Top Things to do in Ontario
Top Hotels in Ontario
Things to do in Ontario, United States: The Best Specialty Museums
Discover the best top things to do in Ontario, United States including Stones 'N Bones Museum, Canadian Military Heritage Museum, Canadian Motorsport Hall of Fame and Museum, National Gallery of Canada, Royal Ontario Museum, Hockey Hall of Fame, Casa Loma, Bata Shoe Museum, The Canadian Canoe Museum, Science North.
Restaurants in Ontario
1. Stones 'N Bones Museum
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 367 reviews
The Stones 'N Bones Museum is a 10,000 sq ft. museum that features an international collection of fossils, minerals, gemstones, artifacts, shells, butterflies, insects, taxidermy, huge shark jaws, dinosaurs, and more.
Reviewed By Jdawnink - Chatham, Canada
I was not expecting how amazing this place is and its non-profit. The owner and a tour guide were super-friendly and greeted us upon arrival. The museum is a lot larger than I expected and includes a gift shop. There are two floors of an impressive private collection of taxidermy wildlife, dinosaur bones and fossils, insects, corals and so much more. Its honestly, a hidden gem and worth a visit if you are in the Sarnia area. The taxidermy displays are breath-taking, including rare wildlife in beautiful authentic poses, just as if you were in the wild observing them. The dinosaur artifacts, include eggs, a fully assembled dinosaur skeleton and a giant t-rex skull among many other incredible things from the jurassic era. Upstairs more fascinating specimens, with fossils dating back to billions of years ago, more wildlife and insects. Be sure to check this place out. Would be ideal for a school educational trip but really just about anyone would enjoy this place. Don’t miss out on seeing this place.
2. Canadian Military Heritage Museum
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 45 reviews
Reviewed By 909elsieb - Brantford, Canada
We came to this place not expecting too much and were pleasantly surprised. An elderly gentleman came through the museum with us and became our personal tour guide which helped us to get so much more out of it. The displays are very well done - we especially enjoyed the trenches area. This is definitely a hidden gem in Brantford.
3. Canadian Motorsport Hall of Fame and Museum
4. National Gallery of Canada
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 3,055 reviews
The National Gallery of Canada is committed to offering a welcoming and safe place for our visitors, employees and volunteers. To that end, in response to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, we have CLOSED the Gallery and cancelled all events and activities until further notice. Founded in 1880, the National Gallery of Canada (Musee des beaux-arts du Canada) holds in trust a collection of European and Canadian paintings, sculptures, prints, drawings and photos.
Reviewed By whereverman - Hong Kong, China
A national treasure and my favourite spot in Ottawa. The gallery has a wonderful collection of Canadian and Modern Art. The building itself is a work of art with enormous glass ceilings and sunny courtyards between exhibits.
5. Royal Ontario Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 8,278 reviews
Opened in 1914, the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) showcases art, culture, and nature from around the globe and across the ages. One of North America's most renowned cultural institutions, Canada's largest museum is home to a world-class collection of more than six million objects and specimens, featured in 40 gallery and exhibition spaces. As the country’s preeminent field research institute and an international leader in new and original findings in biodiversity, palaeontology, earth sciences, the visual arts, material culture and archaeology, the ROM plays a vital role in advancing our global understanding of the artistic, cultural and natural world.
Reviewed By ElTouristo61 - New York City, United States
The ROM, Canada’s largest museum, is an impressive collection of art, culture, nature and history. Plan on spending at least half a day as there are so many exhibits. The special exhibit on Jodhpur included 4 centuries of royal art, paintings, decorative art, and jewelry—an amazing journey through some of India’s cultural history. Well worth the few extra dollars for access. Equally impressive are the European and Asian sections. There is plenty for the whole family to do but keep in mind if you enter with a city pass you’ll have to pay a few extra dollars for the special exhibits.
6. Hockey Hall of Fame
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 4,054 reviews
Honor the achievements of some of the greatest stars in hockey at this shrine to Canada's national sport.
Reviewed By dave4559
Recommend a stop here if you are a hockey fan, make sure you have some time to see everything, lot to see and do, son was able to shoot pucks, lots of history and the trophy room was incredible.
7. Casa Loma
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 7,568 reviews
Canada's majestic castle and Toronto’s premier historic attraction. In 1911, Sir Henry Pellatt engaged noted architect E.J. Lennox to help him realize a lifelong dream,the creation of an Edwardian castle on the top of a hill overlooking Toronto. It took 300 men nearly three years to complete the nearly to 200,000 square foot castle at a cost $3,500,000 (at the time). Situated on 5 acres, Casa Loma was the largest private residence in Canada. Sir Henry Pellatt with his wife Lady Mary enjoyed Casa Loma for less than ten years before financial misfortune forced him to abandon his home. The tour of the castle is self-guided. Visitors can experience the castle at their leisure with the aid of multimedia audio guides.
Reviewed By Amy_K-30229 - Chicago, United States
This was one of my favorite tourist attactions in Toronto. It's in the Annex District, the neighborhood where Margaret Atwood--author of The Handmaid's Tale--lives. The self-guided tour is very well done, you pick up a map and a telephone reciever-like device that can hang around your neck. The map shows you how to walk the property and each room has a number to type in to be able to learn about Sir Henry Pellatt and his fourtune then downfall, as well as the construction of his great castle. The basement has the movie posters of all the films/tv shows that were filmed there, as well as a tv playing the clips of each. It was great to walk through the whole castle, then make it down to the basement to recognize each room as the clips played on screen. My only disapointment was, they were setting up for a wedding in the conservatory, so we could not fully explore the room.
8. Bata Shoe Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,323 reviews
The Bata Shoe Museum: For Every Shoe There's a Story The Bata Shoe Museum is home to the world's largest, most comprehensive collection of shoes and footwear-related objects. The mission of the BSM is to contribute to the knowledge and understanding of the role of footwear in the social and cultural life of humanity. Through acquiring, conserving, researching, communicating and exhibiting material evidence related to the history of footwear and shoemaking, the Museum illustrates the living habits, the culture and the customs of people from every corner of the world.
Reviewed By 62Katie - Portland, United States
Surprising how much you can learn about history in general by focusing on one item, in this case shoes. When I visited there was a Manolo Blahnik exhibit that was great fun to peruse. The other exhibits were: All About Shoes: Footwear Through the Ages – Semi-permanent - This is the CORE of the Museum, this is where you take the time to look, read, and think about EVERY display. The Gold Standard: Glittering Footwear From Around Globe and Art and Innovation: Traditional Arctic Footwear =- both of these were interesting and informative. Excellent reminder that small museums have a lot to offer! Plus I appreciate being able to see all of the exhibits, not leaving with a feeling that I've missed something. I see I'm going to have to choose 1-2 hours or 2-3 hours so I want to mention here that you CAN do this well in 2 hours, but you could also make it closer to three hours if you wanted to. Small but well curated gift shop.
9. The Canadian Canoe Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 408 reviews
The Canadian Canoe Museum stewards the world's largest collection of canoes, kayaks and paddled watercraft. More than 600 in number, the watercraft and their stories of national and international significance, have a pivotal role to play in our collective future.
Reviewed By 121bw - Perth, Canada
Love this museum, the historic kayaks and canoes from across the North and across the indigenous tribes, plus the history of exploration of Canada. Beautiful recreational canoes and the volunteers can tell you fascinating stories of how the museum was given some of their artifacts. This museum is unique and well worth a visit!
10. Science North
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 914 reviews
Let your imagination soar at Science North! Explore the fun side of science in your everyday life at Northern Ontario's most popular tourist attraction. A newly designed and renovated 3rd floor Northern Ecosystems exhibit gets you up close to our resident beaver, porcupine, skunk and much more! Visit the new nocturnal room and see what flying squirrels and bats do at night! Don't miss live science shows, special exhibits, IMAX(R) 3D, the digital Planetarium, the F. Jean MacLeod Butterfly Gallery, and four floors of interactive science experiences.
Reviewed By taniah614 - Pretoria, South Africa
This was well worth the drive out from the Soo. The museum is interactive and fun for the whole family. This place topped our list of favourite science museums. Many of the exhibits are easy for younger kids to operate themselves. Our kids are 7,10 and 12. Perfect ages as they can read instructions and explore the displays themselves and so could we. The various levels space out people on the various floors and there was only one activity in the whole place that we could not get to because it was busy. Otherwise we saw everything! We arrived at 11 and left at 6pm! Got the day pass that included planetarium and Imax...well worth it and it gives you a few mintues to relax . It is a busy funfilled day. The blue coats are engaging and encourage the kids to participate, knowledagble and help to create a fun buzz.The Energy and flying squirrels demos were fantastic! Keep a look out for the beaver, porcurine and snapping turtle (especially when the blue coats take them outside)
