In honour of the 2022 Ontario Staycation Tax Credit, we have listed trip ideas of areas in which to discover our beautiful province! If you haven’t read all the news about this yearlong tourism incentive, check out the link to our article here.

There are many websites to guide you, including Family Fun Canada’s Ontario page (which has lots of interesting news stories and blog entries), the provincial tourism guide Discover Ontario and many local websites listed below. Plus, not only can you save money on accommodations through the tax credit, but also on activities and attractions by using coupons from Attractions Ontario.

Note: Ontario is currently (as of January 5) in a modified Stage 2 lockdown, with indoor attractions closed. This list is therefore intended for research purposes. At any time throughout the year, however, please check with accommodations regarding restrictions and use all necessary safety measures.

Greater Toronto Hamilton Area

Toronto (obviously!)

What to do: Art Gallery of Ontario, Bata Shoe Museum, Black Creek Pioneer Village, Casa Loma, Centreville & Toronto Islands, CN Tower, Distillery Historic District, Fort York National Historic Site, Hockey Hall of Fame, Little Canada, Museum of Illusions, Ontario Science Centre, Pirate Life Toronto, Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada, Royal Ontario Museum, St. Lawrence Market, Toronto Railway Museum, Toronto Zoo
Website: Destination Toronto

Hamilton

What to do: Art Gallery of Hamilton, Dundurn Castle, Hamilton Children’s Museum, HMCS Haida National Historic Site
Nearby: Waterfalls, Brantford Twin Valley Zoo, Canadian Military Heritage Museum, Mount Nemo Conservation Area, Royal Botanical Gardens, Westfield Heritage Village
Website: Tourism Hamilton

Vaughan

What to do: Canada’s Wonderland, Kortright Centre for Conservation, LEGOLAND Discovery Centre, Reptilia Zoo
Nearby: McMichael Canadian Art Collection, South Simcoe Railway
Website: Visit Vaughan

Brampton

What to do: Donald M. Gordon Chinguacousy Park, Gage Park, Professor’s Lake, Wet n’ Wild
Nearby: Belfountain Conservation Area, Cheltenham Badlands
Website: Experience Brampton

Niagara Region

Niagara Falls

What to do: Bird Kingdom, Butterfly Conservatory, Clifton Hill, Horseshoe Falls, Journey Behind the Falls, Niagara Children’s Museum, Niagara City Cruises, Niagara Falls History Museum, Niagara Helicopters, Niagara Parks Power Station, Niagara SkyWheel, Skylon Tower, Whirlpool Aerocar, Whirlpool Jet Boat tour, White Water Walk, Wildplay Zipline to the Falls, Niagara Speedway
Nearby: Safari Niagara
Website: Niagara Falls Tourism

Niagara-On-The-Lake

What to do: Shaw Festival, Fort George National Historic Site
Website: Tourism Niagara-On-The-Lake

Eastern Ontario

Ottawa

What to do: Byward Market, Canadian Museums (Aviation & Space, History, Nature, Science & Technology, War), Diefenbunker, National Gallery of Canada, Parliament Buildings, Pirate Life Ottawa, Rideau Canal – skating or boat cruise, Royal Canadian Mint
Nearby: Calypso Water Park
Website: Ottawa Tourism

Prince Edward County

What to Do: Sandbanks Provincial Park, Glenora Ferry, Lake on the Mountain, Massassauga Point Conservation Area
Nearby: Glanmore National Historic Site, Tyendinaga Cavern and Caves
Website: Visit PEC

1,000 Islands

What to do: Boat cruise, helicopter tour, 1,000 Islands Playhouse
Nearby: Brockville Railway Tunnel, Upper Canada Village
Website: 1,000 Islands Tourism

Kingston

What to do: Fort Henry National Historic Site, Kingston Waterfront Park, Wolfe Island & Ferry, MacLachlan Woodworking Museum
Website: Visit Kingston

Peterborough & The Kawarthas

What to do: Canadian Canoe Museum, Peterborough Lift Lock, Riverview Park and Zoo
Nearby: Canadian Automotive Museum, Indian River Reptile Zoo, Jungle Cat Zoo, Kawartha Lakes, Kawartha Settlers’ Village, Lang Pioneer Village Museum
Website: The Kawarthas

Southern Ontario

Cambridge

What to do: African Lion Safari, Cambridge Butterfly Conservatory
Website: Visit Cambridge Ontario

Kitchener-Waterloo

What to do: Donkey Sanctuary, Oktoberfest, Ken Seiling Waterloo Region Museum, THEMUSEUM, Victoria Park, Waterloo Park, West Montrose Covered Bridge
Nearby: Elora Gorge Conservation Area
Website: Explore Waterloo

Stratford

What to do: Stratford Festival, Shakespearean Gardens, The Stratford Perth Museum, Stratford Public Art Walk
Nearby: Wildwood Conservation Area, Castle Kilbride
Website: Visit Stratford

London

What to do: Boler Mountain Treetop Adventure Park, London Children’s Museum, Springbank Park, Storybook Gardens
Nearby: Grand Bend Beach, Stones ‘N Bones Museum, Uncle Tom’s Cabin
Website: Ontario Southwest

Windsor

What to do: Dieppe Gardens, Windsor Sculpture Park, Chimczuk Museum, Walkerville District
Nearby: Point Pelee National Park, Amherstburg Freedom Museum, Fort Malden National Historic Site, Jack Miner’s Bird Sanctuary
Website: Visit Windsor-Essex

Lake Huron

Muskoka & Cottage Country

What to do: Arrowhead Provincial Park, Muskoka Heritage Place, Muskoka Steamships, Santa’s Village, Sugarbush Hill, Maple Farm, Muskoka Heritage Place
Nearby: Algonquin Provincial Park, Haliburton Forest & Wild Life Reserve, Simcoe County Museum
Website: Discover Muskoka

Collingwood

What to do: Blue Mountain Village, Ridge Runner Mountain Coaster, Scenic Caves Nature Adventures
Nearby: Story Book Park
Website: Visit Collingwood

Wasaga Beach

What to do: Beaches, Go-karting, Nancy Island Historic Site, Wasaga Adventure Park
Nearby: The Castle Village and Enchanted Kingdom Park, Elmvale Jungle Zoo, Sainte-Marie Among the Hurons
Website: Wasaga Beach Tourism

Bruce Peninsula

What to do: boat tours, Family Funland, Fathom Five National Marine Park, Flowerpot Island, The Grotto, MS Chi-Cheemaun ferry
Nearby: Manitoulin Island
Website: Bruce Grey Simcoe

Sudbury

What to do: Big Nickel & Dynamic Earth, Dinosaur Valley Mini Golf, Northern Exotics, Science North
Nearby: Northern Ontario Railroad Museum & Heritage Centre (NORMHC)
Website: Discover Sudbury

Sault Ste. Marie

What to do: Agawa Canyon Tour Train, Agawa Rock Pictographs, Bruce Mines Museum, Canadian Bushplane Heritage Centre, Sault Ste. Marie Boardwalk
Website: Algoma Country

Lake Superior & Northern Ontario

Thunder Bay

What to do: Fort William Historical Park, Kakabeka Falls, Terry Fox Monument
Nearby: The Grace Anne II Boat Tours, Lake of the Woods Rail Road Museum, Paddle to the Sea Park, Sleeping Giant Provincial Park
Website: Visit Northwest Ontario

North Bay

What to do: Canadian Forces Museum Of Aerospace Defence, Chief Commanda II Boat Tours, Dionne Quintuplets Museum, North Bay Heritage Train and Carousel, North Bay Museum, Trout Lake
Website: Tourism North Bay

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