The Great Lakes are the polar opposite of the Pacific Ocean in that they’re less famous, but no less beautiful. If you haven’t seen Lake Erie before, it’s one of the smaller lakes in North America and a great place to begin your journey across all five Great Lakes. Here are some of our favorite things to do on Lake Erie in Ontario:
Best Places to Visit on Lake Erie Ontario

Welland
Welland is a city in the Niagara Region of Southern Ontario. It is the largest city in the Niagara Region and the 13th largest urban area in Canada. Welland is known for its canal system, parks and green spaces. This thriving community offers great shopping and dining experiences, as well as lively festivals and events throughout the year.
Welland offers many opportunities to discover nature’s wonders: enjoy a leisurely boat ride along Lake Erie or explore miles of trails within one of its many parks and conservation areas.
Port Colborne
Port Colborne is a city in the Niagara Region of Ontario, Canada. It is located on the Welland Canal at the mouth of the Welland River.
It is named after Sir John Colborne, Lieutenant Governor of Upper Canada from 1828 to 1836. In its early days Port Colborne was an important hub for shipping traffic between Toronto and Detroit. As such it became a key centre for commercial interests in southwestern Ontario during this time period as well as being an important area of commerce along Lake Erie during its entire existence as a body of water (first known as “Lake Huron”).
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Fort Erie
Fort Erie is a town in the Niagara Region of southern Ontario, Canada. Once known as Youngstown, Fort Erie is located on the south bank of the Niagara River across from Buffalo, New York and was formerly named after one of General Sir Isaac Brock’s subordinates in the War of 1812. There are many attractions to visit in this small town including:
- The Fort Erie Race Track – This 1 mile oval track hosts harness racing year round and features an excellent restaurant, lounge and gift shop.
- The Fort Erie Public Library – The library provides services for both adults and children including adult literacy programs and children’s programming during school breaks such as March Break! Check them out at www.ferplbocc.ca
- The Fort Erie Meteors – If you’re looking for some excitement while visiting this beautiful area then check out one of their home games at McLeod Athletic Park which seats over 4500 people or just come down early on Friday nights when they open up their gates later than usual so fans can get autographs from players before heading into the stands (this happens about two hours before game time). They currently play in Junior A Hockey League Tier 2 which includes teams from across Ontario including Oshawa Generals (Oshawa), Sarnia Sting (Sarnia), Kitchener Rangers (Kitchener) Guelph Storm (Guelph) Windsor Spitfires (Windsor).
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Niagara-on-the-Lake
Niagara-on-the-Lake is a town in the Niagara Region of Southern Ontario, Canada. It’s known as the home of Niagara College and many wineries and vineyards. The town attracts tourists from across North America seeking to experience the rich history and culture that draws visitors from all over the world.
The city can be found on Lake Ontario between Toronto and Buffalo, New York by traveling along Highway 405 or Queen Elizabeth Way (QEW). It’s also accessible via Air Canada Express flights from Toronto Pearson International Airport if you’re looking for something more exciting than driving or taking public transit; however, keep in mind that these flights only run out once per day at noon during peak season (June 1 – August 31), so plan accordingly!
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St. Catharines
St. Catharines is a city in southern Ontario, Canada. It is the largest community in the Niagara Region and the sixth largest urban area in Ontario. The city lies between Lake Erie and Lake Ontario where they meet to form the Welland Canal at Port Dalhousie.
Because of its close proximity to Niagara Falls (less than 30 kilometres southwest), St. Catharines has been nicknamed “The Garden City” by locals because of its parks, green spaces and tree-lined streets which make it one of North America’s most attractive cities for tourism as well as one that offers great potential for development into an important business centre for industries such as pharmaceuticals; electrical equipment; plastics processing; computer software design; tourism; sport equipment manufacturing – especially hockey sticks – etcetera…
Pelham
Pelham is a town in Ontario, Canada that has been the setting for some of Canada’s most notable history. Located on the western shore of Lake Erie, Pelham has hosted many important events. It was at this place that General Brock and his men first met Tecumseh before their famous confrontation at Queenston Heights, which was also located nearby. The area is filled with beautiful scenery and great restaurants to enjoy when you visit.
Grimsby
Grimsby is a town in the Niagara Region of Southern Ontario, Canada. It is located on the north shore of Lake Ontario and is part of the Buffalo-Niagara Falls metropolitan area. In 1967 it became an amalgamated municipality when it merged with West Lincoln, Beverly and Welland in 1974.
Grimsby was once known as “the Fishing Capital of Ontario”. The town sits along the lakefront, with views of both Port Colborne and Buffalo across to New York State on a clear day (due to its proximity to Niagara Falls). It has an international airport that attracts visitors from around North America because it is cheaper to fly there than most other airports within driving distance from Toronto or Ottawa International Airport (YOW).
Niagara Falls
Niagara Falls is a famous tourist attraction located in Niagara Falls, Ontario. It’s the largest waterfall in North America and one of the most popular tourist destinations in Ontario.
The Niagara River flows from Lake Erie to Lake Ontario, where it drops over an immense cliff line that is roughly 200 feet tall and 4,000 feet long. The water then continues to flow downstream as the Niagara Gorge. The falls are considered one of nature’s wonders because they are so beautiful and impressive!
Lake Erie in Ontario
Here are the most popular places to visit on Lake Erie in Ontario.
- Niagara Falls, Ontario – This is the most popular tourist destination in Canada and draws in over 20 million visitors per year! You can see beautiful waterfalls and enjoy some of the best shopping as well.
- Toronto, Ontario – Toronto is a great city for foodies with its many restaurants and markets. It’s also home to one of Canada’s best museums, The Royal Ontario Museum. If you’re looking for natural beauty, head over to The Toronto Islands where you’ll find beaches and trails along with cute cottages for rent!
Conclusion
If you’re looking to explore Ontario in the summer, Lake Erie is the perfect place to go. With its beautiful scenery and historic sites, it promises a memorable trip. Whether you want to enjoy nature or learn more about history, there are plenty of places along Europe’s longest freshwater lake that will appeal to every type of traveler.
Here are some of our favourite destinations on Lake Erie:
Fort Malden National Historic Site: This historic fort was built by the British during the War of 1812 in order protect their territory from American invaders. Today it remains as one of Canada’s most important military engineering projects from that era—and a must-see for history buffs! Stop by for tours and guided walks around this fascinating site; then spend some time admiring its beautiful surroundings before heading off into town for dinner at one of Amherstburg’s many restaurants or pubs (or just relaxing on their waterfront boardwalk).
Point Pelee National Park: A short drive from Amherstburg (about an hour), Point Pelee has been designated as both a World Biosphere Reserve and an Important Bird Area due to its natural beauty (Canada’s only true coastal sand dune system!) And if you can’t make it out there right now due to weather issues? No worries—you can still explore all things Point Pelee online through photos taken by park staff over time! Here are some highlights worth checking out while browsing those galleries: The Visitor Centre offers guided tours, interactive exhibits and even a gift shop where locals sell handmade goods such as soaps, candles & more! There’s also a children’s area with activities like building nests with sticks & pine cones as well as making crafts like paper stars using recycled materials found within this protected national park.
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Michael has been a traveler and blogger since he was 17 years old. Now his passion is hiking, traveling, camping, and revealing his outdoor secrets. Stay connect with us for outdoor events and camping trips together.