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by
Gabbi Ferrin
Gabbi Ferrin
Canada is a beautiful country with places that suit every person. Do you like to go on a hike in the mountains, or do you like exploring cities with your family? Then Canada is the place to experience and suit your travel needs.
Maybe you are quiet and not-so-adventurous and prefer to walk around the beautiful cities of Toronto, Montreal, or Vancouver. Every corner of this excellent state is full of wonders; now, we will explore some of them.
We are going from West to East, like we are travelling by train and stopping in every unique city that Canada has to offer. Let’s go from Yukon to the shore of Nova Scotia and try to find the top places to visit in Canada, while having the best fun planning your trip.
Table of Contents
Whitehorse, Yukon
The capital of the cold province of Yukon, Whitehorse, is situated on the banks of the Yukon River. It’s the perfect place if you enjoy being outdoors during every season, especially Winter. Two main highways allow you to explore the wilderness and visit the Yukon Wildlife Preserve, where you can admire caribou, Dall’s sheep, and muskox.
Then, explore Miles Canyon, a 10-mile loop trail that connects the city to wild nature. Whitehorse is the perfect Canadian city to visit during Winter, so you can also admire the northern lights during a hike at night.
Victoria, British Columbia
Victoria, the capital of British Columbia, is one of the most picturesque cities in the Canadian province. You can hike in the mountains or visit the ocean, depending on your preference. The city is located on Vancouver Island. Sometimes, you can be lucky enough to see elephant seals or whales in the sea surrounding the city.
If you prefer to walk in the city, you can visit the parliament building or walk through Inner Harbour, where many places exist to eat or grab a cup of coffee. Then, you can go to parks like Beacon Hill Park and Goldstream Provincial Park and take in the immersive surroundings. The city also has historic places and museums, such as the Royal BC Museum, where you can have a historic and cultural adventure.
Vancouver, British Columbia
Vancouver is one of the largest cities in Canada and one of the most culturally diverse cities in North America. Full of parks, like Queen Elizabeth Park and Stanley Park, Vancouver is also a place for wildlife and adventurous hikes through the Capilano Suspension Bridge. The bridge is located among the upper reaches of the old-growth rainforest. It’s 460 feet (140 metres) long and peaks 230 feet high (70 metres) as it crosses the Capilano River.
Through the city, you can also have a fantastic view from the Vancouver Lookout, a 550-foot-above-street-level tower that gives you a 360° vista of the city. If you enjoy walking in the city, you can visitRobson Street, which has restaurants and shops. For a jump in the past, Gastown is the place for you. Named after a Yorkshire seaman, “Gassy” Jack Deighton, Gastown is the heart of Vancouver’s Old Town, full of food, fashion, and entertainment. Beaches such as Spanish Bank Beach or Kitsilano Beach are the best places to enjoy activities outdoors and away from the city’s noise.
Vancouver is also called North Hollywood because of the number of movies and TV series shot in the city and the surrounding area. The films Deadpool, The Twilight Saga, and Supernatural, as well as Smallville, Riverdale, Arrow, The Flash, Supergirl, and Legends of Tomorrow, are all shot in the beautiful Canadian city, making it a perfect destination for film and TV series lovers.
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
Saskatoon, located in the province of Saskatchewan, is famous for providing outdoor activities. There are parks like Wanuskewin Heritage Park, a historical site about the lives of indigenous people. At this site, 6,000-year-old relics are discovered daily. Visitors can even sleep in a tipi (a typical Indigenous tent) overnight.
Saskatoon prides itself on having more restaurants than the rest of Canada. That is why, every July, the city hosts the Taste of Saskatchewan Festival, where more than 30 restaurants share their finest dishes.
If art is your passion, then the Mendel Art Gallery is the place for you. The gallery is rich with 16th-century works of Canadian artists. Saskatoon also offers a beautiful walk through the 60-kilometre Meewasin Valley Trail, a promenade that goes side by side with the South Saskatchewan River to enjoy a day outdoors.
Calgary, Alberta
Calgary, one of the most populated cities in Canada, is famous for the vast 10-day rodeo that bills itself as the “Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth. Walking around the city, you can visit Fish Creek Provincial Park or Calgary Tower. Take time to visit Heritage Park Historical Village, the city’s most significant living historical site, where you can see how people used to live between the 1860s and the 1950s. Take a walk through Peace Bridge, which connects Downtown Calgary to the community of Sunnyside.
Calgary is also famous for being a filming location for many movies and TV series. For example, The Revenant (2015) was filmed in the Kananaskis Country and the Canadian Badlands, mountains outside the city. While the famous but now closed Ranchman’s Cookhouse & Dancehall in Calgary was used as the cowboy saddles, Jake Gyllenhaal checked in Brokeback Mountain (2005). Parts of the movie The Assassination of Jesse James (2007) were shot at Heritage Park, the Fairmont Palliser, and nearby Kananaskis Country. In 2019, the city was the location for the entire Ghostbusters: Afterlife. But it’s not all movies here—TV series like The Last of Us were filmed in Calgary.
Edmonton, Alberta
Edmonton, the capital of Alberta, is home to Fort Edmonton Park, a living history museum that explores the living area from 1759 to 1920. The Edmonton area also variety of wildlife, so if you love hiking, you can go to the Elk Island National Park, a refuge for bison and elk. Then, there is Whyte Avenue, a street full of old buildings, where you can enjoy restaurants and quaint boutiques.
The magnificent Mutter Conservatory is the city’s most famous landmark. It consists of four pyramid-shaped glass buildings home to a beautiful botanical garden. But, suppose you prefer to walk indoors or just enjoy art history. In that case, first, you can go to West Edmonton Mall, North America’s largest mall, where you can enjoy an amusement park inside, or second, take pleasure in the Art Gallery of Alberta, a total of 6,000 astonishing artworks from all over the world.
Edmonton is also famous for its High-Level Bridge Streetcar. It is 3 km long, the vintage streetcar service crosses over the North Saskatchewan River, and it is a unique way to explore and enjoy the city’s beauty.
Banff, Alberta
Banff is famous for its beautiful mountains and lakes. It is one of the most visited places in Canada. More than 200,000 tourists visit to see the city’s beauty surrounded by mountains every year. When looking for somewhere to stay in Banff, the town is famous for its Banff Springs Hotel, a castle hotel surrounded by mountains. Then, you have Banff National Park, home to magical light blue lakes, glaciers, and forests.
The main highlights of a journey in Banff are the lakes. You have the famous Lake Louise and the aristocratic Canadian Pacific Hotel Château Lake Louise. Other lakes are Moraine Lake, Bow Lake, and Peyto Lake. You also have the chance to see Canada’s wildlife in the parks, as they are home to many black bears, elk, caribou, wolves, beavers, and grizzly bears.
Niagara Falls, Ontario
When you think of Canada, you think about the wildlife, the broadness of the landscapes, and the skyscrapers, but above all, you think about the beautiful Niagara Falls.
Niagara Falls, the famous falls located on the border with the USA, are composed of three different falls: Horseshoe Falls, American Falls, and Bridal Veil Falls. The waterfalls are a force of nature and beauty to admire. The Niagara River rumbles towards a 188-foot waterfall at about 20 to 30 (and up to 68) mph. They have the highest flow rate in the world, about 2,400 m3.
Niagara is also famous because it has a small inner amusement park. If you are adventurous, you should take the Mid of the Mist, a boat that takes you inside the waterfalls and gives you a wonderful and mystical experience. Then, you can also experience the Wildplay Zipline, a ride down the falls at 670 metres (2.200 feet) at a speed of 70+ kph (40+ mph).
Toronto, Ontario
The capital of the province of Ontario and the most multicultural city in Canada, Toronto is the most populous city in Canada and the centre of the country’s financial sector. The city is the anchor of the Golden Horseshoe region, which wraps around Lake Ontario from Toronto to Niagara Falls. One of the particularities of the city is the Toronto Islands, right in front of the harbour. With a 15-minute boat ride, you can go and have a bike ride on the islands.
We recommend checking the Entertainment District, where there is the TIFF Bell Lightbox, the Toronto International Film Festival happens every year, the CN Tower, and Rogers Centre. If you want to hike in the park, High Park, which has flora and fauna, is the right place.
History plays an integral part in the city. If you want to know more about Canadian history and art, In that case, visit the Royal Ontario Museum, Art Gallery, and Black Creek Pioneer Village, where you can find historic houses, shops, and restaurants still in good shape. Then, if you are eager for something fun, you should check out Canada’s Wonderland, the largest theme park in the area.
Ottawa, Ontario
Ottawa, the capital of Canada, has numerous attractions, like Parliament Hill, which attracts countless visitors yearly. The parliament can be found right in the city’s heart, overlooking the Ottawa River. You can take a bike and visit Gatineau Park across the river. After the parliament, you can visit the Supreme Court of Ottawa, Rideau Hall, and the National War Museum. This monument is far from the parliament and was established in 1939 to commemorate World War I.
Another attraction is the Canada Aviation and Space Museum in Ottawa. It was established in 1964 at Rockcliffe Airport, a former military base; the museum houses over 190 civilian and military aircraft. In addition to seaplanes and the Space Shuttle Endeavour’s Canadarm, it also has many vintage bush planes from the 1920s to ‘40s on show. You can also book a sightseeing flight over Ottawa in the summer.
St. John, Newfoundland and Labrador
St. John is the oldest town in North America, founded by Giovanni Caboto in 1497. Today, it is home to many whales, including minke, humpback, and blue whales. You can visit Signal Hill National Historic Site to get an idea of how indigenous people used to live.
Another thing to do in the city is to go around the harbour and Water Street to enjoy a good restaurant or go shopping. If you like to hike, the East Coast Trail is the best place to go for 300 km of hiking in the wilderness.
Halifax, Nova Scotia
This 200-year-old fishing village is one of Canada’s most beautiful and picturesque cities. From visiting the library to the Halifax Public Garden, from all the parks around the city to a cruise in the harbour, there is always something to do in Halifax. In the city, there is the Fairview Lawn Cemetery, a quiet place commemorating the RSM Titanic victims.
If you want, you can go shopping and bite on the city’s main street, the Waterfront Boardwalk. To enjoy the nightlife, you can visit the pubs and clubs around the city. The place is full of places to eat local fish or have tea. Another place to see if you want to know more about immigrants in Canada is the Canadian Museum of Immigrants at Pier 21. Canada’s most important museum tells the story of millions of immigrants between 1928 and 1971. They used to pass through the former ocean liner terminal like Liberty Island used to be for New York City.
Quebec City, Quebec
Located in a commanding position on a cliff, Quebec City is the capital of the province of Quebec and one of the most picturesque cities in Canada. Quebec City, nominated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site of Canada in 1985, is known for its quiet old atmosphere, grand winter festival, and gorgeous architecture, such as the big Château Frontenac.
The city has around 400 years of history, which you can see through the Citadelle. Because the French and the British founded it, the locals speak both English and French. The Citadelle is a star-shaped fort with lovely green spaces, sturdy fortifications to explore, and a tremendous on-site museum.
You can live and breathe history all around Quebec City. Place Royale was the first French settlement made by Samuel de Champlain in 1608. Now, it is a cobbled square full of beautiful old buildings home to cute boutiques and cafes.
Meanwhile, the main attraction will remain the Old Town and Terrasse Dufferin. The first comprises both Upper Town and Lower Town, with the old port. Chateau Frontenac praises it, and today, it is full of unique shops and restaurants. The second offers a stunning view of Old Quebec and the Saint Lawrence River with a boardwalk around Chateau Frontenac.
Back in 2016, the city was also used as a film location for the Korean series Goblin: The Lonely and Great God, where you can recognise some of the most famous places, such as the Chateau Frontenac, Parc du Bastion-de-la-reine, Le Boutique de Noël, Prescott Gate bridge, Pierre-Dugua-De-Mons Terrace, Fontaine de Tourny, and Le Petit Champlain District.
Montreal, Quebec
Montreal is the multicultural metropolis of the province and the second-largest city in Canada. Named New France, the city was built around the Saint Lawrence River from the first settlements. Because of its history, you can hear people speaking English and French.
Due to its architecture and historic importance, Old Montreal is often called the Paris of Canada. You can walk through Old Montreal and taste some poutine in one of the local restaurants or up to Mount Royal. It’s 692 acres of an expansive city park, which gives a taste of the outdoors without leaving the city.
Check out one from the Montreal Canadiens at the Bell Centre to enjoy a hockey game. Furthermore, you can visit the Mary, Queen of the World Cathedral, which is home to incredible architecture.
Another church to visit is the St. Joseph’s Oratory alongside its Royal Park, just next to the oratory. After that, you can enjoy a walk through the Montreal Botanical Garden. If you like dolls, especially Barbies, the Barbie Expo has the most extensive collection of Barbies worldwide, with thousands of delightful dolls.
Canada has the most significant and unique places in the world. You can go from the wildlife of Whitehorse to the beauty of the lakes in Banff or to the beautiful skyscrapers in Toronto. The country offers tourism for families with amusement parks, falls and whale watching, or you can take a solo vacation and go through the wonders of Canada. Now, it is time to pack your bags and pick a destination or more to enjoy your Canadian journey.
