With the stresses of assignments and upcoming exams looming, one can’t help but to dream about the dog days of summer ahead. After eight months of brutal academics, some form of vacation seems necessary. While relaxing in Anguilla or hob knobbing with George Clooney in the Italian countryside may be nice options, they aren’t feasible for most of us. Camping may seem a little less glamorous, but it can be a fun, affordable way to rejuvenate the mind, body and soul. Getting in touch with your natural side is easy around here, because Ontario is populated with 329 provincial parks to choose from! Here are a few to consider:

Sandbanks Provincial Park

Located just west of Kingston are two of the largest freshwater baymouth sandbars in the world. Sandbanks Provincial Park features 549 campsites and some of the most interesting natural features Ontario has to offer. Two spectacular stretches of sand dunes occupy the park, some reaching heights of nearly 25 metres high. Sandbanks offers a large beach for those who want to spend their days leisurely strolling along the lake, while more nature-savvy visitors can take delight in the several unusual plants found in the park and species of wildlife roaming the dunes and wetlands, including the pileated woodpecker and the marsh wren. The park also features two short trails for cycling or hiking.

ontarioparks.com/english/sand.html

Estimated driving time from Queen’s: One hour 30 minutes.
Rates range from $23.75 to $46.00 per campsite per night.

Bruce Peninsula National Park

Located on the Bruce Peninsula, the park is bound by the Niagara Escarpment which drops off into Georgian Bay. Bruce Provincial Park is home to one of the world’s UNESCO Biospheres, featuring the oldest forest in Eastern North America, breathtaking cliffs and a number of rare orchids and wildflowers. The parks encompass the Bruce Trail starting in Tobermory and following the Niagara Escarpment for 773 km. The park is home to walking trails and mountain biking trails. In addition, scuba diving enthusiasts will be pleased to know Bruce Peninsula features 22 historic shipwrecks amongst the 20 islands in the area.

pc.gc.ca/pn-np/on/bruce/index.aspx

Estimated driving time from Queen’s: Six hours 45 minutes.
Rates are $4.90 per person per night for group camping, $9.80 per person per night for backcountry camping, $23.50 unserviced with washroom building having toilet only, $11.70 for additional vehicle and $15.70 per campsite per night for winter camping.

Algonquin Provincial Park

In many people’s minds, camping in Canada is synonymous with Algonquin Park. It was the first provincial park in Ontario and is one of the largest. At 7,630 km², it’s larger than Prince Edward Island and the same size as the states of Rhode Island and Delaware combined. The park features rocky ridges, hundreds of lakes and vast forests. Get ready for some exercise, because the only way to get around the interior of the park is by canoe or foot. Algonquin features eight campgrounds in total and over 14 trails. If all of that isn’t enough to keep you busy, consider visiting the logging museum to check out the park’s rich cultural history or embrace your inner artist and explore this summer’s exhibition “A Painter’s Park,” which showcases the iconic landscapes the park has to offer and the talent of Philip Sworden.

algonquinpark.on.ca/

Estimated driving time from Queen’s: Three hours 30 minutes.
Rates range from $35.25 to $46.00 ($12.25 for additional vehicles) per campsite per night for the developed campgrounds, $58.00 to $134.50 per night per person for backcountry ranger cabins and $11.75 per person per night for backcountry camping.

Killarney Provincial Park

Along with Algonquin, Killarney dominated a number of the Group of Seven’s work, and it’s no surprise, because the park features an array of beautiful hardwood forests, crystal blue lakes and a series of rocky ridges glimmering with white quartzite. Four ice ages have shaped the tops of mountains and filled in crevices crafting the landscape now seen today. Summer events include both a loon and butterfly count. More adventurous campers may want to consider La Cloche Silhouette Trail. Those who fear intense physical activity beware; the seven to 10 day hike is fairly strenuous, but the reward is great. The hike concludes atop a vista with a vast view of the rugged and scenic park.

http://ontarioparks.com/english/kill.html

Estimated driving time from Queen’s: Seven hours 25 minutes.
Rates range from $23.75 to $46.00 per campsite per night.

Rondeau Provincial Park

Formed in 1894, Rondeau is Ontario’s second oldest provincial park and the largest home to Ontario’s protected habitat. Birdwatchers can delight in sights of tulip-tree, sassafras, yellow-breasted chat, tundra swans and the endangered prothonotary warbler. These birds flock to Rondeau in early spring on route from migration. If bird watching isn’t your thing, the park features a local version of The Amazing Race in July. Teams can explore the park and overcome challenges. This ancient park is one of the best kept secrets in Ontario and a special delight for anyone who even remotely likes birds.

rondeauprovincialpark.ca

Estimated driving time from Queen’s: Five hours 50 minutes.
Rates range from $23.75 to $46.00 per campsite per night.