Waterfalls & wineries: a road trip through Ontario

Enjoy a full day at leisure, independently exploring Canada's largest city. This cosmopolitan city offers a diverse range of shops, restaurants, and world-renowned art galleries, theatres, and sports events. Toronto is also home to National Geographic's "World's Best Food Market", St Lawrence Market, so we recommend stopping by for a bite to eat. If you’d prefer to see the natural side of the city, we recommend taking a bike and cycling across the islands to see the Toronto skyline. We've included tickets to the CN Tower to see the city from above today.

This morning, you'll make your own way to the downtown car hire depot to collect your hire car. Your package includes an additional driver and all necessary insurance. Your journey will take approximately two hours, following the shores of Lake Ontario to the Niagara region. As you approach Niagara-on-the-Lake, the surroundings will transition from urban landscapes to wide stretches of farmland and vineyards. Settle into your hotel in Niagara-on-the-Lake and explore the small town this evening.

Today, make the short, 30-minute drive to the mighty Niagara Falls. We've included a Niagara Adventure Pass for admission to many of the region’s attractions, and tickets for the Hornblower cruise, which takes you right up to the foot of the falls. This afternoon, return to Niagara-on-the-Lake to explore its flower-adorned streets under your own steam. Here, you can slow your pace by venturing to some of the area's wineries to taste local Canadian red and white wine and the more regionally distinctive ice wine.

Leaving Niagara Falls, you'll drive north and east for about four hours, hugging the north coast of Lake Ontario. Your destination is the small peninsula of Prince Edward County, with a relaxed artisan atmosphere, sand dunes, and water views. Your stay is at a historic boutique countryside farm hotel, where you can indulge in fresh eggs from the chicken coop each morning, take a stroll through the gardens and orchard, or rock gently in a hammock by the pond.

You have a full day at your own leisure to explore Prince Edward County. With the number of farms in the area, quality food and drink are a focus here, leading to the county being named 'Ontario's Gastronomic Capital'. We particularly recommend visiting the plentiful food trucks and farmers' markets, and one of the many wineries, perhaps trying a fondue experience in the barrel room. We also suggest visiting the many art galleries, taking a trip to the sand dunes to get out on the water, and listening to birdsong at Macaulay Mountain.

Leave the shores of the lake behind today as you venture inland toward Algonquin Provincial Park. The journey will take about four hours. On the way, we suggest stopping in Bancroft to take the short and relatively easy hike to Eagle Lookout for panoramic views. Your next stop is Haliburton Forest, where we've included admission to the Wolf Centre. Here, you can learn more about local wolves, indigenous culture, and see the resident wolf pack lounging and playing in front of one-way glass. You'll then continue to Algonquin to settle into your rustic lodge. All meals are included in your stay.

Algonquin Provincial Park is set within lush woods that turn to vibrant reds, oranges, and yellows in October, and is peppered with lakes, ponds, and rivers. You have a private three-hour guided tour by electric canoe onto the calm waters of the lakes to try to spot wildlife along the shore, including moose, birds, wolves, and deer. You have the rest of the day to explore at your own leisure, sampling one of the hiking trails or learning more about the artists who frequented the region.

Make your way through 'Cottage Country' today as you depart Algonquin Park for Toronto. The journey is about three hours, but you might like to stop in Gravenhurst on the way to visit the traditional sternwheeler paddleboat. You'll continue to the airport for your onward flight. Your return flight will arrive the same day.