When most people think about travel, they picture hopping on a plane to somewhere far away, and I get it, because that’s usually what I like to do. I’ve been to 26 countries; all over the Caribbean and Latin America, Europe, and Asia and I’m always looking for a new place to go. But over the last year, we’ve been spending more time travelling withing Canada and exploring our own country, and surprisingly, we’ve had some amazing trips.
Last spring break we went to Toronto and Niagara Falls, then this past summer we did a bigger trip through Ottawa, Mont-Tremblant, Montréal, Québec City and all the way out to Tadoussac to see the whales. Every stop on this trip felt completely different from the last. And with another baby on the way, our next trip will be within Canada again, likely to Alberta to visit Calgary and Banff. So, even though my preference is travelling to the Caribbean or abroad, travelling within Canada has its perks. It deserves more credit as a travel destination, for both Canadians who might be overlooking what’s in their own backyard and for international travellers thinking about coming here. Because Canada is full of natural beauty; you have two beautiful coasts on the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans, one of the world’s largest and most powerful waterfalls, an enormous Rocky Mountain range with some of the world’s tallest mountains and bluest lakes, tons of wildlife, winter sports, two-official languages, multi-culturalism and a few global cities.
The Beauty and Landscapes in Canada
Canada is an enormous country, the second largest by landmass in the world, with an incredible variety of experiences and landscapes.
You have Atlantic Canada on the east with rugged coastlines, fishing villages and maritime charm. Then you have Québec which feels like Europe with several European-inspired cities, a French speaking population, festivals and amazing night life, beautiful rivers and landscapes too. Of course, in Ontario there are the major cities of Toronto and Ottawa, along with the world-famous Niagara Falls. Then there’s the prairies, where I live, which can look flat and boring to some, but are excellent for anyone who enjoys cabin life and fishing. Manitoba is home to over 100,000 lakes and has some excellent fishing. There is also a ton of greenspace and large open spaces, with some of the best sunsets in the country. Then across Alberta and British Columbia you have the towering Rocky Mountains that rise more than 4000 m. And in British Columbia there are also rainforests and the beautiful coastlines of the Pacific Ocean. And for something different, you can go up north to the Arctic. In Manitoba you can go to Churchill to see Polar Bears and the Hudson’s Bay. Or you can go even further to our 3 territories and see some of the world’s best Northern Lights.
One of the great things about Canada is just how much variety there is. You can spend a vacation exploring large cities, relaxing at a lakeside cabin, driving through mountain passes or discovering remote coastal communities. There really is something for everyone, depending on what kind of travel experience you're looking for.
Exploring Canada: Our Recent Trips
Last Spring Break, we wanted to save money and do a quick and convenient little trip so we headed down to Toronto and Niagara Falls. From Winnipeg, flights were short and direct and cost us $160 per person. It was a nice trip that didn’t require much planning, time or effort. But, it was still a great vacation. We stayed in Downtown Toronto which was a lot of fun and close to all the action. We visited the CN Tower, went to a Toronto Raptors game, did some shopping, and tried out some excellent restaurants. Toronto is a global city with a ton of diversity, so the food scene is amazing.
Only an hour away from Toronto is Niagara Falls, so we rented a car and headed there. On the way, we stopped at the charming Niagara on the Lake, which some consider Canada’s prettiest town. Niagara on the Lake has Canada’s oldest pub, the Olde Angel Inn, which has some wild and interesting history, and dates back to the 1700’s. So, if you know me, you know that’s where we ate lunch. And then in Niagara Falls we viewed the falls from a far and up close where we could feel the power and got soaked from the mist. The falls are massive and the power and beauty of the falls is immense, and it’s no wonder why Niagara Falls are considered one of the most popular waterfalls in the world amongst tourists. And besides the falls, Niagara Falls has Clifton Hill which is a commercial street lined with tons of activities including haunted houses, wax museums, themed restaurants, arcades, rides and a whole bunch of unique and fun attractions. We had a lot of fun spending the evening there.
Our trip to Toronto and Niagara Falls was inexpensive, convenient and an awesome way to spend spring break. For the summer we wanted to go to Europe, but because of planning for another baby, we decided not to risk it and planned a two-week trip travelling across Québec. It’s a good thing we did because Gerlie got pregnant shortly before our trip. And despite being in Canada, the two-week trip felt comparable to a European vacation. We started off in Ottawa, drove to Parc Omega and Mont-Tremblant, then headed to Montréal, Québec City and finally to Tadoussac for whale watching.
This trip was epic; there was history and European-inspired architecture in Montréal and Québec City. The nightlife and food was excellent in both of these cities, along with plenty of activities and things to do. And on our way from Ottawa to Mont-Tremblant, we stopped in Parc Omega to get up close to wildlife, in what is likened to a North American safari. Mont-Tremblant was beautiful and had plenty of activities for thrill seekers and did you know that Canada has some of the world’s best whale watching, along with fjords? We drove to Tadoussac for beautiful scenery, a whale watching cruise and to check out the Saguenay Fjord. It was an epic trip, and one that compares to any trip through Europe.
Upcoming Trip: Alberta
Because we have a baby on the way and don’t want to travel anywhere too far when she’s too young, were planning a trip to Alberta where we’ll visit Calgary and Banff. We’ve been several times before, but there’s nothing like the Rocky Mountains. Calgary is a major city with mountain views and plenty to do. Banff is a town in the Rocky Mountains with Canadian charm, wildlife and plenty of mountainous hikes and crystal blue lakes like Lake Louise and Moraine Lake to explore. There’s also Edmonton, Jasper and Drumheller, but we’ll save those places for another time.
So unlike our usual travel, in just over a year we’ll have travelled three times within Canada, each time exploring major cities with completely different vibes and completely different landscapes. And to top it off, our pockets will be thanking us.
Convenience of Staying in Canada
If like me, you’re a Canadian, then staying in our own country is convenient. Usually, your flights will be direct and a lot cheaper for one. To fly to Toronto, it took us just over 2 hours and costs us $160. To get to Montréal this year, it was a bit more expensive and we had a short layover on the way home, but it cost $500, still much cheaper than flying abroad. So, flight prices are one thing, and you’ll save money other ways. Including on your cell phone: no e-sims or expensive data plans required, just use your own phone as is. And if you decide to rent a car, you can purchase insurance from your home province which is much cheaper than international car rental insurance. Plus, you don’t need to buy travel insurance and worry about any unexpected medical emergencies.
So, for Canadians certain things are cheaper; but that may not always be the case if you’re coming from elsewhere. Although, if you come from the USA, lots of things will be cheaper because of the currency conversion.
There’s also plenty of public transportation including busses, trains, subways (in certain cities), and bicycle lanes. And for me, even though I love travelling to a place where they speak a different language, there’s no doubt that travelling in English speaking countries is much easier for some.
Canada for International Travellers
If you’re an international traveller Canada still has its perks. Like I said, English and public transport. But then there’s some of our unique sites. Rugged coastlines and fishing villages in the Maritimes, world class fishing in the prairies (and believe it or not, many Americans come to Winnipeg to fish for massive Catfish at Lockport), The Rocky Mountains, winter sports like hockey and skiing, Northern Lights and so much more. Canada is unique and travellers from elsewhere will be impressed. And another cool thing is how multi-cultural Canada is, so you will find all sorts of cultures here along with world class cuisine.
Everyone I’ve known who has come to Canada from abroad has loved it. And usually us Canadians and friendly and welcoming and were widely considered a safe country to visit and live in, so you won’t have to worry about that.
Cons of Visiting Canada
The biggest con of travelling to Canada is the times for travelling; unless you’re coming to experience the snowy winters or winter sports, in most of Canada it’s cold from November until March. And if you’re Canadian you can save some money on flights and cell phone data, but Canada isn’t cheap like South America, Asia or Eastern Europe. It isn’t as expensive as western Europe or the luxurious Caribbean islands, but dinner, drinks and transportation get expensive. A decent meal with a couple of drinks will likely cost close to $50 CAD.
Final Thoughts: Don’t overlook Canada
Despite the prices, Canada is an amazing place to travel. Whether you call Canada home, or if it’s been on your bucket list, Canada is an amazing place to visit and somewhere you should consider travelling to in the near future. Beautiful nature, world class waterfalls, historic and global cities, dramatic landscapes, wildlife and safety make Canada one of the best places to visit in the world. When you’re planning your next vacation, don’t overlook Canada.
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