Ontario
3
Day Itinerary •
Canada
Three days in Ontario reveal the most extraordinary combination of natural wonder, urban diversity and Canadian heritage in the country. The Horseshoe Falls at Niagara, the world's most powerful waterfall accessible from land, Toronto's CN Tower and extraordinary multicultural street life, the moose-filled wilderness of Algonquin Provincial Park, the Muskoka Lakes cottage country and the UNESCO Rideau Canal at Ottawa are all within reach of a single Ontario road trip. This route moves from the thundering Niagara Falls and the fine wine country of Niagara-on-the-Lake through Canada's greatest city and its extraordinary island escape to the vast boreal wilderness of Algonquin and the elegant limestone capital of Ottawa. Three extraordinary days across the finest province in Canada.
Best Time To Visit
June to October
Getting There
Fly into Toronto Pearson (YYZ) or Toronto City (YTZ)
Getting Around
Car essential, TTC in Toronto
Budget Per Day
Approx 190 to 455 CAD per person per day
Difficulity
Easy, city and nature walking
DAY 1
NIAGARA FALLS
MORNING
NIAGARA FALLS, THE MOST POWERFUL WATERFALL IN NORTH AMERICA
Niagara Falls is the most extraordinary waterfall in North America, the Horseshoe Falls on the Canadian side discharging more than 168,000 cubic metres of water per minute over a 57-metre drop in the most powerful curtain of falling water on the continent. The Canadian side gives the finest view of both the Horseshoe and American falls simultaneously. The Journey Behind the Falls tunnel through the bedrock to viewpoints behind the curtain is extraordinary. Journey Behind the Falls approx 32 CAD. Drive/Travel: 1.5 hours drive
MIDDAY
THE NIAGARA GORGE AND THE WHIRLPOOL RAPIDS, THE FINEST HIDDEN NIAGARA EXPERIENCE
The Niagara Gorge below the falls contains the most extraordinary whirlpool in North America, a permanent 36-metre deep vortex where the river turns 90 degrees through a geological notch and the water reaches 48 km/h. The Whirlpool Aero Car crossing the gorge at 76 metres above the rapids is the finest engineering viewpoint in Ontario. The gorge trail from the falls to the whirlpool is 4km of extraordinary clifftop walking. Aero Car approx 18 CAD. Drive/Travel: 20 min drive
AFTERNOON
NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE, THE PRETTIEST TOWN IN ONTARIO
Niagara-on-the-Lake is the most extraordinary small historic town in Ontario, its extraordinary 19th-century main street of heritage buildings, the remarkable Fort George National Historic Site from the War of 1812 and the extraordinary Niagara wine region surrounding the town producing the finest ice wine in the world making it the finest afternoon destination near Niagara Falls. The Shaw Festival theatre is the finest in Canada outside Stratford. Fort George approx 12 CAD.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The Dufferin Islands Nature Area just south of Niagara Falls is the most extraordinary and least visited hidden park in the Niagara region, a series of small islands connected by footbridges in the upper Niagara River above the falls, their extraordinary mixed forest, the Black-crowned Night Heron colony and the complete absence of the tourist infrastructure of the falls making it the finest hidden place in Niagara. Entirely free. The winter skating rink on the island is the finest in the region.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: AG Inspired, Niagara Falls Outstanding breakfast at the finest independent restaurant near the falls. Local Niagara produce throughout. | Lunch: Treadwell Cuisine, Niagara-on-the-Lake The finest farm-to-table restaurant in the Niagara Peninsula. Outstanding local wine pairings. | Dinner: Peller Estates Winery, Niagara-on-the-Lake Outstanding ice wine dinner at the finest winery estate restaurant in Ontario. Book ahead.
DAY 2
TORONTO
MORNING
TORONTO, CANADA'S GREATEST CITY
Toronto is the most extraordinary and diverse city in Canada, its extraordinary CN Tower at 553 metres the tallest free-standing structure in the western hemisphere until 2007, its remarkable Royal Ontario Museum with the extraordinary Michael Lee-Chin Crystal addition by Daniel Libeskind, the extraordinary distillery district and the remarkable Kensington Market making it the finest city experience in Canada. The CN Tower glass floor gives the finest urban vertigo in North America. CN Tower approx 45 CAD. Drive/Travel: 1.5 hours drive
MIDDAY
THE TORONTO ISLANDS AND THE FINEST URBAN ESCAPE IN CANADA
The Toronto Islands, three interconnected islands in Lake Ontario 13 minutes by ferry from the downtown waterfront, are the most extraordinary urban island landscape in Canada, their extraordinary clothing-optional Hanlan's Point Beach, the remarkable Ward's Island neighbourhood of year-round residents and the extraordinary view of the Toronto skyline from Centre Island making them the finest afternoon escape in the city. Ferry approx 9 CAD return. Drive/Travel: 20 min ferry
AFTERNOON
THE DISTILLERY DISTRICT AND THE KENSINGTON MARKET
The Distillery Historic District is the finest preserved Victorian industrial complex in North America, its extraordinary cobblestone streets of 44 heritage buildings transformed into the finest concentration of galleries, restaurants and boutiques in Toronto. The adjacent Kensington Market with its extraordinary multicultural food stalls, vintage shops and the remarkable Augusta Avenue is the finest neighbourhood experience in Canada's most diverse city. Entry free throughout.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The Guild Park Estate in Scarborough contains the most extraordinary outdoor sculpture garden in Ontario, a collection of 60 architectural fragments salvaged from demolished Toronto buildings including bank facades, hotel lobbies and newspaper offices arranged in the grounds of an extraordinary Arts and Crafts mansion. The Greek Theatre amphitheatre, the extraordinary stone fragments from the Bank of Toronto and the remarkable Hellenic Canadian garden are all freely accessible. Entirely free.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Forno Cultura, Toronto The finest Italian bakery in Canada. Outstanding sourdough and cornetto in the extraordinary distillery district. | Lunch: St Lawrence Market, Toronto The finest food market in Canada since 1803. Outstanding peameal bacon sandwich and local cheese. | Dinner: Canoe, Toronto The finest restaurant in Toronto. Outstanding Canadian seasonal tasting menu. 54th floor views. Book ahead.
DAY 3
ALGONQUIN AND OTTAWA
MORNING
ALGONQUIN PROVINCIAL PARK, THE FINEST WILDERNESS IN SOUTHERN CANADA
Algonquin Provincial Park is the most extraordinary wilderness destination in southern Canada, its extraordinary 7,630 square kilometres of Canadian Shield lakes, rivers and boreal forest containing the finest wildlife viewing in Ontario including moose, black bear, grey wolf, loon and beaver. The Highway 60 corridor through the park gives the finest accessible wildlife viewing in Canada from a road. The park visitor centre and the Algonquin logging museum are remarkable. Park day pass approx 22 CAD per vehicle. Drive/Travel: 2.5 hours drive
MIDDAY
THE MUSKOKA LAKES, CANADA'S COTTAGE COUNTRY
The Muskoka Lakes district is the most extraordinary cottage country in Canada, its extraordinary Lake Rosseau, Lake Joseph and Lake Muskoka connected by the Muskoka River in a landscape of pink granite, white pine and extraordinary Victorian boathouses. The Muskoka Steamships heritage cruise on Lake Muskoka is the finest lake experience in Ontario. Gravenhurst town with its extraordinary opera house and farmers market is the finest Muskoka base. Steamship cruise approx 45 CAD. Drive/Travel: 1.5 hours drive
AFTERNOON
OTTAWA, THE MOST EXTRAORDINARY CAPITAL CITY IN CANADA
Ottawa is the most extraordinary capital city in Canada, its extraordinary Rideau Canal, the only UNESCO World Heritage canal still operating as originally built, its remarkable Parliament Hill Gothic Revival buildings above the Ottawa River, the extraordinary National Gallery of Canada and the exceptional Canadian Museum of History across the river in Gatineau making it the finest capital city experience in the country. Parliament Hill tours free. Gallery approx 12 CAD.
💎 HIDDEN GEM
The Bonnechere Caves near Eganville in the Ottawa Valley are the most extraordinary and least visited cave system in Ontario, the only fossil-bearing cave open to the public in eastern Canada, its extraordinary 500 million-year-old coral reef fossils visible in the cave walls, the remarkable underground river and the extraordinary cave tours through formations of selenite crystals making it the finest hidden attraction in the Ottawa Valley. Entry approx 20 CAD.
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Breakfast: Cache Lake Cookhouse, Algonquin Outstanding wilderness breakfast at the park's finest outfitter. Local Canadian pancakes and wild blueberries. | Lunch: Muskoka Brewery, Bracebridge Outstanding craft beer lunch at the finest brewery in cottage country. Local smoked meats and lake fish. | Dinner: Social at 242, Ottawa The finest restaurant in Ottawa. Outstanding Canadian ingredients. Book well ahead.
DAY 4
MORNING
MIDDAY
AFTERNOON
💎 HIDDEN GEM
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
DAY 5
MORNING
MIDDAY
AFTERNOON
💎 HIDDEN GEM
🍽 WHERE TO EAT
Where To Stay
Niagara Falls, Night 1 Sheraton Fallsview or Marriott Fallsview. Approx 180 to 400 CAD per night. Toronto, Night 2 Hotel X or Ace Hotel. Approx 200 to 450 CAD per night. Ottawa, Night 3 Fairmont Chateau Laurier or Arc the Hotel. Approx 200 to 500 CAD per night.
Top Tips
1. Niagara Falls at dawn: the falls before 8am with morning mist rising are extraordinary and entirely crowd-free.
2. Toronto Islands ferry: buy return ticket at the terminal. Last ferry back is at 11.30pm in summer.
3. Algonquin moose: drive Hwy 60 at dusk in May and June. Moose are most active at dawn and dusk feeding on aquatic plants.
4. Niagara-on-the-Lake ice wine: buy directly from Inniskillin or Jackson-Triggs estates. Finest in the world.
5. Ottawa Rideau Canal skating in winter: the world's largest naturally frozen skating rink. Skate rental at multiple points.
6. Journey Behind the Falls: wear the provided poncho. The mist soaks everything within seconds of entering the tunnel.
Total Budget
190 to 450 CAD/day