Southern Ontario's towns range from cities of 150,000 like Barrie, with commuter rail to Toronto and big-box retail, to places like Penetanguishene, population 10,000, where the main street still has a hardware store and a bakery that has been open for decades. The character of these communities varies by geography: lakeshore towns built on tourism, agricultural centres that serve surrounding farms, heritage towns with 19th-century stone buildings, and former mill towns reinventing themselves around arts and food.
The region guides below cover broader areas, while the town profiles focus on individual communities.
By Region
Simcoe County & Georgian Bay
Barrie, Collingwood, Wasaga Beach, Midland, Orillia, and the Georgian Bay corridor north of Toronto.
Bruce Peninsula & Grey County
Owen Sound, Kincardine, Tobermory, the Bruce Trail, and Lake Huron's eastern shore.
Prince Edward County
Wineries, Sandbanks Provincial Park, Wellington, Picton, and the county's food scene.
Ottawa Valley
Petawawa, the Ottawa River, Algonquin Park's eastern edge, and the valley's logging heritage.
Eastern Ontario
Brockville, Perth, the 1000 Islands, the Rideau Canal, and the 401 corridor east of Kingston.
Dufferin & Highlands
Shelburne, Orangeville, Haliburton, and the rolling hills between the GTA and Georgian Bay.
Town Profiles
Barrie
The gateway city on Lake Simcoe. Population ~150,000, GO Transit access, and the start of cottage country.
Collingwood
Ski town turned year-round destination at the base of Blue Mountain, with a revitalized downtown.
Wasaga Beach
The world's longest freshwater beach at 14 km. Packed in summer, quiet from October to May.
Orillia
Lake Couchiching, Casino Rama, and the Mariposa arts scene in Stephen Leacock's hometown.
Midland
Georgian Bay harbour town with Sainte-Marie among the Hurons and the Wye Marsh wildlife centre.
Penetanguishene
Discovery Harbour, a francophone heritage community, and a quieter alternative to Midland.
Owen Sound
The hub of Grey County at the head of Georgian Bay. Waterfalls, galleries, and a working harbour.
Kincardine
Lake Huron sunsets, a Scottish pipe band, a historic lighthouse, and a walkable downtown.
Brockville
The City of the 1000 Islands on the St. Lawrence, with a revitalized waterfront and railway tunnel.
Perth
Heritage stone buildings, the Tay Canal, and one of the best-preserved main streets in the province.
Petawawa
Military town on the Ottawa River, gateway to Algonquin Park's eastern entrance.
Shelburne
Small town on Highway 10 known for the Heritage Music Festival and its growing commuter population.