The Province of Ontario
List of Ontario's Top Attractions
I. National Land
National Parks
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Bruce Peninsula National Park
A park of limestone cliffs, rocky shoreline and forest at the tip of the Bruce Peninsula, created in 1987 as part of the Niagara Escarpment. The Bruce Trail runs along its cliffs, and highlights include The Grotto, a sea cave with a bright blue pool, and the turquoise water of Georgian Bay at Indian Head Cove. Timed parking reservations are needed at the busiest sites in summer.
Location: Near Tobermory, Bruce Peninsula
Website: Official Site
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Fathom Five National Marine Park
Canada's first national marine park, established in 1987 around a group of rocky islands off Tobermory. More than 20 shipwrecks rest in the clear, cold water, making it one of the best freshwater dive sites in North America, and glass-bottom boat tours let non-divers see them too. Flowerpot Island is known for its tall sea stacks shaped like flowerpots.
Location: Tobermory, Lake Huron and Georgian Bay
Website: Official Site
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Georgian Bay Islands National Park
A group of about 63 islands in the 30,000 Islands of Georgian Bay, shaped by ancient Canadian Shield rock, wind-twisted pines and clear blue water. Beausoleil Island is the largest and the main public island, with hiking trails, camping and views of the bay, and the park is reached by boat from Honey Harbour.
Location: Near Honey Harbour, Georgian Bay
Website: Official Site
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Point Pelee National Park
A narrow sandy peninsula that reaches into Lake Erie and forms the southernmost tip of mainland Canada, protected since 1918. It is one of the best birdwatching locations in North America, especially in May during the spring migration, and monarch butterflies gather here each fall before flying south. Walking trails and boardwalks cross marshes and Carolinian forest.
Location: Leamington, southwestern Ontario
Website: Official Site
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Pukaskwa National Park
A wild park of about 1,878 square kilometers (725 square miles) on the northeastern shore of Lake Superior, with boreal forest, cobble beaches and rugged cliffs. The Coastal Hiking Trail runs about 60 kilometers (37 miles) through the park, and the White River Suspension Bridge crosses a deep gorge. Moose, wolves and woodland caribou live here, and the Anishinaabe have long made it part of their heritage.
Location: Near Marathon, northern Lake Superior shore
Website: Official Site
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Thousand Islands National Park
Canada's smallest national park, a group of islands, shoals and mainland pieces scattered along the St. Lawrence River, created in 1904. Boating, kayaking, camping on islands and river views are the main draws, and the park is part of the Frontenac Arch Biosphere Reserve.
Location: Mallorytown Landing, near Gananoque
Website: Official Site
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Rouge National Urban Park
One of the largest urban parks in North America, covering about 79 square kilometers (30 square miles) of forest, farmland, wetlands and Lake Ontario shoreline on the eastern edge of Toronto. It is easy to reach by transit, and it has hiking trails, a beach at the Rouge River's mouth and the oldest known Indigenous sites in the Toronto area.
Location: Scarborough, Markham and Pickering, east of Toronto
Website: Official Site
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Lake Superior National Marine Conservation Area
A very large protected area of Lake Superior's northern shore, covering about 10,000 square kilometers (3,900 square miles) of water, islands and shoreline, and often described as the largest freshwater protected area in the world. It is a place for kayaking, sailing and fishing, with the towns of Nipigon, Rossport and Terrace Bay as the main access points.
Location: Northern shore of Lake Superior, between Thunder Bay and Terrace Bay
Website: Official Site
National Recreation Areas
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Long Point National Wildlife Area
A long sandy spit of marsh, beach and woodland that reaches into Lake Erie and is part of the Long Point UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. It is one of the most important sites in North America for migrating birds, with tens of thousands of ducks, swans and songbirds passing through, and public access is limited to protect nesting areas.
Location: Long Point, Lake Erie, Norfolk County
Website: Official Site
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Prince Edward Point National Wildlife Area
A protected area at the southeastern tip of Prince Edward County, on Lake Ontario, known for the spring and fall songbird migration and for its limestone shoreline. The Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory is nearby, and the area is a favorite of birders.
Location: Prince Edward County
Website: Official Site
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St. Clair National Wildlife Area
A coastal marsh on Lake St. Clair, managed for waterfowl, with an observation tower and trails. Thousands of ducks and swans stop here in migration, and it is one of the best marsh birding spots in southwestern Ontario.
Location: Mitchell's Bay, Chatham-Kent
Website: Official Site
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NCC Greenbelt
A large ring of farmland, forest and wetlands around Ottawa, managed by the National Capital Commission, with trails, cross-country ski routes and Stony Swamp, one of the best nature areas in the region. It offers hiking and wildlife viewing just minutes from downtown.
Location: Around Ottawa
Website: Official Site
National Monuments
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Bellevue House National Historic Site
An Italianate villa in Kingston where Sir John A. Macdonald, Canada's first prime minister, lived in 1848 and 1849. The house is restored to the 1840s, with costumed guides, gardens and exhibits that explain the early life of Canada's first prime minister.
Location: Kingston
Website: Official Site
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Laurier House National Historic Site
The Ottawa home of two prime ministers, Sir Wilfrid Laurier and William Lyon Mackenzie King, with period furnishings, books and personal items from both men. A visit gives an inside look at the political life of the early 20th century.
Location: Ottawa
Website: Official Site
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Bethune Memorial House National Historic Site
The birthplace of Dr. Norman Bethune, the Canadian surgeon and pioneer of mobile medical care who is a national hero in China. The restored house and exhibits tell his life story, and the site draws many visitors from China.
Location: Gravenhurst, Muskoka
Website: Official Site
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Fort Wellington National Historic Site
A fort on the St. Lawrence River built during the War of 1812 and rebuilt in the 1830s, with a large blockhouse and earth walls. Costumed interpreters and demonstrations explain military life on the river frontier.
Location: Prescott, eastern Ontario
Website: Official Site
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Fort Malden National Historic Site
A fort on the Detroit River built in 1796 to guard the border, important in the War of 1812 as a base for the Shawnee leader Tecumseh and British General Isaac Brock. The grounds hold a barracks, earthworks and a museum.
Location: Amherstburg, Essex County
Website: Official Site
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Fort St. Joseph National Historic Site
The remains of a British fort on St. Joseph Island, in the North Channel of Lake Huron, built in 1796. The visitor center and ruins tell the story of the fur trade and the early part of the War of 1812.
Location: St. Joseph Island, near Sault Ste. Marie
Website: Official Site
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Woodside National Historic Site
The boyhood home of William Lyon Mackenzie King, Canada's longest-serving prime minister, a Victorian house set among gardens and mature trees. Exhibits show the family's life in the 1890s.
Location: Kitchener
Website: Official Site
National Historic Parks
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Rideau Canal National Historic Site
A 202 kilometer (125 mile) waterway between Ottawa and Kingston, opened in 1832 and still operating, built by the British for military security after the War of 1812. Its 45 hand-operated lock stations make it the best preserved slackwater canal in North America, and it was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2007. In summer visitors can travel its locks by boat or walk the towpaths, and in winter part of it becomes the Rideau Canal Skateway.
Location: Between Ottawa and Kingston
Website: Official Site
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Trent-Severn Waterway National Historic Site
A 386 kilometer (240 mile) chain of rivers, lakes and canals linking Lake Ontario at Trenton to Georgian Bay at Port Severn. The system has 44 locks, including the Peterborough Lift Lock, the highest hydraulic lift lock in the world, and the Kirkfield Lift Lock. It is popular with boaters, houseboaters and anglers.
Location: From Trenton to Port Severn, central Ontario
Website: Official Site
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Fort George National Historic Site
A reconstructed British fort from the War of 1812, overlooking the Niagara River, and the headquarters of General Isaac Brock before his death at Queenston Heights. Costumed soldiers fire muskets and cannon, and the nearby town of Niagara-on-the-Lake is a pleasant place to stay.
Location: Niagara-on-the-Lake
Website: Official Site
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Fort York National Historic Site
The site of the Battle of York in April 1813, when American forces captured the town, and Canada's largest collection of original War of 1812 buildings. It is now a museum run by the City of Toronto, and it stands in the middle of the modern downtown.
Location: Toronto waterfront
Website: Official Site
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Sault Ste. Marie Canal National Historic Site
A historic lock and canal built in 1895 to carry boats around the St. Marys River rapids, once the longest lock in the world. A visitor center, a historic powerhouse and a small park make it a good stop on a trip around Lake Superior.
Location: Sault Ste. Marie
Website: Official Site
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Sainte-Marie among the Hurons
A reconstruction of a 17th-century Jesuit mission built in 1639 among the Huron-Wendat, with a longhouse, a chapel and costumed interpreters. It is one of the first European settlements in Ontario, and a National Historic Site run by the province. The nearby Martyrs' Shrine commemorates the Jesuit missionaries killed in the area.
Location: Midland, Georgian Bay
Website: Official Site
National Scenic Area
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Niagara Escarpment Biosphere Reserve
A UNESCO biosphere reserve since 1990, following a long limestone ridge from Niagara Falls through Hamilton and the Bruce Peninsula to Manitoulin Island. It holds old cedar forests, some of the oldest trees in eastern North America, caves, waterfalls and the Bruce Trail.
Location: From Niagara to Tobermory and Manitoulin Island
Website: Official Site
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Georgian Bay Biosphere Reserve (30,000 Islands)
A UNESCO biosphere reserve along the eastern shore of Georgian Bay, with the largest freshwater archipelago in the world. The area is a maze of pink granite islands, wind-bent pines and clear water, and it inspired many works by the Group of Seven.
Location: Georgian Bay, from Honey Harbour to Killarney
Website: Official Site
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Frontenac Arch Biosphere Reserve
A UNESCO biosphere reserve since 2002 where the Canadian Shield crosses the St. Lawrence River into New York, linking the Thousand Islands, the Rideau Lakes and the forests of eastern Ontario. It is home to a rich variety of plants and animals, including many species at the edge of their range.
Location: Between Kingston and Brockville
Website: Official Site
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Long Point Biosphere Reserve
A UNESCO biosphere reserve on the north shore of Lake Erie, covering wetlands, forest and a long sand spit of international importance for migrating birds, waterfowl and butterflies.
Location: Long Point, Lake Erie
Website: Official Site
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Pimachiowin Aki (UNESCO World Heritage Site)
A large area of boreal forest, lakes and rivers shared by Ontario and Manitoba, listed by UNESCO in 2018 for the living culture of the Anishinaabe people and their traditional stewardship of the land. It includes Woodland Caribou Provincial Park, and access is mostly by air or canoe.
Location: Northwestern Ontario, along the Manitoba border
Website: Official Site
II. Provincial Land
Provincial Parks
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Algonquin Provincial Park
The oldest provincial park in Ontario, established in 1893, covering about 7,630 square kilometers (2,946 square miles) of lakes, rivers and forest. It is famous for canoe routes, backcountry camping, moose watching on Highway 60, the fall colors and the August public wolf howls. Painters Tom Thomson and the Group of Seven found inspiration here.
Location: Central Ontario, between Huntsville and Pembroke
Website: Official Site
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Killarney Provincial Park
A park of white quartzite hills, deep blue lakes and pink granite on the north shore of Georgian Bay, beloved by canoeists and hikers. The La Cloche Silhouette Trail is a challenging backcountry route of about 78 kilometers (48 miles), and the park inspired A. Y. Jackson and other members of the Group of Seven.
Location: Killarney, Georgian Bay
Website: Official Site
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Sleeping Giant Provincial Park
A park on the Sibley Peninsula that juts into Lake Superior, named for the rock formation that resembles a giant lying on his back. Trails lead to the Top of the Giant lookout, which is about 240 meters (790 feet) above the lake, and the park is a favorite for camping and hiking in northwestern Ontario.
Location: Near Thunder Bay
Website: Official Site
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Quetico Provincial Park
A huge wilderness park of about 4,700 square kilometers (1,800 square miles) of lakes and forest west of Thunder Bay, linked to Minnesota's Boundary Waters. It is one of the best canoe tripping areas in North America, with portages, pictographs and few visitors.
Location: Near Atikokan, northwestern Ontario
Website: Official Site
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Lake Superior Provincial Park
A wild park of cliffs, beaches and forest along the eastern shore of Lake Superior, with the Agawa Rock pictographs, painted by Ojibwe artists several centuries ago, and a scenic stretch of Highway 17. The Coastal Trail is a rugged long-distance hike, and the park is a main stop on the Lake Superior circle tour.
Location: North of Sault Ste. Marie
Website: Official Site
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Bon Echo Provincial Park
A park on Mazinaw Lake, known for Mazinaw Rock, a 100 meter (330 foot) cliff that holds more than 260 Indigenous pictographs, the largest set in Canada south of the Shield. Canoe routes, hiking trails and camping make it popular in eastern Ontario.
Location: Northbrook, near Cloyne
Website: Official Site
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Presqu'ile Provincial Park
A peninsula on Lake Ontario with sandy beaches, marshes and woodland, and an important stopover for migrating birds and monarch butterflies. Its 1840 lighthouse is a landmark, and the park is an easy trip from Toronto.
Location: Brighton, eastern Lake Ontario
Website: Official Site
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Rondeau Provincial Park
A sandspit on Lake Erie, one of the oldest parks in Ontario, with Carolinian forest, marshes and beaches. It is known for rare plants, nesting birds and warm summer swimming.
Location: Morpeth, Lake Erie
Website: Official Site
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Kakabeka Falls Provincial Park
A waterfall of about 40 meters (130 feet) on the Kaministiquia River, nicknamed the "Niagara of the North," with boardwalks and viewing platforms. The spray, thunder and summer rainbows make it a popular stop on the road to Thunder Bay.
Location: Kakabeka Falls, near Thunder Bay
Website: Official Site
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Ouimet Canyon Provincial Park
A deep gorge about 150 meters wide and 100 meters deep in the hills north of Lake Superior, with arctic plants that survive in its cold shaded floor. Lookout platforms and a boardwalk show off the walls, and the canyon is a short drive from Thunder Bay.
Location: Dorion, near Thunder Bay
Website: Official Site
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Arrowhead Provincial Park
A park in Muskoka with lakes, rivers and rocky forest, known for the Arrowhead Ice Skating Trail, a long winding ice path through the woods in winter, and for Stubb's Falls. It is a popular year-round park in cottage country.
Location: Huntsville, Muskoka
Website: Official Site
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Awenda Provincial Park
A park on Georgian Bay with beaches, forest and wetlands, and one of the best birdwatching areas near Toronto. Trails lead to cliffs and quiet bays, and the park has deep Indigenous history.
Location: Near Penetanguishene, Georgian Bay
Website: Official Site
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Polar Bear Provincial Park
The largest provincial park in Ontario, at about 24,000 square kilometers (9,300 square miles), on the Hudson Bay coast. It protects tundra, wetlands and a population of polar bears, and access is by air, with no roads, mainly for scientists and organized wilderness trips.
Location: Hudson Bay coast, far northern Ontario
Website: Official Site
Provincial Wildlife Areas
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Wye Marsh Wildlife Centre
A large marsh of about 3,000 acres on Georgian Bay with boardwalks, canoe trips and a nature center, home to trumpeter swans that were reintroduced to Ontario here. It is a good spot for families and birders, with year-round trails and winter snowshoeing.
Location: Midland, Georgian Bay
Website: Official Site -
Tiny Marsh Provincial Wildlife Area
A large managed wetland near Georgian Bay with dykes, ponds and trails, good for waterfowl, herons and other marsh birds, especially in spring and fall.
Location: Near Elmvale, Simcoe County
Website: Official Site -
Luther Marsh Wildlife Management Area
One of the largest inland marshes in southern Ontario, with a big reservoir and wetlands, known for waterfowl, osprey and migrating birds. Walking, birdwatching and fishing are popular here.
Location: Near Grand Valley, Dufferin County
Website: Official Site -
Hullett Provincial Wildlife Area
A wetland and woodland near Lake Huron with trails, ponds and marshes that attract thousands of ducks and geese each year, including many migrating waterfowl.
Location: Near Clinton, Huron County
Website: Official Site -
Cavan Swamp Wildlife Area
A forested swamp with a boardwalk trail, important for birds and rare plants, in the Kawarthas.
Location: Near Peterborough
Website: Official Site
Provincial Beaches
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Wasaga Beach Provincial Park
The longest freshwater beach in the world, at about 14 kilometers (9 miles), on the southern shore of Georgian Bay, with shallow, warm water and a lively summer boardwalk. It also has cross-country ski trails in winter and an area for birds at the east end.
Location: Wasaga Beach, Georgian Bay
Website: Official Site -
Sandbanks Provincial Park
One of the largest freshwater baymouth barrier dune systems in the world, with long white sand beaches on Lake Ontario, including Outlet Beach and Sandbanks Beach. The shallow, warm water and dunes make it the most popular beach park in the province.
Location: Prince Edward County
Website: Official Site -
The Pinery Provincial Park
A park on Lake Huron with about 10 kilometers (6 miles) of sandy beach, huge dunes and one of the largest oak savanna landscapes in Ontario. The beaches are good for swimming and the sunsets are famous.
Location: Grand Bend, Lake Huron
Website: Official Site -
Turkey Point Provincial Park
A Lake Erie beach with warm, shallow water, a wooded campground and a long sandy shore, well known as a local summer resort for southwestern Ontario.
Location: Turkey Point, Norfolk County
Website: Official Site -
Long Point Provincial Park
A sandy beach on the Long Point sand spit in Lake Erie, with warm shallow water and views of the marshes. It is a good place for swimming and birdwatching.
Location: Port Rowan, Lake Erie
Website: Official Site -
Sibbald Point Provincial Park
A beach park on Lake Simcoe, north of Toronto, with a sandy shore, a historic Georgian-style home and a campground, popular with families.
Location: Sutton, Lake Simcoe
Website: Official Site
Provincial Scenic Areas
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Niagara Falls and the Niagara Parkway
The Horseshoe Falls, American Falls and Bridal Veil Falls, which together carry more water than any other waterfall in North America. The Niagara Parkway, a scenic road of about 56 kilometers (35 miles) along the Niagara River, runs from Fort Erie to Niagara-on-the-Lake past gardens, historic sites and rapids. Both are run by the Niagara Parks Commission.
Location: Niagara Falls
Website: Official Site -
The Bruce Trail
A hiking trail of about 900 kilometers (560 miles) along the Niagara Escarpment, with side trails that bring the total to well over 1,000 kilometers. It is the longest and oldest marked footpath in Canada, running from Queenston to Tobermory past cliffs, forests, farmland and waterfalls.
Location: Niagara Falls to Tobermory
Website: Official Site -
Elora Gorge Conservation Area
A limestone gorge on the Grand River with cliffs up to 22 meters (72 feet), caves and rapids, and a favorite for tubing in summer. Nearby, the village of Elora has a beautiful stone mill, shops and restaurants.
Location: Elora, Wellington County
Website: Official Site -
Hamilton Waterfalls
Hamilton has more than 100 waterfalls, which has earned it the nickname "Waterfall Capital of the World." Webster's Falls and Tew's Falls, each about 20 to 40 meters high, are among the best known, and they sit along the Niagara Escarpment.
Location: Hamilton and Dundas
Website: Official Site -
Thousand Islands Parkway
A 37 kilometer (23 mile) scenic road that follows the St. Lawrence River from Gananoque to Brockville, with lookouts, bicycle paths and views of islands and passing ships. It is a pleasant drive or ride in summer and fall.
Location: Between Gananoque and Brockville
Website: Official Site -
Lake Superior North Shore (Highway 17)
A scenic highway along the northern shore of Lake Superior, one of the most dramatic drives in Canada, with rugged cliffs, sandy bays, sweeping views and a string of provincial parks. The stretch around Rossport, Neys and Marathon is particularly beautiful.
Location: Between Sault Ste. Marie and Thunder Bay
Website: Official Site
III. Private Attractions
Zoos, Botanical Gardens and Aquariums
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Toronto Zoo
The largest zoo in Canada, with about 5,000 animals on 287 hectares (710 acres) in the Rouge Valley, including giant pandas on loan in some years, polar bears, tigers and gorillas. Pathways and a tram link the different regions of the world.
Location: Scarborough, Toronto
Website: Official Site -
Ripley's Aquarium of Canada
A large aquarium at the foot of the CN Tower, with more than 20,000 animals, a moving walkway through a shark tunnel and exhibits on the Canadian Waters, the Great Lakes and the Pacific. It is one of the most visited attractions in Toronto.
Location: Downtown Toronto, near the CN Tower
Website: Official Site -
African Lion Safari
A drive-through wildlife park opened in 1969, with lions, rhinos, giraffes and many other animals roaming in large areas, plus boat tours and bird shows. It is one of the oldest of its kind in North America.
Location: Hamilton, near Cambridge
Website: Official Site -
Royal Botanical Gardens
The largest botanical garden in Canada, covering about 1,100 hectares (2,700 acres) of gardens, nature trails and wetlands on the western end of Lake Ontario, with a famous rose garden and a lilac collection. It is a National Historic Site of Canada.
Location: Burlington and Hamilton
Website: Official Site -
Niagara Parks Botanical Gardens and Butterfly Conservatory
A large garden of about 40 hectares (99 acres) with a School of Horticulture and a heated conservatory where up to 2,000 butterflies fly freely among tropical plants. It is a quiet escape from the busy falls area.
Location: Niagara Falls
Website: Official Site -
Allan Gardens Conservatory
A historic Victorian glasshouse in downtown Toronto, open since 1910, with tropical plants, flowering displays and a cactus house, free to enter.
Location: Downtown Toronto
Website: Official Site -
Dominion Arboretum
A large collection of trees and shrubs on the grounds of the Central Experimental Farm in Ottawa, with spring lilacs, winding paths and ponds, a quiet spot in the middle of the capital. The nearby Ornamental Gardens add to the visit.
Location: Central Experimental Farm, Ottawa
Website: Official Site
Major Museums
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Royal Ontario Museum (ROM)
The largest museum in Canada, with more than 13 million items on art, world cultures and natural history, including a dinosaur gallery and a large collection of Chinese art. Its modern crystal-shaped entrance, added in 2007, is a Toronto landmark.
Location: Bloor Street, Toronto
Website: Official Site -
Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO)
One of the largest art museums in North America, with a collection of about 120,000 works, including Canadian art, European masters and a large Henry Moore collection. The building was redesigned by architect Frank Gehry.
Location: Dundas Street West, Toronto
Website: Official Site -
National Gallery of Canada
The national art museum, in a glass and granite building by Moshe Safdie overlooking the Ottawa River, with a large collection of Canadian, Indigenous and European art. The giant spider sculpture Maman stands outside.
Location: Ottawa
Website: Official Site -
Canadian Museum of Nature
A natural history museum in a castle-like building, with dinosaurs, fossils, a whale hall and live animal displays. It is one of the best museums in Ottawa for children.
Location: Ottawa
Website: Official Site -
Canadian War Museum
A museum of Canadian military history in a low, modern building overlooking the river, with tanks, aircraft, uniforms and personal stories from the earliest conflicts to the present.
Location: LeBreton Flats, Ottawa
Website: Official Site -
Canada Aviation and Space Museum
One of the largest aviation collections in the world, with more than 130 aircraft, including the Avro Arrow replica parts and historic bush planes. It is on the grounds of the former Rockcliffe Airport.
Location: Ottawa
Website: Official Site -
Hockey Hall of Fame
A museum in a former bank building in downtown Toronto that honors the greats of hockey and displays the Stanley Cup. Interactive exhibits let visitors try shooting at virtual goalies.
Location: Brookfield Place, Toronto
Website: Official Site -
Casa Loma
A castle-style mansion built from 1911 to 1914 by financier Sir Henry Pellatt, with towers, secret passages, a stable and gardens. It is one of the most popular historic attractions in Toronto.
Location: Toronto
Website: Official Site -
Ontario Science Centre
One of the first interactive science museums in the world, opened in 1969 in a striking building designed by Raymond Moriyama that steps down into the Don Valley. Generations of Ontario families grew up with its hands-on exhibits, live demonstrations and the famous electricity show. The main building is being replaced, and the Science Centre is currently running programs and events while the rebuild is underway, so check the website for what is on and where before you go.
Location: Don Mills area, Toronto
Website: Official Site -
Science North
A hands-on science center in Sudbury, built in the shape of a snowflake beside Lake Ramsey, with exhibits on the northern environment, a butterfly gallery and a planetarium. Its Big Nickel and the Dynamic Earth mining exhibit are nearby.
Location: Sudbury
Website: Official Site -
The Canadian Canoe Museum
A large collection of canoes, kayaks and paddling history, with more than 600 watercraft, now in a modern building on the Trent-Severn Waterway in Peterborough.
Location: Peterborough
Website: Official Site -
McMichael Canadian Art Collection
A gallery of Canadian art in a log and stone building in the woods, with the largest collection of works by the Group of Seven, plus Indigenous and Inuit art. The grounds also include the burial places of several of the painters.
Location: Kleinburg, north of Toronto
Website: Official Site
Amusement and Water Parks
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Canada's Wonderland
The largest amusement park in Canada, with more than 200 attractions, including roller coasters, a large water park and live shows, plus the Fall Fright Fest in autumn. It is a short drive from Toronto.
Location: Vaughan, north of Toronto
Website: Official Site -
Clifton Hill
A street of attractions in the tourist area of Niagara Falls, with arcades, wax museums, haunted houses, a Ferris wheel and a large entertainment complex. It is open late and lights up in the evening.
Location: Niagara Falls
Website: Official Site -
Great Wolf Lodge Niagara Falls
A large indoor water park and resort with slides, pools and games, which is open all year and popular with families.
Location: Niagara Falls
Website: Official Site -
Centreville Amusement Park
A small amusement park on Centre Island in Toronto, with a carousel, a log flume and an old-fashioned feel, reached by a ferry ride from downtown.
Location: Toronto Islands
Website: Official Site -
Ontario Place
A waterfront park built in 1971 on three artificial islands in Lake Ontario, famous for its glowing Cinesphere (home to one of the first permanent IMAX theatres) and the futuristic pods that stood on stilts over the water. The historic attractions are being rebuilt and are expected to reopen in 2029, but parts of the park are open to the public in the meantime, including waterfront trails and green spaces with views of the Toronto skyline. Check the website for what is open and for current events.
Location: Toronto waterfront, west of downtown
Website: Official Site -
Santa's Village
A family theme park in cottage country, with rides, shows and a Christmas theme, in operation since 1955.
Location: Bracebridge, Muskoka
Website: Official Site -
Wild Water Kingdom
A large outdoor water park with slides, a wave pool and lazy river, popular in summer for families in the Toronto area.
Location: Brampton
Website: Official Site
IV. Major Shopping Centers
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CF Toronto Eaton Centre
One of the busiest shopping centers in North America, with more than 200 stores, a glass galleria roof and a famous sculpture of Canada geese in flight. It is in the heart of downtown Toronto and connected to the PATH underground walkway system.
Location: Yonge and Dundas, Toronto
Website: Official Site -
Yorkdale Shopping Centre
A luxury mall in northern Toronto with high-end stores and one of the highest sales per square foot in Canada.
Location: Toronto
Website: Official Site -
Sherway Gardens
An upscale shopping center in Etobicoke with a large garden-like atrium and a good mix of fashion and department stores.
Location: Etobicoke, Toronto
Website: Official Site -
Square One Shopping Centre
One of the largest malls in Canada, with more than 360 stores, in the middle of the Mississauga city center.
Location: Mississauga
Website: Official Site -
Vaughan Mills
A large outlet and entertainment mall next to Canada's Wonderland, with stores, restaurants, a Bass Pro Shops and an entertainment center.
Location: Vaughan
Website: Official Site -
Toronto Premium Outlets
An outdoor outlet center with designer discounts and a village-style layout, west of Toronto.
Location: Halton Hills
Website: Official Site -
CF Rideau Centre
The largest downtown mall in Ottawa, with department stores and many shops, connected to the Rideau Canal and Parliament Hill area.
Location: Downtown Ottawa
Website: Official Site -
ByWard Market
One of the oldest and largest public markets in Canada, dating to 1826, a lively area of food stalls, shops, restaurants and street musicians a few steps from Parliament Hill.
Location: Ottawa
Website: Official Site -
St. Lawrence Market
A famous food market in a historic hall, with more than 100 vendors, fresh produce, meats, cheeses and the well-known peameal bacon sandwich. National Geographic once ranked it as one of the best markets in the world.
Location: Front Street East, Toronto
Website: Official Site -
Kensington Market
A colorful, bohemian neighborhood of vintage shops, cafes and food stores, with a mix of cultures, and car-free Sundays in summer. It is a National Historic Site of Canada.
Location: Toronto
Website: Official Site -
Pacific Mall
A large Asian shopping mall and one of the biggest in North America, with hundreds of small shops, restaurants and food stalls.
Location: Markham
Website: Official Site