Page 101 - Travel Guide to Canada 2019

ON
VOYAGEUR WILDERNESS PROGRAM LTD., QUETICO PROVINCIAL PARK • TOURISM THUNDER BAY
Northern Ontario:
The Spirit of
Adventure
But it is also where you’ll fi nd people who
are unhurried and unassuming, friendly and ONTARIO
welcoming. Urban gateways such as Sault
Ste. Marie, Thunder Bay, North Bay and
Sudbury make perfect access points to all
the area has to off er. The towns and cities
present fantastic amenities, museums,
unique shopping, festivals and happening
food scenes. It’s the best of both worlds.
You’ll hear it from outfi tters, guides and
people on the street: all four seasons, these
recreational experiences lure visitors to
explore an unspoiled playground. There are
paths to hike, streams to fi sh, trails for snow-
mobiling in winter and lakes for boating in
summer. At night, the sky is peppered with
brightly shining stars, an astronomer’s
dream (www.northernontario.travel ).
IT’S A GREAT BIG AREA
Northern Ontario begins along the upper
shores of Lake Huron and Georgian Bay,
including Manitoulin Island, and stretches
in its northern reaches to the borders of
Québec and Manitoba. It is less than a
three-hour drive north of Toronto and, as
you travel north, the more developed cottage
country gives way to lush stretches of boreal
forest and the craggy Canadian Shield.
BY JOSEPHINE MATYAS
GETTING TO NORTHERN
• Air connections are through Toronto in
the south and Winnipeg in the west.
Both major air hubs connect daily to the
gateway City of Thunder Bay on the
northern edge of Lake Superior.
• Sault Ste. Marie is a convenient gateway
for visitors travelling by car, RV and by
boat from the U.S.
• The MS Chi-Cheemaun ferry provides a
relaxing water crossing of Georgian Bay
from Tobermory/Bruce Peninsula to
Manitoulin Island.
MUST SEE ATTRACTIONS
• The Agawa Canyon Tour Train departs
from Sault Ste. Marie for daylong
wilderness tours.
• The Canadian Bushplane Heritage
Centre in Sault Ste. Marie is dedicated to
the history of fl oat planes, water
bombers and aerial fi refi ghters.
• Science North and Dynamic Earth—both
in Sudbury—tell about the geology,
mining history, waterways, forests and
wildlife of the north.
97
The wilderness of Northern Ontario
is close at hand. A short drive north
of Toronto is a diverse landscape of
sparkling lakes and rivers, vast
forests and rugged Canadian Shield.
It is the pristine scenery and
abundance of outdoor activities that
attract many people to Northern
Ontario.
• Fort William Historical Park, a living
history museum with dozens of
historically accurate buildings, recreates
the days of the Canadian fur trade.
• The rocky ridge and sheer granite cliff s
of Sleeping Giant Provincial Park give
the Thunder Bay area landmark its
name. The park is a favourite with
canoeists, anglers, hikers and swimmers.
•
Paddle some of Ontario’s best routes along
waterways like the Abitibi River, French
River and the open waters of Lake Superior.
• Take the winding and scenic RV-friendly
routes with dozens of provincial parks
and private campgrounds. Go Tour
Ontario provides an interactive planning
tool with information on 7 to 21 day tours
(www.gotourontario.ca ).
• Explore the intense splash of foliage colour
in September and October—timing varies
so check the Ontario Fall Colour Report for
peak viewing (www.ontariotravel.net ).