Ask a tight-pants-clad Toronto hipster what kinds of things he likes to do in Ontario and he'll regale you with tales of vintage shops and authentic kebab joints. Recent visitors to Niagara Falls will laugh about cheesy attractions, and nature enthusiasts will rave over the vast stretches of pristine wilderness up north. With a landscape that is as diverse as its people, Ontario abounds with opportunities for new experiences.

Though Toronto's skyscrapers have made it the go-to double for New York City in many films, the metropolis has a culture that is distinctly its own. Much of this culture was shaped by Toronto's diverse population of immigrants, who journeyed to Canada from countries such as Pakistan, Vietnam, and Jamaica. You can spot their influences throughout the bustling streets: Cantonese-speaking vendors hawk fruits on the busy sidewalks of Chinatown, and smartly dressed patrons sip espresso by the windows of Little Italy's many trattorias. Nearby, city dwellers stroll past the hip stores, open-air stalls, and brightly coloured Victorians of Kensington Market, pausing at Bellevue Square Park to join a drum circle.

For all the blinking funhouses and garish restaurants that pack the town of Niagara Falls, nothing can steal the spotlight from its awe-inspiring cascades. Maid of the Mist boats travel to the basin of the falls so poncho-wearing passengers can marvel at the 500,000-plus gallons of water plummeting into the lake every second. Just outside of town lies a strikingly different landscape—Ontario's wine-growing region, where idyllic country roads wind around more than 60 local wineries.

Chilly weather doesn't stop Ottawa locals from exploring the outdoors. Kayakers bundle up before taking on the waters of the Remic Rapids, and skaters twirl across the Rideau Canal when it freezes over. If cold weather isn't your thing, the city is also home to an abundance of museums, including the Canadian Museum of Civilization, where the First Peoples Hall features relics from Canada's 53 tribes.