Blue Mountains
The Blue Mountains are located along the southern shore of Georgian Bay and feature a variety of recreational activities for every season. During the winter it is a top destination in southwestern Ontario for snowboarding, alpine skiing, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. During the spring, summer and fall there are plenty of activities in and around the rugged shores of Georgian Bay, including hiking, swimming, fishing and boating.
Bruce Peninsula National Park
The Bruce Peninsula is a ruggedly scenic peninsula in Ontario that is bordered between Lake Huron and Georgian Bay. The Bruce Peninsula National Park is nestled along the northern part of this peninsula. And a large section of the Bruce Trail (an 885km trail that runs along the Niagara Escarpment from Niagara to Tobermory) that cuts through this national park offers phenomenal views of jagged cliffs, rugged rock formations, and overlooks the crystal clear turquoise waters of Georgian Bay.
Bruce Trail
Length: 885km
Distance Hiked: 295.1km
The Bruce Trail is an 885km trail that follows the Niagara Escarpment from Niagara to Tobermory. The trail in divided into nine sections with each section managed by its own club. The trail itself is very well maintained and clearly marked by white blazes painted on trees or signposts. There are an additional 400km of side trails that are marked by blue blazes.
Conservation Area
There are over 250 conservation areas across Ontario. These protected areas often include a diverse range of habitats, including forests, lakes, wetlands, meadows and sandy beaches. They also feature recreational activities like camping, swimming, fishing, boating and hiking. Either way, they are great areas to spend some time in nature.
Manitoulin Island
Manitoulin Island is located within Lake Huron and is the largest freshwater island in the world. It also contains more than 100 inland lakes, some of which have their own islands within an island. It has the largest lake in a freshwater island and the largest island in a lake on an island in a lake in the world. Essentially Manitoulin Island is a big nesting doll of islands. It is also incredibly scenic and features many outdoor activities and attractions in and around the water.
Niagara
Niagara is referred to the honeymoon capital of the world. It is perhaps best known for it’s waterfall that shares the same name as its city – Niagara Falls. Although technically Niagara Falls refers to three waterfalls: Bridal Veil Falls, American Falls, and (the most famous of the three) Horseshoe Falls. Collectively they form one of the largest waterfall networks on the planet. But Niagara is also known for being one of the largest grape growing regions across Canada. The Niagara Peninsula is nestled between the Niagara Escarpment and Lake Ontario making for ideal conditions for wine making. The climate is moderated year round – the escarpment shelters the vineyards in the winter while the lake cools the vineyards in the summer. The Niagara wine region also lies at the same latitude as other famous wine regions such as Bordeaux France. Together these conditions create some delicious delicious wine.
Ottawa
As the capital of Canada, Ottawa hosts a number of large festivals and events throughout the year. The most famous of which is its annual Winterlude Festival. Over the course of three weeks (usually in February) the city is enchanted with all things snow and ice to celebrate winter. But its main draw is the Rideau Canal Skateway. At 7.8 kilometres long, when completely frozen, it forms the largest skating rink in the world.
Point Pelee National Park
Point Pelee National Park is the southernmost point of the mainland in Canada. Despite being the second smallest national park (after Georgian Bay Islands, also located in Ontario), it boasts of being the most ecologically diverse national parks in the country. Point Pelee mainly consists of beaches, marshes, and woodlands. It is home to over 390 species of birds and is part of a bird and butterfly migration corridor over Lake Erie.
Provincial Parks
There are well over 300 provincial parks scattered across Ontario. Collectively these parks encompass nearly 10 percent of the province – an area equivalent to the size of Nova Scotia. We’ve hiked through a number of these provincial parks as the Bruce Trail (an 885km trail that runs along the Niagara Escarpment from Niagara up to Tobermory) winds and weaves through many of these scenic parks and other conservation areas. We’ve also camped at a couple of these locations and enjoyed some of the best sandy beaches, campgrounds, and hiking trails in the province.
Pukaskwa National Park
Pukaskwa National Park is located along the rugged shore of Lake Superior between Sault Ste Marie and Thunder Bay. It is the largest national park in Ontario and protects part of the longest undeveloped shoreline anywhere on the Great Lakes. It is also reputed to be a great spot to see some wildlife and explore the rugged wilderness in Ontario.
Rouge National Urban Park
Located in Scarborough, Ontario Rouge National Urban Park is the largest urban park in North America. The park features a number of trails that range in length and difficulty through wetlands, forests, meadows, and along the coast of Lake Ontario. And the best part is that it’s only about a 25 minute drive from Toronto.
Scarborough Bluffs
The Scarborough Bluffs is a sandy escarpment located along the shore of Lake Ontario near Toronto. At its highest point, the rugged cliffs rise 90 metres above the shoreline and spans a length of 15km. There are nine parks situated along the Bluffs, protecting this unique landscape for all to enjoy.
Sault Ste. Marie
Sault Ste. Marie is located on the St. Mary’s River in the heart of the Great Lakes near Lake Superior, Lake Michigan and Lake Huron. It is commonly referred to as “the Soo” and is one of the oldest European settlements in Canada. The Algoma Central Railway operates between Sault Ste. Marie and Hearst and is well known for its Agawa Canyon train tour, which played an important role for the Group of Seven painters.
The Cabin
Located on one of the hundreds of small lakes near Bon Echo Provincial Park there is a solitary cabin (in the woods). The property has been in K’s family since the early 1900s. And while this rustic gem might have no running water and no electricity, it is nestled in nearly 100 acres of untamed forest overlooking the water. It is one of our favorite places within Ontario to just reconnect with nature and get away from the hustle and bustle of the city.
Thousand Islands National Park
Located near the Saint Lawrence River, Thousand Islands National Park is one of Canada’s smallest national parks. The park consists of three sections along the mainland: Mallorytown Landing, Jones Creek and Landon Bay, and 21 islands. While most of the park is only accessible by boat, there are a few hiking trails that can be accessed on the mainland.