Lake Huron is the second-largest of the five Great Lakes of North America. The US/Canada border falls across the middle, and on the northeastern side, a large channel — Georgian Bay — protrudes into Ontario. The sparkling waters of Lake Huron are clean and warm, and in places, beautiful sweeping beaches provide a playground for those escaping nearby Toronto for the weekend. Around Georgian Bay, a myriad of islands skirt a rugged limestone coastline with rocky outcrops and untouched inlets. Inland, the landscape varies just as much; towards the south, farmers take advantage of the notably flat land with expanses of agricultural pasture, while the northern areas are littered with lakes and rugged forest. The whole region is characterised by charming country towns, which get smaller and more remote the further north you go, and many artists have settled here, perhaps inspired by the beautifully diverse scenery.

The Bruce Peninsula juts out from the south to separate Georgian Bay and Lake Huron and provides numerous walking trails and scenic viewpoints in both directions. Manitoulin Island — the largest freshwater island in the world — protrudes from the northern side of the lake to leave a small and treacherous opening into Georgian Bay from Lake Huron. Due to this tricky topography, the area is renowned for shipwrecks — over a thousand have been recorded, and in some places, such as at Fathom Five National Marine Park, you can take a boat trip out to see some of them. Other provincial parks offer a range of outdoor activities, and along with reliably hot summers, it’s no wonder that this is one of the province’s most popular holiday spots.