Canada attractions

Delve into the ancient history of Beringia, the land bridge that once connected Asia with North America, at the Yukon Beringia Interpretive Centre. You’ll learn about the Ice Age and now-extinct colossal animals like the wooly mammoth, and hear the stories of Canada’s first people. Life-size animal displays and interactive exhibits make this one of the Yukon’s top attractions for kids.

After seeing spectacular Niagara Falls, head up the road to Louis Tussaud’s Waxworks for a different kind of fun. The faux Tudor building on the Canadian side of the falls houses more than 100 lifelike wax figures of celebrities, from movie and sports stars to politicians and historical figures.

Housed in a restored 19th-century church, Avondale Sky Winery captures the essence of Nova Scotia's burgeoning wine industry and blends it seamlessly with history, natural beauty, and a warm hospitality. Here, excellent wines, scenic vineyards, and a sense of serenity come together to create a memorable wine-tasting destination.

Is it a shopping destination or an entertainment venue? The West Edmonton Mall in Alberta, Canada, is both. With hundreds of stores spread over multiple levels, the mall has a store (or 10) for every shopper. In addition to retail therapy, the complex offers many entertainment options, from an ice-skating rink to a movie theater to an indoor water park.

Surrounded by jagged mountains and waterfalls, Stanley Glacier is a top hiking destination in Kootenay National Park. The strenuous hiking trail takes you from a regrowth pine forest known for its abundant wildflowers to rocky scrambles and rugged glacier views. The hike also traverses Burgess Shale, where hikers can discover ancient fossils.

Originating in Garibaldi Provincial Park, this glacier-fed creek courses through the valley between Whistler and Blackcomb mountains, where it’s visible from the Peak 2 Peak Gondola. The creek then flows between Whistler Village and Upper Village, tumbling alongside Rebagliati Park before emptying into the aquamarine-hued Green Lake.

Mount Royal Cemetery (Cimetière Mont-Royal), overlooking Montreal from the top of Mount Royal, is one of the oldest rural cemeteries in North America and often missed by visitors. At a sprawling 165 acres (67 hectares), the cemetery is the final resting place of historic figures, including Canadian writer Mordecai Richler.

The Canadian Canoe Museum in Peterborough, Ontario, is about as Canadian as niche-interest museums come. With a collection of more than 600 items, it houses the world’s largest collection of canoes, kayaks, and other types of paddled watercraft. It’s located in a custom-built venue on the Otonabee River’s Little Lake, about a 90-minute drive from downtown Toronto.

The oldest store in the Yukon Territory, the Matthew Watson General Store is packed with historic goods, so you can feel as if you have stepped back into the early 1900s. Browse old-school confectionery items in barrels and glass jars, pick up First Nation handicrafts, and top off your shopping stop with a gourmet ice cream cone.

Experience the adrenaline rush that comes from speeding down an Olympic bobsledding course or paddling through white water rapids in the virtual sports simulators at the Richmond Olympic Experience (ROX). This interactive museum chronicles the history of the Olympics and lets visitors feel what it would be like to take part in the games.

With its lush evergreen forests, rugged coastline, and towering mountain summit, Halkett Bay Marine Provincial Park epitomizes British Columbia’s Sunshine Coast. Admire the clear waters and coastal cliffs as you ride across Howe Sound on your way to the park’s marina, or catch panoramic views of nearby islands and mountains by hiking to the top of Mt. Artaban.

Dive into the indigenous history of Churchill, Manitoba at the small but impressive Itsanitaq Museum. The museum has a superb collection of Inuit carvings and artifacts dating from Pre-Dorset (1,700 BC) through Dorset, Thule, and modern Inuit times. A visit provides insights into how people have long thrived in a harsh landscape.

Millbrook Cultural & Heritage Centre documents the history of Nova Scotia’s Mi’kmaq people, a Native American tribe indigenous to Canada’s Maritime Provinces. Located in the town of Truro, the museum houses ancient artifacts, such as stone tools and porcupine quillwork, plus interactive exhibits covering Mi’kmaq language and culture.

Set on the shores of the Minas Basin, this scenic winery is the perfect stop as you explore Nova Scotia’s coasts. The estate only produces wines from Nova Scotian grapes, so you can discover the true taste of this Maritime province. Sip a wine flight as you relax on a patio overlooking the vineyards.

Comprising jagged rocks, reef, and ocean, this protected ecological reserve showcases a wide range of Pacific marine wildlife. Nutrient-rich tidal flows support an assortment of plants and animals, from sponges and sea stars to sea lions, seals, and killer whales, while a rocky islet hosts a historic 19th-century lighthouse.

Established on old Acadian land in the heart of the Annapolis Valley, the Sainte-Famille Wines is owned by Doug and Suzanne Corkum and opened up for business in 1980. The winery overlooks the rolling hills that surround the Avon River Valley and is nestled in a unique site that makes it the warmest vineyard site in all of Nova Scotia. Starting out with just one acre, the land now stretches over 25 acres of vineyard composed of eight varieties of white grapes and four varieties of red – 95% of the Sainte-Famille production comes from their own grapes. They offer a wide range of lesser known varieties, like Marechal Foch, Acadie Blanc, Seyval and Lèon Millot, as well as cherished classics like Chardonnay and Riesling. Blueberry ice wine and maple wine are also produced on site. Sainte-Famille Wines have won several Atlantic Canadian Wine Awards over their long career, as well as a Gold Medal at the International Eastern Wine Competition in New York.

A small but perfectly formed and magically secluded beach, Refuge Cove forms part of Wilsons Promontory National Park, an area of wilderness that includes South Point, mainland Australia’s southernmost point. It's a lovely spot to break a hike or camp for the night with golden sands, stripy rocks, shady gum trees, and gin-clear waters.

Centered on a mountain-surrounded lake with mirror-like waters, Callaghan Lake Provincial Park is an unspoiled wilderness escape. The park is relatively undeveloped with just a few rustic drive-in campsites, a small boat launch, and some bushwhacking opportunities. In winter, its reliable snowfall and rolling terrain attracts backcountry Nordic skiers.

At TELUS World of Science - Edmonton, visitors can learn about everything from dinosaurs to outer space, nature, engineering, and much more. Featuring the Zeidler Dome planetarium and an IMAX theater, this hands-on center hosts a wide range of fascinating and engaging events that will inspire young and old alike.

With its European feel and easy access from Montreal, this Quebec resort is one of eastern Canada’s big adventure hubs. Ample winter snow blankets more than 100 trails across 755 acres (305 hectares) with terrain for skiers and snowboarders of all levels, while summer and fall draw hikers and cyclists. Off-mountain, find year-round activities from sleigh rides to rail trails.

The traditional land of the Mi’kmaq of Metepenagiag stretches along the banks of the Miramichi River. The nation has lived on the land since time immemorial, fishing from the broad river and hunting in the Acadian forests that still cover the region. Today, the park is a place of learning and sharing, where you can hear stories and walk through forest trails.

Granting travelers passage through the rugged Canadian Rockies for centuries, Yellowhead Pass began as trade thoroughfare and today is a National Historic Site and a popular roadside stop. In addition to a plaque noting its historical significance, the site provides road-trippers with views of Mount Robson and the Fraser River Valley.

Covering an area of more than 1,135,000 acres (460,000 hectares, this vast untouched wilderness contains virgin boreal forest, pictograph-adorned granite cliffs, and thousands of lakes. Its remote setting—most of the park can only be accessed by canoe—has helped preserve its pristine splendor, as well as its wildlife.

A scenic loop on southern Vancouver Island, the Pacific Marine Circle Route is beloved for its winding roads and broad ocean views. The total loop drive is 179 miles (289 kilometers), offering plenty of panoramic pull-offs, quiet beaches, and places to picnic. The old-growth forest on Vancouver Island and the thrills of driving the route’s steep hills and snaking roads also draw visitors here.

Beside the lower station of the Whistler Village Gondola, this spacious chalet-style bar and restaurant is a popular après-ski spot. The roaring fire provides comfort and warmth after a day on the slopes. In summer, hikers coming down off the mountains are drawn to the large patio, which offers views of the surrounding peaks.

The Royal Canadian Regiment Museum is a military museum located in a former barracks in London, Ontario. While the museum is one of the oldest in Canada, its interactive displays are compelling and current, making it one of Canada’s hidden gems.