Places to go on vacation in canada
Canada is the second largest country in the world (after Russia). It is located in the northern part of America. Canada is a federation of provinces and territories. Besides, it has three territories and ten main parts. The main parts are British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario and Quebec. Each province has its own capital.
Canada is a country that has a lot to offer to tourists. It has beautiful landscapes, great cities and lots of history. There are many places in Canada where you can have a great time and enjoy yourself.
Canada can be confusing to many people when they are planning a vacation. There are several provinces that you may want to visit and they each have their own special charm. That’s why we’ve created this article to help you understand the different cities of Canada and what they offer.
Places to go on vacation in canada
Toronto
The sprawling city of Toronto is the most densely populated city in Canada, with nearly three million residents. Located on the shores of Lake Ontario, Toronto forms part of the Golden Horseshoe region, which encompasses the area from the lake to Niagara Falls.
As the provincial capital of the Ontario province, Toronto is also one of the most multicultural cities in the world, with just shy of 100 ethnic communities calling it home. It’s one of the only places in Canada where more than half of the residents were not born in the country. But it’s this melting pot that makes Toronto what it is. Some of the street signs are written in different languages, and diverse neighborhoods have their own distinctive cuisine.
There’s so much culture to be found in the inner city proper amongst its towering skyscrapers and thousands of multi-cultural restaurants. One of the most popular attractions on the tourist trail is the CN Tower, the tallest free-standing structure in the world (until it was trumped by the Burj Khalifa in Dubai). It offers an extraordinary uninterrupted view of the city from its observation deck, skypod, and the 360 Restaurant. But it’s worth it for a ride up in the glass-enclosed elevator alone!
Montreal
Montreal is the second-largest city in the Quebec province, located where the St Lawrence and Ottawa Rivers meet. Montreal is Canada’s capital of culture. It’s also one of the most diverse, energetic, welcoming, and forward-thinking cities in North America, with modern street art, an energetic breed of musicians, and a great party scene in its newer parts.
While English is spoken, it’s not the most common language; it’s actually the second-largest city in the world to speak French as a first language outside of France. So it’s easy to see why it’s earned its nickname as the ‘Paris of North America.’
Montreal’s cityscape is a pleasure to visit all year round. It’s especially beautiful in autumn when the trees turn burnt orange around the iconic cityscape. Old Montreal is the highlight with its cobbled streets, quaint museums, and historical buildings, some of which date back to the 17th-century. Don’t miss the chance to climb up the clock tower in the Quai de l’Horloge for some exceptional views over the St. Laurence River and the city in the distance.
Exciting shopping districts include the downtown underground complex, the Carrefour Laval mall and the colorful Bonsecours Market.
Niagara Falls
Niagara Falls is a series of three awe-inspiring waterfalls situated on the border of Canada’s Ontario and the United States’ New York. The Ontario side of the Falls is called Horseshoe Falls and offers the best views and most attractions. The immediate area surrounding the Falls is a premier tourist spot teeming in observation towers, restaurants, souvenir shops, casinos and high-rise hotels.
Its sister city in New York is known as the ‘honeymoon capital of the world,’ and one of the only places where you can get a marriage license without a waiting period. Those looking for both romance and adventure will find it here, with a long list of exciting things to see and do.
One of the best places to view the Niagara Falls on the Ontario side is from Queen Victoria Park where the Falls are illuminated and fireworks are displayed nightly during the summer. See them from above or below – it’s your choice – with helicopter tours, jet boat tours, an observation deck next to Skylon Tower, and elevators that take you down behind the falls.
Vancouver
The massive city of Vancouver is one of the largest in Canada. Located in south-western British Columbia, it’s a famous foodie hotspot – especially for seafood, like its celebrated freshly caught prawns and wild salmon. Because of its melting pot of cultures, you’ll find no shortage of mixed cuisine here, making dining out one of the city’s simple, but by no means underrated, pleasures.
Vancouver’s star attraction is Stanley Park. Covering 1,000 acres of woodlands, gardens and green spaces, this park features an aquarium, water park and the picturesque Seawall. Some of Vancouver’s other top sites include Granville Island’s remarkable food market, Chinatown’s vibrant array of shops, restaurants and stunning gardens, and Canada Place’s waterfront complex housing the Vancouver Convention Center.
Nicknamed the ‘Hollywood of the North’ because of its huge TV and film industry, Vancouver is also home to the fourth-largest cruise ship terminal in the world. As many as 900,000 passengers pass through the terminal every year, with many cruises making their way onwards to Alaska.
With both beaches and ski slopes within easy reach, Vancouver has been rated as one of the world’s best cities to live in. Home to happy, tanned, and active people who spend their days rollerblading, jogging, and dog walking along in the Seawall or playing a game of volleyball on Kitsilano Beach, Vancouver is a big destination for outdoorsy activities. Don’t leave without the chance to take a dip in Canada’s longest pool – it’s almost three times the size of a normal Olympic swimming pool!
Banff National Park
Tucked away in the Canadian Rockies, Banff National Park is the oldest national park in Canada, and also one of its largest. Because of its sheer size and remote location, many people are drawn to this untouched piece of the globe for the isolation alone – outside of Banff and Lake Louise – the park’s two points of civilization – that is.
There are two popular routes through the park, but it doesn’t matter too much which you choose. Both are filled with jaw-dropping scenery, from glistening multi-colored lakes and dramatic canyons to beautiful viewpoints and majestic waterfalls. Whether you have your own car is not important, as shuttles service most of the key attractions in the park.
Active travelers will be in their element here with the chance to snowshoe or paddle the lake, while wildlife watchers will have an adventure all of their own. Banff National Park is filled with animals – the most eagerly anticipated sighting being, of course, the grizzly bear.
The town of Banff is the park’s primary settlement, offering the most variety of lodging, shopping and dining. Accessed by the Icefields Parkway, Lake Louise offers luxurious accommodation in a gorgeous setting of turquoise lakes and majestic mountains. Lake Minnewanka and Sunshine Meadows are other smaller villages.
Ontario’s Provincial and National Parks
Ontario has many outstanding provincial and national parks that offer access to some of the most beautiful areas of the province. In these parks, you’ll find Ontario’s best lakes, where you can fish, swim, and go pleasure boating. If hitting the beach and laying in the sand is more your thing, the parks are also hot spots for Ontario’s best beaches.
In Southern Ontario, just two hours from Toronto, Algonquin Provincial Park is one of the most popular parks and outdoor destinations, with an extensive network of hiking trails, and beautiful lakefront campgrounds. Further afield but equally beautiful, Killarney Provincial Park is another great area for hiking, canoeing, and camping.
On the shores of Lake Huron and Georgian Bay, Bruce Peninsula National Park offers its own attractions, and nearby but offshore, boaters and divers can find adventure exploring Georgian Bay Islands National Park and the Fathom Five National Marine Park.
You can also find history in some of the parks. The petroglyphs of Petroglyphs Provincial Park, just a short drive northeast of Peterborough, offer an easy and close-up look at an outstanding collection of 500 to 1,000-year-old Aboriginal rock carvings. Somewhat more difficult to access, but also impressive, are the pictographs that line the cliff walls on the shoreline of Lake Superior in Lake Superior Provincial Park.
Those who are looking for a truly remote experience will find invitingly pristine lakes and forests in Quetico Provincial Park in Northwestern Ontario. This is a popular area for backcountry canoe trips and fishing trips.
Royal Ontario Museum (ROM)
The Royal Ontario Museum in downtown Toronto is one of the premier museums in the province, featuring a broad range of collections, from natural history and science to cultural exhibits from around the world.
Commonly referred to as the ROM, this museum underwent an expansion in 2007, which saw the addition of a modern and unique extension known as the Michael Lee-Chin Crystal. The building is now a mix of old and new architecture with a striking appearance.
The Royal Ontario Museum is within walking distance of the fascinating Gardiner Museum and the tony shops of Bloor Avenue.
Canada’s Wonderland
About 30 kilometers northwest of Toronto’s city center is Canada’s Wonderland, a huge theme park, which operates during the summer months. For local residents with kids, an annual visit to Canada’s wonderland is one of the top things to do in summer. But, as Canada’s premier amusement park, this attraction draws families from across the country.
Roller coasters and thrill rides for children of all ages, as well as a water park, dinosaur park, and live shows, are just some of the attractions. Visiting Wonderland is an easy day trip from Toronto.
Toronto’s CN Tower
The CN Tower is one of Canada’s most iconic structures, standing tall along the Toronto skyline. The 553-meter tower is lit up at night and can be seen from all over the city and surroundings at any time of day or night, but visitors will likely want to take a trip up the tower to fully experience it.
An elevator allows access to the observation deck and restaurant, located about three quarters of the way to the top. The view is astounding, looking out over the city and Lake Ontario. On clear days, it’s possible to see all the way to the plume of mist rising off Niagara Falls. In the evening, looking out over the sparkling city lights is also an impressive sight.
The tower is located in the heart of downtown Toronto, and at the base is the new Ripley’s Aquarium and Rogers Centre, two of Toronto’s top attractions.
Parliament Hill in Ottawa
Parliament Hill in the nation’s capital is where most visitors begin their sightseeing in Ottawa. The buildings reside in a lovely setting on a rise above the Ottawa River. The Peace Tower is the most obvious and the most photographed structure, standing more than 90 meters high between the Senate and the House of Commons.
In front of the Parliament buildings is the Centennial Flame. During the summer, visitors can see the Changing of the Guard on the lawn in front of the Houses of Parliament, while those who are lucky enough to be visiting Ottawa on July 1 can enjoy some of the biggest Canada Day celebrations in the country.
Daily guided tours of the Parliament Buildings, including the Senate, House of Commons, and the East Block are available free of charge. Tickets are available same day, although it’s strongly advised that you book well in advance online.
National Gallery of Canada
The National Gallery of Canada in Ottawa houses some of the country’s most important collections. It contains a particularly strong selection of works by Canadian artists, from the Group of Seven to Emily Carr and many other famous names. The gallery also displays important pieces by well-known international artists.
The National Gallery building is housed in an ultra-modern architectural masterpiece designed by Moshe Safdie.
After you visit this fascinating museum, continue your museum tour by heading across the bridge to Canadian Museum of History, or stroll over to the wonderful ByWard Market for a bite.
Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF)
The Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) is the most famous event on Ontario’s calendar, attracting some of the biggest movie stars across North America. This 10-day festival, held in early September in Toronto, is one of the best attended film festivals in the world, with almost a half million visitors annually.
Tourists and locals descend on the city to watch a film or catch a glimpse of some of their favorite actors, and the city is a buzz of activity. At this time of year, the weather is still hot, and evenings are pleasant. The streets are full of people, restaurants are booked well in advance, and outdoor patios in the city are crowded until late at night. If you are visiting Toronto at this time of year, make sure you book your hotel and restaurants well in advance.
Art Gallery of Ontario
In downtown Toronto, the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO) is one of Canada’s most prestigious art galleries. It hosts a particularly impressive collection of Canadian paintings with a focus on artists from Ontario and Toronto.
It also holds Canada’s largest collection of African and Oceanic Art displayed in a museum. Other highlights include paintings and sculpture by European masters and Modern and Contemporary collections from North America and Europe. Temporary exhibitions are held throughout the year, check the AGO’s website for the most current list.
