by Bobby Coles

Created on: June 26, 2009   Last Updated: May 08, 2012

Ontario is often considered the backbone of Canada, housing not only its capital city of Ottawa, but also the largest and most diverse city, Toronto. The culture seen throughout Ontario varies widely, and features a little bit of everything for all tastes. If you are planning on visiting Ontario, then there are many great places that you will want to visit while here.

The most diverse culture in Ontario belongs in the heart of Toronto. Toronto houses a multicultural society that includes its own Chinatown and districts featuring the most unique flavours from around the globe. The culture of Toronto is vast, and it includes some unbelievably fantastic museums, sporting venues, restaurants and film festivals. The theatre district is world renowned, and the distillery district is a popular Toronto destination. Scaling the CN Tower is also a unique sight to behold.

Ontario, most notably the southern tier, also features one of the most visited tourist destinations in the entire free world. Niagara Falls, located across the river from Niagara Falls, New York, is home to the honeymoon capital, and a plethora of amazing activities to thrill the senses and intoxicate the eyes. The Falls are a raging force that plummet into an awaiting body of water below, and then swirl around into a frenzy as they careen out of control downwind. Offering many unique ways to view the falls, including a jet boat tour, the Maid of the Mist, Journey Behind the Falls, and the Spanish Aerocar, which suspends you atop the river, this tourist destination is a hotbed of activity.

Ontario is also home to the capital city of Ottawa, where the Governmental Parliament buildings dwell. The Prime Minister of Canada, Stephen Harper, lives on Sussex Drive in Ottawa, the Northern version of the White House. Ottawa is filled with a diverse culture much akin to that of Toronto, only on a much less grandiose scale. Featuring many great things to do and see, and bordering on the province of Quebec, which is breathtaking, Ottawa is a great place to visit.

Also in Ontario, one can visit some Northern towns, such as Cobalt, the cradle of professional hockey, and the main source of silver for many years. The once prosperous city is now quaint and quiet, but the mines still run tours to give people an idea of how tough the lifestyle would have been. The northern areas of Ontario are vast and gorgeous.

Ontario's culture is ever evolving, and the Grape and Wine Festival is a highlight in southern Ontario. This massive festival and parade occurs at the end of September in the cozy city of St. Catharines. This area of Ontario is robust with wineries, and the Grape and Wine festival aims to showcase this industry.

Ontario is the epicentre of Canada, and the pulse that drives the nation. The economic stability of the country comes from the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX), and as far as Ontario goes, so goes the whole country of Canada.

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