fishing opportunities, kayaking adventures on Lake Superior and nature escapes.

Hike along the Voyageur Hiking Trail, kick back in the sun at Sandy Beach or take a stroll along the Lion's Waterfront Park Boardwalk. 

Scenic High Falls and Silver Falls are two waterfalls located along the Magpie River and you'll find picnic areas and incredible views at both of these sites.

Nearby Michipicoten Post Provincial Park offers even more opportunities to escape into the area's pristine wilderness.

Ontario Travel Tips and FAQ

When is a good time to visit ontario.

The best time to visit Ontario is between May and September. This is when the weather is warmest and there's less chance of rain. 

The months outside of this period are too cold and snowy unless you're coming to the province to enjoy the many popular winter activities including downhill skiing and snowmobiling.

October is a nice month to visit if you want to see the Fall colors but some attractions may be closed for the season during this time.  

What is a good budget for Ontario?

On average, visitors spend about $180 a day when traveling in Ontario and this includes meals and attractions but not accommodation which runs at about $200 a night on average. 

Of course, this is just a guideline and you can budget for far less than this by opting for hotels outside the cities, camping, and enjoying picnics rather than gourmet meals in top restaurants.  

Can you just book a tour for Ontario?

There are no guided tours that explore the whole province but you'll find tours in almost every city and region, including city tours, bus tours and sailing tours.

Some examples of tours you'll find in various areas of Ontario include:

• City Sightseeing Toronto Hop-on Hop-off Bus
• Journey Behind the Falls Tours and Tickets
• Niagara: Half-Day Winery Tour with Tastings & Optional Lunch
• Rideau Canal Cruise

Is Ontario safe?

Yes, travel in Ontario is very safe, but it's important to be as vigilant as you would be anywhere else you travel. 

In the cities, there are petty crimes that are more widespread in certain districts than others. That being said, the city of Toronto is said to be the 6th safest city in the world.

One of the dangers to be aware of while traveling in Ontario is the driving conditions on some major highways, such as the 401, which can be overwhelming for first-time visitors.

Some areas of Ontario are hotspots for severe thunderstorms too which are more common during late spring and summer. 

Stay on top of weather conditions and follow instructions from local emergency personnel if you find yourself in the middle of one of these storms.

When exploring Ontario's wild areas, be cautious around animals.  

Ticks are also a common nuisance in many areas so make sure to wear bug spray when venturing into the wilderness and do a tick check afterwards.

What is the weather like in Ontario?

Ontario enjoys a continental climate with four distinct seasons. 

Summer is hot and muggy and the winter is very cold with lots of snow. Spring tends to be warm and rainy while Fall is cooler and drier.

Where to go after Ontario

And that’s the beautiful province of Ontario in a nutshell! 

One of the best things about Ontario is its central location which allows for easy access to other nearby Canadian Provinces and the United States.

Whether you want to head East and explore the Maritime Provinces, or head west and explore the Rocky Mountains and the state of Alberta - there are endless options when it comes to Canadian road trips .

You could even head to the Pacific Coast, or veer south of the US border; the possibilities to extend your epic road-tripping adventure are endless!

If you're planning to spend some more time exploring Canada then here are some guides that you may find useful:

• The Best Things to do in Winnipeg
• The Best Things to do in Montreal, Quebec
• The Best Things to do in Quebec City

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10 Cities To Visit In Canada (Besides Toronto, Montreal, or Vancouver)

W hen touring the Great White North, backpackers and jet-setters often venture to the top Canadian cities like Toronto, Montreal, or Vancouver. These cities offer something for everyone, making them attractive destinations. However, besides the allure of Toronto's world-famous CN Tower , Old Montreal's colonial architecture , or Vancouver's Granville Island (which is excellent for food) , there are other unique destinations nestled in other Canadian cities. Instead, travelers booking their vacations in Canada should stop by these fantastic cities to discover their unique charm and personality, coast to coast!

Victoria, British Columbia

The Canadian coastal city of Victoria is British Columbia's capital city, sitting on the southern end of Vancouver Island. Victoria's cityscape is like a painting, blessed with picturesque views around the harbor and beyond. Equipped with an ideal growing climate, it's no wonder Victoria earned its nickname "Canada's Garden City!". Being one of the best cities in Canada to visit, there's plenty to do and see. Stroll through Victoria's green spaces this summer and appreciate the blooming flowers ( counted as 27,875,292,158 in 2022 )! Visitors can also explore the city's neighborhoods and attractions, such as Victoria's Chinatown (which is one of the oldest in Canada).

• Top Attractions in Victoria: Legislative Assembly of British Columbia, Royal BC Museum, Beacon Hill Park

Quebec City, Quebec

Visit Quebec's capital of Quebec City, which is nestled along the northern shores of the St. Lawrence River and is one of the top cities to visit in Canada. Quebec City is the only city in North America with a Francophone government and functions as a hub for Francophone culture. Specifically, curious visitors can explore the cobblestones streets of Quebec's UNESCO-listed Old City , a World Heritage Site and the only fortified city north of Mexico! Within these walls, travelers can climb the steps of the Casse-Cou stairs or take a snapshot of the Château Frontenac.

• Top Attractions in Quebec City: Fairmont Le Château Frontenac, Montmorency Falls, La Citadelle de Quebec

Ottawa, Ontario

Nestled on the Ottawa River near the border of Quebec lies Canada's capital, the city of Ottawa, which offers plenty of fun and unique things to do . Besides learning about the Canadian government at Parliament Hill, travelers can uncover the capital city and partake in recreational activities around the Rideau Canal (the world's longest skating rink), visit the Royal Canadian Mint, or appreciate art at the National Gallery of Canada! The city also hosts a collection of summer events, including the Ottawa Jazz Festival, Almonte Celtfest, the RBC Bluesfest, and Canada Day.

• Top Attractions in Ottawa: Parliament Hill, National Gallery of Canada, Rideau Canal, Canadian Museum of Nature

RELATED: Visiting Ottawa? 10 Foods You Can't Miss While You're There

Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island

The capital of Prince Edward Island is on Hillsborough Bay, sitting on the mouths of the Elliot, North, and Hillsborough Rivers. Charlottetown serves as the primary municipality in Canada's smallest province, attracting tourists yearly due to its pleasant weather, nearby beaches, and coastal charm. Today, Charlottetown's cityscape retains many of its historic buildings and landmarks. Travelers can admire the city's historic church architecture while visiting St. Dunstan's Roman Catholic Basilica, its mansions like Beaconsfield Historic House, or the Brighton Beach Lighthouse.

• Top Attractions in Charlottetown: St. Dunstan's Cathedral, Beaconsfield Historic House, Confederation Landing

St. John's, Newfoundland And Labrador

Discover the beauty of Canada's east coast with a visit to St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, one of the best cities to visit in Canada as a tourist. This hilly and quaint city has no shortage of things to see. Visitors can learn about Newfoundland's history by visiting Signal Hill , appreciate the vibrant houses along Jellybean Row, visit Cape Spear lighthouse, the oldest surviving lighthouse in the province , or enjoy the city nightlife at George Street. The heart of Canada's east coast beats at St. John's, a historic city with stunning vibes!

• Top Attractions in Newfoundland and Labrador: Cape Spear Lighthouse National Historic Site, Signal Hill National Historic Site, The Rooms, Qidi Vidi Lake

Halifax, Nova Scotia

Spend the summer exploring the capital of Nova Scotia and the largest urban area in Atlantic Canada in Halifax. This coastal city hosts one of the world's largest harbors and serves as a vital center for the economy within Atlantic Canada (and within Canada). Halifax lures tourists with its mild winter climates, beaches, and fresh seafood. Watch the noon gun at Citadel National Historic Site (which also features a great view of the city), walk the Halifax Boardwalk, and sample a comforting donair (Halifax's official food made with pita filled with roasted shaved beef, tomatoes, onions, and donair sauce)!

• Top Attractions in Halifax: Halifax Citadel National Historic Site, Halifax Public Gardens, Maritime Museum of the Atlantic, Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21, Point Pleasant Park

RELATED: Colorful Houses To Breathtaking Scenery: 10 Prettiest Coastal Towns In Newfoundland

Saint John, New Brunswick

New Brunswick's second-largest city is located on the Saint John River and is the only "true" city to be located on the Bay of Fundy, which offers lots of tourist attractions . Canadian history is plentiful at Saint John, as it's Canada's oldest city! History buffs will love walking through the city and discovering its collection of National Historic Sites, including those at the Trinity Royal Heritage Conservation Area and the Saint John City Market (Canada's oldest farmer's market). Saint John is also a gateway to soaking in the sights of the Bay of Fundy, which has the highest tides in the world!

• Top Attractions in Saint John: Saint John City Market, Irving Nature Park, Rockwood Park, Kings Square, Rockwood Park

Whitehorse, Yukon

Visit the capital of Yukon, a city founded during the the historic Klondike Gold Rush and named after the foam in the rapids on the Yukon River (which resembled manes on white horses)! Travelers venturing along the Alaska Highway should make a stop at Whitehorse, a small city with a huge backyard. Nicknamed the Wilderness City, visitors stopping by this Yukon City can enjoy a range of outdoor activities nearby, like mountain biking and hiking. What's more, in 2011, Whitehorse was recognized as having one of the cleanest air in the world !

• Top attractions in White Horse: SS Klondike National Historic Site, Miles Canyon, MacBridge Museum of Yukon History, Yukon Wildlife Preserve

RELATED: 10 Things You Can Only See In Canada's Yukon Territory

Winnipeg, Manitoba

Taking on several nicknames like the "Bull's Eye of the Dominion" or the "Gateway to the West," Winnipeg is Manitoba's largest city and its capital. Travelers can explore the Canadian Prairies with a stop at Winnipeg, a city with ties to the fur trade, the railway, grain exchange, and the Indigenous communities of Canada. Today, visitors can explore Winnipeg and its reputation as a hub for Canadian art, technology, aerospace, and literature. Check out aircraft exhibits at the Royal Aviation Museum of Western Canada or learn some history at the Manitoba Museum.

• Top Attractions in Winnipeg: The Forks Market, Canadian Museum for Human Rights, Children's Museum, Kildonan Park

Calgary, Alberta

In the summer, Calgary is filled with tourists who come to appreciate the beauty of the Canadian Rockies (which is only a two-hour drive from the city ). Aside from enjoying the mountains, visitors can easily enjoy themselves in Calgary in the warmer months. This Alberta cosmopolitan offers an intricate network of paths, bikeways, and acres of green spaces. Visitors can even enjoy some city rafting along the Bow River. In the summer, the Calgary Stampede is a must-see attraction, boasting its reputation as the world's largest outdoor rodeo !

• Top Attractions in Calgary: Calgary Tower, Heritage Park, Prince's Island Park, Nose Hill Park

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Canada to introduce new rules around off-campus work hours for international students

From: Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada

News release

International students enrich Canada’s social, cultural and economic fabric. That is why, in recent months, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada has introduced reforms to the International Students Program, to ensure system integrity while protecting students from fraud and financial vulnerability.

April 29, 2024—Ottawa— International students enrich Canada’s social, cultural and economic fabric. That is why, in recent months, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada has introduced reforms to the International Student Program, to ensure system integrity while protecting students from fraud and financial vulnerability.

The Honourable Marc Miller, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, announced today that the temporary policy allowing students to work more than 20 hours per week off campus will come to an end on April 30, 2024, and it will not be extended. This fall, we intend to change the number of hours students may work off campus per week to 24 hours.

Students who come to Canada must be here to study. As such, allowing students to work up to 24 hours per week will ensure they focus primarily on their studies, while having the option to work, if necessary.

As we head into the summer session, students who have a scheduled academic break can continue working unlimited hours.

In developing this change, we looked at the needs of students, policies in other countries, as well as research that has shown that academic outcomes suffer the more a student works while studying. It also strikes the appropriate balance so students have the option to work without compromising academic outcomes. More details will be shared in due course.

We also continue to develop the new Recognized Institutions Framework to reward post­secondary institutions that set high standards for selecting, supporting and retaining international students. We will continue to support and protect international students from financial vulnerability and keep protecting the integrity of the International Student Program.

“Working off campus helps international students gain work experience and offset some of their expenses. As international students arrive in Canada, we want them to be prepared for life here and have the support they need to succeed. However, first and foremost, people coming to Canada as students must be here to study, not work. We will continue working to protect the integrity of our student program.” – The Honourable Marc Miller, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship

Quick facts

Recent studies conducted in the US and Canada have shown that there is a considerable decline in academic performance for students working more than 28 hours per week, and that working more than 24 hours per week increases the chances that a student will drop out of their program.

Most countries that welcome international students set limits on the number of hours they may work while they study. Australia recently changed its policy to allow a student to work 48 hours every 2 weeks. In the US, students must meet additional criteria before being permitted to work off campus at all.

In December 2023, the Government of Canada raised the cost-of-living threshold that students must meet to be approved for a study permit so they are financially prepared for life in Canada and are not as dependent on working.

International students who begin a college program delivered through a public-private curriculum licensing arrangement on or after May 15, 2024, will not be eligible for a post-graduation work permit when they graduate. Those who already started this type of program prior to May 15, 2024, will still be able to access a post-graduation work permit, provided they meet all other criteria .

The new letter of acceptance (LOA) verification process has been a success. Since its launch on December 1, 2023, through April 1, 2024, IRCC has

•  received almost 162,000 LOAs for verification
• confirmed nearly 142,000 LOAs as valid directly with designated learning institutions (DLIs)
• identified almost 9,000 LOAs that didn’t match any LOA issued by a DLI or that the DLI had already cancelled before the foreign national applied for a study permit

Associated links

• Statement: Minister Miller issues statement on international student allocations for provinces and territories
• Notice: Update on public-private college partnership programs for international students
• Notice: Additional information about International Student Program reforms
• News release: Canada to stabilize growth and decrease number of new study permits issued
• News release: Revised requirements to better protect international students
• News release: Changes to International Student Program aim to protect students
• Website: Work off campus as an international student

Aissa Diop Director of Communications Minister’s Office Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada [email protected]

Media Relations Communications Sector Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada 613-952-1650 [email protected]

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Ontario sees more than 115 cases of eye damage after solar eclipse: What to do if you feel any pain

There have been 118 reported cases of eye damage in ontario since the phenomenon, adding to the several cases seen in quebec..

This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Contact a qualified medical professional before engaging in any physical activity, or making any changes to your diet, medication or lifestyle.

Ontario eye doctors say there have been more than 115 cases of people suffering damage earlier this month after viewing the solar eclipse.

CTV News Toronto reported Friday the Ontario Association of Optometrists (OAO) said it received 118 reports of eye complications since April 8, when millions of people gathered to see the phenomenon across North America.

"The severity of cases depends on which part of the retina is affected and how long the patient stared at the sun," the OAO told CTV News , noting cases were located across the province between Windsor and Ottawa.

These cases join the numerous reports of eye damage seen in Quebec since April 8, according to the province's health department. Those cases, along with the dozens seen in Ontario, include inflammation of the cornea, which sometimes heals over the course of a few days. But in extreme cases, solar retinopathy — a permanent burn to the retina — can cause permanent vision loss.

So if you went outside to view the solar eclipse earlier this month, should you worry? Here's what you need to know about any potential damage related to solar retinopathy.

What is solar retinopathy?

According to the OAO, solar retinopathy is a condition that occurs when a person's retina — the light-sensitive tissue in our eyes that helps us see — suffers burns from solar radiation.

"This damage can cause permanent blind spots or vision distortions," the OAO stated. "Many people mistakenly believe that the reduced sunlight during an eclipse makes it safe to look directly at the sun, underestimating the risks involved."

What are the symptoms of solar retinopathy?

Mild symptoms of solar retinopathy include headaches, watery eyes and sensitivity to light. Someone with more serious symptoms of the condition may experience blurred vision and eye pain. They might also see:

Metamorphopsia, when straight lines appear rounded

Micropsia, when objects appear smaller than they are

Scotoma, a blind spot in the line of sight

Abnormal colour vision

How do you get solar retinopathy?

When you look directly at the sun, UV rays can damage your eye tissue, leading to solar retinopathy. The condition can sometimes develop when looking at bright lights from welding torches or laser pointers.

When it comes to eclipses, experts warned leading up to the event on April 8 that it's easy for your eyes to get damaged because the natural response to squint when looking at sunlight won't be triggered during the event. That means it'd be easier to stare into the sun for longer than you normally would, letting more UV rays damage that eye tissue. Moreover, it's easier to not feel the injury when it's occurring because the retina does not have pain receptors .

According to the Cleveland Clinic, someone who develops solar retinopathy may experience the first signs of the condition within hours of direct exposure to the sunlight. The OAO indicated the symptoms may appear between four to 12 hours after staring at an eclipse.

Can you recover from solar retinopathy?

In most cases, Cleveland Clinic indicated solar retinopathy will heal, especially in mild cases. But if someone has a severe case of the condition, it's possible the effects will be irreversible. If diagnosed, your ophthalmologist should schedule regular appointments to continuously assess your vision.

"Work with your ophthalmologist to determine the best treatment plan for vision correction," Cleveland Clinic added .

Anyone experiencing symptoms of solar retinopathy should schedule an eye exam, where a specialist can help alleviate mild symptoms. If needed, people should avoid bright sources of light, wear sunglasses and take pain medication to alleviate headaches or soreness.

If you have solar retinopathy, it's possible your symptoms might improve up to six months after your exposure. According to the American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus (AAPOS), vision changes that are still present after six months are likely permanent .

How is solar retinopathy treated?

The most common treatment for solar retinopathy is to wait for it to go away on its own. The AAPOS indicated there is no known treatment for the condition, and while steroids have been used to try and reverse symptoms, there's no proof they work for solar retinopathy. Otherwise, an eye doctor will regularly assess you for vision loss if you are affected by the condition.

How can I prevent solar retinopathy?

To prevent solar retinopathy, the most important thing is to avoid looking directly at the sun, laser pointers or other bright lights without proper eye protection. During an eclipse, proper glasses that are the international standard of ISO 12312-2 — which are 1,000 times darker than most sunglasses — are recommended by experts.

These glasses have solar filters, where you shouldn't be able to see anything through them except the sun or an equally bright light. Additionally, you shouldn't look at the sun through a telescope or binoculars unless they equipped with a solar filter.

On normal days where there isn't an eclipse, it's best to continue protecting your eyes from the sun. Some of the best methods include wearing a hat along with sunglasses, getting UV-protective lenses for your regular glasses and avoiding staring directly into the sun.

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Ten sections of Ontario highway will see speed limits increased to 110 km/h

Roughly 860 kilometres of Ontario’s highway network will now have a speed limit of 110 km/h

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Beginning July 12, the Ontario government will raise the speed limit on 10 sections of provincial highways in northern and southern Ontario.

Ten sections of Ontario highway will see speed limits increased to 110 km/h Back to video

The changes will see the speed limit permanently increased from 100 km/h to 110 km/h on five sections of Hwy. 401, two sections of Hwy. 403 as well as sections of Hwy. 406, Hwy. 416 and Hwy. 69.

The changes arrive two years following the “safe and successful” increase to six sections of provincial highways in 2022.

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“Most of Ontario’s highways were originally designed to safely accommodate speed limits of 110 km/h and the data from our changes in 2022 shows they do just that,” Prabmeet Sarkaria, Minister of Transportation, said in a statement. “These evidence-based increases are a common-sense change to make life more convenient for Ontario drivers while bringing our highway speed limits in line with other Canadian provinces.”

The Ontario government said the selections were based on their ability to safely accommodate higher speed limits.

In 2019, the government began consultations and a pilot program to explore opportunities to increase speed limits on select Ontario highways. More than 8,300 people responded to an online survey and about 80 per cent were supportive of the pilots, while 82 per cent supported raising speed limits on more sections of 400-series highways.

In addition to the changes implemented in 2022, roughly 36 per cent and 860 kilometres of Ontario’s highway network will now see a speed increase to 110km/h.

Penalties for stunt driving, including immediate license suspension, vehicle impoundment, fines and jail, will remain in effect at 150 km/h. On highway sections where speed limits have been raised, penalties for stunt driving will be enforced when speeds exceed the posted limit by 40 km/h.

The changes bring the province in line with others, including Alberta, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Saskatchewan, which have a maximum speed limit of 110 km/h. In B.C., the maximum speed limit is 120 km/h. The speed limit will be raised on the following sections of provincial highways:

• Hwy 401, Tilbury, extending the existing 110 km/h zone further east by 7 km
• Hwy 401 from Hwy 35/115 to Cobourg (approximately 35 km)
• Hwy 401 from Colborne to Belleville (approximately 44 km)
• Hwy 401 from Belleville to Kingston (approximately 66 km)
• Hwy 401 from Hwy 16 to Quebec boundary (approximately 107 km)
• Hwy 403 from Woodstock to Brantford (approximately 26 km)
• Hwy 403 from Brantford to Hamilton (approximately 14.5 km)
• Hwy 406 from Thorold to Welland (approximately 13 km)
• Hwy 416 from Hwy 401 to Ottawa (approximately 70 km)
• Hwy 69 from Sudbury to French River (approximately 60 km)

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