Things to do in Nipissing

2026 Global 100 - Best Things to Do

Royal Ontario Museum

The Royal Ontario Museum was established in 1912 and officially opened in 1914. It is a comprehensive museum integrating art, world cultures, and natural history, with a total collection numbering in the tens of millions. The building itself is a highlight: the century-old classical facade features exquisite stone carvings, and the "Crystal Palace" new wing, completed as an expansion in 2007 and designed by architect Daniel Libeskind, consists of several tilted, intersecting metal and glass crystals jutting out from beside the old building. The collision of old and new styles has made it a city landmark of Toronto, and the crystal facade and the steps at the entrance are also popular photo spots. Floor layout: For Chinese visitors, the Asian art area on the first floor is worth setting aside plenty of time: the entrance to the Chinese gallery displays the entire tomb of Zu Dashou, a late Ming general, relocated from Beijing, complete with tomb mound, which is quite rare among overseas museums; the Bishop White Gallery of Chinese Temple Art, with the huge Yuan dynasty mural "Paradise of Maitreya" along with Buddhist statues and porcelains from successive dynasties, lays out a complete thread of Chinese art, and the Japanese galleries on both sides are worth a look along the way. In the dinosaur gallery on the second floor, the nearly 24 m long Diplodocus skeleton "Gordo" spans the hall and is one of the museum's signature exhibits, and the nearby mammal and bird specimen areas, the biodiversity gallery, and the bat cave are especially popular with children. The ancient Egypt gallery on the third floor displays sarcophagi and mummies, while the ancient Greece, Rome, and Europe galleries bring together artworks such as sculptures and glassware; the top floor houses rotating special exhibition galleries, so it is worth checking the current schedule before setting out. The museum also has a mineral, gemstone, and meteorite exhibit area and a theater.

2026 Americas 50 - Best Things to Do

Casa Loma

Casa Loma Castle was built in 1911 as the private mansion of the famous financier Sir Henry Pellatt. This medieval-style castle cost $3.5 million and took 3 years to build. It consists of ornately decorated suites, 800-foot tunnels, ancient Towers, stables and 5 acres of gardens. Floor distribution: The first floor of the castle is the hall, the second floor is the bedroom and suite, the third floor is the Queen's Rifle Museum, in addition to the underground wine cellar, outdoor garden and high tower. The hall ceiling on the first floor is beautiful plaster and intricately carved, inspired by Elizabethan palaces. The garden greenhouse is a more beautiful place, the floor is Italian marble, and the magnificent stained glass dome is very beautiful. The bookcases in the library hall are high to the ceiling, and the decoration of the banquet hall is also very gorgeous. The second floor is dominated by living rooms, suites and guest rooms. Among them, the Chinese-style suites are furnished with many Chinese lacquered wood furniture and porcelain, and the walls are also decorated with Chinese patterns. On the ceiling of the master bedroom, the delicate blueberry carving is crumbling and very realistic, and the tiger skin rug shows the identity and status of the owner. On the third floor, various guns, weapons and materials are currently on display. The cellar in the basement is now a replica, the corridors are lined with movie posters filmed here, and the audio guide and souvenir shop are also located on this floor. An underground tunnel leads to the stables, garage and greenhouse. Along the narrow spiral staircase, you can climb to the upper floors of the ancient tower, and you can enjoy the city view of Toronto through the small window. Standing here, you can still hear the howling wind.

No. 1 of Night Attractions in Canada

Art Gallery of Ontario

The Art Gallery of Ontario is located in downtown Toronto. Founded in 1900 by a group of private art enthusiasts, it houses over 100,000 works spanning from the 1st century AD to contemporary times, making it one of the large-scale art museums in North America. The gallery building itself is architecturally striking, and visitors can enjoy a panoramic view of Toronto from the top floor. The art gallery reopened in 2008 after renovation and expansion led by Toronto-born architect Frank Gehry: the street-facing facade is wrapped in a glass and wooden corridor, resembling a glass ship drifting into the city, with lights shining through the curtain wall at night, making it particularly striking; the wooden spiral staircase in the atrium and the cantilevered titanium spiral staircase outside the tower were also designed by Gehry. At the street corner near the main entrance stands the bronze sculpture "Couch monster" by Canadian Indigenous artist Brian Jungen, while British sculptor Henry Moore's renowned bronze work "Large two forms" was relocated to the lawn of Grange Park on the south side of the art gallery. Floor distribution: The art museum has five floors. Upon entering the lobby, you can see the spiral staircase, a design that fully showcases Frank Gehry's talent. The collection is centered on two main themes: European art and Canadian art. The first-floor galleries display European paintings and sculptures from the Middle Ages to the early twentieth century, featuring works by artists such as Rembrandt, Hals, and Monet. The masterpiece "Massacre of the Innocents" by Rubens, donated by collector Ken Thomson, is considered the museum's signature piece. The Gothic boxwood miniatures he left behind depict intricate scenes within a tiny space, and the lower level also displays over a hundred of his ship models, ranging from merchant ships and warships of the age of sail to modern vessels, spanning several centuries with exquisite craftsmanship, making them worth slowing down to admire. The second floor showcases Canadian art in a concentrated display, featuring Tom Thomson's masterpiece "The West Wind," the Group of Seven's landscape paintings, and Inuit sculptures and prints, offering a comprehensive view of Canada's visual art heritage. Hundreds of works donated by Moore during his lifetime are housed here, with the dedicated Henry Moore Sculpture Centre providing a serene space to appreciate his forms. The upper levels of the south tower focus on modern and contemporary art, including works by Andy Warhol, Claes Oldenburg, and Yayoi Kusama's "Infinity Mirror Room."

2026 Global 100 - Best Things to Do

CN Tower

CN Tower stands on the shores of Lake Ontario in downtown Toronto. Its slender, towering structure makes it an iconic landmark on the Toronto skyline. Ride the glass-fronted elevator to reach the main observation level in less than 1 minute. Through the floor-to-ceiling windows, you can enjoy panoramic views of the Toronto cityscape and Lake Ontario. The main observation level also features a transparent glass floor. Stepping onto it allows you to look down at the ground below, an experience many visitors come specifically to try. A higher observation level is located at 447m, offering an even wider view. On clear days, you can even see in the direction of Niagara Falls. Thrill-seekers can participate in the EdgeWalk, an outdoor walking experience around the exterior of the tower at 116 stories high. The tower also features amenities such as the 360 Restaurant, the Maple Leaf Cinema, and a souvenir shop. After dark, the tower's exterior LED lighting system illuminates and changes colors, making the tower a striking feature of the Toronto night skyline.

2026 Americas 50 - Family-friendly Attractions

Ripley's Aquarium of Canada

Ripley's Aquarium of Canada opened to the public in 2013 and is located next to the CN Tower, exhibiting more than 20,000 marine and freshwater animals across over 450 species. It is home to the longest shark tunnel in North America, one of the largest jellyfish exhibits of its kind in the world, and daily diving performances. The aquarium is divided into areas including the Canadian Waters Gallery, Rainbow Reef, Planet Jellies, Life Support Systems, Dangerous Lagoon, and Ray Bay.

No. 7 of Best Things to Do in Quebec City–Windsor Corridor

St. Lawrence Market

St. Lawrence Market is located in the heart of Old Town Toronto and has been operating as a city market since 1803. The market consists of three buildings: theSouth Market, the North Market, and St. Lawrence Hall. It houses numerous vendors offering fresh produce, artisanal baked goods, specialty meats and cheeses, international cuisine, and handicrafts. South Marketis the main area of the market. The ground floor features various food stalls and restaurants, while the second floor houses the Market Gallery, which hosts rotating exhibitions related to Toronto's art, culture, and history. The North Market hosts a farmers market every Saturday morning, where local farmers bring their own meat, cheese, and produce to sell; on Sundays, it transforms into an antique market, offering everything from vintage furniture to small trinkets, making for a unique weekend experience in Toronto. The market also features many specialty stalls, allowing you to taste flavors from several continents in one visit. If you're inspired to learn, the market also offers ongoing cooking classes for all skill levels.

Lake Nipissing Outfitters

2026 Global 50 - Fall Viewing Attractions

University of Toronto

University of Toronto was founded in 1827 and is a well-known public research university in Canada. The St. George campus is the main campus and has no walls, blending into downtown Toronto's neighborhoods. The campus features century-old Romanesque revival buildings alongside modernist new structures, and the contrast between old and new creates a unique charm. Entering the campus and crossing the open green leads to the main building of University College, a mid-19th-century Romanesque revival structure that is one of the campus's iconic views, with its heavy stone exterior and arched doors and windows conveying the solemn dignity of a classical university. On the side of the lawn, Hart House is another classic building, housing reading rooms, galleries, and student activity spaces, and its Gothic revival style is worth a close look. The campus is dotted with sculptures and green spaces, and it is common to see students in small groups discussing or relaxing on the lawn, creating a strong academic atmosphere. Strolling across the campus along King's College Circle to the Hart House lawn offers a concentrated way to appreciate the campus scenery shaped by generations of interwoven architecture.

Chilly Willys Ice Fishing Adventures

No. 2 of Ski Resorts in Nipissing District

Laurentian Ski Hill

This is a popular ski resort in the North Bay area of Nipissing District, Ontario, offering a variety of ski slopes and facilities suitable for skiers of all abilities. Here, whether skiing or participating in other winter activities, visitors can enjoy outdoor winter sports.