Canadians are more determined than ever to spend their hard-earned travel money close to home these days. Which makes it a great time to explore areas close to home. Great Escapes, the official digital magazine of Resorts of Ontario, has released its Spring/Summer 2026 issue, inviting readers to discover the diverse and unforgettable experiences that await at resort destinations across the province. The new issue highlights the many ways travellers can enjoy an Ontario resort stay — from lakeside relaxation and family-friendly activities to culinary experiences, outdoor adventure, and wellness escapes. Featuring member resorts from across the province, almost all within Read more
Ontario
SOUTHAMPTON, ONTARIO = Sometimes it takes a while to appreciate the nuances of a hotel or resort. But other times you take one look and say, “Holy cow.” My wife and I were recently invited to check out the South Beach Motel in Southampton, Ontario. We visited the town maybe 30 years ago, renting a home near the beach that was decorated in a design you might call “old person casual” and festooned with photos of such Toronto Blue Jays as Ernie Whitt and Buck Martinez. I figured things in Southampton had changed a bit over three decades, but I wasn’t Read more
It wasn’t the luxurious, immense room. It wasn’t the attentive service. And it wasn’t the Shakespeare dresses from Stratford plays. Heck, it wasn’t even the cute bunnies scampering along on the green grass near our patio. No, if you ask me the thing I’ll remember most about my recent overnight stay at Stratford’s The Bruce Hotel it will be the cookie hotline. Some hotels have fresh cookies waiting for you in the lobby when you come home from dinner, and that’s nice. But the Bruce takes it a step further. If you take a look at the phone in your Read more
A look at where Canadians want to go for domestic trips this year, as well as surprising destinations for foreign visitors to Canada. Today’s post also looks at where to see the Northern Lights and how young people are looking for “roamance” on the road. CANADIAN HOT SPOTS FOR 2024: Moncton, Windsor, Vancouver and Richmond Hill? 2023 was, by many reports, considered the “return to travel”, with tourism reaching nearly 90% of pre-pandemic levels*. With travel showing no signs of slowing down, Canadians are eager to explore their own country, and far beyond, this year. Without further ado, here are Read more
The Windsor-Essex-Pelee Island region in southwestern Ontario is blessed with many gifts, among them fine people, a relatively benign climate, cool waterfront towns, and tons of great outdoor activities to try. I’ve come to understand there’s also a wonderful, rich Black history to explore that’s both painful and inspiring. On my latest visit to the area I was lucky enough to get a guided tour of the Amherstburg Freedom Museum, and to visit the Sandwich First Baptist Church. Being relatively easy to reach from Detroit, the Windsor area was a very popular entry point to Canada on the Underground Railroad, the Read more
