Referring to a region by it’s primary highway corridor, the ’401′, might make it seem a little less than attractive as far as an outdoor destination goes. But don’t be fooled, the key words for Southwestern Ontario are actually: peninsula, shoreline, mountains, great lakes, wine, bird migration, caves, beaches, rugged coast and Shakespeare.

But seriously, what is there to do? For those looking to combine urban and rural adventures, Southwestern Ontario will throw you adrenaline and leave you resting peacefully at the end of the day with a nice glass of Ontario wine. Heading south from Toronto, this region is bordered by Georgian Bay and Lake Huron.

A visit to the Blue Mountains and Collingwood region will provide year round thrills with activities ranging from caving to snowboarding to downhill skiing, kayaking and zip lining. After a walk in the tree tops, wildlife enthusiasts will be in heaven at the southern tip of the Bruce Peninsula which is renowned for birding and late summer butterfly migrations. It’s not all beautiful beaches and wine tours down here, the waterways of Southwestern Ontario offer challenges including sea kayaking and windsurfing. Hikers can also challenge themselves across the 800 kilometers of the Bruce Trail which follows the Niagara Escarpment from Niagara to Tobermory. While in Tobermory, why not uncover some shipwrecks while diving in Fathom Five or sailing the inland seas.