Vacation rentals in Ontario

The most populous province in Canada, Ontario is known for its crystal-clear lakes, roaring rivers, and unique cottage country — a collection of rural communities near Toronto perfect for renting a cottage and soaking up the great outdoors. So popular is this pastime during Ontario’s short summers that locals gave it a name, “cottaging,” a term used to describe the annual trips taken to such places as Georgian Bay, Muskoka, and the Haliburton Highlands, home to nature preserves, waterfalls, and some of the best mountain biking in the provinces.

Then there’s Toronto itself, Canada’s largest city and an epicenter of art and culture. You could spend days exploring its galleries and museums and still not scratch the surface, including the tightly-focused Bata Shoe Museum, dedicated entirely to footwear. A few hours to the northeast is Ottawa, Canada’s capital city, beloved for its public gardens, Gothic Parliament buildings, and charming canal, which transforms into a massive skateway come winter.

Ontario is known for its hot, humid summers and bitterly cold winters, but that doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the outdoors. Summers are ideal for going to cottages and taking advantage of good weather and warm freshwater lakes, but winters are just as fun with ample snowshoeing tracks and frozen lakes for skating. Autumn is one of the most beautiful times to escape into the country. The changing colours of the leaves in early October are legendary in Ontario. Spring is also a beautiful time to hike trails and hit the outdoors before the heat of summer sets in, but make sure to grab some bug spray first as things can get buzzy.

Niagara Falls

Niagara Falls is just under a two-hour drive from Toronto. The view alone is worth the trip, but visitors can also go out on a boat near the base of the falls, or take a walking tour behind them. The Niagara region is also a well-known wine region. After a morning of seeing the falls, tour the vineyards, have lunch on one of the vast estates, or head to a few of the dozens of wineries to sample the local vintages.

Bruce Peninsula National Park

A three-hour drive from Toronto, Bruce Peninsula National Park is part of the Niagara Escarpment and its rocky coast overlooking Georgian Bay and its iconic turquoise shallows at the base of the cliffs. Although the water can be a bit crisp, the Grotto is a great spot to dip in the water to cool down after an afternoon of hiking.

Toronto Island Park

Toronto Island is home to quiet sandy beaches, large green spaces, and even a small theme park for children and families. It is a quiet place to spend the day soaking up the sun or grabbing lunch on a patio, and provides some of the best views of the entire Toronto skyline.