Whether visiting Ontario in the Spring, Summer, Fall or Winter, Ontario is a year round playground for young and old alike and you will find many activities and adventures to keep you busy exploring for days. Join me as I explore some of Ontario’s activities and adventures.
POPULATION OF ONTARIO
CAPITAL CITY OF ONTARIO
POPULATION OF ONTARIO
14.32 MILLION
TORONTO
2.93 MILLION
Spring
March – May
Average Daytime 8 Degrees
46 Fahrenheit
Spring is my least favourite season in Ontario. It can be quite cool and often very rainy. Spring is considered the off-season in Ontario and is the perfect time to visit if you want to avoid the mass amount of tourists that converge on Ontario during the Summer months.
It is difficult to pack for Spring in Ontario, as the weather is very finicky. I would recommend bringing an umbrella for sure, as well as warmer clothes, as the nights can get quite cool.
Summer
June – August
20-30 Degrees Celsius
75-86 Fahrenheit
Hello Summer! Can you tell that Summer is my favourite season? In my opinion, Summer is the best time to visit Ontario, as it is finally warm enough to swim in one of Ontario’s many beaches. I do have to warn you that this is the season that you will definitely find an over-abundance of tourists, so if crowds aren’t your thing, I would avoid visiting during the Summer months.
When visiting Ontario during the Summer, it is recommended that you pack the same as you would when visiting any warmer climate countries: shorts, t-shirts, sandals. However, I would include a light-weight jacket just in case it cools down in the evening.
Ontario offers many Summertime activities!
Spring and Summer Ontario Activities
- Admire one of Ontario’s many beautiful sunsets
- Board a fairy and sail across the lake to Pelee Island
- Board the Chi-Cheemaun (Big Canoe) to Manitoulin Island
- Brave some treetop trekking the along a canopy boardwalk in the world with Haliburton Forest
- Canoe, kayak or stand-up paddleboard on one of the many lakes and rivers
- Cast your rod and catch some fish
- Chase some waterfalls in Hamilton
- Cheer at a Blue Jays baseball game
- Climb the CN Tower in Toronto
- Do some rock climbing in Tobermory and Lions Head
- Enjoy a scenic boat cruise through the Thousand Islands from Gananoque
- Enjoy some live theatre in Toronto, Stratford, St. Jacobs or Niagara-on-the-Lake
- Explore Algonquin Park
- Hop on board Grand River Dinner Cruises and enjoy a leisurely 2 hour cruise while filling up on a fantastic roast beef dinner
- Explore beach towns Ontario
- Explore Manitoulin Island
- Explore Small Towns Ontario
- Explore the parliament buildings of Ottawa, Canada’s capital city
- Explore Tourist Towns Ontario
- Follow the Scottish Pipe Band on Saturday nights in Kincardine.
- For hockey fans, a visit to the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto can’t be missed.
- Get wet on the Maid of the Mist in Niagara Falls
- Go wild at African Lion Safari
- Grab a designated driver and do some beer tasting.
- Have some fun at Canada’s Wonderland in Vaughn
- Hike one of the many trails
- Hike the Bruce Peninsula
- Hit the skies in a hot Air Balloon
- Hit one of Ontario’s Great Lakes on a seadoo
- Hop on a Segway in Toronto or Ottawa
- Picnic and swim at one of the many beaches
- Portage into Algonquin Park
- Snorkel and dive in Tobermory
- Spend the entire day at the Toronto Zoo
- Smell the flowers at the Royal Botanical Gardens in Burlington
Take time to smell the flowers
Spring Beauty - Surf or kite the waves of Lake Huron in Kincardine
- Take a journey behind the falls in Niagara Falls
- Take a road trip through Ontario and explore the vast countryside
- Tee up at one of Ontario’s many golf courses
- Tour the caves at the Scenic Caves, Bruce Caves Conservation Area, Greigs Caves and Grotto Caves
- Trek across Ontario’s longest suspension bridge in The Blue Mountains
- Camp at one of Ontario’s Provincial Parks
- Try your luck at one of Ontario’s many casinos
- Visit Point Pelee, the most southerly point of Canada
- Explore the Cheltenham Badlands
- Do some white water rafting in Ottawa, Canada’s capital city
- Wonder the many vineyards in Niagara-on-the-Lake or the Norfolk Region
- Zipline at the Scenic Caves in The Blue Mountains
Fall
September-November
24-30 Celsius
75-80 Fahrenheit
Fall in Ontario runs from September to November, with the weather ranging from a high of 20 degrees Celsius in September to a low of 5 degrees Celsius in November. Early to mid October is the best time to visit Ontario in order to take in the beauty of the Fall foilage. It often snows in November and is the perfect time to visit for Winter activities in order to avoid the crowds during the Winter months.
Fall is not warm enough to wear shorts, so I recommend packing long pants, heavier sweaters, light jacket and running shoes. When visiting during late Fall you will likely need a heavier jacket and maybe even hats and mitts, as it can get quite cold during November.
Fall Activities in Ontario
- Enjoy the rides and some cotton candy at one of Ontario’s Fall Fairs
- Experience German culture at the Kitchener-Waterloo Octoberfest
- Hike or bike one of the many trails and enjoy the autumn foliage
- Hop on board the Algoma Canyon Train in Sault Ste. Marie
- Spend the day apple picking at one of Ontario’s many apple orchards
- Take a roadtrip to Muskoka and/or the Haliburton region to admire the autumn foliage
- Visit an Ontario farm that offers, pumpkin picking, hayrides, corn mazes, etc.
- Spend a day or 2 in Toronto and visit one of the many museums, markets and the Distillery District (My favourite museum is the Hockey Hall of Fame)
Winter
December – March
-10 – -15 Celsius
14 – 5 Fahrenheit
What can I say about Winter in Ontario, other than it is COLD, and sometimes with the wind chill is down-right freezing! Having said that, if you dress appropriately, Winter can be quite magical and offers a plethora of outdoor activities for the adventurer.
When considering what to pack for visiting Ontario during the Winter, think Alaska…yes it gets that cold. You will need parkas, winter boots, snow pants, hats, mitts and bulky sweaters, as well as a base layer consisting of an undershirt and long johns.
JUST ONE TIP: Driving during the Winter months in Ontario can be extremely treacherous. Drive with extreme caution!
Winter Wonderland in Ontario
- Attend a live theatre performance in Toronto, Stratford, St. Jacobs or Niagara-on-the-Lake
- Check an item off your bucketlist and do some dog sledding in Muskoka, Haliburton or Northern Ontario
- Cheer on the Ottawa Senators
- Climb the ice at Elora Gorge in Elora
- Cross country ski or snowshoe one of Ontario’s many trails
- Eat like a King or Queen at Medieval Times in Toronto
- Enjoy Ontario’s winter wonderland by ice skating on the Rideau Canal in Ottawa
- Enjoy the various species of butterflies at the Butterfly Conservatory in Niagara Falls
- Explore the frozen waterfalls while taking a hike in Hamilton, Ontario
- Pull out the hockey sticks and play some old fashion road hockey (truly Canadian)
- Visit Niagara-on-the-Lake during the Icewine Festival
- Hit the courts for a Toronto Raptors basketball game
- Hit the slopes for some downhill skiing at The Blue Mountains
- Skate one of Ontario’s many outdoor ice rinks or trails
- Rent a ski-doo in the Muskoka/Haliburton Region
- Join the action and take in a Toronto Maple Leaf hockey game
- Journey behind the Falls in Niagara Falls
- Let you inner child come out and build a snowman or snow fort and make some snow angles
- Tour the magical Christmas Lights in Niagara Falls
- Spend the day tobogganing
- Visit Niagara Falls in the evening for a magical light show
- Spend the day at one of the many museums in Toronto
- Try to catch some fish while ice-fishing
- And yes……Ontario has Winter camping!
Ontario’s Activities and Adventures: In Conclusion …
As you can see, Ontario offers a plethora of activities for the entire family and it is an all season playground. Depending on what your interests are will determine the time of year you will want to visit Ontario.
The off-seasons of Spring and Fall will allow you to avoid the crowds and it will also be slightly cheaper. The downfall to visiting during these seasons is that there will be less activities to do. Given the choice of Spring or Fall, I would recommend visiting early Fall (September/October).
I can honestly say that I don’t have a favourite season, they all have something to offer. What I can say is that I absolutely hate the cold but have grown to love Winter (especially Winter hiking)! Having lived in Ontario for 60 plus years, I can tell you that it is something that I will never get use to.
Having experienced most of these activities and adventures, I would be more than happy to share my knowledge with you, or you can visit Ontario Tourism to plan your visit to Ontario, and find Ontario’s best activities and adventure
WHAT ACTIVITY WOULD YOU LIKE TO TRY?
“We were meant to explore this earth like children do, unhindered by fear, propelled by curiosity and a sense of discovery. Allow yourself to see the world through new eyes and know there are amazing adventures for you” – Laurel Bleadon Maffei
SAFE & HAPPY ADVENTURES 🙂
PIN FOR ONTARIO ADVENTURES
