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 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.
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.
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.
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.
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. 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.
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.
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 sculpture 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.
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.