Guest Blog post by Mark Harris

Ontario's waterfalls are special places! Found in all corners of our province, they are great spots for hiking, photography, family outings or to just spend some quiet time in nature.

Ontario has no shortage of outdoor destinations to explore which is perfect for anyone planning a staycation. The new book 125 Nature Hot Spots in Ontario: The Best Parks, Conservation Areas and Wild Places by Chris Earley and Tracy C. Read is a lively, informative introduction to some of the province’s best-kept secrets. And for birders, botanists, wildlife lovers, rock hounds and naturalists, it also shares a fresh look at destinations that have made Ontario famous.

The call of the great outdoors is hard to resist. Here are some nature hot spots to explore, in various regions of the province, as found in the book:

NORTHERN ONTARIO: PUKASKWA NATIONAL PARK

Photo Credit: Shutterstock, Helen Filatova

 This park puts fresh life into the overworked descriptor “pristine wilderness.” 

Road trips are an essential part of summer and an inexpensive way to take a vacation. If you live in Toronto or the GTA consider a day trip down to the Southern Georgian Bay area this summer. Whether you hike, bike or drive, there are plenty of routes, sites and activities to find in this geologically diverse corner of Ontario.

To inspire your next getaway, we asked Beverley Smith, the illustrator of the new book Backroads of Southern Georgian Bay about her favourite day trip, picnic lunch spots and places to explore in the Southern Georgian Bay area.