Masterworks of Canadian Art in a Woodland Setting
Walk into the McMichael Canadian Art Gallery in Kleinburg and you step into rooms built around the very landscapes that inspired Canada's greatest painters. The gallery houses nearly 6,000 works by Tom Thomson, the Group of Seven, and generations of First Nations, Inuit and contemporary artists—the only major public gallery in North America devoted entirely to Canadian art. You'll see the wild forests and dramatic shorelines that these artists captured, then look out the windows to similar views across the gallery's own wooded grounds. It's a rare chance to stand where the art and its subject meet.
- Adult admission $20, seniors $17, ages 25 and under $7, children 5 and under free; parking $7
- Open daily 10AM–4PM (closed December 25)
- Note: The gallery will be closed for renovations until 2029
- 10365 Islington Avenue, Kleinburg
Living with Reptiles at Close Range
Reptilia Zoo is a 25,000-square-foot space filled with over 250 reptiles, amphibians, and arachnids living in habitats designed to let you watch them up close. Whether you're drawn to snakes, lizards, turtles or insects, the centre doubles as an education space, so there's always context for what you're seeing. It's situated near Vaughan Mills, making it easy to combine with other stops in the area.
- Adults 13–64: $17; children 2–12: $12; seniors 65+: $14; infants under 2 free
- Daily 10AM–6PM (holidays 10AM–5PM)
- 2501 Rutherford Road
Thrills and Water at Canada's Wonderland
Canada's Wonderland runs seasonally from May through October with 17 roller coasters, a 20-acre waterpark, and more than 200 attractions spread across the park. Whether you come for the adrenaline or to cool off in the water section, there's enough variety to fill a day. The park is accessible by YRT bus 760 from the GO bus terminal at Finch subway station.
- 1 Canada's Wonderland Drive
- Open seasonally, May to October
Trails and Wildlife at the Kortright Centre for Conservation
The Kortright Centre sits on 800 acres in the heart of Vaughan's green spaces, with hiking trails winding through forests and wetlands where you can encounter wildlife in their natural habitat. The centre runs workshops and guided experiences year-round, making it a place to learn about local ecosystems while actually moving through them. It's a different kind of attraction—one that rewards you with quiet and the sound of the land itself.
- Daily 9:30AM–4PM
- 9550 Pine Valley Drive (accessible via Rutherford Drive exit from Highway 400)
- Offers hiking, workshops, and wildlife encounters
Open Space and Local Landmarks Worth Knowing
Beyond the main attractions, Vaughan offers spaces that reveal how the city sits in the landscape. North Maple Regional Park sprawls across 900 acres along Keele Street—an expanse that was once landfill and is now restored parkland. Boyd Conservation Area lies between Woodbridge and Kleinburg, offering quieter ground for walking. In Thornhill, the J. E. H. MacDonald House at the corner of Centre and Yonge Streets is the former home of the Group of Seven founding member and his son, now used as an event space. These places tell the story of Vaughan's transformation from pioneer settlement to modern city.
Start with the McMichael if you want to understand Canadian art and landscape, or head to Canada's Wonderland if you're traveling with family. Whenever you visit, leave time for the Kortright Centre—it's where you'll remember why anyone would have settled in this part of Ontario in the first place.