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Welcome to Toronto, billed as the best city in the world in which to live. And that’s just the beginning! This Canadian New York, with its American megalopolis of buildings and parks, offers a real quality of life to its inhabitants.
Today, I’m taking you on a journey to discover what’s on around this magnificent city, with 5 ideas for excursions around Toronto. Let’s go!
1. For nature lovers – the 6 lakes tour
What’s special about Canada is that it’s a country that’s all about nature, no matter where you are. For nature lovers, hikers and bikers, this 6-lake tour is sure to amaze.
Peninsula Bruce National Park
This park offers a Caribbean ambience, with turquoise waters giving it an unmistakably exotic feel. Bordered by Lake Huron, it forms Georgian Bay. It’s a wonderful discovery for adventurers, with caves and unusual beaches.
Marin Fathom Five National Park
Unlike the one I mentioned earlier, this park has no beaches, but offers total immersion in nature, with forests growing on immense cliffs. Its stone sculptures and fishing village, Tobermary, are a complete change of scenery.
Manitoulin Island
The world’s largest freshwater island! Incredible, isn’t it? Authentic and untouristy, it offers hiking trails with breathtaking views.
Lake Superior Provincial Park
This is a must-see park on your excursion. It’s home to such gems as an Amerindian sacred site and a scenic trail, Nokomis, which offers a magnificent view of Old Woman Bay beach.
Pukaskwa National Park
The wildest of the parks, it offers numerous hikes with breathtaking vistas and, above all, the Suspension Bridge Trail over the White River. A good dose of adrenaline awaits!
Sleeping Giant Provincial Park
You’ll have a rendezvous with nature’s creativity. Here, the rock is carved into original shapes like the sea lion or Sleeping Giant. You’ll end up at Thunder Bay Lookout, offering an incredible panorama where land, sky and sea become one.
2. For mountain lovers – with or without snow
Ontario is also home to many mountains, with popular family ski resorts open in winter and summer, offering a wide range of activities.
Blue Mountain
Certainly the most popular of the ski resorts, with a vertical drop of over 200 m, it’s a skier’s and snowboarder’s paradise. The slopes are open at night, with a magnificent view of the illuminated city. Open in summer, it also offers original activities such as a suspended ropes course. There are also more traditional activities such as mountain biking and pedal-boating on the lake.
Address : 190 Gord Canning Drive. Blue Mountains, Ontario. Canada L9Y 1C2
Lakeridge
Less than 70 km from Toronto, this resort boasts 23 runs for all levels, 3 toboggan parks, mogul and slalom runs, an amusement park and a slide park. Great family fun for young and old.
Address : 790 Chalk Lake Rd, Uxbridge, ON L9P 1R4, Canada
Horseshoe Resort
This is the best destination, about 1 h from Toronto. There’s a ski resort, half-pipe, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing in the Copeland forest and a spa to relax in. A little haven of peace you won’t want to leave.
Address : 1101 Horseshoe Valley Rd W, Barrie, ON L4M 4Y8, Canada
3. For wine lovers – Ontario vineyard country
Another way to discover Ontario: the Wine Route. And you’ll be amazed at just how many vineyards there are in this region. I’ve put together a small selection of the best ones to visit.
Hinterland Winery – Prince Edward County
In this historic town, head to this winery where you’ll be greeted by a tasting on a large terrace with an illuminated pergola and a field of vines as far as the eye can see. Magnificent!
Address : Adresse : 1258 Closson Rd, Hillier, ON K0K 2J0, Canada
Colaneri Estate Winery – Niagara-on-the-lake
A complete change of scenery at this winery, which takes you straight to Italy. Enjoy white and red wine tasting and a donkey-led tour of the vineyards. Authentic!
Address : 348 Concession 6 Rd, Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON L0S 1J0, Canada
Keint-he Winery & Vineyards – Wellington
A gem to discover! Here, you’ll taste pinot noir and gris, chardonnay and even rosé wine, which is not so common in Ontario.
Address : 49 Hubbs Creek Rd, Wellington, ON K0K 3L0, Canada
Lighthall Vineyards – Milford
This family-run vineyard invites you to sample its wines with a cheese platter. Of course, the best combination of all!
Address : 308 Lighthall Rd, Milford, ON K0K 2P0, Canada
4. For attraction lovers – for big kids and little ones alike
Canada’s Wonderland: you can’t come to Toronto without stopping here. Believe me, Canada’s largest amusement park will make your head spin. Over 200 rides await you, from roller coasters and buoys to wave pools… there’s something for every taste and age. Located in Vaughan, just outside Toronto, you can then head to Vaughan Mills, one of Canada’s largest shopping malls. A special mention goes to Legoland Discovery Centre, which boasts no less than 2 million Lego bricks, as well as rides, a 4D cinema and a playground.
It’s a children’s paradise!
5. For lovers of grandeur – Niagara is a must!
How can we talk about excursions around Toronto without mentioning Niagara?
Before heading to the falls, I recommend a visit to Niagara-on-the-lake. This charming village, with its colorful 20th-century-style houses, will win you over. Dubbed Ontario’s most beautiful village, it offers a backdrop worthy of Hollywood movies. You can also climb the Skylon Tower for an incredible view. It’s also a cultural village, with many museums, plays and concerts open to visitors.
And a 30-minute drive brings you to one of the world’s most famous tourist attractions: Niagara Falls. Impressive not for their height, but for their width and power. All around, you’ll find numerous hotels and amusement parks.
You can also board the boats that will take you to the foot of the falls. Be careful, you’ll get soaked, but it’s worth it. Tip: choose the last available time to enjoy the illuminated falls. Incredible!
So, are you ready to explore Toronto and the surrounding area?
