This Tiny Lakeside Town In Ontario Is One Of The Province's Top Summer Vacay Spots For 2023

You can have a sunny picnic with waterfall views.

Lead Writer, Travel

Ontario is full of beautiful summer destinations and it looks like this small lakeside town is among the most popular. Airbnb recently revealed its 2023 summer travel trends which offered a little peek into where Ontarians will be taking their warm-weather vacations.

One of the top five domestic destinations for Ontario travellers being searched for on Airbnb is the small town of Bala. Located in Muskoka, the scenic lakeside village boasts shopping, dining, nature, and more.

You can picnic by Bala Falls or head to the famous music venue The Kee to Bala which has been a hot spot for close to a century.

Anne of Green Gables fans will want to head to Bala's Museum to learn about the history of Bala and how author Lucy Maud Montgomery's stay there helped inspire her novel The Blue Castle.

The area is known as the "Cranberry Capital of Ontario" and you can celebrate these red berries at Johnston’s Cranberry Marsh and Muskoka Lakes Winery, located just outside of the town. The Cranberry Festival typically takes place in October.

Other highlights of Bala include waterfront restaurants and cute local shops to explore.

But Bala isn't the only hotspot in Ontario this summer. The four other domestic destinations that Ontarians are searching for are Georgian Bay, Kitchener, Montreal, and Blue Mountain. Guests are also looking for "more affordable stays" and private room Airbnb bookings in Ontario have grown by 65%.

On May 3, 2023, Airbnb introduced Airbnb Rooms, an "all-new take on Airbnb." It offers new features including a Host Passport, redesigned filters, and new privacy options.

So, if you're an Ontarian looking for a small town with fun summer vibes, it's worth keeping Bala on your radar. You may also want to plan a trip to Tobermory, which was named one of Airbnb's top five travel destinations in the province for 2022.

Bala

Address: Bala, ON

Why You Need To Go: This scenic town is one of Airbnb's top local destinations for Ontarians this summer.

Bala website

Before you get going, check out our Responsible Travel Guide so you can be informed, be safe, be smart, and most of all, be respectful on your adventure.

  • Lead Writer

    Madeline Forsyth is a Toronto-based Lead Writer for Narcity Media. After earning her B.A. (Hons) at Queen's University, she spent a year travelling much of the world as a flight attendant. Now, she uses her experience in the travel industry and passion for writing to share stories about buzzworthy events and adventures across Canada and the globe. Madeline has been published in PopSugar and has interviewed sports and entertainment personalities for Narcity. She has covered and photographed restaurant openings as well as event launches such as the world premiere of the Dr. Seuss Experience. Some of her favourite things to write about include charming small towns and anything to do with Harry Potter.

A burst of snow will bring up to 20 cm to Ontario this week before the cold snap ends

Temperatures will warm up but still be cold enough for "lingering" snow.

CSIS is hiring for these jobs and you can get paid up to $120,000 a year to be nosy

You'll help investigate threats to national security. 🔍

Costco is hiring for jobs that pay $20 to $25 an hour and some don't require any experience

Positions are available at a new unique warehouse that's opening in Canada soon.

6 cheap and safe Caribbean destinations to visit in 2026 if you're skipping Cuba

Turquoise waters, white sands, and no travel warnings. 😌🏝️

U of T is the only Canadian school in the top 10 of this new best universities ranking

It beat every Canadian university in all of these subject areas! 📚

Lotto 6/49 winners split a $5M jackpot with another ticket and didn't believe it was real

They checked the ticket online and at a store to make sure they really won the jackpot. 💸

Canada's 'most romantic town' is near Toronto and it's filled with European charm

It's the perfect place to visit with your favourite person.