It’s time to start thinking about summer vacation trips! The web sites listed below focus on ideas for day trips and overnight destinations within Ontario, and will hopefully be useful for those planning to see some other parts of Ontario this summer. Safe travelling!
Ontario Rural Routes - www.ruralroutes.com/ Many day-tripping destinations are listed on this extensive resource, which focuses on rural and small-town attractions in Ontario. You may be surprised at how many destinations exist in your own region and just beyond! Includes links to Map Quest and Directions Online.
Southern Ontario Tourism - www.soto.on.ca/ SOTO’s web site includes a downloadable travel guide for Southern Ontario, a city search, an A-Z Southern Ontario search, a Festivals and Events Ontario search, travel tips, romantic getaways, and more. Links are provided here to the Shakespeare to Shoreline web site and to the web site of the Perth County Visitors’ Association (PCVA).
Ontario: Travellers’ Information - www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/traveller/ Before starting your trip, check out the Ontario Ministry of Transportation site, which will provide you with maps, traffic reports, road closures and road construction reports, weather conditions, a distance calculator, and information about road safety, transit systems in Ontario, and more.
Ontario’s (Provincial) Parks - www.ontarioparks.com This Ministry of Natural Resources web site offers a handy provincial park locator by region, name or type. You can find park locations, fees, events, and vacancies listed here … plus you can make reservations and order seasonal passes as well.
Just for Fun in Ontario - www.jus4fun.on.ca/ As well as links to destinations, adventures, recreation, sports, events and accommodation, this resource also offers information about Ontario which is unusual and not always readily available. An intriguing site!
Explore Ontario.net - www.exploreontario.net/ Did you know that Ontario has its own magnetic hill, as well as its own “Bermuda Triangle”? If you’d like to know where they are located, or if you’d like to know the locations of Ontario’s haunted places, vineyards, crop circles, Bigfoot-type footprints, unusual place names, zoos, swimming locations, casinos and more, then be sure to check out this resource!
Web Tip
While on summer vacation you can suspend your library holds - that way you won't lose your spot on the waiting list for that long awaited book, video, or DVD. Log into your account in HIP ( http://hip.pcin.on.ca), view your hold list, click in the selection box beside each of your holds, and then click the change status button. That will make your holds inactive. You can even select a reativation date. When back from holidays, simply change the status again to active. Any questions? Just call us at 519-271-0220 or e-mail askspl@pcin.on.ca.
Ontario’s Museums - www.museumsontario.com/museums/onlineguide/?lang+en Search for Ontario’s museums and heritage sites by name, by city, or by type (agricultural, botanical, archaeological, marine museums, railway museums, living history sites, etc.) for a wealth of information about our province’s preserved heritage!
Doors Open Ontario - www.doorsopenontario.on.ca/ The Doors Open Ontario program focuses on our heritage and architecture by opening various facilities to the public, and in 2006, Stratford and Perth County are participating! (The Stratford Public Library will be just one of the local Doors Open locations.) Find Doors Open Ontario locations, maps and events here.
The Niagara Escarpment - www.escarpment.org/Travel/travel_area_search.htm The Niagara Escarpment extends from Hamilton to the upper tip of the Bruce Peninsula. With its many waterfalls and hiking trails, the Escarpment, named a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve in 1990, offers plenty to see. This web site includes maps and many links, including a link to information about the Bruce Trail.
Real Ontario: Ontario’s Eastern Half - www.realontario.ca/ Suggestions on what to see, driving directions, VIA Rail schedules, Ontario Travel Guides, and information on waterways in Eastern Ontario, marinas, restaurants, shopping, accommodations, and more, can be found on the Real Ontario web site
