10 Things to Do in Ontario

Here are 10 things to do in Ontario, Canada for all seasons¹ with pictures and interesting facts:

Table of Contents

1. Visit an Ontario Wine Region

Ontario has over 180 wineries and four main wine regions: Niagara Peninsula, Lake Erie North Shore, Prince Edward County and Norfolk County.
You can taste award-winning wines, enjoy scenic views of vineyards and lakes, and learn about the history and culture of wine making in Ontario.
Some of the popular wineries to visit are Reif Estates, Peller Estates, Inniskillin, Sandbanks Estate and Burning Kiln.

Ontario has many farmers markets where you can buy fresh and local produce, meats, cheeses, baked goods, crafts and more.
Some of the best farmers markets in Ontario are St. Lawrence Market in Toronto, Covent Garden Market in London, ByWard Market in Ottawa and Kitchener Market.
St. Lawrence Market is one of the oldest and largest public markets in Canada, dating back to 1803. It has over 120 vendors selling a variety of food and goods.

Ontario has a diverse landscape of forests, lakes, rivers, cliffs, caves and waterfalls that offer many hiking opportunities for all levels of difficulty.
Some of the most scenic and popular hiking trails in Ontario are Bruce Trail, which is the longest marked footpath in Canada at 900 km long, Algonquin Provincial Park, which has over 2000 km of trails and is home to wildlife such as moose, bears and wolves, and Sleeping Giant Provincial Park, which has a stunning view of Lake Superior from the top of a massive rock formation.

Niagara Falls is one of the most famous and visited natural attractions in the world, attracting over 30 million visitors every year.
Niagara Falls consists of three waterfalls: Horseshoe Falls, American Falls and Bridal Veil Falls. The combined height of the falls is 51 meters and the combined flow rate is over 2.8 million liters per second.
You can experience Niagara Falls from different perspectives: by boat on the Hornblower Niagara Cruises or Maid of the Mist tours, by helicopter on a Niagara Falls Helicopter Tour, by foot on the Journey Behind the Falls or White Water Walk tours, or by car on the Niagara Parkway or Niagara Scenic Drive.

The Big Apple is a roadside attraction in Colbourne that features a giant apple-shaped building that houses a bakery, a restaurant, a gift shop and an observation deck.
The Big Apple is also a working apple orchard that produces over 37 varieties of apples and offers apple picking activities for visitors.
The Big Apple is famous for its apple pies, which are baked fresh daily and can weigh up to 3 kg each.

Ontario has many scenic routes that showcase the beauty and diversity of its natural and cultural heritage.
Some of the best scenic drives in Ontario are Muskoka Lakes Scenic Drive, which passes through picturesque towns and lakeside resorts in the heart of cottage country, Thousand Islands Parkway, which offers stunning views of the St. Lawrence River and its islands dotted with historic castles and mansions, and Highway 60 Corridor, which winds through Algonquin Provincial Park and features many lookout points, picnic areas and wildlife sightings.

Ontario has over 100 waterfalls that range from small cascades to roaring rapids.
Some of the most impressive and accessible waterfalls in Ontario are Webster’s Falls, which is the largest waterfall in Hamilton with a height of 22 meters and a width of 30 meters, Kakabeka Falls, which is the second highest waterfall in Ontario with a height of 40 meters and a width of 25 meters, and Inglis Falls, which is one of the most scenic waterfalls in Owen Sound with a height of 18 meters and a width of 12 meters.

Sudbury is a city in northern Ontario that is known for its mining history and culture.
You can learn about Sudbury’s mining heritage at Dynamic Earth, a science museum that features interactive exhibits, multimedia shows and an underground mine tour that takes you 7 stories below the surface to explore the geology, technology and history of mining in Sudbury.
You can also see the Big Nickel, a giant replica of a Canadian nickel coin that stands at 9 meters tall and weighs over 13 tons at Dynamic Earth’s entrance.

Toronto is the largest city in Canada and one of the most multicultural and cosmopolitan cities in the world.
Toronto has many attractions to suit every taste and interest: from iconic landmarks like the CN Tower (the tallest free-standing structure in the Western Hemisphere) and Ripley’s Aquarium (the largest indoor aquarium in Canada), to cultural hubs like Kensington Market (a vibrant neighborhood with eclectic shops and restaurants) and Royal Ontario Museum (the largest museum in Canada), to natural wonders like Toronto Island Park (a chain of islands with beaches, parks and trails) and High Park (a large urban park with gardens, playgrounds and a zoo) .

Ontario transforms into a winter wonderland during the cold season with snow-covered landscapes, frozen lakes and festive lights.
You can enjoy many winter activities in Ontario such as skiing (at Blue Mountain Resort or Mount St. Louis Moonstone), snowshoeing (at Arrowhead Provincial Park or Scenic Caves Nordic Centre), ice skating (at Rideau Canal Skateway or Nathan Phillips Square) , ice fishing (at Lake Simcoe or Lake Nipissing), snow tubing (at Chicopee Tube Park or Horseshoe Resort), or dog sledding (at Haliburton Forest or Winterdance Dogsled Tours) .