Top Things to do in Ontario
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Things to do in Ontario, United States: The Best Historic Sites
Discover the best top things to do in Ontario, United States including Parliament Hill and Buildings, Black Creek Pioneer Village, Casa Loma, The Elgin & Winter Garden Theatre Centre, Upper Canada Village, Fort George National Historic Site of Canada, Dundurn Castle, Peterborough Lift Lock, Bell Homestead, Eldon House.
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1. Parliament Hill and Buildings
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 9,514 reviews
Three Gothic Revival-style buildings, located on a 170-foot bluff overlooking the Ottawa River, house the offices of the members of Parliament, the House of Commons and the Senate. Free guided tours delve into Canadian history and explain the workings of the political system.
Reviewed By ephesians5 - Toronto, Canada
There is much to see inside and around Parliament Hill, especially during summer time. At 10:00 am is the Change of the GuardsCeremony. There are free tours for the Parliament building (Centre Block and East block tours), which require to line up fro tickets for a set time. The Parliament Hill building is Gothic Revival housing a beautiful library at the back of the building. This is the only room that survived the Parliament fire. The surrounding area around the Parliament Hill Buildings have many statues and offers a beautiful view of Ottawa National Gallery, the Cathedral, and the Canada Museum of History across the river, to mention a few sights. Ottawa is very green, clean and easy to walk. In the evening, the Northern Lights- Sound and Light Show presents the narrated Canadian History in English and French, projecting the lights and images on to the Parliament building. It was preceded by fireworks. The show was spectacular, very high quality images, well told history at a good pace. It was quite emotional at the end when people stands and sing the national anthem! This show will end on Labour Day. Bring a blanket or portable chair. There is free parking at Metcalfe street and Albert Street on the weekends, but it fills quickly, especially for the evening light show. A good paid parking is at the National Arts Centre.
2. Black Creek Pioneer Village
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 581 reviews
Immerse yourself in the 1860s and explore an authentically re-created country village of the Toronto region. At Black Creek Pioneer Village, visitors discover 40 historic buildings, 70 rare and heritage breed animals, 10 gardens growing flowers and plants from heirloom seeds, and exciting programs that engage people of all ages. They meet costumed educators who demonstrate and involve visitors with trades and crafts common in 1860s’ Ontario, tap their toes to music of the era, laugh at the hysterical antics of the History Actors, and have fun engaging in hands-on activities throughout the village!
Reviewed By weinerhavatz
amazing and a great way to reconnect with our food system. Black Creek is also a very interactive and real way to learn about Canadian history and specifically about the history of the Toronto region. Great way to spend the day with the kids. I can’t recommend this place highly enough! It’s also quite easy to get there by TTC now that they’ve built the new subway extension.
3. Casa Loma
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 7,568 reviews
Canada's majestic castle and Toronto’s premier historic attraction. In 1911, Sir Henry Pellatt engaged noted architect E.J. Lennox to help him realize a lifelong dream,the creation of an Edwardian castle on the top of a hill overlooking Toronto. It took 300 men nearly three years to complete the nearly to 200,000 square foot castle at a cost $3,500,000 (at the time). Situated on 5 acres, Casa Loma was the largest private residence in Canada. Sir Henry Pellatt with his wife Lady Mary enjoyed Casa Loma for less than ten years before financial misfortune forced him to abandon his home. The tour of the castle is self-guided. Visitors can experience the castle at their leisure with the aid of multimedia audio guides.
Reviewed By Amy_K-30229 - Chicago, United States
This was one of my favorite tourist attactions in Toronto. It's in the Annex District, the neighborhood where Margaret Atwood--author of The Handmaid's Tale--lives. The self-guided tour is very well done, you pick up a map and a telephone reciever-like device that can hang around your neck. The map shows you how to walk the property and each room has a number to type in to be able to learn about Sir Henry Pellatt and his fourtune then downfall, as well as the construction of his great castle. The basement has the movie posters of all the films/tv shows that were filmed there, as well as a tv playing the clips of each. It was great to walk through the whole castle, then make it down to the basement to recognize each room as the clips played on screen. My only disapointment was, they were setting up for a wedding in the conservatory, so we could not fully explore the room.
4. The Elgin & Winter Garden Theatre Centre
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 350 reviews
The last operating double-decker theatre in the world. Built in 1913 and restored and renovated by the Ontario Heritage Trust in the 1980s today the Elgin and Winter Garden Theatre Centre is home to a diverse and variety of entertainment in Toronot. From TIFF to Ross Petty Holiday Family Musicals there is something for everyone. The downstairs auditorium is the elegant Elgin Theatre red and gold in Edwardian design. The upstairs theatre is the whimsical Winter Garden a unique botanical rooftop garden that blooms year around. Join us for musicals, operas, comedy and films. Public tours happen Mondays at 5pm and Saturdays at 10am check website for cancelations.
Reviewed By NiuMum
When I suggested to take a guided tour to the theatre，some of my friends said why dont we leverage a show to visit the theatre rather than investing additional time and money？I have to say it is really worth it！We attended the Saturday morning 10:00 2 hours guided tour. Two volunteers hosted us. Linda let us take the 1913 made Otis Elevator. It is manually operated！They spend two hours to relfect the theatre history and how it was restored including keeping the original spelling mistake. They keep it as Edward time style. It is really amazing to see the only operating double decker theatre in the world on site. I really recommend people pay a visit there. When you know the stories，you will see this theatre differently when you come for a show next time.
5. Upper Canada Village
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 779 reviews
Touring Upper Canada Village is a magical experience, transporting you back in time to the 1860s. A key part of the experience is the authentic buildings that make up the village, the activities that each housed, and of course, the people who lived there.
Reviewed By pcookle
We have been for the Christmas lights and for the pumpkin Inferno and both are a really enjoyable family trip. Although it takes under an hour to go through it is always a well spent hour with lots to see and do. Worth attending
6. Fort George National Historic Site of Canada
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,243 reviews
Reviewed By VAPilot - Vienna, United States
Great place to learn more about the British experience in the War of 1812! Musicians, "troops" drilling in period costume, cannons, one original building and plenty of other realistically reconstructed buildings with detailed histories. Don't miss the musket firing drill! Kids loved it.
7. Dundurn Castle
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 679 reviews
Experience a guided tour of this 40-room Italianate-style villa built in the 1830's on Burlington Heights; the former site of a fortified military encampment established by the British in 1813.
Reviewed By Kaz5904
Great guided tour of this "castle" - knowledgeable guide and the house was beautifully set up as a museum. We came out with a real understanding of life at the time. Thoroughly recommend!
8. Peterborough Lift Lock
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 599 reviews
Opened in 1904 and designated as a Canadian National Historic Site, this is the highest hydraulic lift lock in the world.
Reviewed By TangoForFun - Oshawa, Canada
We drove here as something to do during Covid 19 pandemic. Parking is easy, well marked and plentiful. Grounds are very well maintained and there are benches as well as picnic tables. We brought a picnic lunch with us and had a great lunch watching the boats and boaters glide by. The lock system is definitely one to observe and is whisper quiet and fascinating. We will make sure to come again as it was very easy, comfortable and interesting.
9. Bell Homestead
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 131 reviews
Reviewed By burr6013 - Mississauga, Canada
Bell Homestead National Historic Site of Canada was the first North American home of Professor Alexander Melville Bell and his family, including his last surviving son, scientist Alexander Graham Bell. The younger Bell conducted his earliest experiments in North America at the farmhouse, known as “Melville House” at the time, and later invented the telephone at the homestead on July 26, 1874. Fun Fact: It was the summer of 1870 after two of their sons had died of tuberculosis that the Bells left their native Scotland for Canada. At the time of their arrival, their middle son, Alexander Graham Bell, was additionally stricken and being consumed by the disease. Professor Bell, an authority on speech and elocutio, felt the fresh air in rural Canada would help his son recover. Bell purchased the homestead (approximately 5¼ hectares) for $2,600. Neat! Look for Bell Homestead National Historic Site of Canada at 94 Tutela Heights Road in the Ontario municipality of Brantford, also known as “The Telephone City”. A museum to the family and to the invention of the telephone since 1909, the site (approximately four hectares) has largely been restored to its 1870s appearance (complete with outbuildings and much of the family’s original furnishings) when the Bell family lived there. Rooms on exhibit include the hall, library, dining room, kitchen, bedrooms, parlour, conservatory, and workshop. Note that Bell Homestead National Historic Site of Canada also includes the Henderson Home building, Canada’s first telephone company business office. Relocated to the site in 1967 from its original location in downtown Brantford, the Henderson House building was originally the home of Reverend Thomas Phillip Henderson and later opened in 1877 as a predecessor of the Bell Telephone Company of Canada (Bell Canada). Neat! Guided tours of Bell Homestead National Historic Site of Canada run Tuesday through Saturday. Currently, tours (approximately an hour in length) must be arranged in advance by contacting the site. Admission is $8.00 for adults, $7.00 for seniors (65 years and over), $7.00 for students (13 years and over), and $5 for children (7-12). On-site amenities include a café (baked goods, coffee, and tea), a museum store (souvenirs, telephones, books, posters, and vintage items), parking, picnic grounds, and indoor washroom facilities. Bell Homestead National Historic Site of Canada was designated a National Historic Site on June 1, 1996. The museum's exhibits were developed in cooperation with Bell Canada, the Canadian successor to the phone company established by Alexander Melville Bell with Reverend Henderson's assistance after Alexander Graham Bell gave his father 75% of the Canadian patent rights to his invention.
10. Eldon House
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 134 reviews
Built in 1834, the oldest surviving home in London contains heirlooms and furnishings that belonged to the original owners, Captain John and Amelia Harris. ***During COVID-19 the interior of Eldon House will be open by appointment only during the listed hours. Our summer tea program is unavailable in 2020.
Reviewed By hrhmed - Toronto, Canada
we visited this house and what a surprise! I love history and this house delivers. furnitures, decor, kitchen, wallpaper, bedroom and the guides are very informative that even my son who hates sightseeing got interested with the house history and ask a lot of questions.... they have construction but you can still go inside the house. They also have high tea with staff dressed in old servants uniform... Highly recommend to visit and admission is donation to hep with the upkeep of this house.
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