4 Best Sights in Side Trips from Toronto, Ontario

Stretching across 7,650 square km (2,954 square miles) and containing nearly 2,500 lakes, Algonquin Provincial Park logs 272 bird species, 45 species of mammals, and 50 species of fish. Many visitors are hikers, canoeists, or campers, but don't be put off if you're not the outdoorsy sort; about a third of Algonquin's visitors come for the day to walk one of the 17 well-groomed and well-signed interpretive trails or to enjoy a swim or a picnic. Swimming is especially good at the Lake of Two Rivers, halfway between the west and east gates along Highway 60. Spring, when the moose head north, is the best time to catch a glimpse of North America's largest land mammal. Getting up at the crack of dawn gives you the best chance of seeing the park's wildlife. Park naturalists give talks on area wildflowers, animals, and birds, and you can book a guided hike or canoe trip. Expeditions to hear wolves howling take place in late summer and early autumn. The park's Algonquin Logging Museum (late June–mid-October, daily 9–5) depicts life at an early Canadian logging camp. The east gate is west of the town of Whitney, and the west gate is east of the town of Dwight.

A series of 63 islands in Lake Huron's Georgian Bay, the park can be visited only via boat. Organized boat tours with the park or private companies operate from the weekend closest to May 24 through mid-October, weather permitting. To explore one of the islands on foot, book a trip on the park's DayTripper boat, bring your own boat, or take a water taxi in Honey Harbour.

The park's own boat, the DayTripper (C$15.70 June–early Oct.), makes the 15-minute trip to Beausoleil Island, which has hiking trails and beaches, from Honey Harbour, 15 km (9 miles) north of Port Severn at Highway 400 Exit 156.

Two companies do cruises through the Georgian Bay but don't allow you to disembark on any of the islands. The 300-passenger Miss Midland, operated by Midland Tours (C$36), leaves from the Midland town dock and offers 2½-hour sightseeing cruises daily at 2 mid-May to mid-October. The company can arrange departures from Toronto, which includes time to explore the town of Midland. From the Penetanguishene town dock, Penetanguishene 30,000 Island Cruises takes passengers on Penetanguishene Harbour and the Georgian Bay islands tours, including 1½- and 2½-hour cruises of Penetanguishene Harbour and 3½-hour cruises of the 30,000 islands of Georgian Bay, on the 200-passenger MS Georgian Queen. Lunch (C$55) and dinner (C$63) cruises are available with reservations. Captain Steve Anderson, the owner and your tour guide, has operated these tours—a family business—since 1985. Cruises depart one to three times daily in July and August; less frequently (but usually Saturday, Sunday, and Wednesday) in May, June, September, and October.

Northern Edge Algonquin eco-adventure company provides adventurous learning vacations and retreats with activities such as moose tracking (via canoe), forest meditations, stand-up paddleboarding, and women-only weekends. Home-cooked comfort food is local and organic; lodging ranges from new cabins to tents.

Voyageur Quest has a variety of adventure wilderness canoe trips year-round in Algonquin Provincial Park and throughout northern Ontario, including a number of family-geared vacations.