With more than 100 shops, the Outlet Collection at Niagara is one of the largest outdoor outlet malls in Canada. Opened in 2014, this modern mall offers all kinds of brand-name goods at discounted prices, from outdoor gear to beauty products, making it a must for bargain hunters.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Spanning for around 179 miles (289 kilometers), the Pacific Marine Circle Route offers drivers and their passengers the chance to take in some of the prettiest scenery on the southern part of Vancouver Island. Expect to pass by quiet towns, alongside epic stretches of coastline, and through sweeping expanses of old-growth forest.
West coast Canada’s oldest lighthouse watches over ships in the Juan de Fuca Strait at this pair of historic sites near Victoria, British Columbia. Gun batteries, concrete walls, and other fortifications comprise the defense system of Fort Rodd Hill, an artillery fort that’s a prime example of 19th-century military engineering.
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.
The Museum of Vancouver in Vanier Park tells the story of the city and its surrounding areas. Visit the largest civic museum in Canada for a deeper understanding of Vancouver, including its First Nations roots. Learn more through its range of historical and contemporary artifacts, stories, and interactive exhibits and programs.
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.
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.
Explore the artwork of renowned Haida artist Bill Reid, as well as other First Nations artists, at the Bill Reid Gallery. Located in downtown Vancouver, the gallery offers an exceptional collection of art in its permanent and temporary exhibits, education programs, and presentations that celebrate artwork from the northwest coast.
PondView at Bella Terra Vineyards is a family-run winery started by an Italian immigrant who put his winemaking knowledge to work in his new country. The winery isn't alone in the Niagara-on-the-Lake area of Ontario, renowned for its landscapes and wines. Visit the winery on a vineyard tour or as a standalone attraction for fine wine.
The Nikka Yuko Japanese Garden is a tranquil piece of Japanese culture set in the Canadian city of Lethbridge. A unique treasure in Southern Alberta, the garden is an oasis where you can take part in cultural events, yoga, and tea ceremonies among flower gardens, lakes, and water features.
Though it’s just 11 miles (18 kilometers) long, the Harrison River—a tributary of the Fraser River, which flows through British Columbia—is one of the most important fishing spots in the region. All major species of Pacific salmon can be found here, and riverside hot springs attract travelers looking to relax and unwind.
Visit a bedouin tent and ride in a decorated Pakistani bus at the Canadian Children's Museum, where activities bring the cultures, art, and history of countries across the globe to life. The interactive exhibits encourage kids to visit a variety of recreated countries and gather stamps on a passport booklet issued at the entrance.
Ville-Marie is the core of Montreal, encompassing most of the downtown area, including Old Montreal (Vieux-Montréal), the Quartier des Spectacles cultural quarter, the Gay Village, two islands on the St. Lawrence River, and most of Mount Royal Park (Parc du Mont-Royal). It’s jam-packed with museums, churches, shops, restaurants, and other top attractions.
Located in Montreal’s Eaton Centre, the Grevin Museum (Musée Grévin Montréal) features 120 lifelike wax figures with a focus on Hollywood stars, Canadian celebrities, and world icons, from Tom Hanks to Celine Dion. With eight themed rooms, plenty of photo opportunities, and an on-site café, the museum is a popular choice for families.
If you need a break from the hustle and bustle of downtown, make a beeline for Philosopher's Walk, a leafy path bordering Trinity College on the University of Toronto campus. Whether you take a book to read on a bench, or pack an alfresco lunch, Philosopher’s Walk is a lovely place to find a touch of nature in the city.
Confederation Square is a triangular plaza between Wellington Street and Elgin Street in front of Parliament Hill in Ottawa. The urban space was, together with the National War Memorial, officially completed around 1939. The giant granite memorial sits at the center of the square and was originally a tribute to the Canadians who fought in World War I but has since become a symbol of all Canadians serving in times of war.
Canadian modernists, Asian art, and works by Emily Carr anchor the impressive collections at the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria, where holdings go from fiber art to sculpture and oil paintings. The art gallery is housed in the historic Spencer Mansion, whose manicured gardens are a tranquil setting for a Japanese Shinto shrine.
At 75 feet (23 meters) tall, Athabasca Falls may not be the highest waterfall in the Canadian Rockies, but it is one of the most powerful. Originating in the Columbia Icefield, the Athabasca River narrows dramatically before it thunders over the falls and creates a natural wonder.
Montreal’s La Ronde amusement park (operated by Six Flags) is one of the largest in Canada, and the largest in the country’s east. It offers everything from toddler-friendly rides and a huge Ferris wheel to 10 roller coasters and even a thrilling human catapult. With more than 40 rides, there should be something for everyone at this seasonal favorite.
With a trio of beautiful glacier-fed lakes with bright turquoise water and snow-capped mountains, Joffre Lakes Park is one of the prettiest provincial parks in British Columbia. Located northwest of Whistler, visitors can enjoy hiking, wildlife viewing, fishing, mountaineering, and camping at this popular backcountry park.
Visitors to Hopewell Rocks sense a gravitational pull—and it’s not just because of its scenic beauty. Home to some of the world’s highest tides, Hopewell Rocks offers visitors a chance to experience these dramatic tidal shifts by walking on the ocean floor at low tide then watching the floor disappear as the tide rushes in.
Alberta’s stunning Rocky Mountains are one of the biggest attractions in the province. Protected by Banff and Jasper National Parks, the Canadian Rocky Mountains run along the border of British Columbia and Alberta through a landscape of glaciers, snow-capped mountain peaks, hot springs, and turquoise lakes.
The only ice hotel in North America, the Hôtel de Glace, just outside Quebec City, takes five weeks to build every year from over 500 tons of ice and 15,000 tons of snow. Construction begins in late November, and the finished building contains guest rooms, a bar, and even a wedding chapel.
Arriving in Victoria by ship is a fantastic introduction to the British Columbian capital city and the Victoria Cruise Port is now the busiest cruise ship stop in all of Canada. Conveniently situated at Ogden Point, not far from downtown and Inner Harbour attractions, Victoria Cruise Port is the ideal jumping-off point for exploring British Columbia.
When Montrealers refer to “the mountain,” they mean Mount Royal. Really, it’s a 764-foot (233-meter) hill, but that’s no matter. Mount Royal Park was designed in 1876 by none other than Frederick Law Olmsted—of Central Park fame—and since then, it’s been the city’s green lung, where locals go hiking, biking, boating, bird-watching, and picnicking.
Enter the stone battlements at the Fortress of Louisbourg National Historic Site and you might feel like you’ve stepped back to 1744, when French and British forces grappled for control of the region. The fully reconstructed complex now bustles with costumed actors in 18th-century garb, and also features museum-quality historical exhibits, five scenic walking trails, and views of the Cape Breton shoreline.
