From Halloween haunts and glowing pumpkin displays to fall fairs, harvest festivals, studio tours and spectacular autumn scenery, Thanksgiving weekend is one of the best times for an Ontario road trip.
Hockley Valley Ski Resort Golf Course
80+ Things to Do This Thanksgiving Long Weekend in Ontario
Across Ontario
Ontario Provincial Parks Fall Trips
Ontario’s fall scenery offers varied views, from north to south, east to west, and between the Great Lakes. Visit a few of the best provincial parks for fall colours this Thanksgiving weekend.
Visit Ontario Small Towns & Cities This Weekend
Each Ontario town or fall destination has its own unique reasons to visit. These come from the local fall or Halloween events, harvest and farm fun, apple and pumpkin picking, or birding for the migration season.
1. Windsor-Essex Region
Pumpkin Spice Fest
Make Kingsville a Thanksgiving Saturday stop for Colasanti’s celebration of pumpkin spice, seasonal food and local fall flavours. Combine the visit with a drive through Essex County wine and farm country.
Immersive Dinner Experience at Scarehouse Windsor
Celebrate Thanksgiving somewhat differently with a multi-course immersive dinner followed by Scarehouse Windsor’s three Halloween attractions. Thanksgiving-weekend dinner experiences are scheduled for October 9 and 10.
Fall Birding & Raptor Watching
Head toward Point Pelee, Holiday Beach Conservation Area or Jack Miner Bird Sanctuary during fall migration. Essex County’s flat landscape and Lake Erie shoreline make this one of Southern Ontario’s most interesting autumn birding regions.
Visit some or all of these parks this weekend:
- Point Pelee National Park
- Holiday Beach Conservation Area
- Hillman Marsh Conservation Area
- Pelee Island Bird Observatory
- Jack Miner Bird Sanctuary
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2. Chatham-Kent
Chatham-Kent Bakery Trail
Thanksgiving is a good excuse to drive the countryside in search of pies, breads and other baked treats while exploring Chatham-Kent’s small communities.
Rondeau Provincial Park
Walk through Carolinian forest, explore the Lake Erie shoreline and watch for migrating birds at one of Southwestern Ontario’s most distinctive provincial parks.
3. Elgin County
Clovermead Pumpkin Festival
Spend a fall family day at Clovermead with wagon rides, farm animals, a corn maze, pumpkins, adventure-farm attractions and seasonal photo stops.
Port Stanley Terminal Rail Scenic Train Ride
Ride one of Ontario’s oldest railway lines through the colourful Kettle Creek Valley between Port Stanley and the surrounding countryside.
4. Norfolk County
Norfolk County Fair & Horse Show – October 6 to 12
One of Ontario’s biggest Thanksgiving attractions returns with Canada’s largest outdoor horse show, agricultural competitions, livestock, art, food, giant produce, entertainment and midway rides. The seven-day fair culminates on Thanksgiving Monday.
Big Creek Fall Paddling
Paddle through Carolinian forest beneath sycamore and black walnut trees on Big Creek, a lush waterway sometimes nicknamed the Canadian Amazon.
5. Haldimand County
Credit: Ontario Parks
Rock Point Provincial Park
Walk along the Lake Erie beach and limestone shelf, where exposed fossils and colourful woodland make an interesting Thanksgiving day trip.
Fall Trail Ride at Fox Lair Stables
See the Haldimand countryside from horseback on a trail ride through fields and woodland. Advance reservations are required.
6. Niagara Region
52nd Ball’s Falls Thanksgiving Festival – October 9 to 12
This four-day Niagara tradition is one of Ontario’s best Thanksgiving festivals, with more than 150 juried artisans, food vendors, craft beverages, live entertainment, heritage demonstrations and colourful trails leading toward Ball’s Falls.
Haunt Manor
For an evening excursion, visit one of Niagara’s largest Halloween attractions for theatrical haunted experiences, outdoor trails and elaborately themed scares.
Niagara Fall Colours & Thanksgiving Weekend
Pair Ball’s Falls with Niagara Glen, the Niagara Parkway or Niagara-on-the-Lake for a full day of autumn scenery and festival fun.
7. Brant-Brantford
Fall Festival at Brantwood Farms
Spend Thanksgiving weekend at Brantwood Farms in Paris, where the Fall Festival includes a corn maze, wagon rides, pumpkin patch, farm animals, play areas, seasonal photo stops and more than 20 activities. Apple and pumpkin picking are also available, and the farm’s flower field features dozens of varieties through the season.
Fall Colour Paddling on the Grand River
See Brant County from the water on a guided paddle on the Grand River. The river corridor combines colourful Carolinian woodland with varied bird, fish and plant life, making this a particularly scenic active fall outing.
8. Oxford County
Fear Farm
October brings haunted trails, outdoor scares and the famous hayride to Fear Farm near Bright, making it an evening option after a daytime drive through Oxford County.
Alpaca Walks & Farm Experiences
Spend time with alpacas and other farm animals during hands-on countryside experiences at Udderly Ridiculous Farm Life.
9. Lambton County
Brigden Fall Fair – October 9 to 12
Lambton County’s major Thanksgiving tradition returns with livestock, agricultural exhibits, entertainment, competitions, midway fun and classic fair food.
Reaper’s Realm Haunted Forest Ride
Take a haunted ride through a Southwestern Ontario forest and continue through Reaper’s Realm’s other Halloween attractions.
Korny Korners Fall Fun
Families can spend the day pumpkin picking, visiting animals, taking a hayride and enjoying farm attractions near Sarnia.
10. Huron County
Huron Historic Gaol
Visit Goderich’s atmospheric former jail and discover stories from more than a century of Huron County history.
Huron County Barn Quilt Trail
Follow rural roads in search of colourful barn quilts while taking in the agricultural landscape of Ontario’s West Coast.
11. Stratford & Perth
McCully’s Fall Harvest Festival
Enjoy wagon rides, a corn maze, pumpkins and family attractions at McCully’s Hill Farm near St. Marys.
Guelph to Goderich Rail Trail
Cycle or hike part of the 127-kilometre G2G Rail Trail through Perth County’s colourful farmland and small communities.
12. Middlesex County & London
Dorchester Thanksgiving Fair
This long-running Thanksgiving fair features agricultural exhibits and competitions, entertainment, midway attractions and family activities.
Pumpkins After Dark London
Storybook Gardens becomes a glowing one-kilometre trail with more than 10,000 hand-carved jack-o’-lanterns, over 100 sculptures, a 3D Monster Maze, live carving and costumed characters.
Thanksgiving at Fanshawe Pioneer Village
Explore heritage buildings and discover seasonal traditions as the historic village marks Thanksgiving and the close of its regular season.
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13. Kitchener-Waterloo
Kitchener-Waterloo Oktoberfest
The famous Thanksgiving Day parade is back! Don your Tracht, raise a stein, enjoy delicious Bavarian cuisine from local restaurant partners, polka around and toast all that we love about Bavarian Culture during Kitchener-Waterloo Oktoberfest.
Fall Farm Fun at Snyder’s Family Farm
Spend several hours exploring a corn maze, play areas, petting zoo, jumping pillows, hayrides and other fall farm attractions near Ayr.
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14. Guelph-Wellington
Erin Fair – October 9 to 12
The 176th Erin Fall Fair brings livestock and horse shows, agricultural displays, truck and tractor pulls, entertainment, midway fun, 4-H activities and demolition derby events to Thanksgiving weekend.
Harvest Fun at Strom’s Farm
Enjoy pumpkin-season activities, wagon rides and family farm fun south of Guelph.
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15. Hamilton
Rockton World’s Fair – October 9 to 12
Agriculture, livestock, competitions, midway rides, food and family entertainment come together at one of Ontario’s quintessential Thanksgiving fairs.
Spencer Gorge Conservation Area
See Webster Falls, Tew Falls and the Niagara Escarpment dressed in fall colour. Check seasonal access and reservation requirements before travelling.
Dyment’s Pumpkin Patch
Add a classic farm stop in Dundas for pumpkins, fall food and family activities.
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16. Halton Region
Pumpkins After Dark Milton
Country Heritage Park glows with more than 10,000 hand-carved pumpkins arranged into over 100 illuminated sculptures. The outdoor walk-through attraction runs throughout Thanksgiving weekend.
Fall Chairlift Rides at Kelso
Ride above the Niagara Escarpment forest for colourful views, then continue onto the conservation area’s trails.
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17. Peel Region
Downey’s Farm Pumpkinfest
Celebrate harvest season with pumpkins, farm attractions and family entertainment at Downey’s Farm in Caledon.
Diwali RazzMatazz – October 9 to 11
Mississauga Celebration Square fills with music, dance, food and South Asian cultural programming during this free Thanksgiving-weekend festival.
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18. York Region
Woodbridge Fair – October 10 to 12
This Thanksgiving tradition brings midway rides, exhibits, competitions, animals, wagon rides, children’s activities, entertainment and fair food to Vaughan.
Pumpkins After Dark Markham
Markham Museum hosts a nighttime outdoor trail featuring more than 10,000 hand-carved jack-o’-lanterns and over 100 illuminated pumpkin sculptures.
Screemers
For older teens and adults, Thanksgiving weekend marks the beginning of another Halloween season of haunted mazes and live scare actors in Vaughan.
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19. Toronto
Toronto Pumpkinfest – October 9 to 12
Downsview Park hosts four days of pumpkin-season fun with midway attractions, trackless trains, an inflatable corn maze, entertainment, vendors, food trucks and a pumpkin patch.
Halloween Nights of Lights & Pumpkinville
Walk through 1.5 million synchronized Halloween lights at CF Sherway Gardens, then continue into Pumpkinville for pumpkin sculptures, fair-style attractions and seasonal food.
For More (there are plenty of events)
20. Durham Region
Pingle’s Harvest Festival
Spend the day navigating a corn maze, riding the wagon, picking apples and enjoying farm play areas, seasonal food and country scenery at Pingle’s Farm Market.
Brawley Woods Haunted Halloween Walk – October 9 to 11
Head into the woods after dark for one of Durham Region’s most intense Halloween attractions. Brawley Woods in Whitby combines live actors, movie-production props and towering animatronics along a nighttime forest walk, with additional 2026 attractions including The Ruins maze and Hell Ride & Maze.
Spooktacular Light Show
Experience over 2 million lights on a 2KM route of friendly characters, a pumpkin-filled drive-thru tunnel, from animated display to 3D, music lights and much more this Halloween. Let’s rock this spooky season!
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21. Simcoe County
Sainte-Marie among the Hurons
Images Thanksgiving Studio Tour
Follow a self-guided art route through Oro-Medonte, Orillia and surrounding communities, meeting painters, potters, sculptors, photographers, jewellers, woodturners and mixed-media artists amid Central Ontario’s fall scenery.
Pumpkinferno at Discovery Harbour
Discovery Harbour becomes a glowing autumn attraction with more than 5,000 carved artificial pumpkins, lights, music, live entertainment, a night market and spooky seasonal displays.
Elmvale Fall Fair – October 8 to 10
Start the long weekend with more than a century of agricultural tradition, including homecraft exhibits, parades, livestock shows and family fair activities.
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22. Grey County & The Blue Mountains
Blue Mountain
Owen Sound Salmon Run
Watch salmon move upstream while exploring Owen Sound’s harbour, rivers and waterfalls against a backdrop of autumn colour.
Irish Mountain Lookout
Take in Georgian Bay, orchards, rolling farmland and Niagara Escarpment scenery from this panoramic viewpoint near Meaford.
Apple Harvest Festival – October 10 to 12
Celebrate Thanksgiving weekend in Ontario’s apple country at Blue Mountain Village. The 2026 Apple Harvest Festival features live music, family entertainment, farm animals, seasonal activities and end-of-season sales, all surrounded by the fall colours of the Niagara Escarpment.
23. Dufferin County
Credit: Amaranth Township
Amaranth Bale Trail
Turn a fall drive into a roadside scavenger hunt for imaginative sculptures built from hay and straw around Amaranth Township.
Golf amid fall colours
Tee off at Hockley Valley Ski Resort’s 18-hole championship golf course, designed by Canadian course architect Thomas McBroom. You will also get to enjoy some spectacular fall colours.
Mono Cliffs & Hockley Valley Fall Drive
Explore rolling Headwaters countryside and Niagara Escarpment scenery on a day trip within easy reach of the GTA.
24. Bruce County
Lion’s Head Lookout
Enjoy breathtaking Fall scenery from Lions Head Lookout (McCurdy Drive Parkette, Bruce Trail, Lion’s Head).
October is when you can enjoy the Orionid Meteor Shower. Visit the Peninsula Observational Deck near Lion’s Head Marina to enjoy night sky views.
Online reservations are required for the McCurdy Drive parking lot in Lion’s Head.
Bruce Peninsula Dark-Sky Viewing
Stay after sunset and visit the Peninsula Observation Deck near Lion’s Head for a night-sky experience after a day of fall hiking.
More ideas:
- Lion’s Head: Spectacular Lookouts, Caves and More!
- Summer in the Bruce Peninsula
- Trip to Bruce Peninsula National Park
25. Muskoka
Muskoka Cranberry Harvest
Visit Muskoka Lakes Farm & Winery during cranberry harvest season to see the flooded cranberry beds and seasonal farm activity. Book popular experiences in advance.
Lake of Bays Scenic Drive
Follow an approximately 80-kilometre loop through forests, lakes and small Muskoka communities at one of the most colourful times of year.
Arrowhead Provincial Park
Arrowhead Provincial Park provides all the same fall fun and activities as Algonquin and within the same colourful foliage, outdoor activities, and camping opportunities. Also near Arrowhead is the town of Huntsville with its own list of reasons for a fall visit. Combined, these two destinations create the perfect fall getaway.
More ideas:
- 15 Fall Colour Driving Routes in Central Ontario
- Romantic Getaways and Activities in Muskoka
- 25+ Outdoor Adventures in Muskoka
- 15 Small Towns For a Weekend Trip in Central Ontario
26. Haliburton Highlands
Sir Sam’s Ski & Bike
The Studio Tour – Haliburton Highlands – October 10 & 11
The second weekend of this long-running studio tour falls directly on Thanksgiving weekend. Visit artists working in pottery, jewellery, glass, painting, woodworking, metalwork and mixed media while driving among lakes and colourful forest.
Sir Sam’s Ski & Ride Fall Colours
Take in panoramic views over the Haliburton Highlands and combine the outing with the studio tour for a full-day fall road trip. Sir Sam’s Ski & Ride transforms into a magical place with its dense forests looking like a stunning painting with vibrant shades of fiery red, orange and gold. On Thanksgiving weekend, they hold the annual open house, where you can snag deals for the winter ski season.
More ideas:
27. Peterborough-Kawarthas
The Stalking Dead
Norwood Fair – October 10 to 12
Established in 1868, this Thanksgiving tradition celebrates agriculture with livestock, competitions, machinery, exhibits and entertainment.
Fenelon Falls Turkey Trot
Run or walk the Kawartha Rail Trail on Thanksgiving Saturday, then spend time exploring Fenelon Falls’ shops, restaurants and waterfront.
Stalking Dead
Escape Maze near Peterborough turns the countryside into an outdoor Halloween survival experience after dark.
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28. Northumberland County
Cricklewood Farm
Pick apples and pumpkins and explore seasonal farm attractions near Brighton.
Port Hope Salmon Run
Watch migrating salmon in the Ganaraska River, then explore Port Hope’s historic downtown and surrounding fall scenery.
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29. Prince Edward County
Scarecrow Festival
Make your very own scarecrow that you can take home with you during the Scarecrow Festival. Throughout the day, visitors can take part in family-friendly crafts, activities, and mini aerial arts lessons. Visit with the fortune teller or have your photo taken with the stilt walker! Then make your own scarecrow to take home or leave at the museum as decoration for the upcoming Halloween event.
Prince Edward County Fall Road Trip
Drive between Picton, Bloomfield and Wellington, stopping at farm stands, galleries, shops and restaurants as the County settles into autumn.
Birdhouse City & Macaulay Mountain
Walk through the whimsical collection of miniature-building birdhouses at Macaulay Mountain Conservation Area near Picton.
30. Hastings County
O’Hara Mill Homestead
Explore historic buildings, a covered bridge, log structures and woodland trails surrounded by rural fall scenery near Madoc.
Eagles Nest Park
Hike above Bancroft for sweeping views over the York River valley and surrounding autumn forest.
More ideas:
- Why You Should Visit Bancroft During Fall – Adventures and Festivals
- Summer Adventures and Activities in Hastings County
31. Lennox & Addington
Wynn Farms Moonlight Corn Maze
Bring a flashlight and tackle the corn maze after dark, then warm up with cider or a caramel apple.
Lennox & Addington Fall Driving Routes
Choose from mapped scenic routes through farmland, lakes, Canadian Shield country and colourful small communities.
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32. Frontenac & Kingston
Fort Fright at Fort Henry
Fort Henry becomes a large-scale nighttime haunted attraction during October, combining the dramatic historic setting with immersive Halloween scares.
Haunted Walk of Kingston
Experience the 75-minute walking tour of Kingston that has been captivating visitors and locals alike for over 25 years! The Original Haunted Walk is led by the best of local storytellers, dramatists, and amateur historians, who share some of the most hair-raising and spine-chilling real-life ghost stories from the area.
Fall Fun at Fruition Berry Farm
For a family-friendly alternative, visit the farm for pumpkins and seasonal activities before exploring Kingston’s countryside.
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33. Leeds & Grenville
1000 Islands Fall Colour Cruise
See the St. Lawrence River, islands, cottages and waterfront homes framed by autumn colour during a seasonal cruise.
1000 Islands Tower
Ride to the observation decks for panoramic views across the Thousand Islands and St. Lawrence River.
More ideas:
- Summer Adventures and Activities in Leeds & Grenville
- Things to Do in Brockville During Summer
- Road Trip From Ottawa to Kingston: Drive the Rideau Canal National Historic Site
34. Prescott-Russell
Ontario Festival of Small Halls
Fall concerts bring Canadian musicians to intimate community halls across Eastern Ontario. Check the 2026 schedule for Thanksgiving-area performances.
Larose Forest
Hike or cycle through one of Ontario’s largest community forests for a quiet fall outing east of Ottawa.
35. SDG Counties
Pumpkinferno at Upper Canada Village
One of Ontario’s signature October attractions fills Upper Canada Village with approximately 9,000 glowing handcrafted pumpkins along a kilometre-long outdoor route. The 2026 event runs October 2 to 31.
Long Sault Parkway
Drive across eleven islands in the St. Lawrence River and combine the trip with Pumpkinferno for a particularly good day-to-night Thanksgiving road trip.
Fall Fun at Cannamore Orchards
Have a family fun weekend at Cannamore Orchards. Activities include apple/pumpkin picking, Acres of Terror Halloween Haunts, petting zoo, hedge maze and more!
36. Ottawa
Thanksgiving Weekend in Ottawa
Ottawa’s Thanksgiving calendar includes museums, family attractions, performing arts, markets and fall activities.
Watson’s Mill Harvest Festival
Visit Watson’ Mill for the annual Harvest Festival on Saturday. There will be tours, lawn games, a community painting, crafts and a scavenger hunt as well as a $3 horse and wagon ride, and a milling demonstration!
PumpkinFest & FrightFest at Saunders Farm
Spend the day at Saunders Farm’s PumpkinFest exploring hedge mazes, hayrides, playgrounds, live shows and family-friendly haunted attractions, then return after dark for FrightFest. The nighttime experience turns up the scares with a haunted hayride, Barn of Terror, The Shambles, The Coven, Circus Macabre, scare zones and roaming performers.
Gatineau Park & Ottawa Valley Fall Colours
Combine city attractions with a fall-colour drive or hike through the National Capital Region.
37. Lanark County
Crown & Pumpkin Studio Tour – October 10 & 11
Follow colourful backroads through Almonte, Clayton and Pakenham to studios featuring ceramics, glass, jewellery, fibre, photography, sculpture, wood, leather and mixed media.
Perth Autumn Studio Tour – October 10 & 11
Visit artists and makers in working studios west of Perth while enjoying colourful country roads and an excellent Eastern Ontario fall drive.
Explore Perth & Almonte
Turn either studio tour into a full-day trip with stops in two of Eastern Ontario’s most attractive historic communities.
38. Renfrew County
Calabogie Fall Colours
Explore the hills and lookouts around Calabogie for some of Eastern Ontario’s strongest autumn scenery. Check resort operations before travelling if chairlift access is important to your trip.
Ontario Festival of Small Halls
Look for intimate fall concerts in Renfrew County and surrounding Ottawa Valley communities.
39. Nipissing District
Duchesnay Falls
Follow forest trails beside Duchesnay Creek as it tumbles through cascades and rocky falls near North Bay.
Haunted Hikes
On Friday nights a throughout the month of October, head to North Bay Museum for a spooky evening to remember. This 60-minute downtown walking tour has been revamped to include true crime stories on top of the well-loved ghost tales, and will ensure visitors see North Bay in a whole new light.
40. Parry Sound
Tower Hill Lookout
Climb the lookout tower above Parry Sound for colourful views across Georgian Bay and surrounding forest.
Midlothian Castle & Screaming Heads
Visit Burk’s Falls for an eccentric outdoor art landscape filled with enormous concrete sculptures that feels especially atmospheric in October.
41. Manitoulin Island
Bike Tour
Get a cycling map and explore the Island on two wheels while enjoying fall colours.
Manitoulin Island Fall Road Trip
Explore small communities, lakes, escarpment scenery and hiking trails after summer crowds have disappeared.
Manitoulin Dark-Sky Viewing
Pair a daytime island drive with an evening under Manitoulin’s exceptionally dark skies. Check seasonal programming before travelling.
42. Sudbury
PumpInferno at Dynamic Earth
Dynamic Earth hosts an after-dark Halloween experience with more than 7,000 themed pumpkins in 2026. Regular Thanksgiving-weekend evenings run October 9 to 11 and include Pumpkinferno, Dynamic Earth access, spooky science activities and the Big Nickel Show.
Greater Sudbury Fall Colours
Pair Dynamic Earth with colourful forest trails, lakes and rocky viewpoints around Greater Sudbury for a full Northern Ontario weekend.
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43. Timiskaming
Kap-Kig-Iwan Provincial Park
Follow the Englehart River through rapids, cascades and waterfalls surrounded by Northern Ontario forest.
Craig Cardiff Live in Haileybury – October 10
Spend Thanksgiving Saturday in Temiskaming Shores with an intimate concert by Canadian singer-songwriter Craig Cardiff at Whiskeyjack Beer Company in Haileybury. Doors open at 4 p.m. and the show begins at 5 p.m., making it easy to combine the concert with a daytime drive around Lake Temiskaming.
44. Cochrane & Timmins
Cedar Meadows Wilderness Park
View many different species of Canadian wildlife, including moose, deer, elk, bison and mountain goats on a tractor-drawn wagon tour of 100 acres of Cedar Meadows Wilderness Park. Cedar Meadows is also a resort and spa located on the mighty Mattagami River, making it a perfect Northern Ontario getaway. Last minute trip, anyone?
Explore Timmins & Cochrane in Fall
Use Timmins or Cochrane as a base for lakes, trails, northern forests and local attractions during the quieter autumn season.
45. Algoma Country & Sault Ste. Marie
Agawa Canyon Tour Train
One of Canada’s great fall rail trips travels north from Sault Ste. Marie through forests, rivers and rock formations. Thanksgiving-period departures can sell out far in advance.
Searchmont Fall Colours
Head into the hills north of Sault Ste. Marie for panoramic Algoma scenery and seasonal resort activities.
Thomson Farms Fall Farm Fun
Enjoy pumpkins, a corn maze and seasonal farm activities before or after exploring Sault Ste. Marie.
46. Thunder Bay & Area
Thunder Bay Heritage Walking Tours
Explore the city’s history on self-guided routes through neighbourhoods including the north core waterfront and Vickers Park area.
Kakabeka Falls & Thunder Bay Fall Trip
Pair city attractions with Kakabeka Falls and surrounding boreal scenery. Check seasonal services before travelling late in the year.
47. Kenora & Dryden
Laura Howe Marsh
Walk the marsh trails and viewing platforms in Dryden while watching for migrating birds moving through Northwestern Ontario.
Rushing River Provincial Park
Explore colourful forest, rushing water and Canadian Shield scenery a short drive from Kenora. Check seasonal operating information before travelling.
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