10 Top-Rated Travel Attractions in Ontario, Canada
Ontario, Canada, home to 40% of Canada’s population, has some of the top-rated tourist attractions in the world. Ontario has breathtaking views and sights through all four seasons. The province has several lakes, various architectural wonders, and is both the national and cosmopolitan capital of Canada. Here are top 10 tourist attractions in Ontario.
1. Parliament Hill
Designed with large archways, copper adorned turrets, and Gothic revival gargoyles, Parliament is another top destination in Canada. One of the main features of Parliament Hill is the Centre Block, the main building of the Canadian Parliament. In the middle of the Centre Block is the iconic Peace Tower. The clock and bell tower stands slightly over 300 feet and is covered with stone carvings of gargoyles. The Centre Block was developed in the mid-19th century and was one of the first homes of the Canadian government.
2. CN Tower
The CN Tower is the most iconic sight in Canada. It’s a marvel of 1970’s engineering and it always ranks as one of the top places to visit in every Canada travel guide. It has the appearance of a gigantic hypodermic needle but its main role is to act as a communications tower. It is one of the highest free standing structures in the world that stretches to a height of 1,815 feet.
3. Killarney Provincial Park
Killarney is also referred to as the “crown jewel of Ontario parks”, with one of the highest rated kayaking destinations in the world. At Killarney, people can spend days exploring the well-over 50 lakes and network of trails that provide spectacular vistas of the lakes and Georgian Bay.
4. Elgin & Winter Garden Theater
This is a restored work of art that is regarded as one of the last fully functional Edwardian double-decker theaters. The Winter Garden was initially developed as the flagship for a vaudeville chain that never got started while the downstairs was converted into a movie house. Tours of the theater run on Thursdays and Fridays.
5. Royal Ontario Museum
The Royal Ontario Museum celebrated its centennial in 2014 and is regarded as one of the largest natural history museums in North America. With the addition of “The Crystal” entrance on Bloor St. in 2007, the museum building combines the traditional heritage buildings with modern architecture with great effect (and controversy). It is a memorable destination to visit with friends.
6. 1000 Islands Tower
Found in the isle of Ivy Lea, approximately 20 kilometers from a place known as Gananoque, lies the 1000 Islands Tower. This 130-meter-high observation tower provides exceptional views of the archipelago from two open locations and has exceptional exhibits about the glass enclosed deck design. Though it’s an historical site, it has an elevator for convenience.
7. National Gallery of Canada
This location is more than just a tourist destination, it’s also a work of art. It has a unique ensemble of glass spires and pink granite which complement the copper topped towers of nearby Parliament. The interior section features vaulted galleries, a Canadian art exhibition, and various other notable American traditional forms of art.
8. Canadian Canoe Museum
Exhibiting one of the largest collections of kayaks and canoes, this museum is also a top-rated travel destination. It has an exceptional display of 150 canoes and it also documents the long history of water navigation that occurred in the country. This occurred in the 17th to 19th century, when North America was one of the top canoe destinations.
9. Boldt Castle
This lavish, traditional North American castle is found in the middle of St. Lawrence. The Boldt castle was developed by George C. Boldt, who was one of the developers of the notable Waldorf Astoria hotel in New York City. Several thousand tourists pass by this location each year to enjoy the scenic structures.
10. Ripley’s Aquarium
This aquarium is located in Ontario and is one of the three aquariums owned by the Ripley Entertainment network. The aquarium holds 1.5 million gallons of water and exhibits marine life from all over the world. It is organized into nine galleries, showing a variety of fish, sea animals and marine habitats.
