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Walking the trails of Rouge National Urban Park is a very serene experience. A great place to go to detach yourself from the busy world and enter a place of beauty and tranquility that’s right in my own backyard.

The Big Chute Marine Railway is my favourite place to be at Trent-Severn Waterway National Historic Site. Crystal-clear, blue waters, granite outcroppings and towering white pines. Add in an engineering feat unlike any other in North America, and you have a once-in-a-life-time experience.

Standing on the shore surrounded by the ruins of Fort St. Joseph National Historic Site, I enjoy being able to feel the same sense of isolation that the British soldiers must have felt at the end of the 18th century.

Mdaabii Miikna… It’s a magical trail in Pukaskwa National Park! From its 360° views of Lake Superior’s pristine coastline to the brilliant green hues of its mossy inland terrain, I’m always enchanted by this wilderness trek.

Thirty-five metres below your feet, a torrent of water rushes towards Lake Superior. A challenging day hike, paddle or short boat shuttle brings you to Chigamiwinigum Falls. You can hear the water long before you get there, and the view is spectacular!

Entering the forests of Woodland trail transports you to a wondrous place filled with the sounds of gray tree frogs, woodpeckers and rustling leaves. I love coming here to take a break from bustling city life and to enjoy the sights and sounds of nature, culture and agriculture in Rouge National Urban Park.

The Woodland Nature Trail has always been one of my favourite spots in Point Pelee National Park, especially in the spring. I can remember walking the long bridges, under the canopy of large trees always hoping to catch a glimpse of the golden swamp warbler, more commonly known as the Prothonotary Warbler, an endangered species that nests in the park.