Ontario is the second-largest province in Canada. It’s home to some of the most famous cities in the country: Ottawa, the capital city, and Toronto, one of Canada’s biggest urban centers. Besides being an economic hub in the country, Ontario is also popular due to its natural biodiversity. It has vast forests, great lakes, provincial parks, and plays host to the worldwide renowned Niagara Falls. If you’re searching for the best “things to do near me” in this part of the country, please stick with me as we explore the must-visit sites in the region.
Here is a short(ish) list of popular Ontario Attractions!
Ontario’s Provincial & National Parks
Provincial and national parks in Ontario are some of the popular places that visitors crave to visit when in this region. One of such parks is the Algonquin Provincial Park that’s about 2 hours’ drive from Toronto. This park features magnificent lakefront campgrounds and a broad network of hiking trails.
Killarney Provincial Park is also an excellent place to tour. It’s the perfect spot for canoeing, hiking, and camping. Bruce Peninsula National Park, which lies on the shores of Lake Huron & Georgian Bay, also has fantastic attractions for visitors.
Besides, you can also locate some historical collections in some of these parks. For instance, the petroglyphs of Petroglyphs Provincial Park that lies north of Peterborough hosts a collection of about 500 – 1,000-year-old Aboriginal stone carvings. You may also consider visiting the shoreline of Lake Superior Provincial Park to get a spectacular view of the pictographs lining the cliff walls.
If you’re carving for a real remote experience, you’ll find fulfillment by visiting forests and pristine lakes in Quetico Provincial Park in Northwestern Ontario. This region is famous for fishing and canoe trips.
1000 Islands
The 1000 Islands lay on the border of Southeastern Ontario and Northern New York State. This region comprises of a series of shorelines with a unique culture and rich history. It’s one of the places that you can’t afford to miss on your trip to Ontario. In the early days, these islands were patrolled by pirates but are currently under prohibition bootleggers’ control. You can spend a few days here to explore the area’s beauty and enjoy the fresh air.
If you’re looking for a breathtaking and memorable outdoor vacation in Ontario, you must visit the 1000 Islands. The area is made up of 1,864 islands, although its name is 1000 Islands.
These islands run along St. Lawrence River in a region that is about 50 miles downstream from where the river starts—at the mouth of Lake Ontario. Turquoise-colored waters, ancient castles, and sandy beaches are some of the notable, amazing sights you can expect on the 1000 Islands. The 1000 Islands is one of the astounding places near Kingston that you can visit.
Niagara Region
The Niagara region is one of the scenic destinations in Ontario that never disappoints. This area has countless attractions for all ages, including children. For instance, during the long weekends and official holidays in Canada, the Clifton Hill entertainment district is loaded with many activities such as Wild West Coaster, Niagara Skywheel, indoor water park, and other discounted activities for both kids and adults. Some of the places you can visit in the Niagara region include Crystal beach and Queenston Heights Historical Park.
While exploring Ontario, you can visit Niagara Falls. This is one of the most extraordinary attractions in the Niagara region. It’s a globally renowned attraction site that receives scores of tourists each year. This waterfall consists of three falls, the largest being the Horseshoe Falls, which is about 57 meters tall. The large volume of water flowing over the Niagara Falls is a sight to behold. The famous attraction is only within walking distance from the city of Niagara Falls.
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital city of Canada. It lies along the Ottawa River on the eastern side of southern Ontario. This city is home to many exciting and entertaining places; the streets in this city are wide and clean. During the holidays and long weekends, the city is ripe with scores of activities, including kid’s festivals.
Other activities in this city include midway rides, live music, and carnivore games. These weekend activities usually coincide with exhibitions, fun festivals, theater shows, and outdoor markets. Besides the planned activities, you can visit galleries and museums and engage in memorable events such as country drives and neighborhood tours, among other outdoor adventures.
A Visit to Toronto
The Ontario region is vast and cramped with many attraction sites. Toronto is among the largest cities in this province and has many museums, parks, and restaurants that will make your visit to this region memorable. Besides the beautiful harbor, Toronto Island is a multicultural scene that will leave you with lasting memories. Some of the must-visit sites in Toronto include:
CN Tower
CN tower is a dominant building in Toronto’s skyline and one of the world’s tallest structures. It’s an excellent spot to view the entire city, including Toronto Island and Lake Ontario. This tower was commissioned in 1976 as the main TV and radio communication tower in the region. The structure is 1,800 feet (550 Meters).
For a great view, you can climb to its uppermost SkyPod viewing place, which is the world’s highest public observation point. If you’re energetic enough, you can decide to enroll for the CN Tower Stair Climb to take you to the top of the tower – 1,776 steps. Not many can make it to the top of the tower via the stairs. If you succeed in taking the over 1700 steps to the top, consider it a lifetime achievement.
Art Gallery of Ontario
The Art Gallery of Ontario is among the most extensive galleries in North America. It comprises 480,000 square feet space and its home to about 95,000 art collections dating back as early as the 1st century. In this museum, you’ll find collections from different parts of the world, including Canadian art, European art, African art, Renaissance art, and many modern-day collections. These collections include sculptures, photography, books, videos, film frames, architecture, and more.
Royal Ontario Museum
The Royal Ontario Museum is the largest in Canada besides ranking among the most prominent museums in North America. This museum hosts over 6 million collections and 40 galleries. The museum organizes some special exhibits regularly. If you’re lucky, you might visit the museum on such occasions. If you have a special interest in art and history, the Royal Ontario Museum is the place to visit.
Hockey Hall of Fame
Canada is a superpower when it comes to hockey. If you have some interest in the game, you can visit the Hockey Hall of fame. This spectacular building hosts exhibits of teams, players, NHL records, trophies, and memorabilia. You’ll also have an opportunity to try out your hockey skills by playing the game.
Tasty Tours Food Tour
Your tour to Ontario will not be complete without sampling the mouthwatering local dishes in this region. This food tour lets you meet with local shop owners and get information on how they started and the challenges and victories they’ve experienced. This is the most exciting part of the tour. You’ll be amazed by what entrepreneurs undergo as they chase their dreams.
Toronto Islands & a Toronto Harbor Cruise
One of the ideal ways to get a stunning view of Toronto’s skyline is by taking a cruise along the harbor. This tour will also introduce you to the Toronto Islands— a series of small islands in Lake Ontario ideal for summer activities for tourists and locals. These islands are famous for their fantastic hiking trails, beaches, picnics, yacht clubs, and even an airport.
Additionally, you can take a tour using the famous Hop-on-Hop-off bus. Imagine the breathtaking scenes as you cruise along with the Toronto islands and harbors. It’ll take ages to forget such a memorable trip.
A Tour of Kingston
Kingston is another incredible city in Ontario. It lies 2.5 hours to the east of Toronto and about a 2-hour drive from Ottawa. This city is adjacent to Lake Ontario and features a gorgeous historic waterfront core. You can also get to Kingston through the airport or rail train.
Touring Lake Superior Circle
When exploring Ontario, you can decide to go for a road trip amid the lakeside parks and nature. Lake Superior Circle Tour is one of such tours. The complete tour would be 50% in Canada and the other half in the USA.
If you don’t have the energy, time, and resources to take a full tour, you can do a half-circle. This will include a drive from Sudbury to Thunder Bay, cruising along the Lake Superior coast with a few stopovers where you’ll go camping, kayaking, hiking, or fishing, among other interesting activities.
Shopping on Princess Street
Most people love shopping as they travel. When in Kingston, you can decide to go shopping on Princess Street. This street cuts through downtown and leads right to the waterfront. You’ll find many shops on this street, including clothing outlets, artisan craft shops, and local food joints. Besides shopping, Princess Street is a fabulous area where you can enjoy walking.
Kingston Trolley Tour
When in Kingston you can opt for a red trolley tour, a “hop-on-hop-off” style tour that will lead to the city’s major attractions. These trolleys feature live commentary from an audio guide or the driver. This is an excellent way of getting historical information about this city.
Visit Historic Fort Henry
You can take time and learn something about military history at the Fort Henry UNESCO World Heritage Site in Kingston. This fort forms part of the larger historical site called Kingston Fortifications National Historic Site. This site comprises of old fortifications close to the Kingston Harbor and doorway to Rideau Canal. The historic Shoal Tower that lies in the waterfront downtown is also part of the Kingston Fortifications; the same applies to Fort Frederick and the Murney Tower’s walls.