Ontario Travel Guide

Whether you seek refuge in an urban oasis, a getaway in the country or an escape to a northern lake, Ontario spas are ready to cater to your sense of well-being. Choose from day spas, resort spas and destination spas – many accredited by Premier Spas and hottub of Ontario, an association dedicated to highest standard of safe, effective services.

Get away from the hustle and bustle in the swirling waters of a hydrotherapy tub or with an aromatherapy massage in one of Ontario’s urban Hot tub. Slip away to the Port Hope/Cobourg area, renowned for its spas in the beautiful Northumberland Hills. Pursue wellness and healthy living at a multitude of spas in the Niagara Region including The Spa at White Oaks, famous for its Nectar of Niagara Scrub and Massage – a body exfoliation using pulverized grapes and a massage of warmed wine and honey. Or just north of Toronto, indulge in a romantic getaway at Highfields Country Inn’s Aboriginal Tipi Spa where the Couples Energy Massage includes Reiki and guided meditation.

Enjoy uniquely the two person hot tubs portable spa with over 40 jets, a lay down massage lounger and 2 opposing hydrotherapy hot seats for just kicking back and relaxing....

Combine a spa experience and a resort getaway in signature regions of Ontario, including beautiful Lake Simcoe, legendary Manitoulin Island and historic Niagara, or within easy reach of majestic Algonquin Park. Pamper yourself with treatments like pine-scented body wraps. Enjoy tennis and golf. And savour a parade of gourmet dishes as well as tasty spa fare.

Peterborough Accommodation Guide


Clock Tower on George Street ¹

As the gateway to the plentiful recreational opportunities of Ontario's Kawarthas region, Peterborough is an ideal jump-off point for year-round outdoor pursuits. The area's extensive trail network affords exceptional hiking, biking and horseback riding, while over 250 lakes supply anglers and boaters with a host of options. With the Trent-Severn Waterway flowing through its centre, Peterborough is home to the famous Peterborough Lift Lock, the world's largest hydraulic lift lock, and a wealth of other attractions that highlight its rich heritage. Visitors wishing to experience Peterborough and the Kawarthas have several accommodation options to suit a range of budgets, from hotels to cozy cabins and intimate bed and breakfasts. Travellers desiring a more rustic encounter with the area's natural features have several campgrounds to choose from, and a number of popular fishing resorts are within 30 minutes of Peterborough. Designed to help travellers find lodging that fits their needs, the following Worldweb.com Travel Guide article provides an overview of the accommodations available in the Peterborough area along with three important information pages:

1) Accommodation Directory - This is a complete accommodation directory containing detailed information about hotels, B&Bs, cottages, campgrounds and more. With links to accommodation websites and interactive maps, this directory is designed to help visitors find the right place to stay based on their personal preferences.

2) Secure Room Reservations - A convenient online room search and reservation page. This link allows the user to check for room availability and then make a secure online room reservation for participating properties. Although this is a useful feature anytime of year, the online Secure Room Reservations page is particularly helpful in the peak seasons when finding accommodation in popular properties can be difficult.

3) Maps - The Peterborough map can assist visitors in choosing where to stay by not only indicating where accommodations are located, but also where they are in relation to attractions, restaurants, shops, tours and transportation.


	Del Crary Park²

HOTELS

Peterborough has a handful of major chain hotels that offer modern amenities and convenient access to many Peterborough attractions. The Holiday Inn and the Peterborough Inn & Suite Hotel are two of the most central accommodations in the heart of downtown. Located in Peterborough's Cafe District, these hotels are close to shops and an eclectic mix of restaurants.

The Comfort Inn and Quality Inn are both located in southwest Peterborough at the doorstep of the Kawartha Golf and Country Club, ideal lodging for travellers planning to spend a lot of time on the links, although they are farther from the city's downtown attractions and amenities. The Best Western Otonabee Inn is located on the eastern shores of the Trent-Severn Waterway and enjoys a scenic milieu adjacent to Beavermead Park, a popular recreation spot and access point to the Rotary Greenway Trail. The Best Western Otonabee Inn is also relatively close to Del Crary Park, which hosts a number of events including the summertime Festival of Lights concert series. A cluster of independent motels suited to budget travellers is located just east of Peterborough on Highway 7, and although these accommodations are less convenient to the city's attractions, visitors often find room rates lower than those of central hotels.


King Bethune House Bed & Breakfast³

BED AND BREAKFASTS

Peterborough is blessed with a wealth of bed and breakfasts, which outnumber hotels nearly two to one. Visitors desiring an intimate encounter with Kawartha hospitality are drawn to the unique, cozy atmosphere of these accommodations. With roughly 20 bed and breakfasts located throughout the city, visitors can enjoy B&B lodging in nearly every area of Peterborough. Several bed and breakfasts are centrally located in downtown, convenient for travellers that want to be close to shops, restaurants and attractions.

King Bethune House is a charming historic property in downtown Peterborough equipped with a private hot tub, a sauna and many modern amenities. Liftlock Bed and Breakfast is a waterfront accommodation just above the world-famous Peterborough Lift Lock, the highest hydraulic boat lift in the world, rising 20 m (65 ft) in the air. The Liftlock and river boat cruises on the Trent-Severn Waterway remain one of Peterborough's top attractions.

Located on the banks of the Trent-Severn Waterway at the foot of Del Cray Park, Beacon By the Bay B & B Guest House is the place to stay during the Festival of Lights summertime celebration. Golfers appreciate the convenient location of Summit Bed and Breakfast, which backs onto the Kawartha Golf and Country Club and is still relatively close to downtown. Although Burley's Executive Garden Suite is less central than other bed and breakfasts, guests enjoy its scenic English-style garden setting. Visitors are advised to make reservations as far in advance as possible for bed and breakfasts, as space at these accommodations is very limited.


	Guest Room at Watkins Executive Suites⁴

VACATION HOME RENTALS AND CONDOMINIUMS

Cafe District Lofts are centrally located in downtown Peterborough in the Cafe District, within walking distance of several restaurants. The lofts are endowed with full kitchens, high-speed Internet access and an on-site lounge. Designed with business travellers in mind, Watkins Executive Suites provides guest suites with fully-equipped kitchens and private offices in three Peterborough locations: Ferndale Avenue, on the West End adjacent to the Kawartha Golf and Country Club; Vinette Street, on the banks of the Trent-Severn Waterway adjacent to Vinette Street Park, offering convenient access to the Rotary Greenway Trail; and Milford Drive, surrounded by numerous parks and close to Little Lake and the Centennial Fountain, Peterborough's treasured centrepiece. Visitors seeking rejuvenation may enjoy the Sanctuary, which offers on-site Reiki treatments.

Stone Gardens on the Lake, a scenic vacation home on the edge of Chemong Lake, is located just outside of Peterborough near Ennismore.

CAMPING AND COTTAGES

With such pleasant scenery and so many outdoor activities, it's no wonder camping is so popular in the Peterborough area. Beavermead Campground is the only campground centrally located in Peterborough, but with so much green space in its midst it's easy to forget the bustle of the city. The fully-equipped tent and trailer park features convenient access to the Rotary Greenway Trail and offers daily activity programs for children, swimming, boating, fishing and other activities. Visitors staying at Beavermead Campground are not only immersed in the area's scenic surroundings, they are close to Peterborough's shops, restaurants and cultural venues as well.


Cottage at Camp Fisherman⁵

Many camping and cottage accommodations are located just outside of Peterborough. Buckhorn Lake, north of Peterborough, is rife with cottages and cabins featuring amenities that complement the area's most popular outdoor pursuits: fishing and watersports.

Situated north of Peterborough on the eastern shore of Pigeon Lake, Camp Ashtabula Cottages attracts anglers eager to fish the plentiful supply of muskie, bass, walleye and panfish. Also on the eastern shore of Pigeon Lake and geared towards fishing is Camp Fisherman, which offers two- and three-bedroom housekeeping cottages stacked with many modern amenities. Perhaps the best equipped camping facility on Pigeon Lake is Anchor Bay Camp, where swimming, boating and fishing are popular activities. With trailer, tent and RV sites together with cottage rentals, Anchor Bay satisfies a range of accommodation needs.

The community of Lakefield, just northeast of Peterborough, also has several well-equipped campgrounds and a host of cabin rentals, and like most of the other accommodations in the area, Lakefield resorts are centred on fishing and other outdoor pursuits.

Cottage Vacations in Ontario

For many decades now, people have sought out the scaled down lifestyle of the cottage. In Ontario, cottage vacations are monumental pastimes. The surrounding shore of the over 250,000 lakes, as well as the bewitching wilderness and rural areas have been utilized as sites for thousands of private and public cottages. People head in droves to the cottage in search of hammock-swaying snoozes, exceptional air quality and outdoor pursuits. Although cottage life is becoming a bit more crowded, it is still nowhere near the congestion of the city. Thus for many, the change of scenery will calm the urban beast within that has resulted from living in close proximity to millions of people.

Why do many people return to the cottage year after year? A cottage vacation meets many recreational budgets. Vacationers are not frazzled from organizing a frantic sightseeing schedule or fighting tour buses filled with over-zealous shutterbugs. Many appreciate the opportunity to say good-bye to high fashion and hello to comfort. One can push themselves to physical limits, or simply relax.

Cottage time is a time to reflect, focus and dream.

WHERE TO GO

With approximately 20% of the earth's fresh water, an extensive web of interconnecting canoe routes, over 270 provincial parks and six national parks, Ontario is considered a vacation paradise. Landscapes may contrast dramatically throughout the province, with different pursuits being available as a result. Certain areas proclaim themselves as 'cottage country', but it is worth exploring many of the more secluded, unsullied regions as well. The three locales mentioned do not even begin to exhaust the many choices for a cottage vacation, but it opens up some possibilities.

Muskoka and Haliburton Highlands


	Algonquin Park in the Muskoka Region

In the Lakelands region of Ontario are the famed cottage paradises of Muskoka and Haliburton Highlands. The Muskoka area extends from the east side of Georgian Bay right to Algonquin Park. Haliburton Highlands is directly south of Algonquin Park, approximately two hours drive from Toronto. The area includes such towns as Haliburton, Huntsville, Bracebridge, Gravenhurst and Whitney.

Visitors to these districts can take soft eco-trips in relative comfort, or pursue more rigorous escapades that are more primitive in nature. Whiz down mountain biking paths, mush a team of frisky huskies, or glide on groomed Nordic ski runs in the extensive park and natural reserve lands. Whatever the choice, one must spend some time relaxing in a ' Muskoka chair'-a high back, fanned wood chair with the large armrest to support a drink-listening to the loons or howling wolves and sipping a beverage of choice.

Niagara Falls, Ontario Accommodation Guide

A vacation in Niagara Falls is always a noteworthy one. Due to its universal appeal, Niagara Falls is the number one vacation destination in Canada. The falls attracts visitors not just from North America, but from all over the world. Niagara Falls is particularly popular as a honeymoon destination. For such a special place, whatever the reason for the vacation, it is very important to make the right choice for accommodations. A vacation is always a disappointment if the accommodations fail to meet expectations. Whatever the budget, accommodations should be clean and comfortable and provide pleasant surroundings after a busy day’s sightseeing. The WorldWeb Travel Guide™ offers tips and detailed information on a large and varied selection of places to stay in Niagara Falls including the areas of Niagara-on-the-Lake, Fort Erie and St. Catharines.

Niagara Falls has an amazing selection of accommodations, from simple motels and basic hotels to luxury lodges and world class full-service resorts. An added advantage to staying on the Ontario side of the falls is that prices are in Canadian dollars, so visitors will always benefit from the exchange rate and save a considerable amount of money. What is particularly notable about Niagara Falls is that because of the large number of accommodations to choose from, the market is very competitive and this works in the favour of the visitor. Many properties offer a whole range of additional amenities to enhance the enjoyment of their guests and to ensure their trip to Niagara Falls is a memorable one.

Choosing the right accommodation

Obviously the type of accommodation a visitor requires is limited by budget. Of course this does not necessarily mean a drop in standards. Flexibility is the key here, sometimes you can get far more hotel for the same amount of money by travelling at a certain time of year, or by avoiding weekends and holidays. If travelling with children the accommodations should have facilities that cater to families. On the other hand if a quiet romantic break is sought, or even a honeymoon, it would be best to avoid establishments that have facilities such as play areas and paddling pools. If location is not important, selecting accommodations that are further away from the falls can save money. Others may want to be close to the falls or other facilities in the area such as the Casino or restaurants and shopping. To find the location of hotels in Niagara Falls check our Interactive Hotel Map. In Niagara Falls most properties - even many budget facilities - have pools and other leisure facilities which of course is an added bonus, and makes the choice more extensive, as many people like to stay in a place where they can relax in a pool. The WorldWeb Travel Guide™ provides all the criteria a visitor will need to make the right accommodation choice, by linking to two different information pages.


	The Pool Area at Days Inn Overlooking the Falls

1) Accommodation Directory - This is a complete accommodation directory containing detailed information about hotels, bed & breakfasts, luxury resorts, campgrounds and more. With links to accommodation websites and interactive maps, this directory is designed to help you find the right place to stay based on your budget, personal preferences and the activities you wish to pursue.

2) Secure Room Reservations - A convenient online room search and reservation page. This link will allow you to check for room availability and then make a secure online room reservation. Although this is a useful feature anytime of year, the online Secure Room Reservations page is particularly helpful in the peak seasons when finding accommodation in popular properties can be difficult.

Niagara Falls has a wide range of budget accommodations. Because of the number of businesses competing, many of these properties have a surprisingly wide range of guest facilities such as pools, spas or playgrounds much more than the average North American budget hotel or motel. These properties are ideal for those who intend to spend most of their time sightseeing, shopping and eating out. Rooms tend to be simply furnished, but comfortable and completely adequate In Canada virtually all hotels and motels have ensuite bathroom facilities.


The Restaurant at 4 Points by Sheraton, Niagara Falls

The mid range category of accommodations is particularly well represented in Niagara Falls. Many of these are operated by international hotel chains and franchises. The advantage of this is that a high standard is maintained and a guest who is familiar with other properties of the chain will know what to expect. The mid range accommodations have an excellent standard of facilities, and again, as with budget properties, the variety and amount of facilities available tend to be more than what can be expected from the average mid-range North American properties in other areas. Many mid-range Niagara Falls hotels have full service facilities of the kind normally associated with higher end establishments. This often includes such bonuses as well furnished rooms and suites, on site restaurants, meeting facilities and in-room entertainment. The mid-range accommodations generally have attractive pool and spa facilities as well. They suit the traveller who likes to unwind a little at their hotel.


	The Hilton at Niagara Falls

Niagara Falls has a number of world-class resorts and deluxe properties. These properties have every conceivable facility; most of them command a stunning view of the falls. These resort hotels are particularly popular for conventions. They are ideal for the traveller who demands a very high standard of accommodations and who intends to spend a lot of time in their hotel. The higher cost of staying in such accommodations is off set by the fact that these properties are usually destinations in their own right, and a stay here forms a big piece of the total vacation experience. Deluxe Accommodations are especially suited to those who are on a special trip, in particular honeymooners or second honeymooners.

Accommodations on the Niagara Peninsula

Although the falls are the main draw to the area, the Niagara Peninsula has much more to offer visitors. Many people may prefer to visit the falls, but to stay somewhere else in the area. Niagara-on-the-Lake provides a pleasant and much quieter alternative to Niagara Falls itself. It is located 39km north of the falls. This community is home to the Shaw Festival - the world's only festival of George Bernard Shaw plays, and has a good variety of hotel/motel and bed and breakfast accommodations. The city of St. Catharines also has a good range of bed and breakfasts, hotels and even campsites. St. Catherines is a business community, located 25km northwest of Niagara Falls. It is ideal for those who prefer to stay in a larger, business centre, with the advantages of less tourist-oriented shopping and restaurants. At the south side of the Niagara Peninsula is historic Fort Erie 26km south from the falls. This town which is situated near Highway 62 linking Buffalo, New York and Ontario, also has a good selection of hotel accommodations and is conveniently located.

High, Low and Shoulder Seasons

Hotel rates are usually charged according to one of three seasons. Highest rates are in the summer, usually from the end of June until Labour Day at the beginning of September, and over the Christmas and New Year period. Shoulder season is spring and autumn between the end of April through June, and from early September to the end of October. Shoulder season is an ideal time to visit, less crowds, cheaper rates, and cooler temperatures, plus the advantage of spring freshness or fall colours. Low season is from November through to the end of April and while the weather is cool, the winter landscapes around the falls provide a spectacular sight, and a totally different perspective. In winter midweek rates may be cheaper than weekend rates in some cases. The dates of these seasons are provided as a rough guideline only and can vary from property to property.

Bed and Breakfasts

An increasingly popular type of accommodation, bed and breakfasts are well represented in the Niagara Falls region. They range from simply furnished rooms with no private facilities to designer rooms and suites that are the epitome of comfort and elegance. Bed and Breakfasts are a great way of meeting local people who will gladly share information and tips about the area with their guests. What they lack in privacy they make up for in charm and intimacy. They also are often a cheaper alternative to hotels of a similar standard.

Camping

Another accommodation alternative in the Niagara Falls area is to utilize one of the well-equipped campsites there. These are particularly suitable for families and most campsites have special facilities for children. Campgrounds offer the advantages of considerably less cost and complete independence and flexibility.

Honeymoons and Romantic Getaways


Niagara Falls - A Paradise for Romance

For almost 200 years Niagara Falls has been a major destination for honeymooners, and for romantic getaways. The falls are considered by many to be very romantic, and there are plenty of fun activities for a couple to discover and enjoy together. Niagara Falls has accommodations for honeymooners of all levels, and all properties will respect a couple’s privacy. Many hotels offer special packages for newly weds and other couples, and a large number of properties have honeymoon and romance oriented rooms and suites. If a heart-shaped hot tub is what you want, then Niagara Fall’s hotels have these in abundance. Many couples will seek a quite intimate inn or bed and breakfast, while others may like to indulge in the opulence of a luxury resort.

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