Ontario's Sunset Country

Family Fishing Vacations

2009-03-28T20:06:00.012-05:00

Take Your Kids Fishing in Sunset Country

Between video games, Internet chat rooms, television and mp3 players, kids today don't get to experience the outddors the same way we did. Yet, it is the outdoors and the activities you can do there that will teach them lessons no electronic device ever will. The simplest of pastimes - fishing - is probably one of the best activities you can do with your kids to get them away from the TV and into the great outdoors.

Sunset Country in Northwestern Ontario, Canada is an ideal destination for a family fishing vacation. With thousands of lakes, beautiful forests and hundreds of lodges and resorts to choose from, you can be confident a trip to our travel region will make your kids say "I can't believe this place". This is even more the case if your family lives in a big city where concrete is the dominant landscape feature.

Your children will be in awe of the birds and wildlife in our area and they will see things that just are not available back home. Maybe it will be a moose feeding in a shallow bay or a bear along side of the road as you drive to your destination. These experiences are invaluable for kids whose understanding of nature is limited because they seldom get to experience it.

As for the fishing, well it is simply second to none up here in Canada. Your kids won't complain that fishing is boring or that it takes forever to catch something. Within minutes your kid could land a beautiful Ontario walleye, a trophy northern pike, a smallmouth bass that jumps a foot above the water's surface or who knows, maybe even of of our famous Ontario muskies that will make their eyes open wide and their insides stir with excitement!

In addition to great Canadian resorts and lodges, there are over 100 RV Parks and campgrounds you can go to if you want to experience something different. For true adventure, consider taking your children on a Canadian fly-in fishing trip where you'll be the only people on the lake. The ride in on a bush plane will only make it that much more exciting and memorable for your kids. Catching over 100 walleye in a day may also stick in their minds for a while....

In addition to the great fishing your kids will enjoy swimming in the lake, hiking down a nature trail or just riding in a boat across the water.

Sunset Country Travel Association is a non-profit organization that promotes travel to our part of Canada. We have all the information you need to plan your trip so contact us and we'll be glad to help.

Sunset Country - A Place Like No Other

2009-03-23T22:57:00.010-05:00

Wilderness Next Door

Sunset Country in Northwestern Ontario really is a place like no other. Located in the central part of North America, Sunset Country offers thousands of square miles of wilderness, much of it pristine and untouched by modern civilization. This is a landscape with almost 100,000 lakes rivers and streams, vast stretches of woods and abundant wildlife and fish.

You can see the likes of moose, deer, and bear in our forests as well as dozens of species of songbirds and large birds of prey such as bald eagles and osprey. We can offer you some of the best freshwater fishing on the planet with trophy-sized muskie, pike, walleye, trout and bass in our lakes. Bring your camera to catch images of the area's wildlife, scenery and of the many big fish you'll catch.

For those who want to paddle across the water, Sunset Country was made for the wilderness canoeist. Do names like Quetico, Woodland Caribou and Wabakimi conjure up dreams of a trip you always wanted to take? These are only three options and with many qualified and knowledgable canoe outfitters, your trip planning can be relatively simple.

Cruise vast lakes on a houseboat. Lake of the Woods is located in Sunset Country are Lac Seul and Dog Lake. You can rent a houseboat on any of these lakes and take your floating cabin to a different location each day. Experience tremendous fishing, find your own secluded beach and relax in the beauty of the Canadian outdoors.

For the family that loves to go camping in Ontario, Sunset Country is the place in the Province to go. You can choose from a variety of private campgrounds across the region or stay in a Provincial Park. Bring your RV or your tent no matter, the guarantee we can provide is you will have a fun time!

Fishermen and familiy vacationers have a choice of many resorts and lodges in the Sunset Country travel region. For a truly unique experience, why not consider a trip to a remote fly-in outpost or lodge? You'll step aboard a bush plane and fly to a lake that has no roads into it and best of all, no other people!

If you are just traveling through Sunset Country on your way to another destination, then make sure to go through the many small towns and cities along the way. In these towns and cities you'll find a good selection of hotels, motels and bed and breakfast facilities.

What really makes our part of Canada special is how close we are to you! If you live in the U.S. Midwest, Western Canada and Southern Ontario, you can get here easily and in good time. For more information on how we can help you make it all happen, order your free Ontario Travel Guide and Map for Sunset Country, the Great Canadian Experience!

Time to Plan Your Summer Vacation

2009-03-09T23:16:00.016-05:00

Vacations in Ontario's Sunset Country

Hey we know the economy's a real drag these days but perhaps a vacation would make you feel better? Sure it costs money to go on a trip but the great thing is there are loads of great resort and lodge packages, campgrounds and hotels up here in Ontario's Sunset Country. Your visit can be for a week renting a cabin along the lake, fishing and exloring the surroundings. Bring your trailer or RV and explore the many campgrounds and parks we have. Go hiking, swimming or canoeing. The great outdoors offers a wide choice of activities for the entire family.

To get you started you can use the links to the right to find the website with specific information on the vacation you are planning. All of the Travel Association's member business are listed on these websites so you have instant access to the people with the packages and services you're looking for.

Here's a list of some of the things you can do:

Rent a Cabin, Boat and Motor and Go Fishing

Rent a Houseboat

Go Camping

Take a Fly-in Fishing Trip

Go Canoeing in a Provincial Park

Try Scuba Diving in a Freshwater Lake

Sailing

Rock Climbing

Mountain Biking

Nature Photography and Wildlife Viewing

Experience Festivals and Go Shopping in Town

Enter a Bass Fishing Tournament

Wayfinding With a GPS

and lots,lots more...the key thing to remember is that a grand vacation is not far away from home - especially if you live in the Midwest States, the Prairie Provinces in Canada or right here in Ontario. We offer great value, great fun and great memories in Ontario's Sunset Country.

What Can I do in Ontario's Sunset Country?

2008-11-02T21:42:00.018-06:00

What can I do up there in Canada?

For someone from the USA who's never been here before, that is a really good question to ask. The simple answer is LOTS! Our part of Canada is an outdoor paradise plain and simple! With our 70,000 freshwater lakes and thousands of square miles of Boreal forest, you'll see some of the most beautiful scenery anywhere in North America.

The family will love a trip to our area. Go fishing on Canadian lakes where you can catch trout, walleye, bass, crappie, muskie and pike. The fishing is truly legendary and you can stay at a beautiful Canadian lodge or resort while you're here.

If you happen to own your own camper or RV, then Sunset Country is the "promised land" for the family or couple who love to camp. There are many campgrounds and RV Parks to choose from. Another option for the camper is to stay at one of our many Provincial Parks in the region.

Speaking of our Provincial Parks, if you always wanted to go on a wilderness canoe trip in Ontario then they are the destinations you should have in mind. There are many excellent Canadian canoe routes that wind their way through Sunset Country. Don't forget to bring your fishing pole and your camera!

If you love the lake and have always wanted to go on an extended cruise then you can realize that dream by taking advantage of the many houseboat rental businesses that are members of our Travel Association. This is the equivalent of renting a lakeside cottage with the exception that it floats and you get a different view from your deck every night of the week.

There are many interesting towns and cities you can visit in Northwestern Ontario. While visiting, make sure you take in all the action at a local festival or event as there is always something going on. Spend a few nights in town and stay at a local hotel, motel or B&B. Make sure you stop in at the local gift and souvenir shops so you can take home that special momento of your visit. There are also many good restaurants and eating establishments to please any palette.

These are just a few examples of the things you can do when you take a vacation in Ontario. We can help you plan your trip and answer any questions you may have. The best place to start is by ordering your free Ontario, Canada Travel Guide and Map. You can also call us on our toll free vacation information line at 1-800-665-7567.

See you next summer up in Sunset Country!

Summertime is camping time

2008-07-14T23:29:00.007-05:00

Go on a Camping Trip to Northwestern Ontario

With the height of summer it's time to get outdoors and go camping. Northwestern Ontario offers easily some of the most accessible campgrounds to people in Manitoba and the U.S. Midwest. These camping sites cozy right up to a wilderness lake and offer excellent fishing and watersports for the kids. Take in the fresh air experience we offer and enjoy the comfortable and well-serviced campgrounds you can stay at. Hook-ups for larger Recreational Vehicles (RVs) will be available at the majority of locations some capable of taking the biggest of rigs. You can also pitch a tent or use one of these campsites as a base from which you can canoe, boat or fish.

Provincial Parks

With Provincial Parks such as Quetico, Woodland Caribou and Wabakimi, Northwestern Ontario is truly a wilderness canoeists paradise. You can get full canoe outfitting from our members to safely access these wilderness gems. Route planning, canoe rentals and even guides are available. See wildlife such as moose or whitetail deer, bald eagles, great blue herons and much more. Access areas along the lake shoreline with native American rock paintings that are many centuries old. Imagine the stories they were trying to tell so many years ago. For family campers there's parks like Rushing River near Kenora, Blue Lake north of Vermilion Bay, Aaron near Dryden, Ojibway near Sioux Lookout and Pakwash near Red Lake. All these Parks have shower and toilet facilities and some even have interpetive programs and exhibits you can go see.

Please use this link for a complete list of Northwestern Ontario Campgrounds. With summer here now is the time to make the trip. Be sure to stop in town for shopping and to pick up needed supplies such as fishing tackle, groceries, camping supplies and souvenirs. Eat at local restaurant or come in for a full day of shopping. The people in Northwestern Ontario are very friendly folks so get to know us better! Create great vacation memories with your entire family this year. We're only a few hours drive so why not get in the car and come stay for awhile?

Ice-out trout fishing - a ritual of Spring in Northwestern Ontario

2008-05-04T19:45:00.012-05:00

Get out and Spin Cast for Lakers

As the ice slowly melts away (and boy is it taking its time this year), the ritual known as ice-out trout fishing is set to commence. Arguably one of the seasons most enjoyable fishing pursuits, fishing for lake trout just after the ice goes out is a real treat. Normally, these fish are down deep below the first and often second thermocline any where from 50-100 feet below the surface. While you can still catch them fairly easily at these depths (with the right equipment and a little know-how), it is just not the same as spin casting for them in 10 feet of water.

The charm of this time of year is there is NO thermocline on the lake right after ice out - the temperature of the water is uniform throughout the water column and the lake trout can roam at any depth they choose. At this time of year you don't even need a boat to catch lakers, just cast your line from shore and you may have a 10-pounder bite your hook. While what lure to use is often a personal choice, we recommend you have lots of "flash" in your presentation - silver and gold are probably the best choices but bright yellow or black and silver combos also seem to work well. You may also want to rig up a spinner "train" and put a frozen cisco on the end of the line - the lake trout just can't seem to resist it!

Whatever rig you decide to use, the idea is to just get out on the lake for the first time after a long winter, enjoy the warmth of the sun and catch a big fish. These ice-out lakers have beautiful firm meat and they taste excellent when you have them for shore lunch. There are many great trout lakes in Ontario's Sunset Country so finding a place to go fishing will not be a problem. Many camp owners still have good cabin availability in the latter part of May so it is not too late to book your ice-out trip for 2008. If you want to access some great trout lakes then we recommend you check out this list of tourist outfitters who can set you up quickly so you can catch these critters.

Ice-out trout fishing is just one of the many reasons anglers from across North America and even Europe visit Sunset Country. We really are Canada's premier fishing destination when you consider the number of lakes we have (70,000+), the multiple species of fish you can catch here - trout, walleye, bass, muskie, pike, crappie, whitefish, sturgeon - and the natural beauty of the area. We are relatively close to home for all you fishermen from the U.S. Midwest so if you've got the time this spring we've got the fish - c'mon up!

Winter fun in Northwestern Ontario

2008-03-05T13:32:00.010-06:00

March is a Great Time to Visit

It's early March and still no real signs of spring in Northwestern Ontario. Yes, the sun is warmer and the days longer which is great, but the temperatures have not been very spring like so far. February's average temperature was almost 3 degrees celsius colder than normal - which is what they said it would be. No matter, March is the best winter month to visit Ontario's Sunset Country. The weather is usually ideal for outdoor activities like ice fishing, snowmobiling skiing or just taking a winter hike. The white glitter of winter is still here, but it is actually nice and comfortable to be outside.

The fishing is really "hot" at this time of year and the cold water makes those walleye taste even better than usual. Get out on the ice, catch some fish and enjoy time with your friends or family. We have pretty good snow depths in most parts of the region - a little below normal but not too bad for the snowmobiler. You can run your machine for miles and miles on our great wilderness snowmobile trails. The cross-country ski trails are also in prime shape if you like to get out and see the wilderness in winter.

Rent a Houseboat and Explore Magnificent Lakes

2008-02-07T21:22:00.001-06:00

Houseboat Rentals

Northwestern Ontario is home to 70,000 freshwater lakes and three of them, Lake of the Woods, Lac Seul and Dog Lake have houseboat rentals. These lakes are all large in size. Lake of the Woods for example has a surface area of 1 million acres and is dotted with over 14,000 islands. Measure the shoreline of Lake of the Woods and all its islands and it exceeds Lake Superior. It's true, the lake is a paradise for a houseboat vacation. You can rent boats out of Morson, Sioux Narrows or Kenora and chart your way through this maze of forests and water. Wildlife is every where as you'll see white pelicans, bald eagles, whitetail deer, bears and maybe even a moose!

Lac Seul is another immense lake as well stretching from Ear Falls in the west all the way to Hudson and Sioux Lookout on the east. Lac Seul is a massive reservoir of the English River which eventually flows west into the Winnipeg River and then Lake Winnipeg. Fishing on Lac Seul is some of the finest in Ontario. Walleye fishing is almost legendary and the muskie fishing on the east end of the Lake may be the best anywhere. You can rent houseboats from operators in Hudson or Ear Falls. Enjoy a week on the water that you'll never forget.

Dog Lake near Thunder Bay is not of the scale of Lac Seul or Lake of the Woods, but is still a huge lake that has major channels that are great to explore. A week isn't long enough to explore the entire lake but you will see wildlife and enjoy great fishing, swimming or just relaxing. Houseboats are often booked by groups of friends or family and make for a very memorable vacation choice.

Remember that you can order our Free Travel Guide and Fishing Map a great trip planning tool for your Ontario vacation.

Canadian Canoe Trips - Outfitters in Northwestern Ontario

2008-01-27T21:37:00.000-06:00

Northwestern Ontario is without a doubt one of North America's premier paddling destinations. The many thousands of lakes dotting the wilderness of the Canadian Shield make it a mecca for canoeists. Provincial Parks such as Quetico, Wabakimi, Woodland Caribou and the Turtle River-White Otter Wilderness park offer thousands of miles of canoe routes. Wildlife is abundant in these regions of Ontario and you may see a moose, bear, deer, otter or other creature. Fishing is spectacular especally for walleye, bass and pike. Bring your camera, as you'll paddle by some of the continents most beautiful landscapes, untouched and pristine.

Get Outfitted!

The best thing is you can get fully-outfitted for your trip and it is highly recommended that you seek the services of a qualified canoe outfitter. They will be able to ensure you a safe and high quality canoe trip experience. With equipment packages that meet your specific needs, an outfitter offers trip planning assistance, maps of the canoe routes, obtaining your park permits and getting you to and out of the park are all looked after. With an outfitter there's no worries - put their knowledge and experience to good use.

Vacation Idea # 2 - Big Game Hunts

2008-01-08T21:26:00.000-06:00

With 65,000 square miles of forest lands, Sunset Country offers some of Ontario's finest big game hunting opportunities. Up here there are the "big three" species you can hunt - whitetail deer, moose and black bear. Local outfitters offer guided or unguided hunts depending on the species. For non-residents of Canada, some Wildlife Management Units (WMUs) require that you hunt with a guide but this varies across the region.

Whitetail Deer

Over the past few years, Northwestern Ontario has become one of the Canada's premier destinations for whitetail deer hunters. The bucks up here are large-bodied with big racks and many hunters have probably heard of the famous Dryden Buck harvested illegally in 2003. This deer scored gross 217 7/8 and had a net score of 192 7/8 - a truly remarkable animal. Since news of this animal came out, our region has become a very popular destination for Americans who love whitetail deer hunting. Yet with our vast size and extensive hunting land available, you can still come up here and hunt in relative isolation in most areas. Click on this link if you want to find out more about the great Ontario whitetail deer hunting we have to offer.

Black Bear

It is estimated that the black bear population in Northern Ontario is anywhere between 75,000 to 100,000 animals and the Sunset Country region is probably home to at least half of the population. Bear hunting is done primarily from baited stands done with either archery or rifle -depending on the hunter's preference. Big boars can weigh up to 700 pounds - belly draggers for sure - but more commonly mature males are around 400-450 pounds. Unfortunately, the Ontario Government cancelled the Spring Bear hunt in 1999 so the season now runs from August 15th through to October. Local outfitters manage large hunting spaces called Bear Management Areas (BMAs) which have a set number of animals available for harvesting. Careful management ensures a sustainable population and excellent success rates for visiting hunters. Click on this link if you want to learn more about bear hunting in Ontario, Canada.

Moose

Moose hunting in Ontario is often a once in a lifetime activity for a big game hunter from the United States. While the increase in the whitetail deer population has put some pressure on moose numbers in recent years, there are still plenty of animals available. Most popular are hunts for bulls and these grow to very large sizes in the Northwest. Moose and calf tags are also available. Non-residents are required to be guided by a local outfitter who is allocated tags by the Ministry of Natural Resources. If you want to participate in a moose hunt - especially if you are after a big bull - then we advise you to book your trip early - a year or more in advance - as the number of bull tags available is limited. Just click on this link if you want to visit Ontario on a moose hunting trip.

Duck and Grouse Hunts

While not in the big game category, Northwestern Ontario is also a great destination for duck hunters or for those who like to hunt grouse. Our many lakes offer excellent resting areas for many different species of waterfowl on their annual migration south. For the upland bird hunter, the numerous abandoned logging roads in Sunset Country allow you to access areas loaded with ruffed grouse. Click on this link if you want to embark on an Ontario duck or grouse hunting trip.

You can also visit this website for more information on Hunting trips in Ontario, Canada.

Vacation Idea # 1: A Canadian Fishing Trip

2008-01-01T15:18:00.000-06:00

Fishing you say? Well with 70,000 freshwater lakes, rivers and streams, Ontario's Sunset Country can only be described as an angler's paradise! That's right folks our area of Ontario encompasses about 60,000 square miles of wilderness landscapes. Within that area live approximately 65,000 people. With 70,000 lakes you can do the math - that makes more lakes than people! Now that is a situation any serious angler would want to find themselves in. We know the State of Minnesota for example, is very proud of the fact it has 10,000 lakes and that is quite a thing. But in Sunset Country, we are even prouder to boast one of our Provincial Parks alone - Wabakimi - has almost 12,000 lakes in it and is about the same size as the State of Connecticut. It's all a matter of scale then isn't it?

Not only do we have tens of thousands of lakes, rivers and streams, but we also have an excellent variety of fish species you can go after. For most (but not all) anglers, walleye is the fish of greatest interest and for good reason. These beautifully colored fish are great fighters and they probably taste as good as it gets. The Canadian shorelunch was built on fresh walleye and it is a treat you do not want to miss. Go out in the morning and catch your dinner, pull your boat up on an island in the middle of the lake and start cooking - mmm..... we bet you can taste those fillets right now and along with the beans and potatoes, it is truly a quintessential Canadian fishing experience. For more information on our great Ontario walleye fishing, visit our walleye website at http://www.ontariowalleyefishing.ca

Large and smallmouth bass are probably number two on the list and we have an excellent population of both species in Sunset Country. We are at the northern limits of this species' range so the fish grow slower but live longer in our waters. Smallies average in the 2-3 pound range but fish between 4 and 6 pounds are definitely available - and in numbers you won't believe. Largemouth bass are found in a smaller number of lakes but they can grow a little larger than the smallies - probably 7 pounds is the upper range for this fish. Use the same baits you use back home including plastics such as twister tails, tube jigs or flukes. Spinner baits also work well under many conditions and many resident anglers use live bait such as minnows, leeches or nightcrawlers with a great deal of success. Don't take our word for it, just read the In-Fisherman Magazine to see what their Pro Staff think of Northwestern Ontario as a bass fishing destination. To find out more visit our Ontario bass fishing website at http://www.ontariobassfishing.ca

There of course, are many big northern pike lurking in our waters and Sunset Country is definitely a "Grade A" pike fishing destination. Northern pike are distributed across the region and they grow big up here. Fish over 45 inches long and 30 pounds in weight may just bite your hook and if they do, be prepared for a long and arduous battle as northerns are great fighters. Just about any lake up here has a good population of northerns so come on up and enjoy the experience of catching them. Find out more about our fantastic pike fishing by visiting http://www.ontariopikefishing.ca/

For the trout angler, Sunset Country really has no equals unless of course, you are willing to travel just south of the North pole or somewhere close to that. Seriously, our region has several thousand spring-fed, clear deep trout lakes that are loaded with lakers. Catching them is also relatively easy if you know what you are doing. In the early part of the season, just spin cast along the shore line and since the ice-out occurred just a few weeks ago, the lake trout are in shallow and they are very hungry. This "ice-out trout fishing" is something every serious trout angler should try. During the summer, lake trout hold in large schools in much deeper water so if you want to catch them, you'll need to bring tackle and equipment that can get you down anywhere between 40 and 100 feet of water - downriggers work great for this when slow-trolling over a big school of trout. For fly fishermen, the treat that awaits you in our arctic watershed rivers are trophy native brook trout, with fish averaging 3-4 pounds and trophies hitting the 8 and maybe even 9 pound range - truly spectacular! Find out more about the excellent lake and brook trout fishing we have to offer by visiting http://www.ontariotroutfishing.ca/

Last but certainly not least is the mighty muskie - the species some people call "the fish of 10,000 casts." While that line may be the case in many areas it certainly does NOT apply when you fish the lakes in Ontario's Sunset Country. Northwestern Ontario is probably the number one muskie destination in Canada if not all of North America and famous musky hunters like Joe Bucher would be quick to agree with that statement. Fish over 50 inches and weighing in at over forty pounds are, if you can believe it, not uncommon. So if you are a muskie fishing addict or you just want to try catching one of these monsters for the first time then Sunset Country in Northern Ontario is where you should go to wet your line. Find out more by visiting http://www.ontariomuskiefishing.ca/

After all is said and done, if you have always wanted to experience the super freshwater fishing that Canada has to offer then the place you should do it in is Ontario's Sunset Country. You can visit any of the websites we have provided here to find out more info and to link to the many lodges and resorts that you can stay at while on your Canadian fishing trip. Alternatively you can also visit our general fishing website at http://www.canadafishing.ca/

Basic Travel Tips - Visiting Sunset Country

2007-12-28T20:46:00.000-06:00

We thought it would be wise to post some tips for anyone who will be traveling or who may be considering a trip to Ontario's Sunset Country in 2008. First off for our American friends, you are all probably wondering what the scoop is regarding whether or not you need a Passport in 2008. Here's what we know as of the date of this post:

Air Travelers: YES - if you arrive from the United States by air you do need a Passport and have needed one since January 2007. Just to clear things up, this is an American Law and you need it to return to the USA not necessarily to come into Canada. However if you want to return home by air after your visit, your Government requires you to have a Passport so make sure you get one if you are flying.
Land Travelers: NO - you do not need a Passport in 2008 to travel to Canada and return to the USA by land - i.e. in an automobile or RV. However, you must be able to prove you are a U.S. Citizen (you need a birth certificate or a Passport to prove this) and a valid photo identification - such as a driver's license with your picture on it. Children under 16 are excepted from the photo requirement. Again, this is a U.S. law to return to the USA after visiting Canada - not a Canadian one and since we as Canadians have to ensure that you will be allowed to get back home to the United States after visiting Canada - our Customs officers will ask you to present this level of Identifcation when you cross the border. U.S. citizens who are traveling by land will be required to have Passports to return to the USA in June 2009 - please plan accordingly for this eventuality.
For more information about new Passport rules for U.S. citizens retuning home after traveling to Canada, visit the U.S. Government's State Department website at this link: http://travel.state.gov/travel/cbpmc/cbpmc_2223.html

U.S. Citizens - What can you Bring?: Canada allows you to bring in a set limit of certain items such as liquor and tobacco duty free. There are also other regulations and restrictions on certain food products, on firearms and other commodities. The best resource to answer these types of questions is the Canada Border Services Agency website under their Frequently Asked Questions page. Here is a link to that page: http://cbsa.gc.ca/help-aide/faq1-eng.html

DWI and DUI: Some U.S. Citizens with DWI (also called DUI) offences may not be allowed into Canada. The decision to let you in is based on Canadian laws as they apply to these offences not American law. Driving while impaired is considered in Canada what Americans would know as a felony conviction - or what we call an indictable offence. Any American who has a DWI or DUI offence is therefore considered to have a criminal record under Canadian laws. The decision to let you into Canada if this situation applies to you is based on how old the offence is and if you have more than one offence of this nature. For more detailed information on this issue as well as info on general admissabilty to Canada you can visit this website: http://geo.international.gc.ca/can-am/minneapolis/home_page/inadmissible-en.asp

Speed Limits: Speed limits in Ontario are posted in kilometers per hour (kmh) as opposed to miles per hour (mph). Here are the approximate equivalents for U.S. travelers:

100 kmh = 62 mph
90 kmh = 55 mph
80 kmh = 50 mph
60 kmh = 36 mph
50 kmh = 30 mph
40 kmh = 25 mph

Currency: Although U.S. currency is accepted just about anywhere, we advise American citizens who will be traveling to Canada to exchange their U.S. dollars for Canadian currency prior to their visit or as soon as you get in to Canada. If you will be exchanging your money in Canada, we strongly recommend you go to a Canadian Chartered Bank, a Credit Union or a Duty Free Shop to make the exchange - this will ensure you get as close to the actual official exchange rate as possible. Credit cards are another option albeit you generally get charged more by the credit card companies than you do at a bank. Recommended cards for travelers are Visa and MasterCard. As of January 2008, the current exchange rate is about par - meaning one U.S. dollar is worth about one dollar Canadian. This can fluctuate however so check before traveling as to what the current offical exchange rate is so you get the most value for your money.

Health Insurance: It is imperative that you check with your health insurer in the United States whether or not your policy covers you and your family while traveling in Canada. In most cases it does not. We strongly advise that you purchase additional travel health insurance prior to crossing the border so that any unexpected medical costs or costs related to emergent care are covered while you are here.

Fishing and Hunting Regulations: The high quality of the fishing and hunting experiences in Ontario are because of our careful fish and wildlife management strategies and regulations. Make sure you inform yourself and everyone in your party as to exactly what the regulations are for both fish and wildlife species - ignorance of these laws will not be accepted as a valid excuse by a MNR Conservation Officer. Some lakes and certain wildlife management units have specific regulations that apply to specific species so if you are unsure what these may be, ask your outfitter or call the Ministry of Natural Resources directly. You can find the current fishing and hunting regulations on the MNR website (and download a copy if you wish) at this address: http://www.mnr.gov.on.ca/MNR/pubs/pubmenu.html

We hope this information is helpful to you but acknowledge we may not have covered everything you wanted to know. If this is the case please call us toll free from the USA at 1-800-665-7567 or email us at info@sunsetcountry.net

Enjoy your stay!

Come Discover the Great Canadian Experience

2007-12-23T23:24:00.000-06:00

As you go through life, never forget to take time out for yourself!

Vacations are important for many reasons but probably the most important one is the opportunity that time off from your job represents to rejuvenate yourself. Others of course, are to spend time with your family, your friends or your partner. When you make the decision to visit Sunset Country, it's because you want to experience Canada's Great Outdoors. Located in Northwestern Ontario, north of the State of Minnesota, Sunset Country is definitely one of the most beautiful of all places on our planet. This is a land of 70,000 lakes and rivers, 60,000 square miles (100,000 square km) of Boreal forest and a place best defined by its wilderness landscapes.

We are famous for among other things, our spectacular freshwater fishing, and we can offer anglers from the United States, Canada and around the world some, if not the best fishing Canada has to offer. For over 70 years, fisherman and families have trekked north to our area to enjoy the bountiful harvests available from our many lakes and of course, the sheer natural beauty of the land. On the list are walleye, northern pike, bass, trout, muskie, crappie and several other species of fish. Up here, the fish stories really are larger than life! You may just catch that "fish of a lifetime" during your stay.

For those who just love the outdoors, then this is the place God had in mind for you. Much of the region is untouched by humans and looks essentially the same way it did 500 or even 1,000 years ago. The rugged landscapes of the Canadian Shield are some of the most scenic in the world and there are endless places where you can go camping, hiking, swimming and wildlife viewing. The air is super clean, no exhaust fumes up here eh! You can visit several locations on an RV tour or come and pitch a tent in one of our many Wilderness Provincial Parks.

If you want to get away but are not too keen on roughing it then no worry, Sunset Country has many great resorts and lodges where you can book a room or a whole cabin. Located on a gorgeous freshwater lake, your stay will be comfortable and most importantly relaxing. You can choose from meal plans or do your own cooking - it's up to you. For something completely different, why not rent an outpost cabin where you either fly or boat in to your own private piece of paradise. At one of these locations, you can literally "own" the lake for the week of your stay. There are literally no other cabins or people to worry about - the true definition of "getting away from it all!"

This is just a sample of the many vacation experiences you can enjoy in Ontario's Sunset Country. If you want to order a free travel guide and map we would be happy to send you one. You can also call our toll free line at 1-800-665-7567 if you want to speak to one of our staff members in person.