Ontario is full of places that most people drive right past. Towns with good bakeries and quiet waterfronts. Places where the main street still has a hardware store, a diner, and a post office. Communities where people wave from their porches and the pace of life feels noticeably different from anything in the city.
This section covers the destinations we return to most often. Each one has something distinct to offer, whether it is wine country and sandy beaches, a river valley surrounded by forest, or a main street with more character per block than most neighbourhoods in Toronto. We write about what makes each place worth visiting, what you will actually find when you get there, and how to make the most of a weekend stay.
These are not resort towns or tourist traps. They are real communities where visitors are welcome but the town does not revolve around them. That is what makes them interesting.
Most of these destinations are within a two-to-three-hour drive from Toronto or Ottawa. A Friday afternoon departure and a Sunday return gives you enough time to settle in, explore, eat well, and still get home before the weekend feels over. Check our Guides section for trip-planning advice, and Food and Drink for restaurant and bakery recommendations in each area.