Canada

Ontario is often sidelined when it comes to choosing a destination to visit in Canada with most travellers opting for Vancouver or Quebec, but with its lakes and forests, Ontario has an irresistible draw, especially for nature-lovers. However, it also has Canada's largest city, Toronto, which is often mistaken for a business hub, but it is a rich and diverse city with a thriving art scene. Ottawa, Canada's capital still has a little way to go as far as developing an infrastructure appealing to tourists and still remains largely an administrative centre. Most travellers will pass through Ontario to visit Niagara Falls, despite the attraction being somewhat of a disappointment. Surrounded by cheap and tacky hotels and games arcade, you may as well be in Blackpool. The falls themselves are not as majestic as one would think either. A good tip to keep in mind if you are making the trip, is to book accommodation in the neighbouring village of Niagara-on-the-Lake, as it is a lot more pleasant than Niagara Falls. The ideal stay in Ontario would comprise a week exploring countryside retreats like Killarney, a tiny village of about 700 inhabitants burried deep in the woods sitting on the shores of the Georgian Bay Lake. Although not as well-known as Algonquin, also very beautiful but busier, it is worth the trip, especially for its sapphire blue lakes. Visitors interested in winter sports can also head to Blue Mountain (Collingwood) in the winter, and in the summer, the weather is ideal for exploring the famous apple trail on a cycling holiday. The second half of a trip to Ontario should be spent in Toronto, a vibrant city full of things to see and do from the Hockey Hall of Fame to the Art Gallery Ontario.