The Ideal Location for Your Family Vacations

Are you looking for a great family vacation? Do you want to be surrounded by nature? Do you want a locale that is affordable, has no waiting lines, and is close to home? If you answered yes to any or all of these questions, then come to the Lake Temiskaming region; it has countless exciting options for all ages.

Toddlers

It is not always easy to find vacation activities for little ones, but there are many available in the Lake Temiskaming region. Here are some of our activities that you might want to consider.

Two of the major attractions for young children are the beautiful heritage carousels and miniature railway at North Bay's Waterfront, which attracts over 100,000 visitors every summer. The Tech Cominco Prospect Park in Cobalt offers fun for all ages with its splash pool, mining-themed mini-golf, and soccer and baseball fields. Also, the McDonald's in nearby New Liskeard has a large play structure, so you'll be able to enjoy your breakfast or morning coffee while your children are having a blast. Haileybury's beach and waterpark are also a must.

There are several exciting festivals on the Québec side of Lake Temiskaming, including Le Rodéo du Camion during the first weekend of August, the Festival Western de Guigues during the second weekend of August, and the Foire Gourmande in mid-August. These three festivals also offer large play areas for toddlers and children. Your kids will enjoy eating and playing in the restored railcar in the Subway restaurant in Temiscamingue. Next door, an ice cream parlour provides a tasty conclusion to your excursion.

School-Age Children

We have such an enticing mix of museums, nature activities, and interactive learning that your older children won't want to go home. On sunny days, the enchanted forest at the Fort Témiscamingue National Historic Site makes you feel as if you're in a fairy-tale. A visit to the fort will transport the whole family to the time of the voyageurs, explorers, and fur traders. Another must see is the supervised Haileybury beach with its 45-metre water slide, water park, and wading pool. Cyclists will adore the 12.7 km Kate Pace Way trail in North Bay. Its deluxe Delfino bikes can carry up to 4 adults and 4 youths. In Cobalt's underground mine tour, walk the mine tunnels that were carved out a century ago in search of silver deposits, and learn about the miners' lives and fortunes. Close by is the mining-themed mini-golf course. The Canadian Ecology Centre in Mattawa has a variety of fascinating educational activities for children, including daylong, overnight, and outreach educational programs.

Rainy days can be just as exciting. The interpretation centre at the Fossilarium in Notre-Dame-du-Nord uncovers the secrets of fossilization, and offers a wide variety of family-friendly activities. The largest collection of wasp nests in the world - with over 700 nests – is located at the Laverlochère interpretation centre. Discover the methods and materials wasps use to build their nests, and much more!

For a tasty treat, visit the chocolate factory in Ville-Marie. Les Chocolats Martine offers a wide selection of treats, all made from genuine Belgian chocolate. A guided tour delves into the fascinating history of chocolate, and uncovers the secret of La Caramelle.

Teenagers

The Temiskaming region provides myriad activities for teens that will undoubtedly delight them and engage their interest. The state-of-the-art Harder for Carter Skate Park in New Liskeard is one of the best of its kind in Northern Ontario, and will keep your teenager busy for hours on end. Rollerbladers can speed along North Bay's 12.7 km paved trail while enjoying the picturesque views of Lake Nipissing. Adventuresome, energetic teenagers will want to climb the 30-metre high Temagami Fire Tower to the top of Caribou Mountain. From this vantage point, the viewer can see beautiful Temagami for a span of over 40 kilometres. The site also has hiking trails and picnic areas. Rock climbing in Ville-Marie, which offers difficulty levels for children of all ages, provides the family with another exciting day of outdoor activities. The Chibekana site has a 15-metre-high rock face. Pyramid Paintball Park in Bonfield, close to North Bay, offers a variety of paintball games suitable for teens.

For over a century, Temagami has been the home of summer camps for boys and girls. Here, young people learn to canoe, make campfires, swim, hike, cook, and more, with the guidance of experienced counsellors. The camps range from traditional summer camps, to canoeing camps, to outbound adventures, to camps dedicated to newer sports such as wakeboarding. The Temagami region is the world's third-busiest wilderness-canoeing area.