12 fun things to do this summer in Ontario

If you couldn’t tell by the heat, summer is in full swing in Ontario and there are endless opportunities to have fun this season. Whether it’s learning something new by yourself or spending quality time with friends and family, here are some things listed on todocanada.com to check out.

Explore a cave: Explore the hidden nooks and crannies of Ontario’s caves, some popular destinations include the famous Tyendinaga Cavern and Caves – the province’s oldest natural cavern, and the Bonnechere Caves. Bonnechere Caves, 1247 Fourth Chute Rd, Eganville. Greig’s Caves, 407 Scenic Caves Rd, Lion’s Head. Warsaw Caves. 289 Caves Rd, Warsaw. Tyendinaga Cavern and Caves, 2623 Harmony Rd, Belleville

Visit a provincial or national park: From climbing on a “sleeping giant” to walking the world’s longest freshwater beach, there are so many unique activities in Ontario’s Parks. Enhance your trip with camping. With warm weather during the day to explore and enjoy the outdoors, temperatures cool down at night, making it ideal for a summer camping trip. Having so many to choose from, each campground has its own charm and will cater to campers looking for specific features. Point Pelee National Park; 1000 Islands National Park; Rouge Urban National Park; Georgian Bay Islands National Park; Pukaskwa National Park; Bruce Peninsula National Park; Fathom Five Marine Park.

Pick up a pollinator kit: Pollinator kits are a fun way to help expose your children and students to new ideas about food, wildlife, and plants. It should also help children choose behaviours that support their own health, the health of the planet, and all its plants and animals. Kayanase is giving out free pollinator kits to Six Nations community members, Monday to Friday during its opening hours.

Visit a lavender farm: Opt for a calming, meditative activity out in nature this summer, with lavender farms offering up the opportunity to roam around beautiful fields of purple flowers and a place to shop for fresh lavender goodies. Weir’s Lane Lavender and Apiary, 223 Weir’s Lane, Dundas; Terre Bleu Lavender Farm, 2501 25th Sideroad, Milton; Bonnieheath Estate Lavender and Winery, 410 Concession 12 Townsend, Waterford; Christel Lake Lavender, 1381 Scugog Line 12, Greenbank – Scugog; Laveanne Lavender Fields, 8667 Gilmour Road, Campbellcroft – Port Hope.

Be a beach bum: No summer bucket list is complete without a classic trip to a golden, sandy beach. Laying around in the hot sun, enjoying the sand between your toes, and going for a dip in the water, these little pleasures can’t be missed. Canatara Park Beach, Sarnia; Grand Bend, Lambton Shores; Woodbine Beach, 1675 Lake Shore Blvd E, Toronto; Sandbanks Provincial Park, Picton; Moonlight Beach, Sudbury.

Go diving: With the number of shipwreck sites and underwater activity in the plentiful bodies of water around the area, you can’t miss a diving journey in these waterways with tons of shipping history. Just in the Fathom Five National Marine Park alone, 22 historic shipwrecks can be found.

Tour a brewery: Ranging from independent small craft breweries to large-scale breweries, you can take a brewery tour this summer to places that showcase the best of Ontario’s beers and ciders. Afterward, shop around or take some time on a patio to sample some of the brewery’s best creations. Niagara Craft Brewery Tours; Windsor Essex Barrels Bottles & Brews; Saints & Sinners Bootleggers’ Run Trail.

Go fruit picking: Summer is synonymous with fruit picking, the opportunity to pick mini-mountains of your own fresh strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, and plenty of others for a small fee. Spend an hour or two roaming the bushes and finding the best produce on a farm in the province.

Visit some geological wonders: Rock formations like the Canadian Shield and Niagara Escarpment are a spectacular haven for activity, natural features, and flora and fauna. These wonders are demonstrative of an incredible nature in Ontario, and walking or viewing these structures is a breathtaking experience. Flowerpot Island, Fathom Five National Park; Sleeping Giant Provincial Park; Ouimet Canyon, Greenwich Lake Rd, Pass Lake; Cheltenham Badlands, Caledon; Bon Echo Provincial Park, Bon Echo

Explore a battleship: Go on a tour of a submarine, explore a warship and see historic ships at Discovery Harbour. HMCS Ojibwa, 3 Pitt St., Port Burwell; HMCS Haida National Historic Site, 658 Catharine St N, Hamilton; Discovery Harbour, Penetanguishene.

Check out a waterpark: Cool off with friends and family while slipping and sliding through various fun water structures for an adventurous excursion. Whether you are planning a family trip to an outdoor resort or curious to explore the many, expanding inflatable parks across the province, make visiting one of Ontario’s 20 water parks a must-do, this season. Bingeman’s Big Splash, 425 Bingemans Centre Drive, Kitchener; Splash Town, 69 Lake Rd, Port Colborne; Wild Water Park, 680 Van Wagners Beach Road, Hamilton; Canada’s Wonderland Splash Works, 1 Canada’s Wonderland Drive, Maple; Calypso Water Park, 2015 Calypso St, Limoges.

Watch a movie at a drive-in theatre: Experience a rare yet classic experience at a drive-in theatre. With 16 still in operation, don’t miss the opportunity to enjoy snacks and a great flick from the comfort of your own car. 5 Drive-In, 2332 Ninth Line, Oakville; Mustang Drive-In Theatre, 5012 Jones Baseline, Guelph; Muskoka Drive-In, 1001 Theatre Rd, Gravenhurst; Hanover Drive-In Theatre, 033277 County Road 28, Hanover.

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