The reasons people have for choosing where they take a vacation are often based on a number of factors, most often price or distance has something to do with it. But beyond the cost and distance, you should choose your next vacation destination based on the things you want to do, for yourself, friends or family. While there are many reasons you could find to justify a vacation to Ontario's Sunset Country, here are five on our list - can you think of more?
Reason 1: Get your shot at a fish of a lifetime!
Sure, you have to like fishing for this reason to motivate you but most people who visit Northwestern Ontario love to fish. By choosing Sunset Country as the place to go, you have a chance at the "fish of a lifetime" and not for one or two species but five, and on some lakes more than five. There are lots of 30" walleye, 45" pike, 20" smallmouth, and 50+" muskie swimming in our lakes and if you're here at the right time, one of them could bite your hook. If you go deep then some lakes hold trout longer than 40" that weigh over 30 pounds. Talk about a worthwhile reason to go fishing!
Reason 2: Reconnect with nature
Did you know that spending time outdoors and amongst nature is a great way to reduce stress in your life? This is especially true for people who live in large cities where concrete is the main landscape feature. Also known as Nature Deficit Disorder, when people experience a lack of contact with nature, it can cause significant stress - especially in children. Whether you're a stressed adult or you want to do something positive for your children, then introducing them and immersing them in nature is a great idea. It's as easy as going for a hike, camping in the woods, or staying in a cabin on the lake for a week. Sunset Country is a family-friendly vacation destination and you won't regret it if you visit us yourself or with your family.
Reason 3: Get away from the crowds
Something we like to brag about is the fact that in Sunset Country, the lakes outnumber the people. How is that possible you ask? Well, this is the remotest part of the Province of Ontario - and Ontario is a very large province in Canada - and over 90% of the population lives in the part we call "Southern Ontario". Big cities like Toronto, Ottawa, and others are the dominant feature of that region. Up here, it's the lakes, trees, and wildlife that rule. With an area of 100,000 square kilometers, we have a population of about 65,000 people. In the same region are 70,000 freshwater lakes. With that ratio of lakes to people, you know that just about anywhere in Sunset Country is going to be crowd-free!
Reason 4: A great place for active travel
Active travel is simply to "travel with a purpose", and involves an organized (or loosely organized) trip where you do a specific, planned activity every day. In Sunset Country, the outdoor setting we offer makes the region an ideal choice for a wide array of adventure travel activities. It's all about nature and the outdoors here. For example, you could spend a day off-road/trail biking, follow it the next day with a paddling trip to an island, and so on and so forth.
True active travel trips are pre-panned where you designate a different activity each day - or the same activity in different locations - if you are an avid sportsperson. You can even mix adventure activities with cultural ones, like a museum or boat tour, it's up to you. The key is doing something active every day and when you do that, everything else usually falls nicely into place. Active travel trips are ideal when you plan them as an itinerary.
Reason 5: A great place for a personal reset
Life is full of many challenges between family and work obligations and sometimes, a person needs to go somewhere and hit the reset button. Not only is a trip to Sunset Country stress-free, but it is also a place you can come to and just relax. It's the ideal place to go and not think about work, family, personal issues, or whatever is causing you undue stress. Sunset Country is a great place to do something for yourself and that is a thing everyone should do once in a while
