Discover Ontario

Ontario is one of Canada’s 13 provinces and territories. It’s home to over 1/3 of all Canadians, and is the place where Canada’s capital city, Ottawa, lies. This slice of Canadian territory features thousands of protected lakes and forests, along with charming small towns, historical sites and bustling multicultural centers. And, possibly most important of all, Ontario is home to one of Cruise Canada’s RV rental locations; Toronto. It’s a great place to start your Cruise Canada RV adventure.

Ontario is approximately the size of the U.S. states of California, Arizona and Nevada, combined. The majority of its population is centralized in the Golden Horseshoe region, which wraps around the western end of Lake Ontario. It’s a very popular rental RV destination, as it is home to the world-renowned Niagara Falls, as well as the city of Toronto. However, once you head north from the “Golden Horseshoe,” you will discover that the population dwindles rather drastically, as the northern region is pretty much uninhabited.

Ottawa
Ottawa is somewhat detached from the southern part of the Ontario region, but it’s certainly worth driving your Toronto RV rental to get there. The city’s parliament buildings are constructed with austere Gothic revival architecture, which brings a high degree of formality to the area, while the well-laid-out, pedestrian-friendly city plan brings about a particular charm.

Some of the best things to do in the city of Ottawa are either free, or very inexpensive. As an example, you can take a tour of parliament, skate down the world-famous Rideau Canal, or enjoy the Byward Market, to name a few low-cost options. In addition, the city offers a number of intriguing museums and galleries, like the National Gallery of Canada, the Aviation & Space Museum and the Royal Canadian Mint. Although, we mustn’t forget that you don’t always have to be on the go when you rent an RV from Cruise Canada. You can always just kick back in the comfort of your motorhome and relax!

Niagara Falls
There are three falls that make up what we know as “Niagara Falls.” Two of them are located on the United States’ side, while one of them (the largest) is in Ontario’s Niagara proper. This attraction draws millions of visitors each year, not just to view the falls, but to enjoy the features of this city which offers a mecca of tourist attractions.

Toronto
This is a metropolis with a big-city feel. There is never a shortage of things to see and do from the comfort of your Cruise Canada rental RV. You may want to peruse the shopping malls, theaters and museums while in the hustle and bustle of the city. Take time to experience the multicultural Little Italy to Greektown. There is the Kensington Market, which is anything but traditional. It’s more of an eclectic group of cafes, restaurants, vintage stores, bars and specialty food shops, which sell everything from freshly-baked breads and produce to various cheeses and spices. And you can store all the goods you buy in your rental motorhome.

Some of the bigger-ticket items in Toronto are the CN Tower, the Eaton Center, the Ripley’s Aquarium, the Royal Ontario Museum and Canada’s Wonderland. If you are planning to visit some of these attractions, it would probably behoove you to obtain a Toronto City Pass, which gets you half-price admission and VIP entry.
Wine tasting is a popular treat throughout the province of Ontario, where one can find several growing regions. The largest of them is in the Niagara Region, just a grape’s throw from the falls. Interestingly, the regions are sitting at roughly the same latitude as the more famous wine-growing regions such as Languedoc and Provence in France. Aside from the traditional wines like pinot noir and Riesling, Niagara is well-known for its sweeter ice wines and late-harvest wines that are made from grapes that were frozen on the vine. Oh, and if you’re taking the rental RV along with you, be sure to designate a driver that is not interested in wine!

Beauty flows abundantly in the Ontario province, and while it’s always pleasurable to see it through the windows of your Cruise Canada rental RV, there are plenty of opportunities to see it on foot, too. The landscape of Ontario features thousands of lakes, shorelines (both rocky and sandy), rugged cliffs, meadows, ancient forests and much more. Some of the better-known hiking trails in Ontario are the Bruce Trail, which is Canada’s oldest and longest marked footpath, and the Waterfront Trail, which stretches along Lake Ontario, connecting cities and communities.

One of the most popular family activities to do in Ontario is to camp. There is an abundance of quality campgrounds in the northern parts of the province, so you will always be able to find a place to station your rental motorhome. There are more than 300 national and provincial parks in Ontario, and most of them offer campsites that are open to the public. Two of these provincial parks are Algonquin and Kilarney. An online booking system helps you to reserve your rental RV pad up to five months in advance. So keen are those governing the parks of Ontario, that they offer “Learn to Camp” programs for beginners, teaching them the basics of camping. In addition to the camping courses, there is a program called Parkbus. This is an express bus service that connects major cities to campgrounds, lodges, canoe access points and hiking trails.

The small, quaint towns in Ontario always put forth a gracious welcome to RV campers, providing them with a rich Canadian experience. A couple of examples of such towns are Elora, which sits alongside the Grand River and features beautiful 1800s stonework on the original buildings.

Dundas is a small village in a deep valley. It’s worth a visit, even if it’s just to see the galleries, shops and local fare that one finds along the town’s main drag. Because of its unique geographical positioning, it has been spared from the normal urban sprawl that afflicts so many other locations.

No matter where you travel in your rental RV from Cruise Canada, you’re bound to make memories that will last a lifetime for you and your family.