Stretching from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean, Canada is the second largest country in the world, covering a staggering ten million square kilometres. Even for the most intrepid traveller that’s a big distance to cover, but don’t feel daunted, on a well-planned Canadian holiday the experience will be of equal magnitude!
When visiting Canada, it is easier to concentrate your time in either the eastern side of the country or the west, rather than try and visit everything in one go. Not only does this allow more time to explore each region, but it also saves on the significant journey (although this can make for an interesting coast to coast rail holiday).
The stunning scenery of British Columbia and the Rocky Mountains are found along Canada’s Pacific Coast. The city of Vancouver is in turn a gateway to Vancouver Island, a great location for wildlife spotting. In the mountains, the towns of Banff and Jasper are surrounded by snow-capped peaks and connected by the aptly named Icefield Parkway. The other side of the Rockies, and on the edge of the plains, is the state of Alberta and the colourful cities of Edmonton and Calgary, home of the famous Stampede.
In Eastern Canada, the rich cultural cities of Ottawa, Montreal and Quebec City provide a French influence, while a little further south, Toronto is the gateway to the famous Niagara Falls.
In Atlantic Canada’s maritime provinces of Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick and Newfoundland, expect to find rocky coastline interspersed with sheltered bays and prominent lighthouses.
With such a vast territory to explore, it can be difficult to decide on where to visit first in Canada. To assist that decision, we asked some of Freedom Destinations’ Canada experts to reveal their favourite destinations to visit. Some chose cities, others chose wilderness, but all of them love Canada and return their regularly to explore more. Here are their favourite places to visit in Canada:
Niagara Falls is probably one of the most recognizable natural phenomena in the world, and one that is only really appreciated when viewed in person. The combination of noise, force and spray are certainly memorable. Niagara Falls is actually made up of three different falls combined: The American Falls, Bridal Veil Falls, and the Horseshoe (Canadian) Falls. The Horseshoe is the tallest of the three and it is estimated that around 28 million litres flow over the falls every second.
The two best ways to view Niagara Falls are from above and below. To appreciate the full force of the falls it is necessary to get wet. The spray generated by the waterfalls will soak you to the skin quite quickly, so go prepared. To get up close, join a cruise below the falls, that will sail right into the mist, or to appreciate the majesty of the Niagara Falls, take to the air in a helicopter tour for a birds-eye view.
It is possible to explore the Rocky Mountains on a self drive or Western Canada motorhome holiday, but perhaps the most relaxing and luxurious way to take in the spectacular views is to climb aboard the Rocky Mountaineer train. As far as rail journeys go the backdrop to the Rocky Mountaineer is one of the best. The Rocky Mountains provide some of the most dramatic scenery in all of Canada. Travelling from Vancouver to Jasper, passing Mount Robson and Fraser River, it is possible to sit back, relax and view the mountains through the panoramic windows and glass roof. You can also pop outside to smell the pine trees and listen to the rivers rush by. The experience is augmented by delicious food and expert commentary from a local guide.
Just a short ferry ride from the city, Vancouver Island feels a world away from the modern cityscape of Vancouver. The southern tip of Vancouver Island is home to Victoria, the provincial capital of British Columbia, and the island’s largest town. Even here the difference between Victoria’s historic waterfront and Vancouver’s modern marina is stark. Just in front of Victoria’s stone clad buildings, the inner harbour is your destination for an introduction to whale-watching, boat cruises and floatplane excursions.
Outside Victoria, the century old Butchart Gardens provide amazingly well-manicured lawns and planted beds, before you continue north into the wilderness. It is the temperate rainforests that Vancouver Island is most famous for. They are full of wildlife, from the birds in the moss clad branches, to the black and grizzly bears that can be spotted on the shoreline. From the laid-back communities like Tofino, it is possible to join wildlife spotting cruises to view Humpback whales and Orcas visiting the sheltered bays as well as looking out for eagles, bears and moose along the tree line.
Holidays to Canada by Freedom Destinations.
Vancouver | Victoria | Tofino | Whistler | Sun Peaks | Jasper | Lake Louise | Banff | Calgary
Toronto | Niagara Falls | Tobermory | Manotoulin Island | Huntsville | Ottawa | Kingston
Halifax | Lunenburg | Annapolis Royal | Bay of Fundy | Wolfville | Charlottetown | Prince Edward Island | Baddeck | Cabot Trail | Louisbourg
Vancouver | Victoria | Tofino | Whistler | Sun Peaks | Jasper | Lake Louise | Banff | Calgary
Toronto | Niagara Falls | Tobermory | Manotoulin Island | Huntsville | Ottawa | Kingston
Halifax | Lunenburg | Annapolis Royal | Bay of Fundy | Wolfville | Charlottetown | Prince Edward Island | Baddeck | Cabot Trail | Louisbourg
The best views of this thriving city are had from the top of the CN Tower. This 147-floor building reaches high above the Old City area, providing panoramic views across the Toronto skyline to Lake Ontario. More down to earth is Kensington Market, a small bohemian neighbourhood, in central Toronto, that provides visitors with an eclectic array of grocers, bakeries and cafés, alongside vintage boutiques and art galleries.
The gateway to Niagara Falls, Toronto is also the state capital of Ontario, and is well-known for its multiculturalism and fusion of ideas. This is reflected in the city’s museums and art galleries as well as its thriving music and food scene. The Art Gallery of Ontario and the Museum of Contemporary Art, provide dedicated spaces for local artists, whilst Chinatown and St. Lawrence Market provide the food equivalent. It seems no matter what time of year you visit Toronto there will always be a festival of art, film, music, and food to enjoy.
Formed some 240,000 years ago, the largest icefields in the Rocky Mountains are made up of six glaciers; Athabasca, Castleguard, Columbia, Dome, Stutfield and Saskatchewan. Despite residing amongst some Canada’s tallest peaks, the icefields are amongst the most accessible glaciers in the world, and the best way to reach them is by driving the Icefield Parkway. This spectacular road takes you alongside the Athabasca Glacier, where you can board a specially designed Ice Explorer coach which takes you on to the glacier, allowing you to safely disembark straight on the ice itself. An unforgettable experience.
Linking Banff National Park and the turquoise waters of Lake Louise with the alpine town of Jasper, the Icefield Parkway has been regularly voted as one of the top drives in the world. The 150 miles stretch of road follows the Continental Divide, with soaring mountain peaks on either side, offering views of cascading waterfalls, ancient glaciers, dense pine forests and narrow valleys.
The statistics are staggering; The five Great Lakes in the state of Ontario, make up the largest amount of freshwater in the world. Lake Superior alone is the second largest lake on earth, whilst Lake Huron boasts more than 30,000 islands. Manitoulin Island within that lake is also the largest freshwater island on earth. Of course seeing is believing, so exploring the waves by boat or following the cliffs by car, provide never-ending panoramic views. If you choose to explore by motorhome then you could even stay lakeside and wake up in the morning on a sandy beach, ready for a early morning dip.
Away from the water’s edge, The Great lakes area is home to some of Canada’s largest provincial parks. Arrowhead and Algonquin Provincial Parks provide amazing hiking trails through the granite cliffs and boreal forests. If you are hoping to spot one of Canada’s moose, then these areas offer you a great opportunity.
This does exactly what it says on the tin, so if you would like to see grizzly bears in the wild then there can be no better place to head to. The Great Bear Rainforest in British Columbia is one of the largest remaining areas of untouched temperate rainforest in the world. It is remote, but by staying at a specialist lodge, such as Knight Inlet, you are almost guaranteed to see bears.
Reached by float plane from Vancouver Island or the city, Knight Inlet Lodge is an indigenous owned floating hotel on British Colombia’s longest fjord. Knowledgeable guides will take guests bear spotting by boat, canoe, and specially erected viewing towers, where you can witness the bears as they teach their cubs how to survive and how to fish for spawning salmon in the autumn.
It is not all about bears at Knight Inlet. Guided hikes through the Great Bear Rainforest, give a different perspective on this green wilderness, whale-watching cruises can follow the orca and humpback whales as they cruise the sheltered waters, whilst seals, eagles and other wildlife can often be spotted from the guest rooms.
For a scenic drive in Atlantic Canada you would be hard pressed to find anything more captivating than the Cabot Trail, to the north of Nova Scotia’s Breton Island. The road winds alongside the Margaree River and then up through the Cape Breton Highlands. If the spectacular coastal views aren’t enough, keep an eye out for one of the local moose who inhabit the woodlands beside the road.
The Cabot Trail wasn’t finished until 1932, where it finally connected remote fishing villages with the rest of Nova Scotia, although vehicles on the 182-mile road today are mostly tourist traffic enjoying the views of the Skyline Trail. The small fishing villages, now provide delightful rest stops for travellers, where they can enjoy the fresh local seafood in the wooden clad restaurants and cafés. Expect local lobster, combined with crab, oysters, mussels, scallops and mackerel, all caught within sight of the Cabot Trail.
Every July the town of Calgary in Alberta, hosts a ten day festival nicknamed “The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth!”. The Calgary Stampede is the largest festival of its kind, featuring rodeos, stage shows, parades and concerts. For the duration of the festival this modern city is turned in to a version of the Wild West, with even office buildings being decorated with huge images of cowboys.
It is estimated that more than a million people travel to the Calgary Stampede each year, and they are richly rewarded with wagon racing, agricultural displays and competitions, as well as exhibitions and performances by members of the indigenous communities. If you are partial to a pancake breakfast, wearing cowboy boots or just love the outdoors then a visit to the Calgary Stampede is a great addition to any Canada holiday.
“Whichever side of the country you visit, Canada is the perfect holiday destination for those that love to explore” says Lauren, one of Freedom Destinations’ Canada travel experts. “The French influence on the architecture and language of Montreal and Quebec City provides unique destinations for city explorers, whilst the scenery of the Rocky Mountains provides an unrivalled backdrop for self drive and motorhome explorers that want to experience nature.”
To help plan your next Canadian holiday, contact Lauren or one of her colleagues in the Freedom Destinations Canada team, to discuss the best way for you to explore Canada.
Richard has more than 25 years of experience working within the travel industry. He has travelled widely in the USA, Australia and Africa and enjoys exploring National Parks and other wilderness areas.
