Ontario is Canada's most populous province, and denotes this through the sheer size and energy of its two cities (one the federal capital, the other the provincial capital), Ottawa and Toronto. Toronto, in particular, is widely regarded as one of the most vibrant and cosmopolitan cities on the continent, in part due to its huge influx of immigrants. The city heaves with galleries, museums and shops, all against the backdrop of both heritage buildings (such as the Old City Hall, built in 1899) and innovative modern architecture (such as the CN Tower, arguably the world's tallest building).

Yet away from the cities, due to the enormity of the province, there are always plenty of places where you can savour some silence. The far north and west of Ontario is a largely uninhabited wilderness of lakes, swamps and forests. Throughout Ontario are six national parks and 260 provincial parks. And, surreal as it may seem when compared to the orovince's urban centres, there are parts of this province where you can see more polar bears than humans.

Ontario is also a province of water, containing four of the five 'Great Lakes' of North America. There is also Niagara Falls for those who crave their watery landscapes a little more dramatic; partly lodged in Ontario (and partly in New York State, USA), the falls provide a snapshot of nature at its most phenomenal.