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The CN Tower in Toronto
Toronto is famed for its buzzing, fast-paced lifestyle and its variety of attractions and landmarks, but did you know that it is also a great base to explore other parts of Eastern Canada from?
One of the reasons why Toronto holidays are so popular is the fact that in just a few hours, you could be exploring one of the world’s most iconic waterfalls, getting an adrenaline rush at one of Canada’s largest theme parks, enjoying spectacular views in a national park or even snowboarding or mountain biking. Read on to find out the best places to visit near Toronto.
Day trips from Toronto that you need to go on
•Niagara Falls
•Algonquin Provincial Park
•Niagara-on-the-Lake
•Blue Mountain
•Prince Edward County
•Canada’s Wonderland
Niagara Falls
Around 1 hour and 20 minutes from Toronto
Niagara Falls is one of the world’s biggest waterfalls and one of the most popular too. Whilst you can spend a few days at Niagara Falls, it is also a perfect destination for a day trip as it is under a two-hour drive from Toronto.
There are many ways to explore this beautiful natural wonder. You can take a Journey Behind the Falls, where you are guaranteed to be splashed, or you can view the Canadian Falls from a different angle on board the Voyage to the Falls – a VIP boat cruise. If you are a bit of a thrill-seeker, the Whirlpool Jet Boat tours might be more up your street as you travel further down the river in the rapids. Travelling up the Skylon Tower for a bird’s-eye view over the falls is another activity you may want to add to your day trip bucket list.
If you have booked your flights to Toronto, you have plenty of options to explore Niagara Falls. You can look at car hire from Toronto or go on one of the excursions from the city to Niagara Falls. For those of you who haven’t booked your flights yet, and are still researching, here at Canadian Affair, we offer Toronto package holidays, which include flights, accommodation, trips and excursions, and car hire.
Annick, a travel writer who runs the Common Traveler blog, says you must experience the Journey Behind the Falls if you are visiting Niagara Falls from the Canadian side, and she compared it to the Cave of the Winds, which is a similar attraction on the US side:
“After a great experience at Cave of the Winds, you may worry that Journey Behind the Falls might disappoint. But it was another great experience but in a different way. Go first thing in the morning for a few minutes to have the tunnels all to yourself. You’ll ride down in an elevator and get to peer out of two holes made into the stone walls behind the falls. There is also a small deck where you can stand. You will get wet!
“The other difference with the Cave of the Winds is that Journey Behind the Falls remains open well into the evening, so you can see it when it is lit up at night.”
ALSO READ: 48 hours in Niagara Falls
Algonquin Provincial Park
Around 3 hours from Toronto
Imagine walking around the vibrant city of Toronto one day and then exploring one of Canada’s most spectacular wilderness regions. With 2,896 square miles of protected forest, the Algonquin Provincial Park is a quarter of the size of Belgium and is a place that is within driving distance of Toronto.
The park is home to thousands of lakes and around 1400km of rivers, and that is why exploring the provincial park in a canoe is one of the most popular things to do in the park. The interior of the park is wild and undisturbed by roads or man and is home to rocky ridges, dense forest, and more than 50 species of mammals which includes the big five: Moose, white-tailed deer, beavers, black bears and wolves.
Travel bloggers Oksana & Max are the writers behind the Drink Tea & Travel site, and they recommend hiking in the park, especially if you are planning a day trip from Toronto:
“Hiking is by far one of the best things to do in Algonquin Park, Canada. There are over 20 well-marked Algonquin Park trails ranging from 30 mins to a few hours. Most trails are about 1-2 hours. They are perfect for day-trippers and those staying at front-country campsites within the park.”
ALSO READ: 5 unique adventures in Algonquin Provincial Park
Niagara-on-the-Lake
Around 1 hour and 40 minutes from Toronto
Described as the prettiest town in Ontario, Niagara-on-the-Lake is a 19th-century village with a historic centre that can be explored on a horse-drawn carriage ride.
The town is a National Historic Site of Canada, and although small, it is a perfect day out for anyone staying in Toronto. The Prince of Wales Hotel, on the main street, is one of the town’s main attractions, but it is even more famous for its wineries as it is in the heart of Ontario wine country.
As the name suggests, the town is just a short distance away from the iconic Niagara Falls (around a 20-minute drive), and you could visit the falls and the town in one day if you’d prefer.
If you want to incorporate a day trip to Niagara-on-the-Lake with a visit to a nearby winery, then below are some of the best places you can visit:
Blue Mountain
Around 2 hours and 30 minutes from Toronto
If you are visiting Toronto in the winter, you can go skiing or snowboarding, as the ski resort of Blue Mountain is just over two hours from the city. With a reputation for boasting the best ski hill in Southern Ontario, it is a popular destination to visit, especially when you consider that you can go ice skating and snowshoeing.
However, the village of Blue Mountain isn’t just a great place to visit in the winter; it is a perfect day trip for any time of the year. During the summer months, you can visit its fine dining restaurants, do some shopping, go ziplining, try your hand at wall climbing, and experience its world-class hiking and mountain biking trails.
If you want an action-packed day trip, you can also visit the nearby town of Collingwood, home to the famous annual Elvis Festival, and Wasaga Beach, a small town with a stunning stretch of beach.
Madi, a travel writer who runs The Restless Worker blog, says Blue Mountain and Collingwood have a special place in her heart: “Blue Mountain, Collingwood is by far one of my favourite places in the world for so many reasons. As a kid, I grew up ski racing and so was in Collingwood 3 – 4 times a week in the winter. It was my second home for more than half of my life. While I no longer go up as much as I used to, I do try to head up a couple of times a winter. It’s the perfect weekend getaway from Toronto.”
ALSO READ: The most popular attractions in Ontario
Prince Edward County
Around 2 hours and 30 minutes from Toronto
Located on the shores of Lake Ontario, Prince Edward County is home to rolling countryside, lakes, and stunning beaches, making it popular not only with visitors from around the world but local Torontonians too.
The towns dotted across Prince Edward County, such as Picton and Wellington are busiest during the summer months, and they usually have a great buzz around them. Picton is the main town in the county and is certainly worth a visit as you can find many great eateries, galleries and shops.
‘The County’, as it is known, has a reputation for capturing hearts and imaginations. So be warned. You may plan on visiting for just a day trip but end up spending at least the weekend there.
ALSO READ: What’s Toronto famous for?
Canada’s Wonderland
Around 1 hour from Toronto
Canada’s Wonderland is Canada’s most famous theme park and is home to some of the best rollercoasters in the country.
Just north of downtown Toronto, Canada’s Wonderland isn’t just for thrill-seekers and isn’t just full of rollercoasters as there are plenty of rides for people of all ages as well as shows, games, and a host of places to eat.
There are more than 200 attractions, including 18 roller coasters, two children’s areas, and Splash Works, the 20-acre water park. Plus, there are lots of events which take place at Canada’s Wonderland throughout the year.
ALSO READ: Thrill-seekers needed: Canada’s top theme parks
Are you tempted by Toronto? If you would like to visit the city and experience one of these day trips from Toronto, then you can get in touch with our Canada travel experts here at Canadian Affair so that we can plan your dream holiday.
For more tips, guides, and advice, visit our blog.
