From the peak intensity of Banff to the slippery flow of Niagara Falls, Canada has a lot of natural, cultural, and urban wonders to see. With so many places to go, it can be hard to decide where to go on vacation, but we’ve picked the best places to go on your next trip to Canada.
Banff National Park & Lake Louise, Alberta
People who love nature visit the Canadian Rockies yearly to see its sights. In the winter, skiers can visit the towns of Banff and Lake Louise. The Hot Springs in Banff is a good place to warm up. During the summer, families and couples who want to have fun outside can go horseback riding, hiking, swimming, or cruising on a lake. Athabasca Falls is in the nearby Jasper National Park, a lovely place to drive if you want to find hidden gems.
Montreal, Quebec
Montreal has a lot of old-fashioned charm. It’s a great place to stop on a food tour because there are many cafes and restaurants. See the famous Notre Dame Cathedral and take a break at the Montreal Botanical Gardens. Check out all the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts for the art lovers in your group.
Vancouver Island, British Columbia
Vancouver Island also has a lot of places to eat, like teahouses and seafood that has just been caught. There are many beautiful natural places on Vancouver Island. Go to Tofino to see whales or go on a tour of wildlife. After that, visit one of the many gardens on Vancouver Island. The Victoria Butterfly Gardens and the Victoria Butchart Gardens are just two of the many beautiful gardens that British Columbia offers.
Halifax, Nova Scotia
Peggy’s Point lighthouse is a must-see for anyone who goes to Nova Scotia, one of Canada’s coastal provinces. The 100-year-old lighthouse is a great place to take pictures while traveling. Go swimming in Point Pleasant Park or walk through the Halifax Public Gardens.
Toronto, Ontario
Don’t miss one of Canada’s most famous sights, Niagara Falls, or a game at Rogers Centre. If you want to try food from the area, St. Lawrence Market has many shops and places to eat. Filmmakers and movie fans go to the Toronto International Film Festival every year. Taking kids on a trip? At the Toronto Zoo, you can see pandas.
Winnipeg, Manitoba
The kids will have a great time at the Assiniboine Park Zoo in Winnipeg. Folklorama, a summer festival in Winnipeg in August, has a wide range of local food and art. Visit the Constance Popp chocolate factory and learn how to make chocolate there.
Kelowna, British Columbia
When people come to the Okanagan Valley in the fall or summer, they can choose from several orchards and wineries to tour and taste. The beautiful views in this area make it a great place for walking tours and other outdoor activities. At Big White Ski Resort, people can enjoy the fresh powder in the winter.
Regina, Saskatchewan
Everyone can have fun at Regina Beach. Take a walking tour of the Mackenzie Art Gallery and look around. Relax at the end of your trip in Canada’s largest mineral water pool. At the Royal Saskatchewan Museum, people traveling with kids can gain knowledge regarding dinosaurs and see a model of a T-Rex.
Northwest Territories, Yellowknife
In the northwestern part of Canada, you can see the Northern Lights. The Gallery of the Midnight Sun is a great place for art lovers to go when they are in Yellowknife. Don’t miss the Yellowknife Mining and Geological Museum and the Lord of Wales Northern Heritage Center. Check out the Snowking Winter Festival, which goes on for a month.
Edmonton, Alberta
You can’t go wrong by going to West Edmonton Mall, one of the world’s biggest malls. The mall has an indoor water park and an amusement park that opens yearly. Music fans can go to the nearby Edmonton International Jazz Festival to see big-name artists or grab a bite to eat at Taste of Edmonton.
Canada Travel Tips
- Before you go, check the weather report and dress in layers if the weather changes quickly. The Arctic Circle is in the north of Canada. It can get cold there! It would help to have good snow boots and a waterproof jacket depending on the time of year.
- Learn a few words in French. It is Quebec’s official language. You’ll be fine speaking English in tourist areas, but if you’re going to more remote places, a little French will go a long way. And it’s always nice to say “Bonjour!” to people who run shops and live in the area.
- Your driver’s license from the U.S. is good in Canada! Note that speed limits are written in kilometers, not miles, and you can’t use a cell phone while driving.
- Before going north, get some Canadian money. Even though many places, especially near the border, will take U.S. dollars, many places will only take Canadian dollars. You probably won’t get a good exchange rate even if they accept U.S. dollars.
- To go to Canada and return to the U.S., a U.S. citizen needs a valid passport or a document that is the same as a passport. Only a birth certificate is needed for travelers under 15 years old.
