A Drake concert, a great hair day, a chocolate sundae… notice how all good things come to an end all too soon, just like it happens with Toronto weather. Fortunately, Ontario eased up restrictions while we still have part of summer and whole of autumn, aka good weather months, ahead of us.
And right now, we can’t think of a better way than a comfy road trip to wade off the lockdown-induced travel blues. We can enjoy scenic drives, we can soak in the seasonal warmth, we can be on our own schedule, we can travel as light or as heavy as we want, and we can avoid crowded public transport. Nothing but pluses.
As if reading our thoughts, Volkswagen launched the All-New 2022 Taos this Summer. Not only is the timing perfect, the new compact SUV is designed for on-road adventures. A spacious 5-seater, the Taos with available 4MOTION® All-Wheel Drive making it an all-season vehicle. With a folding rear seat and a centre pass through, the trunk can fit a good 25 cubic feet of stuff in it- meaning the versatile Taos is always game for an adventure.
Now, whether you choose to drive in your old ride or your new 2022 Taos, we’ve teamed up with Volkswagen to round up a list of the 6 best road trips you can take from Toronto.
Thousand Islands Parkway
There’s a reason this 40km stretch of road running along the St Lawrence River takes pride of place at the top of our list. The entire stretch offers one of the most scenic views in Ontario− beautiful blue waters punctuated with thousands of tiny emerald islands. TBH that alone is reason enough to drive on this beauty of a road but if you’re one for adventure and activity, you can also bike, hike, sail, fish, scuba dive and do a lot more.
Where: Thousand Islands Parkway, ON
Drive time from Toronto: 3 hours
Bruce Peninsula National Park
If wilderness is your thing, this Southern Ontario gem is the place to be. You have a forest cover (it is a park after all) with ancient trees, a variety of orchids and ferns, wildlife and multiple trails to walk through. Then you have limestone cliffs giving you a gorg view of the Georgian Bay, a huge campground and a stunning shoreline sea cave. And when you’re tired from all that hiking and exploring, lay down on the Singing Sands beach occasionally taking a dip in the cool waters of Lake Huron.
Where: Bruce County, ON
Drive time from Toronto: 3.5 hours
Elora Gorge Falls
Whether you want to kayak or tube in the stream, hike up a stoney staired trail or take in some serious small-town vibes shopping and eating at quaint stores and dinners, Elora is beautiful either way. The Elora Gorge Falls are situated in downtown Elora, with trails leading to and from, and a store-lined street right above. Although you can easily make a day trip of it, the Elora Mill Hotel & Spa is worth a stay, if you’re up for shelling out a few bucks that is.
Where: Ellora, ON
Drive time from Toronto: 1.5 hours
Dundas Peak, Tew Falls & Webster’s Falls
If you are into hiking, or even if you aren’t, you ought to trail up the Dundas peak for the great valley views. Not to mention the few peeks at the Spencer Gorge. The trail starts at the bottom of the Tew Falls, the tallest in Hamilton, which makes it even more attractive. Now you’ll like the Tew Falls very much until you see the nearby Webster’s Falls, a majestic curtain fall. It’s just a short drive or a long walk away!
Where: Hamilton, ON
Drive time from Toronto: 1+ hours
Niagara Region (White Water Walk, in particular)
No, we don’t mean Niagara Falls. There’s so much more to explore in the Niagara region, our favourites being the White Water Walk and Niagara on the Lake town. The White Water Walk is a picturesque boardwalk along the shoreline of the rapid whitewater of the Niagara River. Niagara on the Lake, meanwhile, is a charming town (aptly termed as Ontario’s most beautiful town) with major old-world vibes coming off of old-fashion boutiques, stores and bistros dotting its streets. Oh, and don’t forget to check out the sandy beaches at South Coast!
Where: Niagara, ON
Drive time from Toronto: 1.5 hours
Prince Edward County
PEC is one of the best places in Ontario to unwind from all the city chaos. Everything touristy about the place spells calm from the rustic country vibe to the oh-so-delicious wine. Yes, of course, you are visiting PEC for the wineries & cideries and farm & lake views but trust us, you don’t want to miss the Sandbanks Provincial Park. Whether you choose to hike the dunes or just lay on the white sand sipping on some wine, you’ll love it anyway.
Where: Prince Edward County, ON
Drive time from Toronto: 2.5 hours
So friends, there you have it. Happy road-trippin’!
