Canada attractions

This privately owned island is one of several hundred forested islands scattered around Nova Scotia’s Mahone Bay. According to local legend, Oak Island is the site of buried treasure—some speculate that loot was hidden by plundering pirates such as Captain Kidd and Blackbeard. Treasure hunters are still drawn here in search of booty.

Miette Hot Springs in Jasper National Park are a gorgeous spot to soak your bones after a hike in the Rocky Mountains. Known as the hottest springs in the Canadian Rockies, the mineral-rich water gushes out of the mountainside at a steamy 129°F (54°C) before being cooled to 104°F (40°C) for a comfortable dip in the pool.

Calgary’s Heritage Park Historical Village stretches out across 127 acres (51 hectares), creating an experience that immerses you in Canada’s past. As a living museum, the park features a working steam train, a 19th-century paddle wheeler, and horse-drawn wagons. From the sights to the sounds to the treats on offer, every effort has been made to help visitors experience life in a centuries-old Canadian town.

With sheer cliffs carved by glaciers, dozens of waterfalls and creeks, and thick, old-growth forests, this fjord is one of southern British Columbia’s wildest back-to-nature escapes. Though it’s only about 50 miles (80 kilometers) from Vancouver, its limited road access keeps it remote and unspoiled.

A former industrial area transformed into a hip urban neighborhood, Saint-Roch in downtown Quebec City is home to bars, restaurants, shops, and galleries and is the city’s nightlife epicenter. Take the Faubourg elevator from this youthful, vibrant quarter to the Upper Town for sweeping views.

Packed with fun photo opportunities, Niagara Falls’ Movieland Wax Museum of the Stars presents lifelike likenesses of screen and music world icons. Wax figures of celebrities such as Justin Bieber, Michael Jackson, and Elvis Presley are displayed alongside Hollywood stars like Johnny Depp and famous movie characters including Harry Potter.

Colorful rhododendrons spill over rocky slopes in Abkhazi Garden, a trove of plants and trees hidden behind a hedge in a quiet Victoria neighborhood. From springtime blooms to fall foliage, Abkhazi Garden puts on a show throughout the year; an on-site teahouse invites lingering over lavish spreads of scones, tea sandwiches, and sweets.

Possibly the city’s most popular attraction, the Calgary Zoo has been caring for animals and animal lovers since 1929. Surrounded by botanical gardens with a rain forest and butterfly enclosure, Canada’s second largest zoo is home to more than 1,000 critters representing dozens of species from all corners of the globe.

Heritage Park in Calgary, Alberta, is an open-air historical and learning museum that gives visitors the chance to experience what life was like on the Canadian Prairies from 1860 to 1950. Costumed interpreters and many hands-on, interactive exhibits help you go deeper into your fun-filled encounter with the living past.

Celebrate Toronto’s locomotive history at Roundhouse Park, a must for train enthusiasts. The family-friendly public space, created in 1997, features a locomotive turntable and railway equipment, and is home to the Toronto Railway Museum.

Head to the Niagara Falls IMAX Theatre, where the films screened teach visitors about the falls’ history and culture. From local native people to daredevils who rolled down the falls in a barrel, the IMAX 3D films provide Niagara Falls’ backstory and make viewers feel as though they’re right there in the middle of the action.

Straddling the border of the Yukon Territory and British Columbia, Bennett Lake is known for its beaches and water sports activities. You can spend the day relaxing on sandy shores and enjoying mountain views or take to the water for canoeing, kayaking, or kite surfing. In the summer, the lake is even warm enough for a refreshing swim.

The historic Atlas Coal Mine, located in the Alberta Badlands offers visitors a glimpse into the region's coal mining history. The old wooden structures stand out starkly against the wide blue sky and the red soil of the region, while Atlas Coal Mine are a testament to the industry that once thrived in this area.

Devoted to the life and works of its namesake, Victoria’s Robert Bateman Centre is home to the largest collection of Bateman paintings in the world. The gallery invites visitors to discover the natural world through the eyes of the legendary Canadian painter and naturalist.

This unusual museum casts light on Vancouver’s criminal justice system and the history of the city’s policing practices and legal institutions. Housed in the former coroner’s court, exhibits document high-profile investigations, unsolved crimes, and policing methods, and include access to the old autopsy room and the morgue.

At Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump—where the Rocky Mountains rise up from the Great Plains in southwestern Alberta—specialized buffalo runners once hunted buffalo by driving them over the cliff. The site’s museum celebrates the traditional indigenous hunting practices through exhibitions and an interpretive walk.

The scale of the Confederation Centre of the Arts is proof of Prince Edward Island’s dedication to arts and culture—the sprawling center takes up an entire city block in the heart of Charlottetown. The brutalist-style buildings give a modern frame to a space honoring Canadian history.

Set on the 31st floor of the tallest skyscraper in Quebec City, this observatory offers a 725-foot (221-meter high vantage point from which to admire the storybook sights of the UNESCO-listed old town. See Château Frontenac, the city’s fortifications, Parliament Hill as well as the St. Lawrence River and the Laurentian Mountains.

Running almost the length of the island, Notre-Dame Street (Rue Notre-Dame) is one of Montreal’s most prominent thoroughfares. The most interesting stretches are in Old Montreal (Vieux Montréal), where it’s lined by historic buildings, and in Griffintown, Little Burgundy, and St. Henri, where antique stores, cafés, and restaurants abound.

Les Cours Mont-Royal is an elegant shopping mall that occupies the premises of a swanky old hotel and contains upscale boutiques, a day spa, and a permanent exhibition devoted to Barbie dolls. Many original architectural and design features from the 1920s structure, including a grand curving marble staircase and a huge ceiling chandelier, remain in place.

With hands-on workshops, docents in historical clothing, and live farm animals, Kings Landing offers visitors the chance to experience the 19th-century in rural New Brunswick. Milk a cow, do some gardening, and learn about blacksmithing at this expansive museum that combines educational exhibits with an interactive village.

Set on the seafront overlooking English Bay, the Vancouver Maritime Museum charts Canada’s connections to the Pacific and Arctic oceans. Collections include maritime art, model ships, the Children's Maritime Discovery Centre, andSt. Roch, a 1928-built Royal Canadian Mounted Police schooner that once trawled the icy Arctic.

A tributary of the Fraser River, this 300-mile (490-kilometer long river is one of British Columbia’s major waterways and a major source of Pacific salmon. Its north and south branches converge in the town of Kamloops, from where it flows gently west—narrowing as it rushes through a scenic, steep-walled canyon.

Stretching from the Canadian Rockies to Vancouver, the Fraser River is the longest river in British Columbia and is known as one of the most productive salmon fisheries in the world. Throughout its vast basin, outdoor enthusiasts can enjoy a range of recreation activities such as white-water rafting, fishing, wildlife viewing, and hiking.

La Fontaine Park (Parc La Fontaine), located just north of Montreal’s Gay Village, is an 84-acre green space where locals come to escape the hustle and bustle of the city. Built in 1845 on what was once farmland, the park now boasts walking and bike paths, picnic areas, ponds, a dog park, tennis and pétanque courts, and outdoor swimming pools.

The Aquarium du Quebec is a family-friendly destination and home to more than 10,000 marine animals. Kids learn about the magic of the marine world through visits to tanks, marine mammals like polar bears and walrus, and educational exhibits. Animal feedings and trainings, seasonal events, and a riverside picnic area are also popular.

Located on the Saanich Peninsula, Church and State Wines is proof that you don't have to stray far from Victoria to grow fantastic wine grapes. The Saamich location is one of two Church and State outposts in BC—the other is in the province's celebrated Okanagan wine region.

Known for its sizable collection of artifacts from Canada’s First Peoples, the McCord Museum celebrates Canadian history and the lives of Montreal residents. With numerous rotating exhibitions, art objects from photographs to textiles, and an artist-in-residence program, the McCord is a must for museum lovers and history enthusiasts.

Built to host the 2010 Winter Olympics’ long-track speed skating competitions, the Richmond Olympic Oval is a premier sporting venue for elite and amateur athletes from Canada and beyond. Visitors can watch events or participate in sports at the arena’s two ice rinks, 4-story climbing wall, ice tracks, and fitness center.

Kicking Horse Mountain Resort is a year-round resort situated at the confluence of the Kicking Horse and Columbia rivers—just outside Golden, Alberta. Known best for its world-class ski runs, reliable powder, and easily accessible backcountry terrain, Kicking Horse is a summer resort with epic mountain biking, hiking, and wildlife viewing opportunities. The resort is also home to Boo, the orphaned grizzly bear.