Summer is almost here and many are starting to think about vacation. Where to go, what to do and how to get there are the questions of the day. Here’s a thought: why not try some road tripping throughout the world’s most beautiful country and travel Canada! From the East Coast to the West and everywhere in between, you will find lots of wonderful places to visit and amazing sites to see.
As a child I used to travel to Nova Scotia every summer. My family and I would all jump in the station wagon and make the drive to see my grandparents in Cape Breton. We always drove and this meant camping along the way, taking our time and just enjoying the spoils of a road trip. Other than being with my family, the best part of these yearly road trips was getting to know my home and native land just a little bit better. We would set out from Ontario, drive through Quebec and New Brunswick, landing in Nova Scotia eventually.
My dad was the driver and he always managed to find new and interesting places to stop along the way. My mom’s influence showed up in the more historical places we visited. Check out this list of nine great places you can visit in Canada and get a pen ready. You are going to want to take notes for your vacation planning list.
Strap on your hiking boots and hit the Cabot Trail on Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia. You can spend days traveling along the 300km trail, taking in quaint fishing villages, energetic local music festivals and sampling the best lobster around. You can also take in a foot stomping Cèilidh in the only thriving Celtic culture in North America. They have more fiddles per capita than anywhere else in the world!
Did you know that the world’s longest covered bridge is right here in Canada? The Hartland Bridge can be found in Hartland, New Brunswick and spans the Saint John River. It is a whopping 1,282 feet long! I can’t count how many times we drove over this.
Just outside of Quebec City, Quebec is the beautiful Shrine of Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré. Built over 350 years ago this place of worship attracts close to a million visitors each year, many coming for the healing powers of Saint Anne (the grandmother of Jesus). In fact, as you enter the church you can look upon the pillars in the entryway that are covered in crutches, canes and more. These have all been left by visiting pilgrims who have been touched by Saint Anne’s healing.
The majestic Ottawa River beckons you to come and test it’s waters so suit up! A few years ago my hubby and I spent a weekend camping at the RiverRun Rafting and Wilderness Resort in the Ottawa Valley in Ontario and it was life changing! (Picture me in a wetsuit and you will know why 🙂 ). This white water rafting paradise is an ideal family getaway.
Winnipeg, Manitoba is home to The Winnipeg Mint, where every Canadian circulation coin is produced. We are talking billions of coins every year! It is on my husband’s bucket list to take one of their interactive guided tours. These are available 12 months of the year (road trippin’ in the Canadian winter anyone?) and offer a look at the state-of-the-art facilities.
Saskatchewan offers road trippers a different adventure with their Field to Fork experience. While this province will always be known for it’s wheat many farmers have a wonderful variety of crops certain to please every palate. On this tour you will literally eat your way around several busy towns, sampling farm fresh produce, homemade baked goods, locally raised livestock and so much more.
Banff National Park, located in the Canadian Rockies in Alberta has a bit of everything to offer a vacationer. In the summer you can camp, kayak, hike, take in local festivals and or relax in comfort at the Fairmont Banff Springs Golf Resort. The scenery alone will leave you breathless. Banff will call you back for some winter fun as well (I think I see a new post in the works here 😉 ) with skiing, snow shoeing and dog sledding to start.
During our honeymoon we spent some time in Vancouver, Canada and it was incredible! There is just so much to see and do in this beautiful province. My favourite place to visit was The Butchart Gardens on Vancouver Island. Started in the early 1900’s by Jennie Butchart, The Butchart Gardens grew out of an exhausted limestone quarry. Today it is the home to over a million bedding plants in more than 900 varieties. With activities and events held almost year round, there is more than just pretty flowers to see here.
Nunavut is the youngest territory in Canada and offers “vast expenses of pristine wilderness” to explore. With less than 34,000 people living here, Nunavut is the largest, yet least populated of all of Canada’s provinces and territories. For an authentic Arctic travel experience check out Arctic Kingdom for Backcountry Trips, Wildlife Safaris and more. Check out the weather if you are heading to Nunavut as it can vary, but unlike most Canadian destinations their temps can run on the cool side. 🙂
This is just a sampling of the wonders you will find when you travel Canada. Where will you be road trippin’ this summer?
FT&PD
Suz
A great post, thanks for sharing 🙂 A place I’d love to visit is Cape Breton Island in fact Nova Scotia at all. I’ve been to New Brunswick and actually seen that covered bridge. Vancouver I didn’t see much of but I did of Vancouver Island and BC in general. Of course the Rockies and Banff National Park are close by so I’ve been there a few times too. 🙂
Banff is beautiful, I would love to get to explore that area of Canada more.
Canada is such a beautiful and interesting country, your pictures and thoughts on the different places to visit show that.
I miss Banff, I haven’t been there in almost 5 years (yet I only lived 3 hours away for 6 years). Actually, I have been meaning to write a post about it. I should get on that haha.
I probably couldn’t be paid to go to Nunavut, it’s just too far haha. My #1 destination in the summer is the Okanagan. I love it there!
I have never been to Banff. I have seen Alberta several times for conferences and meeting clients and passing through BUT never have I seen Banff. I need to make that happen. Canada has many beautiful places to see.
I really hope to get a few trips in this summer but man do you have me itching to see more of Canada right now! Such a beautiful country we live in.
all such beautiful locations and I have yet to travel to any of them! I would realllly love to go to The Butchart Gardens on Vancouver Island. Absolutely gorgeous!
Banff and Nunavut….absolutely beautiful places that I hope I can experience someday!
These are all beautiful places! The place I would like to go to again is Banff! Absolutely spectacular!
All these places look amazing ! My big dream is to own an Rv and see Canada from coast to coast , ppl travel all over the place but I dont think there is anywhere more beautiful then our own country !
We do know that when one dries directly o Cape Breton, it is so very hard to leave after only a week or so. However, I also want to mention our beautiful neighbours, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador. I know you could only cover a few, MapleMouseMama, so I did those two for you. Excellent coverage of some Canadian points! Yes we do have a very beautiful and interesting country. Thanks for the reminder! 🙂
So many gorgeous places! Would definitely love to visit the West Coast some day.
We have only been once, but it was wonderful! I would love to go back!
I wish I could take a road trip around Canada. There are so many beautiful places to see. You’re photos are beautiful.
Cape Breton here we come again! Home sweet home or Home is where the Heart is!! Would love to get to the West Coast one day, you never can tell when.
all such beautiful places! something I need to do is travel our Country more! such beautiful locations. would be great to go to Banff National Park
Canada is a beautiful country filled with so much to see. I would love to one day visit Banff, looks stunning
I enjoy the Cabot Trail on Cape Breton Island, Newfoundland is a nice place to visit also.
I would love to travel to Nunavut,my friend goes in to help at the hospital sometimes she is a nurse
Banff is so beautiful! Can’t wait to get there again someday.
So many places we haven’t been yet!
We recently moved from Ontario to the Yukon. We drove from Toronto. So many amazing places along the way. We will be spending most of this summer exploring our new home territory and a bit of Northern BC as well.