Southwestern Ontario has it all – from museums and heritage sites to rolling farmland and giant cliffs.

Fly into the past at the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum in Hamilton, which has a fleet of aircraft that spans World War II to the jet age. Marvel at Dundurn Castle – a 19th century Italianate villa with 40 rooms restored to their former splendour. Engage your imagination at the magnificent Art Gallery of Hamilton with a permanent collection of more than 8,500 works. From Hamilton, fly over to the Wings of Paradise butterfly conservatory or African Lion Safari in Cambridge.

Walk the flower gardens in Stratford before enjoying a Shakespearean classic at the world-renowned Stratford Festival. In nearby Goderich, watch the sun set over Lake Huron after shopping its octagonal downtown.

Treasure unique keepsakes of the craft and antique style in the Mennonite town of St. Jacobs and picturesque Elora. Take in the sights and sounds of a 19th century village in London’s Fanshawe Pioneer Village. And follow the path of the Underground Railroad to Dresden and Uncle Tom’s Cabin Historic Site.

Nearby, spread your wings at Point Pelee National Park, one of the world’s prime birding spots and a stop-off point for monarch butterflies during their late summer migration. Stroll the 3.5 kilometres of sculpture gardens in Windsor.

Head north to Tobermory on the Bruce Peninsula where you can board a glass-bottom boat and get a first-hand look at century-old shipwrecks. Or enjoy the waters from the vantage of the observation tower at the new Parks Canada visitors’ centre.