Children love the outdoors. Children love to play. A province whose land is composed of 66% forest, and boasts 1/3 of the world’s fresh water, Ontario is the ultimate children’s playground, offering almost any outdoor sport imaginable. Here are some of the exciting activities you and your family can partake in when discovering Ontario, along with some of the best locations for enjoying them in the province.

Wildlife Spotting
A trip to Ontario wouldn’t be complete without catching exciting glimpses of wild animals in their natural habitat. Animal watching is an eco-friendly tourism option that Ontario is perfect for. Home to over 40 mammals, 30 types of amphibians, and more than 130 species of breeding birds, Algonquin Park is a great place to experience Ontario’s wildlife. Watch out while you are driving there; some of the best animal viewing opportunities in the area are right along Highway 60, as moose, for instance, are particularly drawn to the highway at certain times of year. You will have the most luck at spotting animals if you visit the park during the evening or, even better, early morning. Low-lying, wet areas such as bogs and beaver meadows are the preferred habit of many species and often allow for open vistas or breaks in the forest, making for ideal animal watching conditions. Algonquin Park’s interpretive walking trails can also be handy for families looking to explore Algonquin’s unique natural habitat and native species. Each trail is designed to explore a different aspect of Algonquin Park and has its own accompanying Trail Guide booklet.

Canoeing and Kayaking
With so many beautiful lakes and rivers, its no surprise that Ontario boasts the world’s best canoe and kayak waterways. And in all areas where kayaking and canoeing are popular, courses are available for all skill levels.

The Great Lakes are no doubt a “must-paddle” location for all canoe and kayak lovers. These enormous bodies of water were made famous by Canada’s famous Group of Seven painters, and continue to be a great source of inspiration and recreation for artists and nature lovers alike. The majestic, rocky shorelines, with cliffs topped with wind-tortured pines and spruce trees, all make the Great Lakes a perfectly picturesque setting for canoeing, awash with ideal paddling conditions. Though the vast lakes contain a multitude of ideal areas for canoeing or kayaking, some areas are obviously much safer than others, and it’s essential to use a guide for your first attempt at paddling on the Great Lakes. While the waters may seem calm in the morning, you may have significant seas to contend with into the afternoon.

As canoeing was originally the main source of transportation that settled our country, you and your family can learn as you paddle by taking a historic tour, following the route of the Voyageurs themselves over their famous fur trading route on Lake Superior and Georgian Bay. In Lake Huron, for instance, you can even have an authentic guided tour in a reproduction 10-passenger Voyageur canoe, where interpretive guides will discuss local history of the canoe as well as provide instructions and tips for manoeuvring canoes on “the big water.” Some of the many other great areas for canoeing and kayaking include: Hudson Bay, Ottawa Valley, and the Temagami Region.

Skiing
Ontario is rivalled only by Quebec for sheer number and variety of ski options, with over 120 cross country ski areas. Though it’s usually a pricey option, families with children in grades 4 and 5 are in luck; the Canadian Ski Council offers kids of this age a SnowPass, which for only $22 will include up to three free ski passes at each and every participating ski area in the region.

One of the most popular vacation areas in Ontario, Muskoka is known for its pine trees, granite rock shores, wild life, and ski hills. Though many come here to enjoy snow sports, winter is still Muskoka’s off-season, and you can find great deals on everything from plane fare to accommodations. With up to 5 months of winter, Muskoka is able to offer some of the finest skiing conditions in Ontario. Downhill skiers love Hidden Valley, with its 100m vertical drop and 11 runs, offering courses for all skill levels, while cross-country skiers can choose from the area’s many parks bedecked with pristinely groomed trails of varying lengths. Other popular winter activities in Muskoka include pond hockey, dogsledding, ice fishing, snowshoeing, curling and snow tubing. And of course the full winter experience here wouldn’t be complete without being able to curl up in front of the fireplace at your Muskoka cottage after a long day of outdoor winter fun. Muskoka has a long history of providing great accommodations, and you are sure to be able to find a Muskoka cottage nearby any of the many slopes that will be perfectly suited to you and your family’s needs.

Whether you are coming in summer, fall, winter or spring, Ontario’s stunning natural surroundings and famously friendly inhabitants will not fail to make your vacation one that your children will soon want to repeat. Start planning your family’s wilderness adventure in Ontario today!

PEI’s provincial motto is Parva sub ingenti (the small under the protection of the great), and the small province is pleasantly protected by warm ocean waters, themselves befriended by pristine sand beaches that many believe to be the finest in Canada! And if its relaxing, secluded, or romantic beach bliss you are seeking, have no fear – the crowds at all the beaches here are small, and the opportunities for unique beach bumming, learning, or adventuring are great!

In Pursuit of Calm Beach Bliss
A tourist hotspot that is mercifully well preserved and quiet, all the beaches in PEI are un-crowded and clean, however, if you are looking for the most unpopulated and pure PEI beach experience, consider settling in a spot closer to the south, east, or west coasts.

If you are going to PEI with your lover, long walks on the beach here are sure to teach you that clichés express truths; nothing could be more romantic than a walk along one of the many secluded beaches on PEI’s endless miles of immaculate shoreline. Especially romantic walks are to be had in Greenwich Dunes Trail in PEI National Park and Cedar Dunes. Enjoy an uninterrupted view of PEI’s breathtaking geology and vistas, without a sound to be heard but the voice of your lover, the cries of the gulls, and the caressing crashes of the waves.

Whether you are looking for a quiet, secluded affair with your lover or simply the ocean itself, there’s one notably noisy beach that you wouldn’t want to miss. Nominated one of the 7 Wonders of Canada by CBC, The Singing Sands Beach is located at Basin Head cape. Its white sands are a wonder that scientists are still striving to fully understand, producing a “singing” or whistling sound that fascinates and woos all who walk upon it. And speaking of long, romantic walks, you can experience this popular beach the most intimately by walking along its vast expanse of white sand to Bothwell Beach(much less busy than the beach’s boardwalk). Of course, to enjoy beach side romance to the fullest, it would be a PEI pity to miss out on the view from one of many beautiful beachside cottages PEI has to offer. Many of the beachside cottages in PEI are a steal, costing an average of $1,000 per week.

In Pursuit of Clams and Knowledge
Seafood lovers adore digging for their meals on one of the many clam-laden shorefronts of PEI. Clam digging takes place at low tide and is said to be best when it’s a full moon, as that when the tide is at its lowest. Finding clams can be a bit tricky at first but once you’ve become farmiliar with the signs (telltale holes and circles clam siphons leave behind while their feeding) it becomes quite easy. Just take care to avoid crushing the shells with your shovel (especially the soft-shelled clams!) by proceeding delicately with your shovel. If you prefer some fancy fishing, head out to Morell River to find Brook Trout, Salmon, and Rainbow Trout. If you prefer to enjoy nature in a less meddling manner, there are many great bird watching beaches to enjoy the 333 species of birds found in PEI, including Cabot Park, Souris Beach, and Panmure Island. Or, enjoy taking in PEI’s unique geology and ecology to the fullest by enrolling in a guided tour with any of the many beach interpretive programs offered at PEI National Park, as well as many other beaches

As Lucy Maud Montgomery wrote in “The Island Hymn”, “Prince Edward Isle, to thee / Our hearts shall faithful be / Where’er we dwell”; and, along with possibly the littlest bit of red clay stuck to your car, you’re sure to take home with you a love of Prince Edward Island you will never forget, as well as a longing to return to it.