Things to do & Places to stay in Ontario

SEPTEMBER 7, 2018

Home /Archive

What are YOU going to do this weekend?

There are so many things to do and see in Ontario, it is sometimes hard to know where to start. One suggestion is to begin with those things that have become known as “attractions”; people visit them for a reason! While you can find almost 200 of them in our Attractions category on https://www.summerfunguide.ca, it is always worth checking out the Museums & Galleries category, and the Zoos category too, as many companies just appear in one category, and they don’t always choose Attractions.

HISTORICAL ATTRACTIONS

There are several Pioneer/Heritage Villages that are totally worth the drive. Learn about history, often from costumed interpreters who bring the past to life. Try Lang Pioneer Village Museum in Keene & see interpretations & demonstrations of life in the 1800s. Pickering Museum Village is the largest living history museum in Durham Region; tour on your own or with a costumed guide. Westfield Heritage Village in Rockton is one of Ontario’s most interesting historical destinations; they too have costumed interpreters for their 35 historical buildings.

FUN ATTRACTIONS

Sometimes girls (and boys) just wanna have fun! Niagara Parks calls itself Ontario’s 56km “outdoor adventure museum” and its 8 attractions celebrate all of it!  Medieval Times Dinner and Tournament in Toronto is North America’s #1 Dinner Attraction with a 2 Hour Show, Feast, Horses, Sword Fights and Jousting. So fun! And who doesn’t love a carousel? Catch the brass ring on Pride of Canada Carousel, which features 44 uniquely Canadian, rideable sculptures crafted from recycled objects by Canadian artists Patrick Amiot & Brigitte Laurent. There’s also a really old one which will bring back memories: Roseneath Carousel (1906) is a restored Carousel with 40 wooden horses & 2 boats.

ART ATTRACTIONS

Sometimes, the attraction you want to see has to move you somehow and art is perfect for meeting that need. Windsor Sculpture Park is a museum without walls, with large-scale, internationally recognized works of contemporary sculpture by world-famous artists along Windsor’s waterfront. McMichael Canadian Art Collection in Kleinburg has an iconic collection of Canadian art, featuring Group of Seven and Tom Thomson, Indigenous and Inuit artists, & contemporary artists. Downtown Midland Historic Murals along King St has N. America's largest historic mural plus 30 other outdoor murals.

ANIMAL ATTRACTIONS

Animals attractions are not just for kids, so put them on your list for a beautiful day (zoo) or a crappy one (conservatory). Toronto Zoo is considered Canada’s premier zoo with over 450 species & 5000 animals. Cambridge Butterfly Conservatory has 1000s of free-flying butterflies in a lush tropical garden. They’ll even land on your shoulder! Bird Kingdom, Niagara Falls, is a world class attraction with spectacular free-flying birds, a museum and a night jungle. Safari Niagara, also Niagara Falls, is a 150-acre nature park, which is home to more than 1000 native and exotic mammals, reptiles and birds.

Discover Eastern Ontario

Contact Natalie at news@summerfunguide.ca

The best suggestions come from others who have been there and done that!