As you travel away from the city of Ottawa you are quickly among the Canadian heartland of rolling hills, valleys, waterways, forests and highlands that beckon visitors. Enjoy a stop at one of the numerous quaint small towns and villages along the way.
If you head west or northwest from Ottawa you will undoubtedly head into the Central Ontario Region and Algonquin Park, a true Canadian natural gem. If you head south in any direction you will eventually reach the shores of the lake that gives the Province its name and all the wonderful sights that go with it.
As especially breathtaking part is along the stretch where Lake Ontario spills into the St. Lawrence River, the aptly named Thousand Islands area. This is a great area to spend the day sightseeing, boating or fishing. Activities are too numerous to list here so make sure you visit my Thousand Islands page for more information.
The other main city in the region is Kingston, Ontario. Once the capital of the country it is now a beautiful small city with many historic buildings in a picturesque setting at the headwaters of the St. Lawrence River.
Most international visitors to Canada usually have a trip to Toronto (with a side trip to Niagara Falls), and then a trip to Montreal on their itineraries. While I do agree that both cities are “must see” destinations visitors do have to pass through the region on their way from one to the other (unless flying) and I definitely recommend a stop in the region as it is simply beautiful. Spectacular landscapes and attractions abound.
In addition to the beautiful city of Ottawa (which I would say is also a must see), there is enough to see and do that you should plan to spend at least 2 or 3 days. To get an idea of just what the region has to offer check out my eastern Ontario pages below.