Canada attractions

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

This stately Georgian manor is surrounded by carefully tended gardens and lush lawns, and serves as the official residence of the Canadian monarch when in Halifax. Built primarily using local materials and centrally located in downtown Halifax, the historic house highlights Nova Scotia’s past and its rich culture.

Humber Bay Park, created from two man-made peninsulas near Mimico Creek and Lake Ontario, is a popular recreation hub in Toronto. Park pursuits include bird-watching, biking, hiking, and photographing the CN Tower and Toronto skyline, as well as lounging at the sandy beach area and taking dogs to the off-leash park.

Gliding along the world’s longest unsupported span, Whistler’s Peak 2 Peak Gondola connects two side-by-side mountains—Whistler and Blackcomb—and is the longest and highest continuous lift of its kind. The gondola was built for skiers, snowboarders, hikers, and sightseers alike to travel between the two internationally renowned snow- and sun-sport wonderlands. With incomparable views of the surrounding peaks, you’ll get some of the freshest mountain air and most spectacular vistas in all of British Columbia.

Established in 2003, this national park encompasses 8,896 acres (3,600 hectares of forested islands and marine habitats between Vancouver Island and Vancouver city. Wildlife thrives in its Mediterranean-like climate with bald eagles, cormorants, and hawks patrolling the skies and orcas, porpoises, and seals occupying the waters.

Dotted around the Strait of Georgia between Vancouver Island and the British Columbia mainland, are the laid-back Gulf Islands. Come to browse farmers markets, visit artist studios, and experience nature—from woodland trails to pebbled beaches—all of which draw Vancouverites fleeing the city.

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.

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.

The Toronto Zoo, located in Scarborough, is the largest zoo in Canada. Representing seven domains from the Americas to Africa and encompassing a whopping 710 acres, the zoo is home to over 5,000 animals, including leopards, tortoises, and camels. The zoo's mission is to educate the public about protecting endangered species and preventing extinction.

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.

Located in Vaughan Mills Shopping Centre just north of Toronto, LEGOLAND® Discovery Centre is an interactive LEGO®-themed experience that features games, rides, exhibits, and a 4D movie theater. Its wide range of activities and amenities make it a popular destination for families with small children.

Quebec City’s Fort Museum (Musée du Fort) is known for its light and sound show that recounts the compelling military history of the only fortified city in North America. Located directly in front of the Château Frontenac, the informative museum offers a convenient, kid-friendly way to learn about—and kick off your visit to—Quebec City.

The Okanagan Valley is the hub for western Canada’s growing wine industry, with nearly 200 vineyards and wineries. Kelowna, the region’s largest city, sprawls along the shores of Okanagan Lake and offers all you need for a wine-touring holiday. The town also makes a great jumping off point for outdoor adventures in the region.

Considered by many to be the best mountain bike park in the world, Whistler Mountain Bike Park features over 60 trails covering 124 miles (200 kilometers) and nearly 5,000 feet (1,524 meters) of lift-serviced vertical. With four separate zones and five skills centers, there’s something for mountain bike riders of every ability level.

Comprising 63 tree-topped islands scattered near Lake Huron’s southwest shore, Georgian Bay Islands National Park is known for its beaches, wind-bent white pines, and stark granite coastline. The pristine freshwater archipelago inspired Canada’s Group of Seven artists in the 1920s and continues to attract summertime adventurers.

Resting atop White Pass at the border of Alaska and the Yukon Territory, Summit Lake is a tranquil high-mountain lake surrounded by forests, mountains, and wildlife. Lined by the Klondike Highway, the lake is easily accessible and provides a great place to take a break from the road and enjoy a picnic or photo opportunity.

Dating back to 1968, the HR MacMillan Space Centre is an astronomy museum dedicated to providing a place where kids and adults can discover an enthusiasm for space and earth sciences. Through exhibits, interactive displays, and shows, you can find your inner astronaut in the middle of Vancouver.

Looking out over Lake Louise, you’ll see what’s left of the once mighty Victoria Glacier that created this iconic lake at the end of the last Ice Age. Named after Queen Victoria in 1897, the Victoria Glacier continues to feed into Lake Louise, bringing with it the glacial flour that gives the lake its characteristic turquoise color.

Easily accessible from nearly anywhere in Jasper, the Jasper Discovery Trail is a 5-mile (8-kilometer) loop trail that rises above the mountain town, offering views of the town and the Rocky Mountains. The route is a convenient way to get out into the mountains and can be used to travel from one part of town to another.

Originally the site of an iconic theme park that closed in 2012, Toronto’s Ontario Place has since been transformed into 155 acres of public parks and paths that offer views of Lake Ontario, downtown Toronto, and Billy Bishop Island. The park’s two man-made islands are also home to Budweiser Stage and outdoor entertainment venues.

The Musée d'Art Contemporain de Montréal (MAC) houses a permanent collection of more than 8,000 works by Quebec, Canadian, and international artists. A diverse range of mediums are represented from digital, sound, and video works to photographs, installations, and sculptures, showcasing modern and avant-garde art dating from 1939 onward.