We called on Ontario Parks Architect Matthew Harvey to provide some insight on outhouses…the good, the bad, and the stinky!
In the course of my 30 year architectural career with Ontario Parks, I occasionally get asked what I do for a living. I proudly reply “Why, I design outhouses!”
If that person doesn’t excuse themselves, turn on their heel and beat a hasty retreat, then we might get down to a discussion that goes something like this:
Todays’ post is from Allison Spadoni, superintendent of our Nipigon Node parks, Rainbow Falls, Neys, and White Lake.
Ah, fall!
It’s the ideal time of year for getting outside and tackling some of the longer hikes on your bucket list!
What makes the fall season such a great time for hiking?
Well, while the days are still relatively long and warm, the temperatures have begun to drop, making it more comfortable to work up a sweat while hiking outdoors.
The black flies and mosquitos are gone for the year and the fall colours make some already spectacular views even more special to take in. What more could a hiker ask for?
One destination worth adding to your hiking bucket list is the Casque Isle Hiking Trail, a rugged 53 km section of the Voyageur Trail located between the Township of Terrace Bay and the Village of Rossport. Portions of this trail also travels through Rainbow Falls Provincial Park.
Continue reading Fall hiking at Rainbow Falls Provincial Park
This post is brought to you from our guest blogger Sitka the Border Collie, with help from her human Laura Myers, a strategic market development specialist with Ontario Parks.
Hello! My name is Sitka and I’m a dog.
My humans love to camp! From the moment they brought me home when I was eight weeks old, they said, “I can’t wait for all the camping adventures we will go on, little one.”
Continue reading Ruffing it at Ontario Parks: a dog’s perspective on camping
In today’s post, the Chairdog of the Ontario Barks committee shows us his favourite parks to take a W-A-L-K!
Nothing gets my tail wagging faster than seeing my humans pack their bags for a park adventure!
I know that’s true for you too, my furry friends.
But with 340 provincial parks, how do we let our humans know which one deserves an outstanding round-of-a-paws from the Ontario Barks committee?
With this top five list, of course. Show this to your human to make your next W-A-L-K extra special!
In our “Behind the Scenes” series, Discovery Program staff across the province share a “backstage” glimpse of their favourite programs and projects. Today’s post comes from Caroline Freitag, a Discovery Guide at Rainbow Falls Provincial Park.
When I was a very young child, I was fascinated by leaves and rocks. On walks around my neighbourhood I would collect the biggest, coolest leaf I could find and bring it home to show whichever family member hadn’t been with me when I’d found it.
My preferred method of showing affection to people was to give them a “very cool rock”- usually a piece of gravel I’d found on the side of the road. My one neighbour loves to tell the story of the shy girl who left her piles of pebbles by the garden gate!
Continue reading My journey to becoming a Discovery Guide at Rainbow Falls
Today’s post comes from Laura Myers, a tea lover and Marketing Specialist with Ontario Parks.
This blog is dedicated to all of those who love tea and nature.
Whether it’s a cool summer evening, or a chilly winter day, it’s always a good time for tea time. There’s something about having a cup of tea that ignites a sense of stillness and calmness. It reminds you to take a step back, and really take in a moment.
Ontario’s northwest provincial parks provide some stellar backdrops for the most perfect outdoor tea parties. Make a cup of tea, and read on to discover six tea hot spots!
Continue reading Hot spots to have a cup of tea in Ontario Parks’ northwest
Does the cold weather have you dreaming of sunny days on the beach and warm nights by the campfire?
Thanks to our five-month advance booking window, you can lock down your July campsite early!
Here’s a list of 10 parks sure to chase away the midwinter blues:
Looking for a last minute camping trip before the kids head off to school? If so, why not leave a little earlier and head north?
Scout out your ideal campsite on our Campsite Browsing/Reservation tool (including pictures of most campsites!), or check out these featured campsites (available as of noon on August 28, 2019):
Continue reading Campsite vacancy highlights: August 30 – September 1
We know the struggle. We know what you have been waiting for. We are happy to say that the long weekend is almost here!
Our southern parks are looking pretty full for the long weekend, but we have some beautiful sites available at our northern parks!
Scout out your ideal campsite on our Campsite Browsing/Reservation tool (including pictures of most campsites!), or check out these featured campsites (available as of noon on July 31, 2019):
Today’s post comes from Kyra Santin, a Natural Heritage Education and Marketing Student from our Northwest Zone.
George Santayana — poet, philosopher and naturalist — said, “The Earth has music for those who listen.”
The earth holds a lot of beauty within it. If we open our eyes and ears, and listen to the world that surrounds us, we can truly appreciate the music the earth is making.
