Ontario
Yours to Discover
Ontario is the province I can call home. Growing up in the GTA, specifically in Brampton, I have known nothing but the bland suburban sides of Ontario. As I grew up and got a car, I was able to further discover what this big great province has to offer.
Grotto
The Grotto in the Bruce Peninsula National Park is my absolute favorite place in Ontario. Not to mention the surrounding beautiful areas such as Lion’s Head, Tobermory, Fathom Five National Park and much much more. This whole area is full of amazing spots to make lasting memories and to discover wonderful sights.
Just about three hours out from Toronto, getting to the Grotto is quite a drive. Still, Ontarians make their way out of here in every season just to get a glimpse of the area’s beauty. The Grotto is a popular bay destination featuring turquoise waters & limestone caves, reachable by a scenic trail. I have seen the cave in all seasons and it is beautiful year-round.
Swimming in the waters is another matter, even in the height of summer the water is bone-chilling cold. Jumping off cliffs into the cold waters and hiking through trails is a great pass time visitors enjoy. The brave-hearted take it a step forward with cave diving and rock climbing. Facilities in the summer time offer modern toilets and changing rooms. Showers and campgrounds are plentiful and ample parking is available.
While in this area, I would also recommend visiting Tobermory as it is a great stop to enjoy an ice cream in the summer’s heat. Hiking through Lion’s Head area also comes highly recommended as seeing the turquoise waters from the sheer cliffs is an experienced not to be missed.
Niagara Falls
While visiting Canada, one must visit Niagara Falls at least once. For an Ontario resident, visiting this area is just another day in a heavily touristy spot. Putting my Ontario bias aside, Niagara Falls still proves to be one of the most impressive water falls I have ever seen in my life. Its size alone speaks for itself but the sheer volume of water falling is mind boggling.
Tourists and travellers seeing it for the first time is a subject of envy for I wish to experience and see the falls again in their eyes; my first time was when I was much younger on a family day trip. I was amazed back then and I still am today.
The surrounding areas and the city itself aren’t too impressive. They’re heavily tourist trap-y and having the best experience depends on how much money you throw at it. Getting away from this, Niagara Glen offers an experience far away from the city and the crowds and into the downstream of the waterfalls where the whirlpools gather. Hiking through these trails is both fun and rewarding as the trails are well kept and maintained but still very heavy on the nature. You’ll be going through rocks, ancient roots and trees, and seeing all the wildlife in the area. If you’re looking to get lost in the nature of Niagara, look nowhere else but the Niagara Glen.
Thousand Lakes
The Thousand Lakes area near Kingston, Ontario is an amazing place to get lost in as there are countless areas to explore. Camping and hiking by the lakes is a popular way of spending time in this area. A great contender that is at the top of the list is Frontenac Provincial Park as it has a great network of lakes and hiking trails to get lost in. It is a sprawling park offering camping, hiking, boating and fishing in a forested area with lakes. Charleston Lake Provincial Park also offers the same services but with its own unique set of beautiful lakes and forest. Near the area is also the Thousand Islands National Park where you can take a boat tour through the area and to an ancient castle. A personal favorite hike of mine is the Rock Dunder during the Fall season to see the golden yellow, orange, brown and red hues of the leaves in the trees.
After spending the days and nights outdoors, one could spend some time in the nearby city of Kingston where cultural history co-exists with modern life. There are great heritage buildings scattered throughout the city such as Fort Henry National Historic site with modern conveniences with everything one would need.
Still an underrated area, I believe the Thousand Lakes area is a place to stop by and enjoy days in the outdoors trekking through the expansive and intricate networks of lakes.
Sleeping Giant
The Sleeping Giant is a ways out of the main parts of Ontario. In fact, getting there from Toronto is one hell of a road trip. If you make it this far out, I’d highly recommend hiking up to the top of the Sleeping Giant. Its a long and arduous hike but its well worth it as you are rewarded by the unhindered view of Lake Superior and the city nearby Thunder Bay.
Not only do you get the views all around, but you also get the views underneath as you are standing at the top of a giant gorge whose bottom I could not even muster the courage to see. It is such a vertical drop that you cant see but only hear the water falling from it. Its dizzying drop and three hundred sixty degrees of spectacular views earn itself a spot in my heart.
Hamilton
The “Steel City” or the “Hammertown” or the “armpit of Ontario” or “that one city ran by the mafia” or “waterfall capital of the world”, or just as I know and love it, Hamilton. As a city with so many nicknames, Hamilton‘s history is full of stories; Stories you could see in its streets and people. Despite being an industrial heavy weight, Hamilton offers plenty of natural beauty as it is on the edge of the Niagara Escarpment. Waterfalls litter its outskirts and every single one of them is unique in their own way.
If waterfalls are not your calling, Hamilton’s perfect mixture of towering apartments and sky scrapers in downtown and quiet suburbs up the mountain will have anything you would need. I personally loved taking the public transit down the mountain and having the views of the unfolding city down the escarpment in the Arkledun Ave. The views is especially good in Sam Lawrence Park.
One of my favorite pho spots is in Hamilton in Pho Dui Bo. It offers casual seating and decent service. What it lacks in glitter and glam it makes up with its fantastic tasting pho, affordable prices and amazing portions; for a college student in my time, this is what heaven felt like. If you’re looking for antique, vintage or thrift stores; Hamilton has got you covered. Hamilton has a plethora of shops that would suit your needs but my favourites are on the intersection of Ottowa St. N and Barton St especially Cabinet of Curiosities.
Toronto
Toronto is Canada’s ultimate representation of a the melting pot; there is so much culture, history and modernity in Toronto. There is always something happening in the city and always something abuzz. Though it dies down a little in the winter, the rest of the year Toronto is the hot place to be.
I have not personally spent a long time in Toronto; I have been to a Blue Jays game, I have seen the CN tower, I have taken the Go-Train and the subways, I have gotten lost in central station. Unlike other Brampton residents, I cannot confidently lie about being from Toronto. There is simply too much to see and too much to do.
Graffiti Alley is nestled deep in central Toronto, near Kensington market, near the university campuses, near china town and more! Its simply an alleyway behind prominent streets that are littered with artwork on its walls. As an art enthusiast, I appreciate the work and effort put into making this attraction really pop. To make it better, there is still consistent efforts to add more art work further down the alleyways; on my visit there alone, I talked to artists working on their on-going projects. It seems like it is encouraged by the city or at the very least, it is not publicly prohibited to paint on the walls.
Nonetheless, Graffiti Alley is a personal favourite stop of mine in the heart of Toronto.
My visit to Kensington Market was a lively one. It was the perfect early spring day, the vendors tended their shops, the buskers littered the street and filled the air with live music and the people of Toronto were out and about enjoying the day. Kensington’s liveliness was definitely the highlight; it felt like all my worries faded into the background as I dug into the Jamaican Jerk chicken. The diversity in the market should also be mentioned. You can find any type of cuisine in the streets of Kensington, all kinds of shops, all kinds of services. Everything you need and more.
The Royal Ontario Museum or the “ROM” has always been the classic destination for a GTA kid for school. My first time here was filled with nothing but fun and wonder as I spent the whole day exploring and getting lost in all that the ROM has to offer. It has everything from artifacts, art work, natural displays, scientific props, and much much more!
Ottawa
As Canada’s capital city, Ottawa has huge shoes to fill. It finds its own footing in the Parliament hill area and the famous Rideau Canal. There are plenty to do especially if you look for it in the nearby Quebec Gatineau park, in the shops at the mall in Rideau Centre, in the iconic vendors and streets of the Byward Market, visiting the National Gallery of Canada and much more. I personally enjoyed walking through the paths all along the Ottawa River with the beautiful backdrop of the Canadian Parliament Hill.
Honorable Mentions
Northwest Ontario is a highly underrated area. The region is sprinkled with natural rugged beauty and some of the nicest pebble beaches I have ever visited. The people are nice and kind and the mining towns are an acquired taste. The drive-through is scenic and fun.
The beautiful building pictured below is Canada’s largest mural in Sudbury. Its is very pretty to look at and is definitely huge in size. Nearby are lovely parks to walk around the lake.
Long point is situated in southern Ontario; an area popular for camping and long walks on the beach. Like really, really, long walks. The whole area is basically a long sandy beach. Its worth a visit.
Travellers Pursuits 