A hidden gem offering rich historical, cultural and natural features. The 64-hectare (116-acre) property includes areas of Carolinian forest, mid-20th-century buildings, a seasonal camp area, a bookstore, outdoor green space, walking trails, a labyrinth, farmland and pool. The site functions as a multi-use education and retreat centre with accommodations, dining, meeting spaces and facilities for overnight stays, day programs and group gatherings.

The former home of Canadian landscape painter Doris McCarthy (1910-2020), Fool’s Paradise is a charming cottage on the spectacular Scarborough Bluffs. McCarthy donated the property to the Ontario Heritage Trust so it could remain an inspirational space for future generations of artists. Today, the Doris McCarthy Artist-in-Residence program has welcomed over 60 artists to live and create by the Lake. (Photo: David Lee)

Experience the spirit of a traditional Irish village festival at Forest City Irish Fest. Enjoy live music, art, Irish history and sport alongside vendors offering food and drink. Families can explore the kid zone and take part in activities. Bring a lawn chair and soak up this lively, immersive celebration of Irish culture and community for all ages.

Families and children of all ages are welcome to come spend some time in the forest! You will tour the interior and exterior spaces of the award winning Forest Explorers building, and a short walk away is the Ottawa Forest and Nature School area. Take part in a tour, story walk and step inside a yurt!

Located at Exhibition Place near Scadding Cabin, Fort Rouillé is marked with plaques, a cairn, an obelisk and the original fort’s outline. Built in 1749-50, the fort was abandoned in 1759. Come and explore signs of an Indigenous presence, an old French fort, a War of 1812 battleground and Toronto’s oldest house — all in one spot. Bilingual volunteers available.

At Fort Willow Conservation Area nature and history come together. During the War of 1812, this fort was a supply depot that marked the half-way point between Kempenfelt Bay and the Nottawasaga River along the Nine Mile Portage. The site features scenic trails and open spaces where visitors can explore its historical importance. 

Experience one of Toronto's rare Victorian mansions — the residence of former Ontario Attorney General James Joseph Foy. Lavish and historical décor includes a grand carved staircase, stained-glass windows, etched transoms, plasterwork medallions and elegant fireplace mantels that recall a high society of bygone elegance. Today, the house displays works by local artists and can be rented for events. (Photo: Max L'Amour)

The Franklin Carmichael Art Centre is a unique building that sits atop the Humber River ravine in north Etobicoke. The two-storey log structure is surrounded by a small park. The site was gifted to the then-Township of Etobicoke in 1959. The Centre is home to the Franklin Carmichael Art Group, which offers visual-arts instruction to adults and children.

This 1930s art deco site was built primarily of materials from Quebec and France. Highlights include the Salon de l’hon. George W. Vari (formerly the Birch Bark room), a replica of the Vimy Memorial, bronze decorations by André Bizette-Lindet, wall engravings and murals. No strollers, backpacks, metal objects, food (including chewing gum) or drinks. Photography restricted. Registration required.

Experience heritage conservation on one of Hamilton’s most storied streets. Their live‑work studios on Barton Street East showcase active restoration projects using traditional craft techniques. Visitors can explore real projects and see how heritage is preserved in a neighbourhood undergoing renewal.

The Tropical Greenhouse at Gage Park, opened in July 2021, is a 1,300-square-metre (14,000-square-foot) greenhouse containing a unique collection of subtropical plants, palm trees, a waterfall and fishpond. Visitors can view the production greenhouses where annual plants intended for the city’s gardens and traffic islands are started. Plants will be transferred this year beginning May 24.

For 35 years, the Dinkel family and the city have supported the preservation and restoration of the front of this historic building. At Gallery 121, a co-op space for art and art lovers, a frieze lines the front of the building while the back space transports you into Dinkel's Restaurant and historic patio, complete with a fountain and climbing ivy.

Located on the oldest farmstead on Amherst Island (from c. 1790), this art gallery is a destination unlike any other. With stunning views and rustic charm, a visit here is like journeying back in time — where the tradition of fine craftsmanship in wood, metal, fibre and glass arts is presented in original ways. Enjoy this unique and immersive experience.

The two buildings that house Gallery Stratford were constructed by London architect George F. Durand. One structure was built as the Stratford Waterworks’ pump house and the other for equipment storage. Durand believed that architecture was more than just engineering — it was art. You can see that in his mix of styles. Designated by the City of Stratford in 1985.

In 1962, the Orillia Fish and Game Conservation Club acquired this 24-hectare (60-acre) property with a commitment to operate it as a wildlife sanctuary. Comprising primarily wetlands and popular nature trails, the property features an aviary, swan enclosure, pollination gardens and an education building. The sanctuary is ideal for learning about the value of wetlands and conservation.

The George Quantz House is a 19th‑century building featuring patterned red brickwork along with added barge-boards and a bellcast veranda. Relocated from Bayview Avenue in 2013 for conservation, it is now home to Kirby Chan & Co. Real Estate. Learn about its architecture, restoration, and the Quantz family legacy.

The George R. Robinson Bandshell was built in 1947 in memory of Lieutenant George R. Robinson. Robinson, born 1840, was Bandmaster of the 13th Battalion Royal Canadian Militia from 1869 until his death, and is credited with reforming Canadian music. His Battalion Band was known for traveling across North America. Today, the bandshell serves as a stage for summer concerts.

This school is a 600-square-metre (6,500-square-foot) maker space that complements the expanding arts scene in Owen Sound. With classes in pottery, jewelry, printmaking, stained glass and more, the school is steadily growing — offering new classes and open studios and acquiring new equipment regularly. Come and explore this creative space and see how they foster collaboration and skills development.

Step into a vanished rural crossroads where only traces remain. This evocative site reveals the story of a once-thriving hamlet centred around the Black Horse Inn (1853-75), a fascinating glimpse into the region’s early settlement and the forces that led to its disappearance. See inside three outbuildings from that era: a barn, smokehouse and stone-built former cheese factory from 1835.

Established in 2015, Giaimo is a Toronto-based architecture firm integrating design with heritage conservation. Their work engages deeply with Toronto’s built environment and its history — fostering environmentally, socially and culturally sustainable places through adaptive reuse, retrofits, renovations, additions, transformation, revitalization and integrating new with old. Come and explore their offices, located in an adaptively reused former industrial building.

Located on Mnisiing (Toronto Islands) in a former schoolhouse, this arts centre offers affordable retreat space, studios and accommodations for artists and creative thinkers. During Doors Open, learn about the facility, enjoy games on the lawn and the beach, and visit the lighthouse across the street (exterior only). Note: This site is accessible by ferry only. Consult the schedule. (Photo: Revel Photography)

Gibson House is a 19th-century farmhouse hidden among North York’s highrises. Step into the 1850s kitchen, where you will be met by the warm aroma of wood smoke and beeswax. Explore how David Gibson — a Scottish immigrant, land surveyor, farmer, politician and rebel — put his mark on the community, city and province. Come and taste, smell and touch history.

Glanmore is one of Belleville’s historical gems. Now a community museum, Glanmore was built for banker J.P.C. Phillips and his wife, Harriet Dougall Phillips. The grand house features beautifully restored interiors, period-room displays, European fine art and decorative objects. Artifacts related to local history are also included as part of the restored rooms in this historical house.

Built in 1849, this small but stunning historical church sits on a hill overlooking the village of Glen Morris on the banks of the heritage Grand River. The main church building is constructed of beautiful local fieldstone, giving it a timeless character that reflects the craftsmanship and heritage of the early community.

Opened in 1962, the Glengarry Pioneer Museum has grown to include eight heritage buildings, including the Star Inn, a stagecoach stop in the 1860s. Its barroom is thought to be one of the oldest in Eastern Ontario. Other pioneer buildings on this site are the blacksmith shop, town hall, Orange Lodge, log barns, drive shed and cheese factory.