Ontario

Canada's largest province, with the most people living there, is Ontario. Ontario is the economic centre of Canada and covers a vast area from Lake Erie in the south to far north at the Manitoba-Ontario border on Hudson Bay. The Great Lakes system, which includes Lakes Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, Ontario and Lake St. Clair, dominates the province. All of the lakes are shared by the US and Canada except Michigan, which is south of the Ontario border.

It's important to note that the myth of the great frozen north is in question when you realize that Duluth Minnesota is further north than Canada's capital, Ottawa. Toronto dips well below the 49th parallel, which is the dividing line of Canada and the US once you are west of the Great Lakes.

Ontario and Quebec were the "two nations" that founded Canada with the Maritime Provinces joining in for the 1867 confederation.

Ottawa, Canada's capital, is in Ontario on the Quebec border. Toronto is Canada's largest city by population.

When you visit Ontario, consider these Ontario travel regions:

In the 1990s an amalgamation of cities led to the creation of the Greater Toronto Area or the GTA. This has not reduced the character of Toronto, which is a cultural sample zone from almost everywhere in the world. During World Cup soccer times, you will see people voting for their teams from Brazil to Viet Nam.

Toronto was not always like this; prior to World War II, the city was based on a white Protestant Christian mindset, which sometimes comes through in the city's protestation of being "Toronto the Good."

Regardless, Bay St. may be the home of Canadian banks, but at night Queen St., the Danforth and other areas come alive with clubs, shows and movies (the Toronto Film Festival each fall is a huge event).

Toronto is also a big sports town. Despite not winning The Stanley Cup since 1967, the Torontonians are rabid Maple Leafs fans. It is also home to the Blue Jays, the only professional baseball team in Canada that plays in the US baseball leagues.

Key Toronto Attractions are:

• The CN Tower, the largest free-standing structure (phallic symbol) in the world at 341 m (1136 ft.)
• The domed Rogers Centre stadium where the Blue Jays play
• The Royal Ontario Museum (dinosaurs and mummies!)
• Take the ferry over to Centre Island for a picnic and escape from the city bustle

Learn about Toronto Accommodations.

What Torontonians call Northern Ontario (i.e. cottage country) is not the true north. What is called the Near North includes North Bay Ontario and Algonquin Park, where many people canoe, portage and camp to see wildlife and listen to the howl of wolves.

Make not to miss these areas of Northern Ontario: Algoma Country (Sault Ste. Marie is a main centre), Rainbow Country (featuring Manitoulin Island), James Bay Frontier (polar bears and Shania Twain!), Lake Superior's North Shore (Thunder Bay is the major centre), and Sunset Country (featuring Lake-of-the-Woods and Kenora.)

Learn about Northern Ontario Accommodations.

Canada's capital region, is a unique mix of French and English influences and, especially in downtown Ottawa, is home to many fascinating national buildings and museums, including: The National Gallery of Canada, The Parliament Buildings, Canada Aviation Museum, Canada Science And Technology Museum, Canadian Museum of Civilization, Canadian Museum of Nature, and the newly redone Canadian War Museum.

Learn about Ottawa Accommodations.

This is United Empire Loyalist country: people who'd rather by subjects of mad King George III than be part of the newly formed United States. As a result, there is 300 years plus history found in charming towns and villages. These areas include: the Ottawa Valley, Rideau Heritage Route (learn about the Rideau canal), the St. Lawrence Seaway (with the famous 1000 Islands), and Quinte's Isle, which has some of the most quaint rural areas in the province as well as the excellent Sandbanks Provincial park.

Learn about Eastern Ontario Accommodations.

This part of Ontario has many towns that echo the "old country": Stratford, London, Dorchester, and more. The key areas to explore are the Black Heritage Route (learn about slaves taking the underground railway Canada in the 1800s), Grand River Country (check out the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum in Hamilton), the Bruce Peninsula (excellent fresh water diving in Tobermory at Fathom Five National Marine Park), Ontario's West Coast (check out the 30 m (98 ft.) sand dunes at Pinery Provincial Park in Grand Bend on Lake Huron), Lake Erie North Shore & Pelee Island (the island has some unique bird watching opportunities), and Shakespeare Country, featuring the Stratford Festival (now 50 years old.)

Learn about Southwestern Ontario Accommodations.

What can we say? Niagara Falls. (The Canadian side is the best, according to Canadians.) Make sure to visit the supremely quaint Niagara-on-the-Lake for a look at the non-kitsch side of Niagara as well as taste award-winning wines. Ontarians are amazed now that after the dire rot-gut wines from the 1970s, these ones are actually good.

Learn about Niagara Falls Ontario Accommodations.

This is true "cottage country" featuring in the Muskoka Lakes and Georgian Bay. Almost every kid growing up in Ontario has been bitten by mosquitoes and swam in one of the lakes once in either Muskoka, Kawarthas or the Haliburton Highlands. Further east of Toronto, but right on Lake Ontario are the Lake Ontario Ports of Call, which feature Presqu'ile Provincial Park near Brighton. Finally Southern Georgian Bay and Lake Simcoe features the eerie native past in Midland, where you will find a 17th-century French-Huron village at Sainte-Marie Among the Hurons. Check out Étienne Brűlé's remarkable story and nasty end.

Learn about Central Ontario Accommodations.

Ontario Travel has a huge number of options, doesn't it?