Summer Guide • Things to Do • Michelle Milligan • July 2026

The Summer You Actually Get on the Water

Best lakes in Ontario for boating, plus real ways to get on the water in Toronto this summer — sailing, kayaking, tall ships, and the license you actually need first.

You know that feeling in early July when you realize summer is already slipping through your fingers? You had all these plans back in April — the lake trips, the boat days, the "we're definitely doing that this year" list — and suddenly it's the second week of the month and your boat shoes are still in the closet.

Yeah. Let's fix that.

Ontario in the summer is basically an apology for the other nine months. We've got more shoreline than we know what to do with, water that goes from glassy-calm at 7 a.m. to whitecap-choppy by noon, and small towns that exist almost entirely to put you on a boat, in a canoe, or behind the wheel of something with an outboard motor. This is your excuse to actually go do it — the lakes worth the drive, and a handful of deals that make "maybe this summer" a lot more affordable.

First, the Paperwork Nobody Wants to Think About

Before you even get to the fun part — if you're planning to drive anything with a motor, even a little electric trolling motor, you legally need a Pleasure Craft Operator Card. It's been the law since 2009, and yeah, people still get caught without one.

Here's the good news: you don't need a weekend course at some marina classroom. Aceboater.com runs a Transport Canada approved course entirely online — six chapters, a practice exam, then the real one. Pass it, print your temporary license, and you're legally on the water that same afternoon. Genuinely one of those "why didn't I just do this in April" tasks.

Get Your Boating License for $19 →

The Best Lakes in Ontario for Boating

Lake Muskoka & the Muskoka Lakes

If you picture "Ontario cottage country" in your head, you're probably picturing this. Deep, clean water, granite shoreline, and just enough boat traffic to feel alive without feeling like a parking lot. Bracebridge and Gravenhurst are your home base — good for gas, groceries, and the kind of general store that still sells penny candy. Rent a pontoon boat for the day and just... drift. Find a quiet bay, drop anchor, swim off the back.

Georgian Bay

This one's for people who want their lake to look a little more like the ocean. Thirty Thousand Islands, wind-sculpted pines growing straight out of rock, water so clear you can count fish from the boat. Parry Sound and the Massasauga area are the classic entry points. Bring binoculars — the birdwatching out here is unreal.

The Kawarthas

Less "postcard," more "actually relaxing." A chain of interconnected lakes and canals threaded together by the Trent-Severn Waterway, so you can boat for hours and barely repeat scenery. Peterborough and Bobcaygeon are the anchor towns — think fishing off the dock, ice cream in town, kids jumping off a pontoon boat until their lips turn blue.

Haliburton Highlands

More rugged, more forested, fewer crowds. Over 600 lakes packed into one region, so if you want to find "your" lake — the one nobody else seems to know about — this is where you'll find it. Great for canoeing and kayaking, since a lot of the smaller lakes are motor-restricted, which honestly makes the whole thing quieter and better.

The 1000 Islands

Here's where it gets a little different — this isn't a lake, it's the St. Lawrence River doing something almost absurd: over a thousand islands, some the size of a country, some barely big enough for one house and a dock. Old shipping channels, "Millionaire's Row" mansions, island cottages that have been in the same families for generations.

You don't even need your own boat to appreciate this one. A 90-minute Jewels of St. Lawrence cruise threads through narrow channels the bigger tour boats can't fit into, with a bilingual captain narrating island history while you sip something from the snack bar. It's the kind of afternoon that feels a lot fancier than it costs.

Book the 1000 Islands Cruise from $29 →

Toronto: the Water You Didn't Realize Was Right There

Look, you don't need to drive three hours north to get a boat day. Toronto's waterfront gets slept on constantly, and it's honestly kind of wild how much is happening right off Queens Quay.

Sail the Kajama Tall Ship

This is the one to do if you want the "wait, we're in Toronto?" feeling. It's a 165-foot, three-masted schooner — 2-hour cruises out across the harbour and into Lake Ontario, full bar and food service onboard. You leisurely sail past the skyline while sipping a drink you didn't have to pour yourself. There's a real "why does this feel like the Caribbean" quality to it.

Cruise the Kajama for $38 →

Drive Your Own Mini Powerboat

If you'd rather be behind the wheel yourself, Toronto Harbour Nautical Centre rents mini powerboats for two — 60 or 90 minutes, no experience necessary. They walk you through a full safety checklist before you head out, so even if you've genuinely never driven a boat in your life, you're not going in blind. The skyline from the water hits different, especially around golden hour.

Rent a Mini Powerboat, Up to 25% Off →

Sailing Camp for the Kids

And if you've got kids who talk about boats more than anything else you own, THNC runs weeklong sailing camps this summer — Junior Seadogs for ages 7-10, Senior Seafarers for 11-15, taught by Sail Canada certified instructors, all equipment included. Spots fill up fast, and some weeks are already down to their last few.

Reserve a Sailing Camp Spot →

If Paddling Is More Your Speed

Not everyone wants an engine. Sometimes you just want the sound of water against a hull and your own arms doing the work. The Nottawasaga River near Wasaga Beach is a genuinely gorgeous, low-key spot for this — Free Spirit Tours runs 2-hour kayak, canoe, or stand-up paddleboard trips that put you in at Wasaga Sports Park and send you paddling up toward Jack's Lake and back. It's unguided, so it's on your own clock, and the wildlife along the way is the real draw — bald eagles, trumpeter swans, beavers, turtles. Bring a water-resistant camera. You'll want it.

Book a Kayak or Canoe Trip for $29 →

The Part Where You Actually Do It

Here's the honest truth about summer in Ontario: it's short, and it does not wait for you to feel "ready." The license course takes an evening. The powerboat rental takes an hour to book. The cruise just needs you to pick a date. None of this requires owning a boat, knowing a captain, or having a cottage in the family — it just requires deciding today's the day you stop saying "we should do that" and start actually doing it.

So pick a lake, or skip the drive and head down to the harbour. Either way — get out on the water this summer. It's going by fast.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you need a license to drive a boat in Ontario?

Yes. Anyone operating a motorized boat in Ontario, including small trolling motors, needs a Pleasure Craft Operator Card. It's been a federal requirement since 2009 and can be completed online through a Transport Canada approved course.

What are the best lakes in Ontario for boating?

Some of the best include Lake Muskoka, Georgian Bay, the Kawartha Lakes, Haliburton Highlands, and the 1000 Islands region of the St. Lawrence River. Each offers a different experience, from calm cottage-country cruising to island-hopping on the St. Lawrence.

Can you go boating in Toronto?

Yes. Toronto Harbour offers tall ship cruises, mini powerboat rentals, and sailing lessons right off Queens Quay, making it possible to enjoy a full day on the water without leaving the city.

Deals mentioned are available for a limited time on WagJag and subject to change. Check each listing for current pricing, blackout dates, and expiry.