With some of Canada’s wildest white water, the Kicking Horse River boasts numerous Class III and IV+ rapids that thrill even the most experienced paddlers. Originating high in the Wapta Icefields of the Canadian Rockies, the river winds through picturesque valleys, gorges, and steep canyons, offering fantastic views as well as adventure.
A rare pocket of green in a built-up part of downtown Montreal, Champ de Mars served as a military parade ground and city parking lot before it was converted into a park in the 1980s. During the conversion, workers unearthed remains from Montreal’s old fortifications, and parts of the restored city walls were incorporated into the site.
Established by the Hudson’s Bay Company in 1827, this former fur-trading post is often called the birthplace of British Columbia, because Sir James Douglas declared British sovereignty over the region from here during the Fraser Canyon Gold Rush. Now a National Historic Site, the fort attracts history buffs and families.
The turquoise-hued Cheakamus River—a popular spot for fishing and white-water rafting—runs alongside the Sea to Sky Highway. Beginning in Garibaldi Provincial Park, it flows for more than 40 miles (65 kilometers, rushing through swirling rapids as it narrows into the Cheakamus Canyon before joining the Squamish River at Cheekye.
Located on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territory of the Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish) Nation, the granite face of Stawamus Chief Mountain looks out over the waters of Howe Sound. The coastal rainforest smells of cedar and petrichor, and panoramic views of sea, sky, and forest await once you reach the top of the mountain.
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.
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.
A must-see for fans of Lucy Maud Montgomery’sAnne of Green Gables books, this farmhouse once belonged to Montgomery’s relatives and served as the inspiration for the “Cuthbert farm” in her novels. Today the whitewashed dwelling is furnished as described in the books, with multimedia exhibits covering Montgomery’s life and works.
The seaside village of Horseshoe Bay is the departure point for ferries to Vancouver Island and the starting point for the Sea to Sky Highway, which connects Vancouver to Whistler. Though many travelers rush through here, the picturesque town has plenty to offer, with pretty parks, hiking trails, and quaint cafés and restaurants.
Montreal has one of the largest Italian communities in Canada, and nowhere is the community’s huge influence on the city more obvious than in leafy, park-filled Little Italy. As in Italy itself, food is an integral part of Little Italy’s appeal, and foodies flock to crowded pizzerias, old-school delis, and the vast Jean-Talon Market.
Vast, wild, and barely touched by humans, Canada’s Yukon Territory is one of the best places to view North American wildlife. At the Yukon Wildlife Preserve, many species native to the region—such as musk ox, Canadian lynx, elk, and bison—can all be seen at relatively close range in spacious natural habitats.
With heritage architecture and cobbled streets, Old Town Victoria exudes historic character. The area sprang to life in the 19th-century gold rushes, and today it encompasses the city’s commercial core, Canada’s oldest Chinatown, and the waterfront. Visit to see its brightly painted Victorian buildings, which house shops and restaurants.
On the outskirts of Victoria, close to the University of Victoria, Mt. Tolmie Park draws visitors for its views of Victoria, Saanich, and the Gulf Islands, which you can see in the distance on clear days. It’s also a fantastic spot for hiking, with plenty of trails, many of which go straight to the summit.
This anthropological museum details Quebec’s social and political history. Objects, films, and interviews are used to explain key topics in the province’s history, such as the influence and control of the Catholic Church, the rise of the sovereignty movement, and the experiences of Quebec’s Aboriginal, First Nations, and Inuit communities.
One of Canada’s most prestigious universities, the University of Toronto is known to academics and scholars. But the downtown campus is also a top attraction for visitors to Toronto, who stroll its well-tended paths, check out the stately buildings, and wander through the leafy Philosopher’s Walk.
This short scenic drive starts just outside the town of Banff and provides access to several popular trails and scenic viewpoints. This is where you’ll find Surprise Corner, that picture-perfect postcard view of the historic Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel. Even though the drive is just outside the city limits, it’s not uncommon to spy elk, deer, and the occasional bear on the route.
Studio Bell, home of the National Music Centre, is a state-of-the-art cultural center in Calgary. Spanning 160,000 square feet (14,865 square meters), the architecturally notable center includes a museum, performance hall, live music venue, recording studios, radio station, classrooms, and media center.
This organic family-owned farm produces a range of red, white, rosé, and sparkling wines, as well as preserves, honey, cider, and freshly baked bread. The estate includes a heritage house dating back to the early 19th century, a shop selling farm-grown goodies, and an on-site restaurant serving farm-to-table fare.
Learn about the culture and heritage of the Squamish Nation and the Lil’wat Nation at the Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Center (SLCC). Located in Whistler Village, this award-winning, immersive center showcases the art, history, and culture of both nations through exhibits, stories, arts, crafts, performances, films, and interactive activities.
Bordeaux’s main shopping street stretches 1.2 km (0.7 miles through the city center and is one of the longest pedestrianized shopping streets in Europe. Rue Sainte-Catherine is book-ended by the Place de la Comédie in the north, which is home to the city’s Neo-Classical Grand Theater, and the Place de la Victoire to the south.
There’s a rainbow of fluttering wings at the Victoria Butterfly Gardens. The destination is also home to carnivorous plants, pink flamingos, insects, and poison frogs. The gardens are entirely indoors, too, making this a great activity on rainy days.
If hiking Banff’s mountains isn’t enough of an adventure, look to the park’s Via Ferrata—essentially, a steel ladder built into the mountainside. Assisted by cables, the occasional suspension bridge, and your mountaineering guide, you’ll climb one of four routes up Mt. Norquay to some of the most spectacular views in the Canadian Rockies, with no special skills required.
One of the oldest breweries in Canada, Alexander Keith’s Halifax brewery still operates from its original location, which dates back to 1820. A visit here will show you how the company’s popular beers are made—and give you the chance to have a taste.
Ranking among the world’s finest botanical gardens, the expansive Montreal Botanical Garden is more than just a garden; it’s a horticultural experience. Stroll through more than a dozen themed gardens and 10 greenhouses, blooming with plants and flowers from around the globe, and admire colorful, seasonal displays of tulips, cherry blossoms, roses, dahlias, lilies, and countless other blooms.
Originally built for the 1986 world’s fair, this stadium was given an upgrade—and a new retractable roof—before the 2010 Winter Olympics, for which it hosted the opening and closing ceremonies. Home turf for the BC Lions football team and the Vancouver Whitecaps soccer club, the arena also hosts concerts and trade shows.
At the Manitoba Museum, visitors embark on a journey through the sprawling province’s natural history. Among the museum’s best-known displays are a planetarium, a replica of an early bison hunt, and a full-size replica of the ship Nonsuch, whose 1668 voyage led to the founding of the Hudson’s Bay Company.
The Montreal Museum of Fine Arts (Musée des Beaux-Arts), located in the heart of the Golden Square Mile neighborhood, is one of Canada’s most prominent cultural institutions. Home to over 44,000 works of art, from European masterpieces to Inuit sculpture, the museum also hosts classical concerts, public programs, and lecture series.
Every winter, thousands of bald eagles descend on the Squamish River to feast on salmon. Set on the west river bank, the 1,865-acre (755-hectare Brackendale Eagles Provincial Park serves as a winter sanctuary for the feathered migrators, with the majestic birds of prey roosting in the lofty branches of its towering trees.
The Toronto Financial District has been the heart of Canada's finance industry since a mass relocation of global bank headquarters from Montreal in the 1960s. Situated in historic Old Toronto, the area hosts an impressively dense collection of skyscrapers and architectural gems, from First Canadian Place to Scotia Plaza.
Canada’s Royal Tyrrell Museum of Palaeontology is home to an extensive collections of dinosaur fossils. The museum’s 10 galleries are devoted to paleontology and feature 40 complete dinosaur skeletons and a collection of 130,000 fossils. The Preparation Lab shows how paleontology technicians prepare locally found fossils for research and exhibition.
