Visiting Northern Ontario

Northern Ontario transforms into an outdoor paradise with summer season's long days and sunshine. Algonquin Provincial Park in the Near North comes to life as one of North America’s premier moose spotting habitats – visit May and June for prime viewing season - and don’t miss Thursday nights in August as crowds gather to listen to the wolves howling. Thunder Bay in Ontario’s Lake Superior North, celebrates the blues in July, while North Bay in Ontario’s Near North lets go in August at their Summer in the Park Festival. Or enjoy the raw beauty of Northern Ontario on a train ride through the Wilderness Region.

Music fans mark July 6 – 8 on your calendar for the 2012 Thunder Bay Blues Festival. This 11th anniversary event is held at Marina Park in Thunder Bay. The festival kicks off on Friday evening with Jonny Lang on stage, with Teceshci Trucks Band and .38 Special, headlining Saturday and Sunday’s lineups. Join friends for an exceptional Thunder Bay experience, filled with the magic of blues music, great food and warm summer days.

Thunder Bay closes summer with the 2012 Bay Street Film Festival, September 6th through 9th. A showcase for independent film, filmmakers from Northern Ontario, Canada, and the globe, gather for BSFF. Thunder Bay’s Finnish Labour Temple, now a community auditorium hosts screenings and event. The festival prides itself in screening films for the people, exposing audiences to cutting edge themes and topics, artfully explored through film. A must see for film buffs, join the festival to see the latest in independent film and interact with filmmakers and fellow fans.

Northern Ontario’s city of North Bay, situated northwest of Algonquin Provincial Park, is a commercial and cultural hub for the Near North region. North Bay’s location of the shores of Lake Nipissing brings summer days at the beach. Residents and visitors enjoy strolling on the boardwalk and bicycling or skating along Kate Pace Way.

Outdoor adventures around North Bay are abundant – check out Duchesnay Falls, the Sturgeon River and Algonquin Provincial Park – there are three entrances to the park near North Bay. Visit the Heritage Railway Company for a train ride, looping around North Bay’s waterfront. Don’t miss a ride on the North Bay Heritage Carousel and take note of the detail in the design and workmanship.

Celebrate the joys of summer at the 2012 North Bay Summer in the Park Festival, August 3rd through the 5th. Live music and entertainment are the main attraction, with daytime activities for everyone. Join friends and family for amusement rides, food vendors, face painting and fun.

Surrounded by Ontario’s wilderness, Cochrane is situated on Ontario’s east-west Highway 11. Home of the Polar Bear Express, visitors can ride through Ontario’s pristine Boreal Forest from Cochrane to Moosonee. Remember, there is no Saturday service in summer, and the 2012 schedule runs June 25th through August 31st. The Polar Bear Express is an ideal way to view Northern Ontario’s landscapes while enjoying live music and dining on the train.

Northern Ontario Hotel Map