Why go to Ontario? The 10 good reasons to go Ontario

A distinction must be made here between urban centres and regions. In cities, points of interest are generally open year-round, with a restricted schedule outside the summer season (e.g., closed on Mondays). In the regions, they are often seasonal, with an opening period from May to October. If they are open every day during the summer, the schedule is often reduced from Patriots' Day (Monday preceding May 25) to June 24 and from Labour Day (^1st Monday in September) to Thanksgiving (^2nd Monday in October).

Reservations are rarely necessary, except for guided tours or workshops and special activities in museums and galleries. Some points of interest also offer on-site accommodation, often experiential. In this case, it is strongly recommended to reserve your package in advance.

Generally, between $10 and $30 CDN is required for adult admission. Discounts are almost always offered to children, students and seniors, or even free admission. For example, access to national parks and national historic sites is always free for those under 18 years of age. Several points of interest are also entirely free, some of which may require a voluntary contribution. In cities such as Ottawa and Toronto, passes combining various museums and attractions offer great savings, as long as you are there for at least 2-3 days.

Many festivals and events take place each year in Ontario, with themes as varied as documentaries, beer, music, ethnic diversity, comedy and motor racing. Among the main and most famous are the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), which is one of the largest in the world, the Toronto Caribbean Festival, known for its exoticism and festive events, and the Ottawa Bluesfest, which attracts the world's greatest singers and musicians. Also not to be missed are the various festivals dedicated to wine, especially in the Niagara Peninsula, and those dedicated to theatre, including the Shaw Festival in Niagara-on-the-Lake and the Stratford Festival in Stratford.

All kinds of guided tours are offered in Ontario, from traditional city bus tours to dinner cruises in the Thousand Islands. There is also something for everyone: a tour of craft breweries or wineries, a gourmet stop in an emerging neighbourhood, a discovery of murals and graffiti, a "haunted" walk by lantern light, a historical tour with characters dressed in period costumes, etc. Three Ontario towns are also members of the international Stroll Buddy (formerly Greeter) network: Hearst, Ottawa and Toronto (strollbuddy.com).

Whether on a guided tour or in a museum, smoking is not permitted. For outdoor points of interest, such as interpretation sites and national historic sites, smoking areas are sometimes provided.