Family Fun in Ontario, Canada

Ontario's cities and towns are packed with fun activities - you're going to have a hard time deciding when to stop travelling!

Ontario offers a treasure trove of world-class experiences. The lakes in Ontario make up about one-third of the World’s fresh water, hence its name meaning “sparkling or beautiful water”. Sample great entertainment, culture, dining and shopping in Toronto and Ottawa, discover charming towns and villages and be awed by one of the wonders of the world – the mighty Niagara Falls.

Toronto, Canada’s largest city, is a fabulous metropolis, overflowing with multicultural arts, museums, entertainment, and eateries. A ‘Waterfront City’, it is eminently walkable with a green urban landscape. The city is bursting at the seams with exciting stuff to do this summer. Dino bones, a shoe museum, fun science, a world of wizardry, a ride above the skyline and your family’s favourite sporting and music events are just some of the attractions awaiting you.

Explore this vibrant city from the top of the CN Tower to the Toronto Islands. Discover world-class shopping, entertainment, dining and nightlife in the cosmopolitan capital of Ontario.

This year, Toronto is hosting IIFA's 2011 celebrations from June 23–25, 2011. The IIFA Weekend and Awards consists of fun-filled activities that bring fans close to their favourite stars. Year round, Ontario celebrates its diversity with festivals from Stratford’s Shakespeare to Kitchener’s Oktoberfest.

Ottawa, Canada’s capital, displays its British heritage proudly on Parliament Hill. Immerse yourself in this young, vibrant and bilingual city that uses French and English. Journey through 300 years of Canada’s history at the ultramodern Museum of Civilization. Walk along the Rideau Canal, a designated UNESCO World Heritage site. Stroll among the boutiques and award winning restaurants.

Head over to Niagara Falls to marvel at one the Natural Wonders of the World. The thundering Falls is just the beginning of any trip to Niagara Falls – it’s the perfect destination for kids with lots of energy. Visit Clifton Hill to find new and exciting ways to delight the whole family, like a wax museum, a haunted house and more. And don’t forget about everything around Niagara Falls either: the Welland Canal, British forts and lots of natural wonders to explore.

Don’t miss the Niagara Wine trail. Taste the wonderful ice wines and be sure to stay in lovely Niagara-on-the-Lake on your gourmet expedition.

Also easy to access is Algonquin Provincial Park, a mere 3 hours' drive from either Toronto or Ottawa, which means you could be shopping in the morning in a major city and paddling on a lake, totally immersed in nature before supper.

One of the other jewels in Ontario is Killarney Provincial Park. One of the best scenic drives will see you leaving from Toronto, going towards the tip of the Bruce Peninsula, take the ferry across to Manitoulin Island and then reach the mainland again to access Killarney, its white cliffs make it a totally different landscape to Algonquin.

Ontario supports an astounding variety of wildlife. From the haunting call of the loon – Ontario’s official bird – to the sight of the industrious beavers – Canada’s official animal, there are many ways to experience nature’s gift to Ontario.

Venture to Northern Ontario’s Chapleau Crown Game Preserve, the largest game preserve in the world where moose and bear are all part of the scenery. Or swim with furry friends at Cochrane’s Polar Bear Habitat and Heritage Village.

Whether you want to experience the incredible beauty of Ontario by rail or fly above it all, Ontario can offer you a whole array of train and aerial adventures. Board the Dream Catcher Express, go on the Agawa Canyon Train tour or the Polar Bear Express. Or simply easily connect from Toronto to Ottawa with VIA Rail.

Get high above Ottawa on a hot air balloon or see the Niagara Falls on a helicopter tour. Soar high over deep, clear waters and thousands of pine-clad islands on a float plane tour of Georgian Bay.

Spend a quiet evening along the picturesque Thousand Islands near Kingston. Ontario awaits you!

DELIGHT IN DIVERSITY: BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA

Cosmopolitan and hip Vancouver located on the Pacific Ocean. Charming and quaint Victoria with its British heritage. The wilderness of the Canadian Rockies. Whistler, one of the world's premier ski destinations and all-season resorts. From hiking to skiing to scenic train rides and gastronomic delights, British Columbia offers amazing diversity.

British Columbia is Canada's westernmost province and is set between the Pacific Ocean in the west and the magnificent Rocky Mountains in the east.

Blessed with breathtaking landscapes, British Columbia is home to amazing geographical diversity. Whether you are exploring its cosmopolitan cities or overlooking the blue Pacific Ocean around Vancouver and Vancouver Island, whether you are lost in the immense beauty of the dense forest and snow capped mountains, or soaking up the relaxed atmosphere in the wine region of the Thompson Okanagan, it is not difficult to enjoy a holiday in Western Canada.

Vancouver, one of the world's most spectacular cities, is surrounded on three sides by water and nestled beneath the peaks of the Coast Mountain Range. Located less than 40 miles from the Canada-US border, it is an easy drive from Seattle, Washington.

Named as the world's "Most Liveable City" in 2011 by the Economist Intelligence Unit, a title it has been awarded eight times since 2002, Vancouver offers outstanding opportunities for outdoor adventure and the sophisticated amenities of a world-class city. Known for its abundance of green space, the many gardens and parks are a testament to the city’s love of nature. Good shopping, beautiful parks, superb restaurants, theatre productions and a pulsating nightlife are all within easy walking distance of the central bay area.

Accessible by a 90-minute ferry ride or a short hop in a floatplane from downtown Vancouver, is Vancouver Island. It is a haven of contradictions and enjoys a mild year round climate, courtesy of the warm ocean currents that brush its shores.

The capital, Victoria, sits on the southeast tip of the 300-mile long Vancouver Island. Breathtakingly picturesque, and imbued with a flavor and style born of its British heritage, the city is ablaze of floral colour by day and is a captivating and vibrant by night.

Victoria seems to have something to offer for everyone: wilderness adventure in the mountains and forests of Vancouver Island; cruising, whale watching, kayaking or fishing in the surrounding waterways; quaint shops; boutiques and exclusive stores; museums, culture and historic tours; and a variety of eateries to choose from.

Only 75 miles north of Vancouver is the stunning ski resort of Whistler, host of the 2010 Winter Olympics and a natural year-round playground with its crisp mountain air, crystal clear lakes and lush emerald forests.

Whilst from October through April, Whistler enjoys its reputation as Canada’s premier ski resort, during the remaining months the snow disappears from all but the higher elevations to offer a wide variety of alternative attractions like hiking, sailing, or playing golf at any of Whistler’s four golf courses. Shop in Whistler's attractive village. Or just enjoy the magnificent scenery, luxury dining facilities and the vibrant nightlife.

Head east from Vancouver and you are soon into the Thompson Okanagan wine region, one of Canada’s best yet relatively unknown holiday destinations. Vineyards, fruit orchards, mountains, lakes, valleys and even a desert, make up this diverse region of central southeast British Columbia, located between the coastal mountains and the Kootenay Rockies.

Just when you think it couldn’t get any better, you head further east into the Kootenay Rockies region, forming the border of British Columbia with Alberta. Enjoy the picturesque resort towns of Panorama, Cranbrook and Kimberly with their myriad attractions such as four national parks, the highest number of mineral springs and hot spas in British Columbia and, near the town of Golden, the world’s largest grizzly bear habitat!

British Columbia offers not just outdoor adventure but cosmopolitan culture, uptown shopping, fabulous dining and exciting nightlife. From sophisticated cities to breathtaking scenery, there is something for everyone in British Columbia.