Nicknamed the “Matterhorn of the Rockies,” Mt. Assiniboine is one of Canada’s most stunning peaks. This 11,870-foot (3,619-meter pyramidal peak towers over its neighbors and is the focal point of Mount Assiniboine Provincial Park. Hikers, photographers, and mountain climbers from all over the world are drawn to the mountain’s beauty and solitude.
Banff’s Sundance Canyon is a moderate hiking and mountain biking trail within easy reach of town. The first couple of miles, open to both hikers and bikers, follow a paved path beside the Bow River. The biking trail ends at the paved path, but the hiking trail continues for a couple more miles uphill into the canyon.
Fans of cool urban art won’t want to miss Toronto’s Graffiti Alley. Officially named Rush Lane, located in downtown Toronto’s trendy Fashion District, it’s worth a detour for some colorful inspiration while browsing the boutiques. Some of the murals have been there for years, while others come and go.
Visitors to Yellowknife can explore the culture and heritage of the Northwest Territories at the Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre (PWNHC). Home to hundreds of thousands of artifacts, including clothing, photos, and tools, the PWNHC is more than a museum—it's also the province’s archives, a community space and a cultural center.
Located in Algonquin Provincial Park, the Lookout Trail is a short but steep loop trail that leads through a young Algonquin forest to a high cliff, offering spectacular views of the park and its geological features. Easily accessible, it’s a popular trail for hiking, bird-watching, leaf-peeping, and snowshoeing.
Montreal’s Barbie Expo is the world’s largest permanent exhibition of Barbie dolls. It displays more than 1,000 famous figurines, from historical Barbies to J.Lo and Beyonce versions. Inside an upscale shopping mall, the exhibit keeps “Barbie fever” alive, and it dresses her to the nines. Designers on display include Armani, Vera Wang, Christian Louboutin, Christian Dior, and more.
Running along the south shore of the Bay of Fundy, Nova Scotia’s fertile Annapolis Valley produces some of Canada’s finest fruit and vegetables. Apple orchards and vineyards carpet the verdant valley, U-pick farms and farmers markets abound, and several historic sites recount the history of early Acadian settlers.
Also known as the Danforth or Greektown on the Danforth, the neighborhood of Greektown is a little slice of the Mediterranean in Toronto. A settlement for Greek immigrants in the 20th century, Greektown continues to wear its cultural heritage on its sleeve. Despite recent gentrification, it is still dotted with tavernas serving up souvlaki, gyros, and other Greek culinary delights.
Located in downtown Calgary in front of The Bow building, the Wonderland Sculpture is a 39-foot (12-meter) tall sculpture in the shape of a young girl’s head. Created by Spanish artist Jaume Plensa out of painted stainless steel, the striking statue is meant to represent the hopes and dreams of the youth of the province.
A fine mist sprays from this triple-tiered waterfall on Madeley Creek, which drops from a total height of 141 feet (43 meters. At the top of the falls, a viewing platform with picnic tables overlooks the cascade as it tumbles over a rocky, forest-surrounded ledge. Wildlife—most commonly bears—can often be spotted in the area.
This public square is named after the central branch of Vancouver Public Library, which sits on the plaza. Opened in 1995, the library—designed by eminent Canadian-Israeli architect Moshe Safdie—is one of Vancouver’s architectural highlights, with its spiraling Colosseum-esque form standing out amid the sea of glass office buildings.
Above the startling turquoise Peyto Lake, Bow Summit offers some of the most spectacular views in Banff National Park. You can hike here from the very popular Peyto Lake Viewpoint or drive along a paved road in summer. The walking trail is easy, so if you have the time it’s worth venturing away from the crowds that flock to the lower viewpoint.
Located in the city of Edmonton, the Alberta Legislature Building is home to the province’s legislative assembly and is known for its striking architecture, the opportunity to watch live parliamentary debate, and free tours covering Alberta’s political history. The pretty grounds, spread over 57 acres (23 hectares), are reason enough to visit this Canadian landmark.
The Johnson Geo Centre is an underground geological museum in Newfoundland with 12 different attractions. Learn the history of planet Earth (and space) through interactive exhibits, feature presentations, and tours. The ultra-modern building features a glass-walled elevator to help you get around.
Spread across just over 0.7 acres (0.29 hectares), Kasugai Gardens is a Japanese garden built in 1987 in honor of the alliance between Kelowna and its Japanese sister city, Kasugai. Features include waterfalls, a koi pond, and a Japanese-style topiary.
Pretty as a postcard, the spires of Mahone Bay’s three churches rise above the calm harbor of this coastal town. Mahone Bay hasn’t changed much since its establishment in 1754—with its historic homes, a waterfront lined with fishing boats, and its welcoming people, it’s the perfect place to bask in the charm of the Maritimes.
Flanked by the snowy summits of the Pacific Ranges and covered in old-growth forest, the Callaghan Valley is a wonderfully wild playground for outdoor adventurists. The valley, which hosted the Nordic events of the 2010 Winter Olympics, is prime cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and ski touring turf, and draws hikers in summer.
Most people come to Alberta’s Banff National Park for the Rocky Mountains, but anyone seeking a fascinating slice of local history should check out Bankhead Ghost Town. Bankhead wasn’t always a ghost town: in its heyday it was a thriving coal-mining town. The mine closed in the 1920s and the residents, and many buildings, relocated.
Quebec City visitors can enjoy summer-style fun all year round at the family-friendly, indoor Bora Parc waterpark. Just grab your swimsuit (even if it's snowing outside), and get ready to splash around. Hop into indoor pools, wind your way down waterslides, and hone your surfing skills on an indoor surf wave.
With four separate rail routes running through British Columbia and Alberta, the Rocky Mountaineer offers easy access to some of western Canada’s wildest and most spectacular scenery. From the window of this luxury train, passengers are treated to views of turquoise lakes, snowy mountain peaks, and rushing rivers.
Straddling the St Lawrence River, the tree-covered hills of the Charlevoix region make up one of the most picturesque areas in the province of Quebec. In winter, Charlevoix is home to one of the best ski hills in the region while in summer and fall, hiking, biking, and whale watching take center stage.
Tucked in among an old-growth forest of cedars and firs along the Cheakamus River is an unexpected sight: a cluster of graffiti-covered boxcars, the remnants of a train wreck from the 1950s. Easily accessible by a 1.4-mile (2.3-kilometer) out-and-back hiking trail, which crosses the river via a suspension bridge, the Whistler Train Wreck is a popular hiking destination year-round.
Among Canada’s largest inland ports, the Port of Montreal (Port de Montréal) sits on the St. Lawrence River and is home to the Iberville Passenger Terminal, where cruises dock. Located in the francophone Quebec province, the port is the gateway to Montreal—the country’s second largest city—and offers easy access to Old Montreal (Vieux-Montréal) and the wider downtown area.
Miniature World contains more than 85 dioramas that depict historical, factual, and fantasy scenes in miniature scale. Watch tiny trains chugging along tracks; see a small working sawmill in action; observe a scaled-down circus in full swing; and inspect Lilliputian versions of Camelot and Dickensian London.
Soaring above Ottawa’s Parliament Hill, the Peace Tower is one of Canada’s most recognizable symbols. While it’s not the city’s tallest building, the Gothic-style bell and clock tower—which reaches a height of 322 feet (98 meters)—dominates the Ottawa skyline.
From stores to restaurants, hotels, and spas, you’ll find plenty to see and do in Halifax’s bustling Spring Garden district.
A legacy of the 1988 Winter Games,WinSport, Canada's Olympic Park, has hosted Olympic events in ski jumping, bobsled, and luge. These days, its professional-standard facilities are mostly used for recreational purposes, with visitors flocking here not only to ski, snowboard, and bobsled but also to try other activities, such as ziplining.
The Royal Botanical Gardens (RBG), the largest botanical garden in Canada, includes five distinct formal gardens on 400 display acres (162 hectares). Known for its colorful blooms, rock garden, rose garden and tea house, and indoor Mediterranean garden, the gardens are set on a total of 2,700 acres (1,100 hectares) of protected land in Burlington, Ontario, just outside Toronto.
Aside from the falls themselves, the Fallsview Indoor Waterpark is one of Niagara Falls’ most popular family attractions. Fallsview features 16 waterslides—some as high as six stories—a wave pool, outdoor pool and sundeck, tots pool, adults-only hot tub, and much more. When you need to fuel up, there are great food options as well.
African Lion Safari is a wildlife park in Southern Ontario that allows you to drive your own vehicle—or hop on an open-top safari bus—and observe animals in seven large habitats. Dedicated to preserving endangered species, the park houses more than 1,000 animals, including giraffes, lions, and elephants.
