Welcome to Southern Ontario, Canada’s heartland and home to a third of its population. A good number live in Toronto, Canada’s biggest city – and fourth largest metro area in North America. The region’s other really busy hub is the world-famous Niagara, whose Falls attract over 14 million visitors annually.

Lakes & Beaches

Outside these flagship spots and their satellite towns, Southern Ontario is a land known for rolling fields of corn, soybeans and winter wheat on some of Canada’s best farmland. But it’s also home to coniferous forests, rocky outcrops of Canadian Shield and hundreds of kilometers of sandy beaches along three of the Great Lakes: Erie, Ontario and Huron. The most popular beaches are Wasaga, Grand Bend, Sauble and Sandbanks. Numerous Provincial Parks welcome visitors from mid-May to mid-October.

Local Culture, Food & Wine

Culturally the region is also strong – and in some surprising ways. First Nations culture is tangible at events like the Grand River Pow Wow (Six Nations, Brantford.); while immigrant groups have left their mark in events like the Mennonite Quilt Sale (New Hamburg), the St Jacob’s Farmers Market (Waterloo region), and the largest Oktoberfest outside Germany (Kitchener/Waterloo.) Numerous art galleries also vie for attention along with a wonderful selection of first-class theatre – with productions rivaling New York and London – including Shakespearean plays that attract audiences from around the world.

More proof that the finer things in life thrive here, is the burgeoning wine scene: with some forty wineries that consistently win prestigious international awards.