Sightseeing in Orillia

The history of Midland literally comes to life at Huronia Museum. Besides art, artifacts, and photography collections, the museum is home to perfectly preserved buildings and immaculately recreated historical structures. Size: as big as Midland itself—outside of the tens of thousands of historic artifacts, the museum encompasses 25 sites around the city, which can be visited on walking and driving tours Eye Catcher: the massive Fresnel lens, a former lighthouse installment currently located in the Marine Heritage display Permanent Mainstay: the Wendat Village, a completely restored Indian settlement originally built in 1947 Don't Miss: the Wednesday night film series, ranging from historically educational films to new releases

Nature enthusiast Jeff Hathaway shares a passion for his country's indigenous animals?specifically amphibians and reptiles. At Scales Nature Park, staff and volunteers introduce visitors of all ages to more than 300 cold-blooded specimens from more than 60 species, most of which are native to Canada. The wildlife-conservation facility also houses exotic reptiles and amphibians donated by their owners or seized from private homes by protective agencies. All of these creatures coexist in a 21-hectare park, which represents natural habitats ranging from ponds and wetlands to hardwood forests and hemlock groves. An indoor nature centre showcases some animals in custom-built enclosures and serves as the venue for a range of programs, including hands-on animal demonstrations, guided walks, and guest lectures.

The ATVs and Ski-Doo snowmobiles at Cottage Country Tours rotate seasonally as they ferry adventurers into the untamed wilderness of the Canadian Shield for hiking, fishing, and sightseeing excursions. Day tours reveal the rugged expanse of the Shield?s southern tip, an area that contains both the Swift Rapids and the Big Chute Marine Railway. Moonlight rides and overnight stays in the outfit?s rustic cabins yield glimpses of the brilliant night sky, when the stars and planets gleam without interruption by city lights or alley cats playing flashlight tag.

The ATVs and Ski-Doo snowmobiles at Cottage Country Tours rotate seasonally as they ferry adventurers into the untamed wilderness of the Canadian Shield for hiking, fishing, and sightseeing excursions. Day tours reveal the rugged expanse of the Shield?s southern tip, an area that contains both the Swift Rapids and the Big Chute Marine Railway. Moonlight rides and overnight stays in the outfit?s rustic cabins yield glimpses of the brilliant night sky, when the stars and planets gleam without interruption by city lights or alley cats playing flashlight tag.

Spanning a majestic 760 acres of waterfront wilderness, Deerhurst Resort entertains visitors with a dazzling array of amenities and activities just two hours north of Toronto. Guests relax in homey hotel rooms with feather duvets and pillows, with the main building a 10-minute walk from the lake. By the water, visitors can lounge on the beach, compete in volleyball matches, and learn to waterski, kayak, or canoe. Fishing boat rentals allow fishermen to venture to the center of the lake, casting lines in hopes of snagging sizeable northern pike and fabled lake trout made entirely of gold. Between May and October, golf enthusiasts rove the greens on two 18-hole courses, leisurely competing with friends or taking pointers from the golf academy's instructor, Dave Castellan. The warm weather months allow swimmers to frolic in three outdoor pools and tennis players to hit outdoor courts, including three lit courts so players can photosynthesize at all hours. Deerhurst also offers scenic pony rides for children and mountain bike rentals for cyclists looking to explore the surrounding countryside. Indoors, visitors can rev up their adrenaline on the rock-climbing wall or sink into a blissful trance with massages and pedicures at Shizen Spa. Because of a draconian government mandate demanding that people must eat food or perish, Deerhurst's chef Rory Golden sees that the resort's five restaurants offer a diverse selection of dishes for all palates. The staff demonstrates their commitment to creating seasonal fare with locally sourced ingredients by harvesting their own herbs, honey, maple syrup, and shiitake mushrooms on the premises.

Travelling by motor coach is one of the most exciting ways to sightsee, according to Trip On. The tour company arranges single- and multiday trips that whisk travellers to popular destinations in the U.S.A. and Canada, all in the comfort of luxury coaches that never get stuck in cloud traffic. After collecting passengers from designated pickup locations, the coaches speed away to places such as the Kawartha Lakes, historic Gettysburg, or popular casinos. Most day trips include lunch and sightseeing tours led by Trip On’s knowledgeable guides, and multiday excursions also include hotel accommodations. The staff can also accommodate custom tour requests, to create a trip tailored to a customer’s unique adventurous spirit.