Fun Spontaneous Day trips from Toronto
Fun Day Trips From Toronto
Looking to get out of the busy city and do something a bit different or see somewhere new?
I have some fun last minute ideas for you.
This is my list of fun spontaneous day trips from Toronto!
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The Big Apple
The Big Apple is a landmark that you can see from the 401 highway.
Yes, there is literally a BIG apple, and a whole lot more too.
The Big Apple has been around since 1987.
Make sure you’re hungry when you go to the Big Apple.
You can dine at one of the 2 indoor restaurants.
There is also a food truck outside where you can get fish ‘n chips.
Also, there’s a smokehouse outdoor grill with smoked ribs, chicken, turkey legs, and curly fries.
If you have a sweet tooth, there’s a huge candy shop, a maple syrup section, baked goods, and a snack section.
There is even a wine and cider shop.
I highly recommend getting some Apple bread while you’re there! It’s so soft and fresh!
Of course, there are tons of apple snacks and treats. You can even watch through a big bakery window as they make fresh apple pies!
For fun you can play a free game of 18-hole mini golf.
If that’s not your style, check out the cute animals at the petting zoo.
Naturally, a must is to climb to the top of the Big Apple. You enter the apple and go up the stair case.
Once you’re at the top there’s an ‘apple-top’ terrace. lol!
If you’re not up for climbing the stairs you can sit on the bench in front of the big apple for your photos.
The Big Apple is located at 262 Orchard Road, in Colborne. From the Highway 401 it’s exit 497. It’s less than 1 minute from the highway cutoff.
Niagara Falls
Of course, this is one of the top destinations near Toronto in Canada, and for good reason!
There is really so much to do in Niagara Falls at any time of year!
Of course, there’s the famous ‘Street of Fun’ Clifton Hill. It’s entertaining just walking up and down this street.
I recommend walking Clifton Hill in the evening or night when you can enjoy all the lights and action. You can see some of the fun of Clifton Hill at Niagara Falls- Clifton Hill Attractions.
Maybe Clifton Hill is too busy for you, there are so many other fun activities.
Some activities are normal things like dining at a restaurant, but there are also so many extreme activities in Niagara Falls. Check out 16 Epic Things To Do in Niagara Falls!
Even in the winter Niagara Falls has special activities! There is a yearly festival that happens on the road along the Niagara Falls. It is called the Winter Festival of Lights in Niagara Falls.
It runs from mid-November until the beginning of January.
City of Waterfalls
Another fun spontaneous day trip from Toronto is Hamilton.
If you’re looking to connect with the water and nature, why not head down to Hamilton.
I know what you’re thinking… Hamilton?
It’s actually considered the waterfall capital of the world!
It is deemed the “City of Waterfalls”.
Some of the biggest waterfalls in Hamilton are Tews Falls and Webster’s Falls.
You can enjoy hiking, relaxing in nature, and being by the water.
An FYI – for some of the waterfalls in Hamilton, people are not allowed at the bottom.
Just make sure you check the signs about what is allowed and what is not.
If you’re looking to connect with nature even more, you can check out The Best Natural Attractions in Ontario here.
Niagara-on-the-Lake
Niagara-on-the-lake is a beautiful and charming place to visit!
There are great lake views at some of the parks and streets.
If you’re into theatre and art, feel free to check out the Shaw Festival.
The Shaw Festival brings concerts, plays, performances, activities and workshops every year. Some of the performances take place outdoors.
Would you believe that this festival runs from February to December with great performances happening regularly!
If theatre is not your thing, there are tons of quaint and beautiful shops and restaurants in Niagara-on-the-lake. You can chill on a sidewalk patio or a rooftop patio.
There is a great Indigenous shop with authentic Indigenous art work and beautiful 
pieces of art and clothing called Upper Canada Native Art.
It’s located at 109 Queen Street. I highly recommend checking it out as they are many local Indigenous artists featured in this beautiful store.
Niagara-on-the-Lake is a very historical area. You can also visit the historical Fort George where you can learn about the war of 1812 and the battles that happened in the area. Fort George is located at 51 Queen’s Parade Street.
Queenston Heights Parks was also a battle ground in history. Now it is a beautiful park that has a commemorative memorial for Six Nations and Indigenous allies. Visit the park at 14184 Niagara River Parkway.
Be sure to get your photo with the Floral Clock at 14004 Niagara River Parkway.
You can stroll through the downtown area with gelato or go shopping at the beautiful shops!
If you’re not in the mood for walking, but still want to explore. Here is the perfect option to do so – in style!
A horse and carriage ride! You can catch your ride at the corner of King and Queen Streets.
Just wait outside of the Prince of Wales historical hotel for your chariot!
4 people can ride at a time and it goes through the downtown and historical area.
You can choose between a 15 minute to 1 hour tour. Blankets are provided too.
You can learn more at Sentineal Carriages.
More than that, there are also 38 wineries in Niagara-on-the-lake. You can mingle around different wineries.
Niagara-on-the-lake is full of quaint charm and beautiful views. It’s definitely worth the trip between the rich history and art, wine, cuisine, and much more!
Winery Tours
Ontario is home to so many wineries!
There are actually official wine routes. If you’re driving you will see a sign with grapes that indicates that you’re on a wine route.
The biggest wine routes are near Lake Erie, Prince Edward County, Niagara, Niagara-on-the-lake, and the Niagara escarpment.
Also, there are some smaller wine areas in places like Norfolk County, Georgian Bay, Ottawa and Huron Shores.
From my experience the escarpment, Niagara and Niagara-on-the-lake wine routes are my favourites.
Some have special events, restaurants, performers, or other activities.
There are so many wineries and so much variety with what they offer. It can be very overwhelming when you’re trying to plan out a trip.
I use this super helpful Wine Route Trip Planner. I can add wineries to my list, then look at the map and add or take away others until my day is planned.
Here you can plan your trip, check out events and a listing of all the wineries at Wine Country in Ontario.
Peterborough
The Peterborough Folk Festival is a free festival at Nicholls Oval Park.
It’s a fun and laid-back outdoor festival that happens mid August for 4 days.
It’s free too. If you’re staying downtown, there is a shuttle from downtown, or you can drive and park there.
This festival has been happening for 34 years as of 2023.
From July 1st until late August there is a free summer concert series in Peterborough called Peterborough Music Fest.
The concerts are all free and right by the water at a park.
You can bring your own chair, rent one for $5.00, or just stand and mingle around.
The concerts are at Del Crary Park on George Street North right by the water.
If it’s not summer when you’re headed to Peterborough there is still lots to do!
There are tons of cool bars, restaurants, and shops to explore!
You can learn more about things to do in Peterborough here.
I have marked the parks and downtown on this map so that you can pick out your hotel in the location that is best for you.
Hiking trails
There are so many great places to hike around Toronto.
You can literally drive in any direction or highway from Toronto and find a hiking trail near by.
Some really nice hiking trails are at conservation areas.
Some hiking areas that I recommend are:
- Rattlesnake Point Conservation area
- Crawford Lake Conservation Area
- Spencer Gorge Conservation Area
- Mono Cliffs Provincial Park
You can see waterfalls at some of these hiking areas that are along the Niagara escarpment.
If you’re looking for more ways to enjoy nature, check out The Best Natural Attractions in Ontario.
Blue Mountain
Another fun and spontaneous day trip from Toronto is Blue Mountain.
Blue Mountain is a fun place to visit year round.
Whether you’re skiing and enjoying the winter festivities.
Maybe you’re enjoying the yearly salsa festival in the summer at Blue Mountain.
There are fun shops, hotels, lodges, and fun activities to do.
Some of the sports and activities that you can do, depending on the time of year are:
- skiing
- snow shoeing
- ice skating
- hot tubing
- hiking
- mountain biking
- golfing
- canopy net adventure with ropes, nets, basically an obstacle course among the trees
- artificial rock climbing
- making pottery
There are many ways to get around at Blue Mountain.
You can swim, take an open air gondola, ski, walk, bike, hike, zip line, and even take a mountain roller coaster.
Check the website as some activities are seasonal.
I recommend the gondola ride that you can take to enjoy a great view of Blue Mountain.
For more information and to see which events and activities are opened when you’re headed there, check out Blue Mountain.
Port Dover
Port Dover is a small port town that has a lot of charm and cool shops.
It is best known for the Friday the 13th biker event. Every Friday the 13th is a special day for Port Dover where bikers come from afar to Port Dover. There are bands, vendors, and fun events.
An FYI -they only let locals with a special tag on their car and bikes drive into the town.
For everyone else, you can drive until the designated parking area, then hop on a shuttle to go to downtown Port Dover.
If it’s not Friday the 13th, Port Dover is still such a great place to spend a day or weekend.
Make sure you mingle on the beach among the sand and palm trees.
Would you believe that they have palm trees there! Yep, it’s true. Real palm trees on the beach.
Get some of the fresh-caught fish ‘n chips at the Fisherman’s Catch Bar and Restaurant or Knechtels on the beach.
You can get a famous foot-long hot dog at the Arbor.
There are also several beach house restaurant such as: The Beach House, Erie Beach Hotel Cove Room, 211 Main, and David’s restaurant.
After you eat, take a walk on the pier, and of course, you can go swimming.
Powell Park is downtown and hosts markets and festivals regularly.
There are tons of different types of cool shops like biker shops, cottage decor shops, Friday the 13th memorabilia shops, clothing, home decor, gift shops and much more.
There are some fun bars and restaurants to visit like the iconic Norfolk, Callahan’s Beach House.
The Lighthouse Theatre is on Main Street and often has special bands or performances that you can get tickets to enjoy.
Port Dover is a small town with a ‘beachy’ and biker vibe. There is a lot of fun to be had at Port Dover year round.
Grand Bend
Grand Bend is such a fun beach town.
There are fun shops, bars and, of course, the beach!
Grand Bend is on Lake Huron and is considered a Blue Flag beach.
A beach is considered a Blue Flag beach when it is clean and protects the water and the shorelines. As well, they are accessible beaches.
There are lots of fun bars and restaurants at Grand Bend where you can chill and enjoy outside.
There is a strip of bars and shops on Main Street by the beach that are fun to mingle around!
There is also a farmer’s market in Grand Bend, and a winery close to it.
Also, Pinery Provincial Park is in Grand Bend at 9526 Lakeshore Rd. There is a fee $12.25 to enter this park.
It includes a beach! There is the option of camping. You can rent bicycles or canoes.
You can hike on the hiking trails and go to the look out too.
Grand Bend is a fun place that has live music and fun bars at night when it’s high season, meaning when the weather is warm.
Tours in Ontario
These are a few examples of some of the fun and spontaneous day trips near Toronto, but obviously there are way more!
There is no way that I could mention everything there is to do near Toronto! It would be impossible in 1 blog.
Check out Viator for even more options of tours and excursions around Toronto.
Where to Stay
Need somewhere to stay while in Toronto? Check out the map for some of your options.
Maybe you’re visiting Ontario from another country?
Either way you can research hotels here and book them with booking.com here.
Rent a Car
If you don’t have a car or you’re just visiting Ontario, or if you just want to treat yourself…
You can rent a car!
Why?
- So that you can fit more people or more things in your car
- To treat yourself to a luxury vehicle
- Why now?
Besides being a travel blogger, I am also a travel writer, Amazon author and an English teacher. Feel free to click on the links for more info or to get started. Thanks so much!
