Best Places for a Long Weekend in Ontario

Struggling for ideas this long weekend? Here’s five tips for quick getaways in Ontario.

Toronto

Toronto is the perfect place to spend a long weekend to shop and eat. The Eaton Centre, with more than 320 shops that offer fashion choices for every taste and numerous wonderful restaurants, is a shopper’s paradise. It is the number one tourist attraction in Toronto and is modelled after the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele in Milan, Italy. It is four levels with a glass-roofed galleria that spans two city blocks. It also has an underground network that affords shoppers a way to move from place to place without ever having to endure potentially harsh weather. The CN Tower is the best way to take in the entire city, and it offers perhaps the best dining experience in the province. If you love baseball, then the Rogers Center is right next door to the CN Tower and home of the Toronto Blue Jays. For a little more history, go to an exhibit at the Royal Ontario Museum, or the Hockey Hall of Fame.

Prince Edward County

Taking in the beach and wine tasting in Prince Edward County is another great way to spend a long weekend. Enjoy the best of both these worlds of wine and beaches where Prince Edward County is known for some of the top wineries in Canada and premiere beaches. It is also a favorite haunt of artists with art studios and galleries to browse, rounding out a great getaway.

Niagara Falls

Niagara Falls is Mother Nature’s gift to Canada. From the Canadian side of the falls you get a great view of the American and Horseshoe Falls, and are offered a range of great entertainment for the whole family. Clifton Hill Road offers amusement shows, candy stores, ice cream and just about anything else that could get the inner child excited about visiting the region. For an overnight stay, we recommend Marriott Fallsview for breathtaking views of the falls. For just under $20 per adult $13 for children, you can’t get a closer view of the falls than on the Maid of the Mist, the ferries that get you so close to the falls you will get wet! (note: raincoats are provided but there is no wheelchair access).

Muskoka

For those who want to enjoy a weekend with nature, Muskoka’s Arrowhead Provincial Park offers camping, cross-country skiing, and canoeing for starters. Imagine skating through the forest or warming up to a bonfire with some hot chocolate. This family-friendly park boasts beautiful scenery with a magnificent waterfall and guided nature walks. Take a float plane to nearby Henri’s Fish Restaurant to make the weekend retreat truly memorable.

Collingwood

The true adventurer will enjoy the Scenic Caves Nature Adventures in Collingwood which offer beautiful surroundings and numerous ways to get around. Take a tour of the caves and walk across the suspension bridge. If that’s not enough adventure for the weekend, take it up a notch by walking across the treetops or go zip-lining. Enjoy the view from above and get the adrenaline going. In winter, ski or snowshoe through the forest on well-groomed trails.When choosing a weekend destination, Ontario has it all for every desire.

Leave behind the daily grind for a weekend filled with things to do from beginning to end. Whether it’s shopping, admiring a great view of the Niagara Falls, or trekking across treetops, it will be both memorable and therapeutic. It may prove to be difficult going back to work when there’s so much fun to be had, but at least there will be many memories and something to look forward to for that next long weekend getaway.