The second biggest country in the world is this Commonwealth country. That land area, on the other hand, is mostly wild land. Canada’s incredibly large natural areas are one of its main pulls. You can really get lost in them. Its public parks are really huge and have the most beautiful views.
Enjoy mountain climbing, hiking, boating, swimming, and riding. If you like being outside, this place has a lot to offer. Bears called grizzly can be seen in Banff National Park. You can also ski on the powdery hills of Whistler or eat some of Vancouver’s freshest wild salmon. This country has something for everyone.
You can learn about Canada’s culture and past when you’re not enjoying its beautiful nature, like in the Great Lakes Region. You should check out the Francophone part of Quebec, Vancouver’s sparkling skyscrapers and East Asian cultural hubs, Toronto’s beautiful Victorian architecture, and Ottawa’s “chateau style” big railway hotels and neo-gothic public buildings. Our list of the Top 12 Travel Destinations in Canada will help you plan your trip to this great place in North America
Top 12 Travel Destinations in Canada
1. Cape Breton Island
Cape Breton Island is in the northeastern part of Nova Scotia. It used to be its own separate settlement, but in 1820, it had to join with the rest of Nova Scotia. It was the first place in North America where thousands of Scottish people moved to live in the early 1800s, and it’s still the only place in North America where you can hear Gaelic spoken. There are also many events featuring traditional Scottish music.
Along with the Scots, Cape Breton has a large French population. The Fortress of Louisbourg, built in the 18th century, is one of the most important French landmarks in the area. There is an interesting Mi’kmaq community that adds to the nice mix of cultures.
This is a great place to watch whales. At the northern tip (the top of the island), where you can almost certainly see something, you can take a boat or kayak tour. The view alone is worth the trip.
Cape Breton Highlands National Park, with its amazing Cabot Trail and beautiful view points, has some of the most beautiful scenery in the world. Don’t miss the beautiful fishing towns like Bay St. Lawrence, where you can find great seafood.
2. Whistler
The Whistler resort is the biggest and best known alpine ski area in North America. It is made up of two beautiful mountains called Whistler and Blackcomb. Whistler is in the Coast Mountains of British Columbia in western Canada. The Sea-to-Sky Highway, which is Canada’s most beautiful drive, takes two hours to get there from Vancouver.
There are three cute towns at the base of the two mountains. They are called Whistler Village, Creekside Village, and Upper Village. People can take the Peak 2 Peak gondola from the towns to the mountains.
In its early years, Whistler was just a lumber town. After the 1960 Olympics in Squaw Valley, a ski lodge was built on London Mountain so that the 1968 Winter Olympics could be held there. But this wasn’t done until the Winter Olympics in 2010. To get rid of its false name, London Mountain was changed to Whistler Mountain after the sound that the native hoary marmots that live in these mountains make, which sounds like a whistle.
3. Ottawa
Ottawa is Canada’s main city and the sixth-largest city in the country. It is where three rivers meet, and the population is growing. The city is bilingual, which is not common. People here speak English and French as their first languages, so don’t be surprised if you hear a mix of the two.
Ottawa, which used to be called Bytown, was a lumber town in the middle of the 1800s, when many mills were built along the Ottawa River. Today, it’s a lovely green city with peaceful parks and rivers. In the summer, these trails are popular for biking. In the winter, they are turned into ski paths. The Rideau Canal is a must-see because it goes right through the middle of the city. The canal turns into the biggest ice rink in the world in the winter.
4. Churchill
Churchill is a small town with only 1,000 people, but every year, a lot of people come to see the polar bears that live there. Churchill is in the province of Manitoba, on the shore of Hudson Bay. It is known as the “Polar Bear Capital of the World.” In Churchill, you can see more than just polar bears. You can also see birds, beluga whales, and the northern lights.
In Churchill, the best time to see polar bears is in October and November, when the bears move to the shores to look for food in the water. Along with tours and vehicles called “tundra buggies,” the tourism business here makes sure that both tourists and bears are safe.
A lot of beluga whales come to this area in the summer, and tour companies take people out on the water to see them. Some people get in swimsuits and swim with the whales. Churchill is also a great place to watch birds because it has more than 270 kinds of birds. Everyone who likes birds goes to the area every summer to see birds like snowy owls, gyrfalcons, stilt sandpipers, and tundra swans.
Churchill is also a great place to see the northern lights, or aurora borealis. The best time to see this natural wonder is usually from January to March. The best ways to get to Churchill are by plane or train. From Winnipeg and Thompson, you can take the train.
5. Calgary
Calgary is the biggest city in Alberta. It is in the middle of the Canadian Prairies and near the peaks of the Canadian Rockies. When oil was found nearby in the early 1900s, Calgary grew quickly into one of Canada’s biggest cities. The Calgary Stampede, the city’s famous rodeo, draws thousands of people every year.
Calgary has a lot of different neighborhoods, but the business, entertainment, and shopping districts are all in the downtown center. Barclay Mall and Stephen Avenue Walk are two popular places for people to walk.
There are a lot of skyscrapers in Calgary that have viewing decks with great views of the city and the Rocky Mountains. The Bow and Calgary Tower are the most well-known of these. A world-class zoo, amusement parks, botanical gardens, and a hands-on science center are just a few of the family-friendly sites.
While the city hosts many music, film, and dance events every year, the Calgary Stampede is by far the most well-known. It’s an Old West celebration that lasts for ten days in July and includes rodeos, chuckwagon races, parades, and competitions.
6. Vancouver Island
Vancouver Island is the biggest island off the West Coast of North America. It was named after the British explorer George Vancouver. With the Pacific Ocean all around it, this island is a photographer’s dream. It has beautiful lakes, waterfalls, fjords, and glacial mountains that tourists love to explore. The weather is appealing to people who like being outside; it has the mildest temperature in Canada.
People come to the island to see the beautiful Butchart Gardens, the surf town of Tofino, and the forest in the north. From the wilderness, you can take a ferry to Prince Rupert and then to Alaska. Vancouver Island is also a great place to see wildlife.
That’s right, you can kayak with orcas and see some of the best whale watching in the world. It’s also a great place to see birds and big bears. Most of the people on the island live in Victoria, which is the city of British Columbia. This means that you can really enjoy the beauty of nature.
7. Toronto
With almost three million people living in it, Toronto is the most heavily populated city in Canada. Toronto is in the Golden Horseshoe region, which includes the area from Lake Ontario to Niagara Falls. It is on the shores of Lake Ontario.
Toronto, which is the capital of Ontario, is one of the most multicultural towns in the world. It is home to just under 100 different ethnic groups. People who were born outside of Canada make up more than half of the people who live there. But this mix of people is what makes Toronto unique. Some of the street signs are written in more than one language, and each area has its own unique food.
There is a lot of culture in the city center, where there are thousands of restaurants serving food from around the world and tall buildings.
The CN Tower was the world’s tallest freestanding building until the Burj Khalifa in Dubai beat it. It is now one of the most popular tourist spots. From its viewing deck, skypod, and 360 Restaurant, you can see the city in a way that is truly amazing. It’s worth it just to ride up in the glass lift, though!
8. Montreal
At the point where the St. Lawrence and Ottawa Rivers meet, Montreal is the second-biggest city in the province of Quebec. Ottawa is not Canada’s cultural capital. Ottawa is. In North America, it’s also one of the most diverse, lively, open, and forward-thinking towns. It has modern street art, a group of lively musicians, and a great party scene in its newer areas.
People do know English, but it’s not the main language. In fact, it’s the second-largest city in the world where French is spoken as a first language, after France itself. The name “Paris of North America” comes from this city’s beautiful looks.
The scenery of Montreal is nice to see any time of the year. It looks even more beautiful in the fall, when the trees turn a fiery orange color around the famous downtown. With its cobblestone streets, cute museums, and historic buildings, some of which are from the 17th century, Old Montreal is the best part of the city. If you want to see the city and the St. Laurence River from above, don’t miss the chance to climb the clock tower in the Quai de l’Horloge. The downtown underground complex, the Carrefour Laval mall, and the lively Bonsecours Market are all great places to shop.
9. Niagara Falls
The three beautiful waterfalls that make up Niagara Falls are on the line between Ontario, Canada, and New York, USA. Horseshoe Falls is the name of the falls on the Ontario side. It has the best views and the most things to do. The area around the Falls is a popular tourist spot with lots of viewing towers, restaurants, gift shops, casinos, and high-rise hotels.
New York’s sister city is known as the “honeymoon capital of the world,” and it’s one of the few places where you can get a marriage license right away. There are a lot of fun things to see and do here, so people who want both romance and adventure will find it.
On the Ontario side, Queen Victoria Park is one of the best places to see the Niagara Falls. During the summer, fireworks are set off every night over the Falls. You can choose to see the falls from above or below. There are airplane tours, jet boat tours, a viewing deck next to Skylon Tower, and elevators that go down behind the falls.
10. Banff National Park
In the Canadian Rockies, Banff National Park is hidden away. It is one of the biggest and oldest national parks in the country. A lot of people come to this untouched part of the world just to be alone, outside of Banff and Lake Louise, which are the only two places in the park where people can really get in touch with each other.
It’s not very important which of the two paths you take through the park you pick. Amazing views can be found in both, with shimmering lakes of many colors, deep valleys, stunning viewpoints, and mighty waterfalls. It doesn’t matter if you have your own car because most of the park’s main features are served by shuttles.
People who like to be active will love this place because they can snowshoe or paddleboard on the lake. People who like to watch wildlife will have their own fun. There are many animals in Banff National Park, but the grizzly bear is the one that everyone most looks forward to seeing.
The town of Banff is the park’s main city and has the most places to stay, shop, and eat. The Icefields Parkway leads to Lake Louise, which has high-end lodging in a beautiful setting with blue lakes and towering mountains. There are also smaller towns like Lake Minnewanka and Sunshine Meadows.
11. Vancouver
Seattle is one of the biggest cities in the United States. It’s a famous place for food lovers, especially seafood like its famous wild salmon and newly caught prawns. It’s in the southwest of British Columbia. There is a lot of mixed cuisine here because the city is a mix of different countries. Eating out is one of the city’s simple, but not underrated, pleasures.
Stanley Park is the main draw in Vancouver. This park has an aquarium, a water park, and the beautiful Seawall. It is made up of 1,000 acres of forests, gardens, and green areas. Granville Island’s amazing food market and Canada Place, the waterfront building that houses the Vancouver Convention Center, are two more of Vancouver’s must-see spots. Chinatown, with its lively shops, restaurants, and beautiful parks, is one of the most popular areas of Vancouver.
Vancouver has the fourth-largest cruise ship terminal in the world. It is known as the “Hollywood of the North” because of its big TV and movie industries. Every year, up to 900,000 people go through the port. Many of them are on cruises that are going to Alaska. Vancouver is one of the best places to live in the world because it’s close to both beaches and ski hills.
Many people in Vancouver are happy and active and spend their days rollerblading, jogging, and dog walking along the Seawall or playing volleyball on Kitsilano Beach. Vancouver is a popular place to go for outdoor sports. The pool is almost three times the size of an Olympic pool, so don’t miss the chance to swim in it before you leave in Canada.
12. Quebec City
Even though Quebec City is the capital of Quebec province in eastern Canada, it looks more like a cute European village thanks to its French building and language.
Vieux Quebec, the city’s historic area, sits on a hill with a view of the St. Lawrence River. It is the only city in North America that still has its original walls. Along the Old City’s cobblestone streets, you can see old buildings like the Citadel and important sites like the Place-Royale, where explorer Samuel de Camplain set up the first French settlement in North America. There are many cafes, shops, and bars in the Old City.
The beautiful Chateau Frontenac is the city’s symbol and is thought to be the most photographed hotel in North America. You can take walks of the hotel even if you don’t stay the night. The Ice Hotel is another great hotel. This one-of-a-kind hotel is open from January to April and has rooms with beautiful ice models.
A few miles outside of the city center are some beautiful and historic parks, such as Montgomery Falls and Plains of Abraham. These parks have amazing waterfalls, fun things to do outside, and information about the past of the area.
