Ontario, Canada — Destinations
Toronto
The most heavily populated city in Canada, Toronto is a vibrant and cosmopolitan city; the country's financial, commercial and cultural center with a rich multi-cultural heritage of more than 80 ethnic groups, speaking more than 100 languages. It has a lively stock exchange, soaring futuristic architecture, museums, art galleries, performing arts companies, fine restaurants, large shopping complexes, a waterfront and hundreds of parks.
The city is situated on the north shore of Lake Ontario, and sports distinctive neighborhoods as well as the longest street in the world, Yonge Street, as its main north-south artery. Toronto's main landmark is the CN Tower, which is the world's tallest free-standing structure with glass-fronted elevators that rise 1,815ft (553m) to indoor and outdoor observation decks. The city also boasts the 'Skydome', which is a multi-purpose entertainment complex with a retractable roof, billed as the world's greatest entertainment center.
In the 17th century Toronto was a small French colony; then came the American Revolution which encouraged scores of British loyalist families to flee north. Many settled beside the lake establishing a town known as York, which slowly grew in importance as an administrative and manufacturing center. In 1834 the name was changed to Toronto, an Indian word meaning 'meeting place'. The new name proved worthy when about a century later the city's English character began to be buried beneath the conglomeration of cultures brought in by a massive tide of immigrants from all corners of the world. Old English pubs and Victorian and Edwardian architecture survive among the skyscrapers, but Toronto is today a lively and cosmopolitan city and Canada's commercial capital.
It does get pretty cold over the winter months of November to March so if you are averse to chilly weather plan your visit over the mid-year period. Toronto just might be the destination that has it all - reason enough to visit and enjoy what has been described as Canada's 'world within a city.'
Ottawa
The capital of Canada is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River, opposite the French-speaking city of Gatineau across the water in the neighboring province of Quebec. It's location on the border puts it in the unique position of being truly multicultural and bilingual, with a harmonious blend of French and English culture.
Ottawa had humble beginnings as a small lumber town until Queen Victoria designated it the capital of Canada in 1857. Since then it has grown into a modern, cosmopolitan city, though it is often overlooked in comparison to its larger, more glamourous neighbors, Toronto and Montreal. Its main landmark is the 302ft (92m) high Peace Tower. The tower surmounts the imposing Parliament Buildings, which stand in Gothic splendor at the junction of the Ottawa, Rideau and Gatineau rivers.
The city has a network of waterways and canals that link it to Lake Ontario and Georgian Bay. The historic Rideau Canal is used for boating in summer, and for ice sculpting and skating in winter, by locals and visitors alike. The parliament buildings and other architectural sites have an old-world European charm, and Ottawa has numerous top class museums and galleries, and the National Arts Center, which houses an opera company, theaters, studios and restaurants.
Lake Superior and Thunder Bay
The rugged, rocky north shore of Lake Superior, the world's largest freshwater lake, provides Ontario with an exciting tourist attraction where visitors can discover deep chasms, plunging waterfalls and towering granite cliffs carved by the ancient glaciers. There are untold numbers of lakes, rivers and forests in the region, which are an fisherman's paradise, a history buff's haven, an artist's inspiration and a delight for naturalists.
The main center in the region is the city of Thunder Bay, located on the Trans-Canada Highway, in the heart of Native American country. This city is the western terminus for the St Lawrence Seaway. At Thunder Bay the Sleeping Giant provincial park is a big drawcard, named for the shape of a rocky outcrop at the site that extends into Lake Superior. Another popular attraction is the Amethyst Mine Panorama, which is a working quarry that offers walking tours, as Thunder Bay sits on one of the largest Amethyst deposits in the world.
