Summer Weekend Getaways in Ontario

Planning on staying close to home this summer? Looking for ideas for a few fun summer weekend getaways in Ontario? Well we’ve got you covered! We reached out to a few of our blogging friends and asked for their thoughts on some fun and, perhaps, new ideas for Ontario getaways. Our list includes cities, villages and nature spots that are great options for a summer staycation in Ontario.

Exciting Weekend Getaways in Ontario to Try this Summer

Tobermory

By Liliane from My Toronto My World

Located about 4 hours north (and slightly west) of Toronto, you’ll find the very popular town of Tobermory. The small harbour town has become super popular because of the stunning nature in the area and it remains one of the best places for summer weekend getaways in Ontario.

While there’s an incredible amount of things to do in Tobermory, there are some highlights and absolutely unmissable things that you do have to make sure to see. Bruce Peninsula National Park has a number of beaches and hikes to explore but is most known for the Grotto (also called the Tobermory Grotto). You can hike down to the little cave and explore the crystal blue waters. Make sure to save some time for taking the boat over to Flowerpot Island to see the famous structures and explore the island as well.

Besides the stunning natural structures, Tobermory is also known for its numerous shipwrecks. Exploring them is one of the unique things to do in Tobermory. You can go on a glass bottomed cruise ship, dive with the shipwrecks or even view them and the stunning blue waters from above in a helicopter ride.

While not a huge town, you do have some great options for food while visiting. The fish tacos at The Fish & Chip Place are a must do but you can also get some great seafood at Shipwreck Lee’s. Both are popular so expect a wait in the summer. For some dessert grab some ice cream at either the Peninsula Supply Ice Cream Parlour or the Sweet Shop. If you’re feeling particularly Canadian, you can grab a Beavertail right at the harbour!

Tobermory remains a fantastic summer destination for those from Ontario (and elsewhere) because it’s an opportunity to see some stunning nature like the grotto and the flowerpots without having to travel around the world to do

Niagara Falls

By Lora from Explore with Lora

If you love adventure and waterfalls, a road trip to Niagara Falls is one of the best things to do during the summer in Ontario. This natural world wonder is one of the most famous waterfalls in the world, attracting millions of visitors each year.

Niagara Falls is made up of three waterfalls: Horseshoe Falls, American Falls, and Bridal Veil Falls. The best part about visiting Niagara Falls from the Ontario side is that you can see all three of the waterfalls. Summertime is the perfect time to visit because each night the falls are lit up with a beautiful color show, and fireworks go off above them. It makes for fantastic summer weekend getaways in Ontario.

One of my favorite things about visiting Niagara Falls is that there are so many adventurous activities to do around the area. You can take the famous Voyage to the Falls boat tour, where you get to feel the spray of the waterfall. This is the perfect activity to do in the summer to cool off from the heat! You can also take a helicopter ride over the falls, zip-line by them, or even journey behind them.

If adrenaline isn’t your thing, there are still plenty of activities to do in Niagara Falls. There’s a beautiful botanical garden you can visit, which is right next to a butterfly conservatory. Clifton Hill is also a hub of entertainment, filled with casinos, gift shops, museums, haunted houses, video arcades, and restaurants.

Niagara Falls is part of the greater Niagara Region, which also includes a stunning area called Niagara-on-the-Lake. There you can visit some of Ontario’s best vineyards and sample wine, which is the perfect way to spend a warm summer afternoon. 

Thousand Islands

By Lindsay from I’ve Been Bit!

Located 3 hours from Toronto and even less from Canada’s capital of Ottawa you’ll find the Thousand Islands, a must-visit in the summer months and a great choice for summer weekend getaways in Ontario. There are plenty of towns to visit within the Thousand Islands so you’ll be planning multiple visits to explore it all!

First things first, start your trip with a cruise around the Thousand Islands as this makes for a great introduction to the area. Enjoy the breathtaking scenery as you wander this archipelago of 1800 islands along the Saint Lawrence River. There are a number of options both in regard to companies as well as the cruises they offer. Whether you’re looking for a quick overview or an in-depth experience, cruising around the Thousand Islands is a must!

What else is there to do? Take a self-guided heritage tour of Gananoque and learn about the town’s history. Explore the recently revamped Brockville Tunnel and take in the light show. Rent a kayak or hop on a guided tour and paddle your way around the Thousand Islands National Park. Pop by the Gan Brewing Company for some local craft beer and take in the summer sun on their patio. Bring a lawn chair and enjoy some live music at the Town Park Bandstand. That should be enough to get you started! Oh, and if you really want to go big during your adventure, hop on a helicopter tour and get a bird’s eye view of the islands. I guarantee you’ll be blown away by what you see!

You’ll be smitten with the small town charm and natural beauty of the Thousand Islands. It’s a destination where you’ll find yourself slowing down to truly enjoy your days, yet the days will still fly by way too fast. That’s why you’ll need more than just one visit to truly experience the area!

Bon Echo Provincial Park

By Brianna of Curious Travel Bug

Bon Echo is one of the best provincial parks you can visit in southern Ontario as it has gorgeous natural scenery and is an important Ojibwe cultural site. It’s a 3-hour drive from Toronto or just over 2 hours from Ottawa. It’s location makes it a great option for summer weekend getaways in Ontario.

The best way to visit is by camping at one of the campsites in the park. It is a popular park so you should make a reservation in advance to ensure you get a campsite. While many of the campsites are drive-in, there are also backcountry sites, cabins, and yurts available.

The park is best known for the massive Mazinaw Lake, one of the deepest lakes in Ontario at 145 m deep. Mazinaw Rock rises up 100m high next to Mazinaw Lake and is not only beautiful, it’s a National Historic Site.

One of the must-do’s at Bon Echo is to rent a canoe and paddle up to the cliff face where you can see some of the pictographs that adorn the side of the rock. There are over 260 pictographs, the largest collection in Canada. One of the most recognizable is Nanabush, an Ojibwe trickster that features in many Ojibwe stories. Another sight to see on the rock face is a carved inscription to Walt Whitman, a great American poet. The lake is huge so you can easily spend an entire afternoon canoeing.

There are plenty of hiking trails at Bon Echo. The clifftop trail that takes you up Mazinaw Lake is well worth doing. As it is across the lake from the campsite, you do need to take a ferry over to do the hike. There are a lot of stairs but you will be rewarded with gorgeous views of the lake and forest from the top. In addition to the area around the lake, the park also has interior trails and lakes to explore away from Lake Mazinaw. One of the trails here is even designated as an off-leash dog trail if you are traveling with your dog!

Thunder Bay

By Stephanie from The World As I See It

If you’re looking for an off-the-beaten-path place to visit this summer consider heading north to Thunder Bay. Thunder Bay is only 5 hrs from Kenora and less than an hour from the US border so if you’re in the area, its a nice summer weekend getaway. While it may not be a weekend road trip from Toronto, clocking nearly 1400 km and approximately 15 hours by car, Thunder Bay is worth the drive if you have more time to travel.

Located on the northern bank of Lake Superior, Thunder Bay is a great summer destination as temperatures aren’t as wicked as in southern Ontario, but the days are still long and full of sun.

There are endless things to do in Thunder Bay for outdoor adventurers. One of Ontario’s best hikes can be found in Sleeping Giant Provincial Park. With over 85 km of trails, access to lakes, camping, and wildlife, it’s a must-visit while in Thunder Bay. The must-do hike is Top of the Giant Trail, which takes you up to one of Ontario’s highest cliffs for epic sweeping views of Lake Superior.

Other nearby outdoor attractions include more hiking trails and a bunch of waterfalls, like Kakabecka Falls, and Ouimet Canyon. But even if you’re not a nature addict, there’s still a host of other incredible experiences and things to do. You can visit an amethyst mine, take a stroll along the lakeshore and check out Prince Arthur’s Landing Public Art installations, and visit Fort William Historic Park.

The city also offers four self-guided walking tours on their website that will take you around the different neighbourhoods. These are a great way to explore Thunder Bay and learn about its history, architecture, and find hidden gems like quirky shops and street art.

Thunder Bay is also home to some great local restaurants like Bight Restaurant & Bar with views of the lakeshore. Thunder Bay has a large population of Finnish and has so for a long time, so another great place to eat is the historic Hoito Restaurant where you have to try their Finnish pancakes. And before you leave don’t forget to grab some of Thunder Bay’s best treats, Persian donuts. So, if you’re looking for a new Ontario summer destination consider the mighty north’s Thunder Bay.

Grand Bend

By Kimberley from Two Travelling Toques

Grand Bend is a sleepy, little town located on the shores of Lake Huron in south western Ontario. That is until the warm weather arrives. Then this otherwise tranquil spot erupts into one of the hottest places to be. 

Widely known for it’s beautiful beaches, Grand Bend attracts sun worshippers from miles around. But not only does this town have one of the best beaches in Ontario, there are plenty of other activities to keep you occupied. You could try parasailing, take a fishing charter, go golfing, shopping along the strip for beachwear, or even skydiving for those thrill seekers. The bottom line is that Grand Bend is an amazing place for summer weekend getaways in Ontario!

Grand Bend also has a Motorplex for a fun afternoon of watching the drag races. And when you get hungry, you can catch a bite at one of the food trucks. On the weekends, be sure to stop by the Pinery Flea Market. One of the largest markets in the area selling anything from antiques, candy, t-shirts, books, and even fresh vegetables. 

Just outside of Grand Bend is the Lambton Heritage Museum. It’s an interesting place with several exhibits on the history of Lambton County as well as an ever changing feature collection. For the kids, they have an activity centre, outdoor play equipment, and a treasure hunt. A great place to see a play here is the Huron Country Playhouse. Showing plays like Rock of Ages, Grease, and Sleeping Beauty, there’s something for everyone. 

One of the best places to eat in Grand Bend is the 71 Grille, a popular spot known for their excellent, authentic, Italian food. Be sure to try the seafood linguini, along with the creme brûlée for dessert. 

Grand Bend is also home to one of the few remaining drive-in movie theatre’s called the Starlite Drive-In Theatre. I have great memories as a kid going to this place, and it’s nice to see it’s still in operation today. 

After a relaxing day on the beach, make sure not to miss one of Grand Bend’s spectacular sunsets.  

Killarney Provincial Park

By Kathi from Watch Me See

Killarney Provincial Park is a popular beauty spot near the northern end of Georgian Bay. The park is known for its vast network of lakes which makes it a top destination for canoe camping in Ontario and a wonderful summer weekend getaway in Ontario.

While there are a few entry points to the park, most people begin their adventure at George Lake, a family-friendly area with the park visitor centre, a generous campground and a lovely beach framed by dark green pine forest. However, adventurous spirits can venture further out into the backcountry. Many of the lakes in Killarney Provincial Park are close together, which makes portages fairly beginner-friendly and canoe camping a real joy. 

A popular canoeing route leads from George Lake to Freeland Lake and on to Killarney Lake. This distance can be paddled in about 3-4 hours which leaves enough time to score a picturesque campsite here, set up camp and explore some of the surrounding lakes for sunset. One particularly spectacular lake nearby is O.S.A. Lake, which is named after the Ontario Society of Artists. The area was once heavily logged, but the paintings produced by artists of the OSA raised awareness for the natural beauty that was at stake. Luckily the government eventually gave in to the pressure to protect it.  

Killarney Lake is also a great starting point for one of the most popular trails in the park. The Crack trail leads up a rounded peak with 360-degree views of the area. From up here, it is easy to see how magnificent this mountain range must have once been. Over millions of years, glaciers carved the white and pink rock of the area down to the gentle hills we see today. 

Note that a backcountry camping permit must be purchased from the park in advance. Backcountry campsites are first-come, first-served, but the overall number of campers is regulated through the permits. Bear-safety equipment is of utmost importance as Killarney Provincial Park is home to a black bear population. For a safe and fun experience, book a 3-4-day guided expedition with Killarney Outfitters and let them take care of everything – you just need to paddle.

Prince Edward County

By Eric from Ontario Away

For those looking for a quieter getaway from the city, Prince Edward County has you covered. It’s one of the best summer weekend getaways in Ontario. This rural region on the shores of Lake Ontario is made up of smaller communities and towns like Wellington and Glenora. The county’s “capital” is Picton – a town with small shops, restaurants, and cafes where you can stop for a bit of a wander.

There are a number of things to see and do in Prince Edward County that you cannot do in many other places around Ontario. Notably, Sandbanks Provincial Park makes for a great day trip. The park – named after one of the largest dune formations of its kind in the world – is made up of beaches and a few hiking trails. There are also a number of smaller parks and conservation areas like Lake on the Mountain. Close to the lake, you can grab a bite to eat at The Inn – or visit the nearby brewery!

Another highlight is walking The Millenium Trail – a trail that cuts through the heart of the region along an old railroad line. The trail is almost 50 km long and leads all the way to Picton as it snakes through smaller, historic places. Speaking of history, the region is a good place to go antiquing if that is more your thing!

Of course, many people know about The County as one of Ontario’s wine regions. Due to the unique geography, soil, and climate, PEC is home to dozens of wineries large and small. Head for Sandbanks Estate Winery to try their Baco Noir or check out Huff Estates to visit one of the largest operations in the region. Don’t forget to try the wood-fired pizza! 

If beer is more to your preference, The County has many breweries. Parsons Brewing – just outside of Picton – has become a popular stop but there are also small-batch breweries around the region!

Ottawa

While Ottawa is our nation’s capital and definitely not a small location like the others we’ve mentioned, being our home city, we really wanted to include it.  If you live outside the area and are considering a city destination for your summer weekend getaways in Ontario, don’t leave it off your list of places to explore!

Ottawa is a large city with a small city feel. It is a wonderful place to visit in summer with fantastic warm weather and beautiful green space. There is so much to do! Wander the downtown area and visit the Byward Market, Major’s Hill Park, and the Rideau Canal, the world’s longest skating rink in winter. Have a look at the historic canal locks and don’t miss the National War Memorial and the grounds on Parliament Hill.

To get out of the sun for a bit consider exploring the Royal Canadian Mint, the National Art Gallery, the Museum of Nature and of course, Canada’s Parliament Building.

You should definitely take one day of your weekend to explore beyond the downtown core. If travelling as a family, make sure to check out other things to do in Ottawa with kids this summer such as karting and wandering the nature trails in Ottawa’s west end or visiting the Canadian Museum of Science and Technology or Canadian Aviation Museum in Ottawa’s east end.

Make sure to check out our summer across Canada post if you plan to explore beyond Ontario!

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