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Southwestern Ontario

Arcing around Lake Ontario are a number of the Greater Toronto Area’s 'satellite' cities. Day trip the up-and-coming hip strip of Hamilton, or really escape Toronto’s gravity in the delightful villages of Elora, Fergus and the unique Mennonite settlement of St Jacobs.

For more grit, stop in the thriving university centers of Guelph, Waterloo and London, each with their own appeal if you dig deep. Nearby Stratford, birthplace of Justin Bieber and yet a remarkably cultured country town, is home to a fabulous festival of Shakespearean theater in honor of the bard’s home in Stratford-upon-Avon, England.

From here, you can head northwest until the farmlands dissolve into the sandy shores of Lake Huron, or follow the dead-flat fields of gold – wheat, corn and everything-growing regions – until you reach the north shore of Lake Erie, the bird and butterfly hub of Point Pelee National Park, and quirky Pelee Island, Canada's southernmost point. The end (or beginning) of the road is in Windsor at the USA border.

Top attractions

These are our favorite local haunts, touristy spots, and hidden gems throughout Southwestern Ontario.

Park
Point Pelee National Park
About 13km southeast of Leamington, this well-loved national park features nature trails, a marsh boardwalk, lookout towers, forests and lovely sandy beaches. A bird-watcher's paradise, over 390 species of birds call this home, depending on the season. In the fall, the migration of monarch butterflies is a spectacle of swirling black and orange. Trekking, biking, kayaking and beachcombing are all great ways to explore the park. Stop by the visitor centre for more info and maps.
Historic Building
Uncle Tom's Cabin Historic Site
About 100km northeast of Windsor, this historic site is the location of the clapboard home of Father Josiah Henson, an escaped slave who later became a conductor on the Underground Railroad (in all, he led 118 people to freedom). Henson's life was the inspiration behind Harriet Beecher Stowe's Uncle Tom's Cabin. The 5-hectare site has multimedia exhibits relating to Henson's life, Beecher Stowe's book and the history of enslaved people in the USA and their escape to Canada.
Park
Elora Gorge Conservation Area
About 2km south of Elora is this photo-worthy plunging limestone canyon through which the Grand River seethes. Easy walks extend to cliff views, caves and the Cascade waterfalls – a sheet of white water spilling over a stepped cliff. For a free gorge view from downtown Elora, head to the end of James St, off Metcalfe St.
Museum
Chimczuk Museum
Sharing the building with the Art Gallery of Windsor, this remarkable museum unfolds the region's history in an inclusive and in-depth way, integrating First Nations and Métis heritage and culture; Black history and contributions in Windsor; and the experience of present-day immigrants. Exhibits are multimedia and have lots of hands-on elements (even a makers space!) so everyone stays engaged.
Market
St Jacobs Farmers Market
This quintessential country market 3km south of town has an earthy soul, and a shiny new face after renovations in 2015 replaced a building gutted by fire two years earlier. Folks still come from miles for the farm-fresh produce, smoked meats, cheese, baked treats, arts and crafts. Two smaller buildings house a flea market and food vendors selling everything from donuts to sushi.
Museum
Bruce County Museum
This two-story museum gives an excellent overview of the region's history and heritage, including the importance of the Ojibwe people and the changes (and sometimes havoc) brought by the pioneers. There's also an extensive collection of artifacts relating to shipwrecks in the region. Kids will enjoy the hands-on exhibits.
Gardens
Royal Botanical Gardens
Northwest of Hamilton, Canada's largest and most spectacular botanical gardens comprise more than a thousand hectares of trees, flowers and plants, including numerous rare species. There's also a rock garden, an arboretum and a wildlife sanctuary with 27km of trails traversing wetlands and wooded ravines. From June to October, thousands of delicate jewels bloom in the Centennial Rose Garden, and in spring more than 125,000 flowering bulbs awaken in an explosion of color.
River
Avon River
Stratford's swan-filled Avon River (what else were they going to call it?) flows slowly past the town, with plenty of riverbank lawns on which to chill out. On the riverbank just west of the town center, the Shakespearean Gardens occupy the site of an old wool mill. Parterre gardens, manicured box hedges, herbs, roses and a bronze bust of Bill – pick up a brochure at Stratford Tourism Alliance.
Notable Building
Woodland Cultural Centre
This well-conceived indigenous cultural center has a performance space, museum and gallery. Though dated in its presentation, the museum provides an excellent overview of the Iroquoian and Algonquian people, from prehistoric times to the present; the artifacts, some dating as far back as the 16th century, are fascinating. The gallery has rotating exhibits of contemporary art by indigenous artists. A small gift shop sells basketry and jewelry, plus books, ceramics and paintings. Check the website for upcoming events.