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Colorful Aurora Borealis, Northern Lights, at Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Canada
momo11353 | Adobe Stock

Canada Travel Guide: What to Do in Canada

As the world’s second-largest country, sprawling across more than 3.85 million square miles, Canada offers visitors so many potential travel experiences that it’s hard to know where to begin. Sure, you know about Niagara Falls and Lake Louise, Vancouver’s Stanley Park and Montreal’s cobblestoned Old Town. But did you also know that you can swim with beluga whales, go digging for clams or walk under the stars through a canyon full of frozen waterfalls?

Dive into our slideshow to sample these unique experiences plus many more, spanning the country from the wide-open cattle ranches out west to the friendly fishing villages in the Maritimes.

Additional Reporting by Megan Johnson

1. Northern Lights Experience in Northwest Territories

Dark brown sled dog named Ina hugging its human handler
Allen.G | Adobe Stock

You can see the northern lights in Canada’s remote Northwest Territories in several unique ways. Beck’s Kennels, based in Yellowknife, offers a five-hour excursion that starts with an exhilarating dog sled ride over the snow to a heated cabin where you can warm up and watch the colors streaking across the dark sky.

For an even more remote experience, head to the Blachford Lodge. Accessible only by bush plane (it’s a half-hour ride from Yellowknife), the lodge offers the chance to see the northern lights from an igloo you build yourself.

2. Walk on the Earth’s Mantle at Gros Morne National Park

Gros Morne National Park isn’t just a spectacularly scenic place to go hiking or camping; it’s also a geological landmark that helped scientists prove the theory of plate tectonics. The barren red rocks in the Tablelands section of the park were once part of the earth’s mantle (the thick layer beneath the crust), but they were pushed upward by a plate tectonic collision some 500 million years ago. Gros Morne is one of the few places in the world where you can walk on a rock that was once this deep inside the earth.

While it’s easy enough to hike the Tablelands independently, a Parks Canada guide can offer insight into the area’s complex geology. Two- and three-hour guided hikes are available.

3. Asian Night Markets in Vancouver 

As you stroll among bustling stalls, sampling fragrant street food like dim sum, stir-fried octopus and tteokbokki (a spicy Korean rice and fish cake), you could be forgiven for imagining that you’re in Hong Kong or Taiwan. But you can also savor a traditional Asian night market much closer to home in the Vancouver metro area.

About 30 minutes outside of downtown Vancouver, near the international airport, the city of Richmond offers two different night markets during the warmer months. The Richmond Night Market, located near the Bridgeport SkyLink station, offers live entertainment and hundreds of food stalls on weekends between mid-May and early October. 

4. Learn Indigenous Traditions on Manitoulin Island

Manitoulin Island Summer Waterfall
Abbie | Adobe Stock

For an intimate and authentic look into the cultural heritage of some of Canada’s indigenous peoples, head to Manitoulin Island, located on Lake Huron in northeastern Ontario. Here, the Great Circle Spirit Trail offers a selection of workshops and experiences celebrating the traditions of the Anishnawbek people (which includes the Ojibwe, Odawa and Pottawatomi tribes).

Visitors learn native drumming techniques, taste local teas, craft your own traditional torch or go on a hike in search of medicinal herbs and plants. 

5. Cycle Through the Laurentians in Quebec

For an exhilarating fresh-air journey through Quebec’s forested Laurentian Mountains, rent a bike and hit the P’tit Train du Nord trail. Once a rail line, this 144-mile, mildly graded path offers a taste of the region’s pristine rivers, lakes and mountain views. Many of the former railroad stations along the way have been converted into cafes, shops and other facilities where bikers can take a break.

The trail runs between Saint-Jerome, about 30 minutes outside Montreal, and Mont-Laurier. Operators such as Cyclo-Gites offer packages that include overnight lodging, breakfast, luggage transfers and transportation from one end of the trail to the other (so you don’t have to bike all the way back to get back to your car).

The full ride can be completed in three to five days, depending on your fitness level and how much time you want to spend exploring. For the most spectacular scenery, go in the fall when the leaves are turning.

6. Learn the Fisherman’s Life in Nova Scotia

During your stay in Nova Scotia, you’ll likely dig into a seafood dinner at least once or twice, whether your dish of choice is fresh lobster, grilled fish or buttery scallops. But did you know you can meet the fishermen responsible for bringing all that delicious, locally caught seafood to your plate?

Dock in on the Acadian shores with repurposed crabbing cages
Pascal Huot | Adobe Stock

The Living Wharves program in the Yarmouth and Acadian Shores area has brought together active and retired workers from the fishing industry to meet with visitors and share their experiences. You can listen to stories of storms at sea, find out what a typical day is like and even learn to tie a knot or band a lobster. Daily talks and demonstrations are given at various wharves in and around Yarmouth.

7. Hike a Snowy Canyon Under the Stars in Banff

Imagine strapping on a pair of cleats and walking along the bottom of a deep, quiet canyon at night, with moonlight glittering off the frozen waterfalls and otherworldly ice formations around you. While most visitors explore Banff and Jasper National Parks during the warmer summer months, a nighttime “ice walk” is an unforgettable experience you can only have during the winter off season. (Just remember to bundle up!)

Discover Banff Tours offers a 2.5-hour ice walk in Johnston Canyon, where you’ll hike along catwalks built onto the canyon walls. At Maligne Canyon in Jasper, you’ll be right on the canyon floor during a three-hour tour led by Jasper Adventure Centre or Maligne Adventures.

You can even take a dip in the year-round outdoor hot spring bathing experiences

8. Live the Cowboy Life on a Ranch in Saskatchewan

Horses walking in a group on La Reata Ranch in Saskatchewan
La Reata Ranch

The wide-open spaces in the Canadian West are the perfect setting to hop on a horse and live out that cowboy or cowgirl fantasy you’ve had since you were a kid.

At Saskatchewan’s Historic Reesor Ranch, which dates back to 1904, guests can join a cattle drive during the day and then sit around the campfire at night, exchanging “cowboy poetry” with the hosts. In British Columbia, Echo Valley Ranch & Spa offers a more indulgent experience, with Thai massages or yoga classes available in between horseback riding and panning for gold. Guests at La Reata Ranch in Saskatchewan can learn cowboy skills such as lariat handling and roping a dummy steer, then wind down their day in the hot tub under the stars.

9. Meet the Other French-Speaking Canada in the Maritimes

Mention francophone Canada, and Quebec is the region that most likely springs to mind. But what most visitors don’t know is that Canada has several other pockets of French culture, including the Acadian population of the Maritimes (New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island). Descendants of French colonists, the Acadian people have developed their own culture unique to this part of the world.

Get a taste of Acadian culture in New Brunswick at the Village Historique Acadien, which offers a collection of historical buildings — including farmhouses, a lobster hatchery and a grist mill — dating back as far as 1770. At the Theriault General Store, you can buy period items such as porcelain dolls and cast-iron frying pans.

Le Pays de la Sagouine, in Bouctouche, is a recreated Prohibition-era fishing village where visitors can tour the buildings, dine on traditional dishes, and enjoy musical and theatrical performances from a cast of Acadian characters. You may even learn to play the wooden spoons! (Note that performances run throughout the warmer months, and most are in French.)

10. Swim with Beluga Whales in Manitoba

A pod of Beluga Whales engaged in a feeding frenzy - Churchill River, Manitoba
Tony | Adobe Stock

Churchill, Manitoba, is famous for polar bear sightings, but if you’re looking for a truly up-close-and-personal animal encounter, why not jump into the water and swim with the bears’ Arctic neighbor, the beluga whale?

Tour operators such as Sea North Tours and Lazy Bear Lodge will take you out on a boat to search for a pod of these gentle giants, which measure about 18 feet and weigh up to 3,500 pounds. Then, wearing a thick Arctic wetsuit and snorkeling gear, you’ll lower yourself into the water where you can swim beside the whales and even hear the sounds they make as they call to each other.

11. Have a Foodie Adventure

Love to eat? On Prince Edward Island, you can get your hands dirty with a variety of experiences in sourcing local goodies. Local Jim Conohan offers an excursion in which visitors walk with him to find and dig for clams; afterward, they bring their haul back to his gazebo for good conversation and a good meal, which includes steamed clams — of course! — as well as bread, potato salad, cold drinks and dessert.  Vegetarian and turf options are available as well. 

The Table Culinary Studio offers cooking classes in which visitors can learn to prepare island favorites such as mussels, sheep’s milk cheese and artisan bread. Some workshops involve visiting local farms to harvest ingredients or learn how they’re grown.

12. Experience Ice Hockey in Toronto

We’d be remiss to not mention ice hockey when talking about Canada. For a true Canadian experience, head to Toronto, where you can catch the Maple Leafs play a game. Then, head to the Hockey Hall of Fame, where you can see the Stanley Cup, and learn about the history, and the best players. If you are feeling really daring, you can join a pick up game and see how the amateurs play. 

13. Go Whale Watching in Victoria

Pod of Orca Killer whale swimming, with whale watching boat in the foreground, Victoria, Canada
birdiegal | Adobe Stock

Victoria, situated on Vancouver Island’s southern tip, is one of the best places in the world for whale watching. Peak time for spotting a whale is May through October, where you should be able to easily spot Orcas. From June to September, the humpback whales are out, some measuring a whopping 50-feet in length! There are several different tours to choose from, from the classic catamaran, to getting up close and personal in a Zodiac Boat

You’ll want to book a morning tour, when waters are calmer and marine life is booming. Most tours last 3-4 hours and depart from Victoria’s Inner Harbor or Fisherman’s Wharf

14. Go to the Winter Carnival in Quebec City

If it’s going to be freezing cold with a lot of snow, you might as well make the best of it, and that is exactly what Quebec City has done by creating the world’s largest winter carnival. Be awed by the ice sculptures, enjoy music by Canadian artists, be dazzled by a night parade, and  play laser tag within the city’s citadel. Want to see something really different? Check out the ice canoe race

The Carnival lasts for ten days in January and February. 

15. See Polar Bears in Manitoba

Young female polar bear (Ursus maritimus) in willow scrub and snow on the shore, Canada
Mark Hunter | Adobe Stock

In October and November, you can take a 6-7 day  polar bear expedition tour out to Churchill, Manitoba. Natural Habitat Adventures has a packed itinerary that includes a chartered flight to Churchill from Winnipeg, heavy parkas, transportation i their custom Polar Rovers, and dog sledding. They also offer a special women-only departure. 

Churchill Wild offers walking tours to see the polar bears, and you’ll stay in a remote luxury ecolodge. Be warned, these trips start at $16,000 CAD per person! 

16. Northwest Passage Arctic Cruise

Take an adventure on the northwest passage with an arctic cruise. Adventure Canada offers a 17-day cruise that starts in Nunavut, the Canadian territory that takes up most of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. This small expedition cruise navigates through the northwest passage, stopping for wildlife views, a historical expedition site, archeological sites, immersive experiences with Inuit, and hiking. You’ll view the northern lights like never before, so make sure your camera is ready! It ends in Greeland, where you can fly nonstop to Toronto and connect to your home airport. 

Best Time to Go to Canada

Canada’s prime tourism season is summer, when temperatures are warm enough for outdoor adventures in the rugged countryside (this means the more popular destinations will be bustling with tourists). Canadian winters can be long and arduous, but skiers, of course, will want to head to the mountains when local temperatures drop and snow blankets the slopes. Fall in Canada is leaf-peeping time. Cruises along the Canadian coast, mountain hikes and train trips through the countryside are excellent ways to catch autumn colors. Spring rains often bring tons of mud to Canadian national parks, but this season is a great time to find local travel deals.

Canada on a Budget

Overall, Canada is a budget-friendly destination for the U.S. traveler due to proximity and a generally favorable exchange rate. Snag the best prices on hotel stays, tours ,and transportation — while avoiding frigid winter temperatures — by traveling during the spring or fall shoulder seasons (spring prices are likely to drop a bit lower than fall ones). To save money on restaurant meals, rent a house or apartment where you can cook for yourself. Traveling in the spring or fall will help save money, but keep in mind, everything may not be open, as many attractions and events operate seasonally, especially outside of major cities.

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