Ontario

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Introduction

Unforgettable Sky

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Ontario is Canada's most populous province and boasts some of the country's most popular attractions. Its capital city, Toronto, is Canada's largest city, while Ottawa is the Canadian capital. On the southern border with the United States, thousands of visitors annually visit the stunning Niagara Falls.

Geography

A large province, most of the population lives in the fertile southern area of the province surrounded by Lake Ontario, Lake Erie and Lake Huron in the Great Lakes-Saint Lawrence Valley where agriculture and industry are concentrated, and the cities of Ottawa, Toronto and Niagara Falls.

The thinly populated Canadian Shield in the northwestern and the central portions which covers over half the land area in the province, though mostly infertile land, it is rich in minerals and studded with lakes and rivers. The virtually unpopulated Hudson Bay Lowlands in the extreme north and northeast are mainly swampy and sparsely forested.

Cities

Toronto skyline

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• Toronto - Capital of Ontario, Toronto is Canada's largest city and a likely starting point for many trips to Canada. Cosmopolitan and very urban, Toronto offers big city sights and sounds.
• Ottawa - The capital of Canada provides the opportunity to see the government of Canada in action, and makes an excellent starting point into the natural wonder of the nearby Ottawa river valley for kayaking and white water rafting, or up into the Gatineau park in Quebec.
• Niagara Falls & Niagara on the Lake - In addition to the world-famous waterfalls and away from the tourist kitsch and theme parks, there are opportunities to see some historic buildings and forts, natural wonders and some excellent wineries.
• Kingston - An historic town on the shores of Lake Ontario, Kingston was once Canada's capital.
• London - Halfway between Toronto and Detroit, London is a college town.
• Windsor - Across the river from Detroit, the southernmost city in Canada.
• North Bay - Northern Ontario city located near the western edge of Algonquin Park on the trans-Canada highway.
• Sudbury - Northern Ontario city famous for its Nickel mining. It is home to Science North, a vast science museum.
• Thunder Bay - Northern Ontario city near the top of Lake Superior that borders on the USA.
• Hamilton - This city between Toronto and Niagara Falls is best known within the country for its steel mills but also boasts a surprising collection of cultural activities, and is the Waterfall Capital of the World.
• Burlington - Nestled on the shore of beautiful Lake Ontario in the shadow of the Niagara Escarpment between Toronto and Hamilton.

Sights and Activities

Niagara Falls

Niagara Falls

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The Niagara Falls are one of the most impressive waterfalls in the world. And although the Canadian side has been developed into a big tourist attraction, the falls haven't lost any of their appeal. The falls consist of the Horseshoe Falls on the Canadian side, which are almost 800 meters wide and have a direct vertical drop of over 50 meters, and the American Falls, which are about 320 meters wide and just over 20 meters tall. The small Bridal Veils are on the American side as well, separated from the American Falls with a single drop of almost 20 meters as well. The total drop of these falls is over 50 meters. The Canadian and American side are separated by Goat Island.

One of the best ways to experience the impact of the falls is to take a boat ride on the Maid of the Mist, which brings you very close and you can view the falls from beneath. If you would rather walk, the Cave of the Winds takes you to the base of the Bridal Veils Falls.

• Bruce Trail - a hiking trail that follows the edge of the Niagara Escarpment, one of only twelve UNESCO World Biosphere Reserves in Canada, for more than 800 km. Day hikes are available from many spots within Southern Ontario.
• Algonquin Provincial Park - A huge provincial park located between Georgian Bay and the Ottawa River in central Ontario, provides many opportunities for camping, canoeing and generally getting away from it all.
• Point Pelee National Park, with both a peninsula and Lake Erie's Pelee Island in southwestern Ontario near Windsor that extends into Lake Erie and is the southernmost extent of Canada's mainland, south of 42°N, south of the northern border of California.

Events and Festivals

• Winterlude in Ottawa is a large festival held in February of outdoor activities including public skating and skating displays, snow and ice sculpture competitions, musical concerts at the Winterlude Snowbowl, children's play areas, an 'ice lounge', bed and waiter races and numerous off-site events.
• The Canadian National Exhibition in Toronto runs the last 3 weeks of August, finishing on Labour Day in September. There is rides, games, various agricultural and other exhibits and an air show.
• Friday the 13th in Port Dover - Since 1981, there has been a tradition of motorcycle enthusiasts gathering in the town of Port Dover (famous, mostly, for its lake Perch) on Friday the 13th. Depending on the weather, up to 75,000 bikers and spectators can be found in the small town.

Weather

Lake Ontario

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A large province, the weather ranges from "humid continential" climate in the southern area of Ontario with hot, humid summers and cold winters to the "subartic" conditions in the northern part of the province.

Getting There

By Plane

Most flights will fly into Toronto's Lester B. Pearson International Airport. Pearson airport is located in Mississauga, 27 kilometers to the north-west of Toronto's downtown. There are two terminals handling both domestic and international flights. There are dozens of destinations, but throughout Canada as well as further beyond, for example to Europe and Asia and closer by to the Caribbean Islands, Mexico and the US.

Ottawa International Airport has some international flights as well and a decent amount of domestic flights to add.

By Train

Via Rail Canada provides services between Ontario and both the west to Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia and east towards Quebec. It takes around 4 to 5 hours for example from Toronto to Montreal.

Amtrak provides service to the United States. Trains to New York depart daily at 8:30 AM, arriving at 7:40 PM in New York City.

By Car

By Bus

By Boat

Getting Around

By Plane

By Train

Ontario Northland provides train service from Toronto to northern Ontario, stopping at Washago, Gravenhurst, Bracebridge, Huntsville, South River and North Bay.

By Car

By Bus

By Boat

Eat

Many international restaurant (The Keg, Starbucks, etc.) and fast food chains (McDonald's, Burger King, etc.) are represented in Ontario. Because of the multicultural nature of many of the large metropolises such as Toronto and Ottawa, you will easily find food from all over the world.

Supermarkets and local groceries are also plentiful. Ontario grows much of it's own dairy, fruits and vegitables, so you will find many farmers markets during the summer months. However, you may have to drive outside of Toronto or Ottawa to find them.

Drink

Beer
Many breweries exist in southern Ontario. They include the following:

• Steam Whistle Brewery.
• Sleeman's Brewery.
• Molson's Brewery.

Every mid-October the twin cities of Kitchener-Waterloo host Bavarian style Oktoberfest celebrations.
All beer are sold through licensed fascilities such as restaurants, bars, Beerstore locations and LCBO stores.

Wine
Many award winning wineries exist in southern Ontario. Many are located around the Niagara falls area where a micro-climate exists that allows growing of many types of wines including many famous ice wines. Other wineries exist along the coast of Lake Ontario.

All wine and linquor are sold in (Liquor Control Board of Ontario) LCBO stores, bars and restaurants displaying the (Liquor Licence Board of Ontario) LLBO sign.

Sleep