With summer on its way, residents of Mississauga are taking to the highways to get away from city life. The great thing about living in Ontario is that you don’t have to go too far from home to have a great time.
For summer road trips, there are the usual suggestions of Toronto or Niagara, but if you’re looking for something a bit different—and not too far—there are still plenty of other summer road trip destinations to visit. Here are five summer road trip spots that give you lots to do once you hop out of your Hyundai Elantra or Santa Fe this summer.
If you’re going around Lake Ontario, try stopping in Hamilton, instead of the usual drive to Niagara. Hamilton has plenty of options for fans of history and culture, such as the Dundurn Castle or the Art Gallery of Hamilton. All of these sites and other hotspots, such as Bayfront Park, are in the downtown core area, which you can easily access.
If you’re more about nature, Hamilton has Dundas peak, a connection to the adventure trail, and numerous waterfalls that make for some great photo-ops. There’s also the African Lion Safari, which is the only park in Ontario that lets you stay in your car and drive through areas with rhinos, deer, lions, zebras, and other animals for an up-close-and-personal experience. If you come in the morning, you and the kids can even feed giraffes by hand.
Just a couple of hours east of Mississauga is a combination of rural charm and natural splendour. Prince Edward County is a great summer road trip destination because you can get away to a quieter setting. If your idea of a good time is basking in a chair overlooking gorgeous views of the lake or taking to a canoe, then Prince Edward County is for you.
On the other hand, if you like good food and want to go on a “Taste Trail” of artisanal cheese, excellent wines, and cafes, Prince Edward County has that too. Between the natural sights offered by Sandbank Provincial Park and the numerous cafes, vineyards, and other foodie stopovers, lovers of food and nature will find plenty to keep them occupied here.
If you’re in the mood for a summer road trip destination that is easy to get to and has carefully curated its attractions, you’ll want to take a drive up north to Georgian Bay. Visit Blue Mountain! The scenery is spectacular, but beyond that, there’s plenty to do here no matter the time of year. Summer, however, provides many options for every interest, whether your trip is a solo journey, with a partner, a group of friends, or family.
The Blue Mountain Resort is one of the biggest attractions in the area, and people can find all manner of summer activities here. Golfing is available for people working on their swing, while motocross trails, open-air gondolas, zip lines, food, and shopping are also at your fingertips. Whether you’re in the mood to rough it or treat yourself, Blue Mountain has what you need, and it comes with gorgeous backdrops.
Mississauga is all about urban life, but most of Ontario isn't. You can see a different slice of life in St. Jacobs. For people who want a brush with an idyllic, rural life, based in Mennonite culture and history, St. Jacobs is one of the more unusual summer road trip destinations.
St. Jacobs is all about slowing things down. The Farmers’ Market, antiquing with a legion of different shops, and even horse-drawn trolley tours are all part of sampling the country life, which visitors adore.
This part of Ontario is called "cottage country" for a reason and is always one of the more popular summer road trips that people make. If you're searching for a perfect weekend getaway with a special someone or with friends and family, there are plenty of cottage and cabin options in Muskoka and laid-back activities to take advantage of.
If you want to sit back in a chair and take in the view, that's one choice. But people can also get in kayaks, canoes, ATVs, do a bit of zip lining, hiking, or any other activity that comes to your mind. Muskoka caters to anyone who wants to get away from the city and find something relaxing or challenging to do.
These five summer road trips destinations are just a few of the possibilities when you decide to hope in your Hyundai and see what’s out there.
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