The top 5 weekend getaways two hours from Toronto

There are plenty of options for weekend getaways from Toronto if you want to keep your driving time under the two hour mark. It's at this range that you can get yourself to wine country, up north to ski and mountain bike, and to the warm shores of Lake Erie for excellent swimming. If it's culinary adventure you're after, there's plenty of that on offer too.

Here are my picks for the top weekend getaways two hours from Toronto.

Get dramatic at the Stratford Festival
The Stratford Festival should be on every Ontarian's bucket list. The productions are top notch, the town is quaint, and there are plenty of reasonably priced accommodations. This year's take on Hamlet is reputed to be outstanding. The river that runs through the town is also a perfect picnicking spot, but beware of the swans (they take no sh*t but make lots of it).

Follow your taste buds down the Taste Trail in Prince Edward County
There are 26 restaurants and wineries along Prince Edward County's Taste Trail, all of them calling your name. Book off a few days and enjoy some of the best pinot noir in Ontario. For food, I suggest you start at The Hubb, owned by young siblings Alexandre and Melanie Fida, and spend the night in their adjoining inn, Angeline's.

Get romantic (and wasted) in Niagara-on-the-Lake
Niagara-on-the-Lake is a perfect destination for a romantic weekend getaway. There are cosy accommodations for pretty much every budget and more than enough wineries and restaurants to keep soaking up earthly pleasures all vacation long. Looking of culture? The Shaw Festival remains one of the best modern theatre hubs in the world.

Explore your heart out at Blue Mountain
It's not actually blue, and it's not really a mountain, but if you're the kind of person who likes to soak in nature and party at the same time, this scenic spot should be a go-to. Stay somewhere in or near the Village (I recommend the Grand Georgian) for quick access to an array of activities, restaurants and entertainment. For the non-claustrophobic, the Scenic Caves are also worth checking out.

Be charmed by Port Stanley
Port Stanley is one of the best places to swim in Ontario, particularly in August. Lake Erie's at times bath-warm water and crazy waves are enough to lure vacationers to Port Stanley's world-class Main Beach, but visitors also come for the town's potent arts scene. Catch a play at the Port Stanley Festival Theatre, sit in on some musical performances or take a ride on the Port Stanley Terminal Trail.

Thanks to the Subaru 2015 XV Crosstrek for sponsoring our weekend getaway adventures.

What did I miss? Add your favourite weekend getaway ideas to the comments.

Photo of Peller Estates by Lynn H. Armstrong

by Amanda Storey via blogTO