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Secondary region in Ontario, Canada
Photo: Allen Lai from Toronto, CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
The Golden Horseshoe is a region in Ontario around Toronto along Lake Ontario. Although cities and towns in the Golden Horseshoe are spread over a large swath of land, they share a historic connection to Lake Ontario - either directly, with harbours for boating or great lakes shipping, or by way of the great rivers that powered mills in the villages that are today's suburban centres. The region's early prosperity still shapes the area today, and makes it one of Canada's most popular places to live, work, or visit.
located along the shore of Lake Ontario, from Oshawa in the east to Burlington in the west, with Toronto in the centre.
bordered by Lake Ontario to the north, the Niagara River to the east, and Lake Erie to the south, and includes Niagara Falls, and parts of Hamilton.
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A boat tour that takes tourists to the foot of the falls, where they can better appreciate their thunder and spray. Runs April-October.
Open year-round except December 25.
A 1,000-foot (305-m) boardwalk beside the rapids. Open seasonally.
Powerful jet-boats speed upriver, making their way into the breathtaking stonewalled canyon that is the Niagara Gorge. The anticipation builds as the boats splash into the whitewater of Devil's Hole Rapids. April - October.
Vegas-style casino.
A Six Flags theme park with more than 200 attractions, about 30 km north of downtown Toronto. Open seasonally from May to October.
By bus
The largest bus terminal, the Union Station Bus Terminal, is used for intercity coach travel and is served by Megabus, New York Trailways, and Ontario Northland.
By train
Passenger trains in the area run into and out of Toronto Union Station. Domestic service across Canada is provided by VIA Rail.
By car
Although traffic can be heavy, there are several major highways through the region. Highway 401 serves Windsor and Detroit in the west, and Montreal in the east.
For longer distance trips within the region, driving is the most common method of getting around.
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Brampton is a city within the Greater Toronto Area of Ontario. It is one of Canada's fastest growing cities and has a population of more than 500,000.
Burlington is a city of 190,000 people (2021) in Ontario, Canada which lies across Burlington Bay from Hamilton. It's on the north shore of Lake Ontario, a 45-minute drive from Toronto and Niagara.
Hamilton is a port city in Ontario with a population around 520,000, at the westernmost end of Lake Ontario—the city wraps around the lake and continues towards the Niagara Escarpment, referred to by locals as "the mountain".
Mississauga is a city in southwestern Ontario, Canada. It is Toronto's largest suburb and Canada's seventh largest city.
Niagara Falls, Ontario, is the self-proclaimed "Honeymoon Capital of the World". For over a century, the grandeur of the waterfalls of the Niagara River have attracted tourists to this destination.
Niagara-on-the-Lake is a town of 19,000 people (2021) in the Niagara Region of Ontario. It sits on the shore of Lake Ontario at the mouth of the Niagara River.
Oakville is a town of 190,000 people (2016) on the north shore of Lake Ontario, about 30 km west of Toronto.
Toronto is a diverse, energetic and liveable city, home to many tourist attractions, and seemingly endless dining, shopping and entertainment possibilities. It's the most populous city in Canada, the centre of the country's financial sector, and the provincial capital of Ontario.
Vaughan (pronounced "Von") is a city of 323,103 people (2021) in York Region, in the Greater Toronto Area of Ontario, north of Toronto, west of Richmond Hill and Markham, east of Brampton, and south of Simcoe County. It is a vast suburban and rural area whose principal draws for visitors are the Canada's Wonderland amusement park, and the McMichael Canadian Art Collection.
Fort Erie is a town of about 33,000 people (2021) in the Niagara Region. It is directly across the river from Buffalo, New York, and is the site of Old Fort Erie which played a prominent role in the War of 1812.
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