Ready to explore the Great White North? I’ve roamed all over Canada, and I can tell you—it’s one of those places that sticks with you. Whether you’re into big-city energy or wild, wide-open spaces, you’ll find something that fits you perfectly. I’ve walked cobbled streets, watched glaciers drift, and stood in awe of waterfalls. You’re going to love it.
Here Are Some of My Favorite Spots:
- Marvel at the turquoise lakes and towering peaks of Banff and Jasper National Parks in Alberta – I’ve been there in every season, and it’s breathtaking every time.
- Wander the cobbled streets of Old Québec – I felt like I’d stepped into Europe without crossing the Atlantic. It’s full of charm and history.
- Explore multicultural Toronto – The skyline, the waterfront, the food… I always find something new and delicious here.
- Experience the thundering power of Niagara Falls – I still remember the roar and the mist on my face. You’ve got to feel it for yourself.
- Relax on the beaches and by the lighthouses of Prince Edward Island or Nova Scotia’s Cabot Trail – I go for the views, but stay for the calm.
- Catch the Northern Lights in the Yukon or Northwest Territories – I saw them once and it honestly felt like magic. You should absolutely try.
Best Places to Visit in Canada:
Maligne Lake
Deep in the Canadian Rockies in the middle of Jasper National Park, lies 22-km long Maligne Lake, a turquoise jewel surrounded by the deep green of majestic spruces and lodgepole pines.
Fed by melt waters of the Coronet Glacier, the lake is an exceptionally popular destination for tourists, avid fishermen, campers, kayakers, and nature lovers from all over the world.
There are two excellent campgrounds and numerous hiking and cross-country skiing trails around the lake.
You might even spot beavers, caribou, moose, Harlequin Ducks, or grizzly or black bears. Take a walk on the small but picturesque and mysterious Spirit Island in the middle of the lake and take spectacular photos of the distant snow-covered peaks of the Rockies.
Hornby Island
Located in the calm waters of the Georgia Strait in Salish Sea between Vancouver Island and the mainland, Hornby Island is rural, simple, relaxed and incredibly beautiful.
During the last 30 years, its population grew to about 1,000 people who like it the way it is. The population consists of many artists, small business owners, and people work remotely.
The island’s lush forests, sandy beaches, calm waters and miles of hiking trails bring thousands of tourists every summer, and they often go kayaking, biking or boating. Many come by boat, anchoring at Tribune Bay or docking at the Ford Cove Marina.
The biggest Hornby Island attractions are Heron Rocks, Whaling Station Bay, Tribune Bay Provincial Park, Ford Cove, and Helliwell Provincial Park.
Weyburn, Saskatchewan
Lovely Weyburn is located along the Souris River in Saskatchewan, about 70 miles north of the border with North Dakota. The city is packed with historic sites which you can visit with the aid of a downloadable app which will guide you to 17 points of interest.
A must for history lovers is the Soo Line Historical Museum which is home to the largest private collection of vintage silver in the world.
Jubilee Park and the Tatagwa Parkway Trail Systems offer great walking and jogging trails, picnic areas and a children’s playground. Children can also have fun at the Skate Park on Cateau Avenue and the River Park Spray Park.
Forillon National Park
Forillon National Park occupies a mountainous area between the Bay of Gaspé and the Gulf of St. Lawrence in Quebec. It is wild and untamed, with fantastic challenging hiking trails along the sea cliff edges.
The park also includes picturesque Gaspésie fishing villages, pebble beaches, hidden coves, and steep cliffs that drop off to the sea.
The park has a rare mix of ten diverse ecosystems that include forests, which cover most of the area, sand dunes, cliffs, meadows, lakes, marshes, and streams.
Besides maple, fir, and white and yellow birch, there are more than 700 species of plants that exist in the park, including some that belong in the Arctic.
Forillon is the beginning (or end) of the International Appalachian Trail.
Romantic Places to Visit in Canada:
Moraine Lake
Located in the magnificent Valley of the ten Peaks in the heart of Banff National Park lies Moraine Lake. It is less than nine miles long, but is probably one of the most beautiful spots on Earth where you can take a slow tour in a kayak or canoe. Cold glacial waters feed the lake, which is quite popular with fishermen. Numerous hiking trails around the lake offer spectacular photo opportunities of the lake and the surrounding mountain peaks.
Newfoundland and Labrador
Newfoundland and Labrador comprise the vast area covering 156,453 square miles at the eastern tip of the North American continent. Vikings discovered the area more than 1000 years ago.
In this place, the force of the Atlantic shaped the rugged coast, while the warm Golf stream and cold Labrador Current created superb conditions for thousands of whales and millions of birds.
When you visit, you can regularly see icebergs along with some excellent shows and art exhibitions. Hiking the magnificent coastline is a very special experience that you won’t want to miss. Visit the Dungeon Provincial Park in Bonavista or Mistaken Point Ecological Reserve to learn much more about this fascinating area.
Golden
Golden is a small mountain town snuggled into the Rocky Mountain Trench, between the Canadian Rockies and Columbia Mountain, at the confluence of the Kicking Horse and the Columbia rivers. It is at an easy driving distance from six of Canada’s most magnificent national parks: Banff, Jasper, Glacier, Kootenay, Yoho, and Mount Revelstoke. Golden is a perfect base for exploring this spectacular part of the world. It is the world of the brave and the adventurous and the local accommodation reflects this – there are lodges and B&Bs that can be accessed only by helicopters. Just outside of the town you can find opportunities for hiking, mountain biking, kayaking, whitewater rafting, skiing, ice climbing, and much more.
Family-friendly Places to Visit in Canada:
Lake Louise
Canadians call Lake Louise “the diamond in the wilderness.”
I could see it, it certainly does sparkle like a jewel!
I enjoyed staring at the bright turquoise blue-green body of water surrounded by deep shadows of the surrounding Rocky Mountains.
It offers endless opportunities for recreation, from kayaking and fishing on the lake to skiing, snowshoeing, hiking, and even golfing in the surrounding area.
Seeing the lake from one of the zip lines or from the Banff Gondola is another unforgettable experience.
You should consider staying at the iconic Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise. Ask for a lake view room and watch the sunrise from your bed.
Nunavut
Nunavut is Canadian territory Inuit call home. It is enormous – in fact, it is about the size of Western Europe, and while it was settled 4000 years ago, it still has only little more than 30,000 people. Nunavut is wild and pristine, and it is one of the last unspoiled areas of our planet. Nunavut is accessible by ship or plane only.
Visiting the area gives you the opportunity to see the Aurora Borealis (also known as the Northern Lights), caribou, geese, ptarmigans, polar bears, narwhals, walruses, seals, and whales. You can even go dogsledding, fishing, wildlife watching, hiking, or learning about the art and fascinating ancient culture of Inuit.
Kejimkujik National Park and National Historic Site
There are two distinct sides to Kejimkujik National Park and National Historic Site, or just Keji, as the locals call it. On one side, you have the ancient sugar maples, old growth hemlock, and yellow aspen along the picturesque warm-water lakes. On the other side at Kejimkujik Seaside, you will find yourself on a different planet with white sand beaches, granite cobbles, and vast barrens.
Located in Nova Scotia, these are the lands were the Mi’kmaq people paddled their canoes from lake to lake and river to river, hunting and fishing these lands for thousands of years. It is here that they left their stories carved in old boulders. You can follow their trails and enjoy this vast wilderness in your canoe or kayak, go fishing, or just enjoying the majesty of nature.
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