If you’re thinking about dropping by for a visit, here are the 10 best Ontario attractions.
CN Tower in Toronto
The CN Tower 553 meters high concrete communications and observation tower, located in the city’s downtown core of Toronto, Ontario. Its name “CN”, originally referred to Canadian National, the railway company that built the tower.
The CN Tower held the record for the world’s tallest free-standing structure for 32 years until 2007 when it was surpassed by the Burj Khalifa, and was the world’s tallest tower until 2009 when it was surpassed by the Canton Tower. It is now, in 2021, the ninth tallest free-standing structure in the world and remains the tallest free-standing structure on land in the Western Hemisphere. It is a signature icon of Toronto’s skyline and attracts more than two million international visitors annually.
Niagara Falls
Niagara Falls is a group of three waterfalls at the southern end of Niagara Gorge, spanning the border between the province of Ontario in Canada and the state of New York in the United States. The largest of the three is Horseshoe Falls, also known as Canadian Falls, which straddles the international border of the two countries.
The Canadian site is the best place to view the falls and it has lots of attractions around the falls and down the Niagara River, enough to keep you busy for a day or two.
Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada
Located in the heart of downtown Toronto at the base of the CN Tower, the aquarium is Toronto’s must-see attraction for tourists and locals of all ages. Immerse yourself in a world of 20,000 aquatic animals and discover your own underwater adventure. The Aquarium features North America’s longest underwater viewing tunnel with more than 5.7 million liters of water and over 100 interactive opportunities.
A visit could take 2-3 hours and can be easily combined with a visit to CN Tower.
Ottawa’s Parliament Hill and Building
Take a free guided tour of the home of Canada’s federal government, one of Ottawa’s top attractions. Admire historic paintings, as well as architecture decorated with Canadian motifs, in these official spaces.
The historic, neo-Gothic Parliament Buildings hold pride of place on a hill overlooking the Ottawa River in Canada’s capital.
Toronto Island Park
Toronto Island Park has something to offer for everyone. Go to the beach, check out Centreville amusement park or just head out on a hike!
If you love photography and want the best view of the Toronto skyline, the island park is the place for that.
Rideau Canal
The Rideau Canal, also known unofficially as the Rideau Waterway, connects Canada’s capital city of Ottawa, Ontario, to Lake Ontario and the Saint Lawrence River. It is 202 kilometres long
In winter, a section of the Rideau Canal passing through central Ottawa becomes officially the world’s largest and second longest skating rink. The cleared length is 7.8 kilometres and has the equivalent surface area of 90 Olympic ice hockey rinks. It serves as a popular tourist attraction and recreational area and is also the focus of the Winterlude festival in Ottawa.
Casa Loma
Casa Loma (Spanish for “Hill House”) is a Gothic Revival style mansion and garden in midtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada, that is now a historic house museum and landmark. It was constructed from 1911 to 1914 as a residence for financier Sir Henry Pellatt. Casa Loma sits at an elevation of 140 metres above sea level
Due to its unique architectural character in Toronto, Casa Loma has been a popular filming location for movies and television. It is also a popular venue for wedding ceremonies, and Casa Loma can be rented in the evenings after the museum closes to the public.
Royal Ontario Museum
The Royal Ontario Museum is a museum of art, world culture and natural history in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is one of the largest museums in North America and the largest in Canada. It attracts more than one million visitors every year, making the ROM the most-visited museum in Canada.
With more than 6,000,000 items and 40 galleries, the museum’s diverse collections of world culture and natural history contribute to its international reputation. The museum contains a collection of dinosaurs, minerals and meteorites; Canadian, and European historical artifacts; as well as African, Near Eastern, and East Asian art. It houses the world’s largest collection of fossils from the Burgess Shale with more than 150,000 specimens. The museum also contains an extensive collection of design and fine art, including clothing, interior, and product design, especially Art Deco.
Canada’s Wonderland
Canada’s Wonderland is a 134-hectare theme park located in Vaughan, Ontario, a suburb approximately 25 kilometres north of Downtown Toronto. Opened in 1981 as the first major theme park in Canada, it remains the country’s largest.
With seventeen roller coasters, Canada’s Wonderland is ranked second in the world by number of roller coasters, after Six Flags Magic Mountain (19 coasters), and tied with Cedar Point (17 coasters). The park includes an 8-hectare water park named Splash Works.
Blue Mountain Resort
Blue Mountain is an alpine ski resort in Ontario, Canada, just northwest of Collingwood. It is a major destination for skiers from southern Ontario. The local area forms the newly incorporated town of The Blue Mountains, Ontario. On average, Blue Mountain sells more than 750,000 lift tickets per year, making it the third-busiest ski resort in Canada. It is one of the largest resorts in Ontario.
Although mainly a ski resort, it was later transformed into a year-round resort. Situated at the base of the mountain, the Blue Mountain Village is a pedestrian village that allows ski-in accommodations for food and beverage, shopping, as well as lodging. As the main hub of Blue Mountain, the Village also holds the main stage for events and concerts that come to the area.
What is your favorite spot in Ontario. If you visited, leave a comment and tell us what you enjoyed.
