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Uncovering the unexpected in Ontario -- from floating mansions to the province's very own Taj Mahal.

In his relentless quest to discover the unusual, Ron Brown has traveled nearly every road in Ontario. This book features 100 of the very best trips from his three best-selling "50 Unusual" collections: 50 Unusual Things to See in Ontario, 50 Even More Unusual Things to See in Ontario, and Ontario's Secret Landscapes: 50 More Visits to Unusual Ontario.

What's an unusual thing? "Anything that is unexpected. Something that shouldn't belong where you found it." Most locations are easy to reach from Ontario's major population centers, and a few are for more adventurous explorers. Locations include:

• North America's longest wooden bridge
• Ontario's Stonehenge
• The dune that ate the town
• Ghosts of the gold fields
• Boats in the air
• Holleford meteor crater
• Strange serpent mounds of Rice Lake
• The swamp that feeds the world
• Hell holes of Eastern Ontario
• Ontario's Taj Mahal
• Birdhouse City
• The floating mansions of Lemonville
• Magical Cyprus Lake grotto
• The country's smallest jail
• The eight-sided Main Street
• The mud church of Shanty Bay
• The telltale grave
• The world's shortest railway.

Manufacturer's Warranty
Ten-year warranty

Amazon.com Tent Guide
Selecting a Tent
Fortunately, there are all kinds of tents for weekend car campers, Everest expeditions, and everything in-between. Here are a few things to keep in mind:

Expect the Worst
In general, it's wise to choose a tent that's designed to withstand the worst possible conditions you think you'll face. For instance, if you're a summer car camper in a region where weather is predictable, an inexpensive family or all purpose tent will likely do the trick--especially if a vehicle is nearby and you can make a mad dash for safety when bad weather swoops in! If you're a backpacker, alpine climber or bike explorer, or if you like to car camp in all seasons, you'll want to take something designed to handle more adversity.

Three- and Four-Season Tents
For summer, early fall and late spring outings, choose a three-season tent. At minimum, a quality three season tent will have lightweight aluminum poles, a reinforced floor, durable stitching, and a quality rain-fly. Some three-season tents offer more open-air netting and are more specifically designed for summer backpacking and other activities. Many premium tents will feature pre-sealed, taped seams and a silicone-impregnated rain-fly for enhanced waterproofness.

For winter camping or alpine travel, go with a four season model. Because they typically feature more durable fabric coatings, as well as more poles, four-season tents are designed to handle heavy snowfall and high winds without collapsing. Of course, four-season tents exact a weight penalty of about 10 to 20 percent in trade for their strength and durability. They also tend to be more expensive.

Domes and Tunnels
Tents are broadly categorized into two types, freestanding, which can stand up on their own, and those that must be staked down in order to stand upright. Freestanding tents often incorporate a dome-shaped design, and most four-season tents are constructed this way because a dome leaves no flat spots on the outer surface where snow can collect. Domes are also inherently stronger than any other design. Meanwhile, many three-season models employ a modified dome configuration called a tunnel. These are still freestanding, but they require fewer poles than a dome, use less fabric, and typically have a rectangular floor-plan that offers less storage space than a dome configuration. Many one and two-person tents are not freestanding, but they make up for it by being more lightweight. Because they use fewer poles, they can also be quicker to set up than a dome.

Size Matters
Ask yourself how many people you'd like to fit in your fabric hotel now and in the future. For soloists and minimalists, check out one-person tents. If you're a mega-minimalist, or if you have your eye on doing some big wall climbs, a waterproof-breathable bivy sack is the ticket. Some bivy sacks feature poles and stake points to give you a little more breathing room. Also, if you don't need bug protection and you want to save weight, check out open-air shelters.

Families who plan on car camping in good weather can choose from a wide range of jumbo-sized tents that will accommodate all your little ones with room to spare. A wide range of capacities is also available for three- and four-season backpacking and expedition tents. Remember, though, the bigger the tent you buy, the heavier it will be, although it's easy to break up the tent components among several people in your group. It's also helpful to compare the volume and floor-space measurements of models you're considering.

In his relentless quest for the unusual in a world of the mundane, modern-day explorer Ron Brown has traveled nearly every backroad in Ontario. This guidebook features 23 trips, each illustrated with photographs and accompanied by an easy-to-follow map.

These trips range in length from afternoon outings to weekend excursions. And all lead to fascinating out-of-the-way places within easy driving distance of major cities in Ontario.

Backroads of Ontario features:

• Ghost towns
• An underwater graveyard of shipwrecks
• Charming villages
• Century-old mills and farmhouse
• Architectural curiosities
• Prime picnic spots
• an amethyst mine

Scuba divers explore the waters of Fathom Five National Marine Park, canoeists paddle through the wilderness of Algonquin Provincial Park, and hikers trek alongside Georgian Bay. From the boundless opportunities of the outdoors to the excitement of Toronto and Ottawa, Ontario captures this province's highlights in vivid color.

About the Canada series:

As expansive as Canada itself, this outstanding series captures outstanding views of panoramic landscapes, brilliant city skylines, and picturesque communities. Each volume focuses on a city or province and features 96 pages and 70 stunning images by internationally renowned photographers, plus descriptive captions.