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Romantic Travel Destinations in Ontario

Find the best Romantic Travel Destinations in Ontario. Share stunning scenery, slower-paced living, and sensual seclusion with your sweetie in romantic Ontario now.

Wine touring in the Niagara Region surrounding Niagara Falls; Photo courtesy of Chris Beard, Shaw Festival

How do you define “romantic travel destinations”? Everyone sees it differently. Maybe you want to visit exotic locations with stunning nature? Stroll hand-in-hand through quaint little villages? Stop for a kiss in a garden lush with flowers? Share a sunset on a beach or from the front porch of your own secluded cottage? Feed each other the finest fresh food local farms have to offer?

You can find all of these indulgences and more in Ontario.

1st Prize? Niagara Falls

When it comes to romantic travel destinations in Ontario, Niagara Falls Canada still takes first prize. This natural Wonder of the World has been a popular honeymoon destination since the early 1800s, when two trend-setting famous couples put it on the map. For two hundred years, couples have been coming to view the famous cataract from the prow of a ship, from the height of the aerocar, or the platform at Table Rock.

Nowadays there are even more ways of enjoying the sight of this famous cataract – some of them very intimate. How does seeing the falls from the window of your hotel suite sound? Imagine waking up to that view in the morning, or going to bed after watching the fireworks light up the Falls! Niagara Falls fallsview hotels offer rooms that are like your own private viewing platform. Bring on the bubbly! Let’s toast Mother Nature.

Recently Niagara Falls Canada has become a place for “destination weddings”. Yes, it’s possible to enjoy a Niagara Falls wedding even if you’re from another country. Think of how amazing your photos will be with a setting like this! And it’s not just the Falls themselves that make pretty pictures; it’s the gorgeous gardens lining the parkway and the stunning rainbows over the water that make a wedding in Niagara Falls special. Since this is such a popular practice, many companies in the area specialize in arranging the Big Day. Just plug "Niagara Falls wedding" in your favourite search engine and you'll see what I mean.

MORE Romantic Travel Destinations in Ontario:

Slow down…

For some couples, a romantic vacation is all about slowing down and taking the time to savour each other’s company. What better place to kick back than in some of Ontario’s quaint historic towns. Here are some places where the pace is gentler:

Niagara on the Lake Ontario – Often called Ontario's prettiest town, Niagara on the Lake is great for couples who enjoy wine touring, theatre and fine dining. You'll find lots of luxurious bed and breakfasts housed in heritage homes as well as many fine hotels in a range of prices. If you're here during summer and fall, don't forget to pick up some fresh fruit and vegetables from the roadside stands. You can't get fresher than this!

Stratford Ontario – This small town in southwestern Ontario is famous for its theatre (the Stratford Shakespeare Festival) but you'll find more than shows to entertain you here. During the summer, the park along the Avon River is a lovely place to stroll and enjoy the scenery and watch the pairs of swans swim by (did you know why swans are considered so romantic? It's because they mate for life). The main street with its heritage storefronts is lined with lots of neat boutiques and cafes too.

And how about Paris, one of the world's most famous romantic travel destinations? No, not THAT Paris. I’m talking Paris Ontario, a quiet retreat from the bustle of nearby Toronto. Ok, it's not exactly France but it has a quiet charm all its own.

Looking for more sweet small town escapes? Try Orillia, Ganonoque, Picton or Port Hope.

Say it With Flowers

Flowers are the Language of Love. Gardens are such romantic travel destinations! Here's a few just made for wandering with your soul mate – a perfect addition to any romantic getaway.

Royal Botanical Gardens – Hamilton

Guildwood Park - Toronto

Niagara Parks Botanical Gardens – Niagara Falls

Gardens of Casa Loma – in Toronto – of course the Castle is lovely too, and often used for weddings

**Note: all of these gardens are popular wedding shoot locations.

Ottawa Tulip Festival – This is an event, not a place, but it's a spectacular one, and you won't want to miss it if you're garden-lovers!

NATURAL Romantic Travel Destinations

Perhaps you and your partner are the outdoorsy types and prefer to escape “civilization” altogether? Ontario parks offer many chances for secret snuggling under the stars. In Algonquin Park, for example, you can camp, rent your own private cottage in the woods, or stay at one of the finer Ontario resorts where you’ll be pampered like royalty. Algonquin’s gorgeous all year around but it’s especially stunning during the fall colour season.

Muskokas – Mmmm…. Lakeside resorts, swimming in fresh water, listening to the call of the loon. Rent a cottage or book a room at a resort and indulge in a little R and R together.

Other places where you can combine wilderness and civilization: Orillia, Gravenhurst, Haliburton highlands, Tobermory & Manitoulin island .

City life, culture & luxury make these two super romantic travel destinations

Toronto

Looking for some urban excitement? If you're the kind of couple who enjoys the buzz of big city life then Toronto is a great place for a romantic weekend for two.

The city offers many romantic restaurants with views-to-kill-for, like the one from the top of the CN Tower (a "serious" date place). Another hot spot with a view? The rooftop patio of the The Park Hyatt Hotel near trendy Yorkville.

Speaking of scenery… have you and your loved one taken a harbour cruise and seen the city from the lake? It's spectacular. You can take one of several boat tours or just hop the ferry over to Toronto Island. While you're there, take time to wander around and enjoy the slower pace of island life before you head back to the city for a busy evening.

And what are your choices for nighttime entertainment in Toronto? You could dance the night away at one of the clubs in the Entertainment District, go for Spanish flamenco, or even watch a belly dancing show at The Sultan's Tent on Front Street.

Ottawa

The nation's capital is about more than just government! It's one of the country's best romantic travel destinations. Here you'll find cozy historic hotels like the Chateau Laurier or, for the adventurous, maybe you'd like to spend a night in you own private cell at the Ottawa Jail Hostel?

In winter, you could take your sweetie's hand and go ice skating on the world's largest ice rink: The Rideau Canal. In summer the canal is the perfect place for a leisurely boat cruise. You can also bike or rollerblade along the path skirting the canal. And how about taking in the Ottawa Tulip Festival?

Ottawa has tons of great little restaurants, including one specializing in Aboriginal cuisine (Sweetgrass, at 108 Murray Street). You'll also find many cafes with a French flair; Ottawa is very bilingual and you'll hear plenty of French spoken in the streets. Quebec is just a short walk over the bridge if you want to explore further!

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