Things to Do in Canada

The stunning, 95-mile long Strait of Juan de Fuca is divided distinctly in half; the international border between Vancouver Island, in British Columbia, Canada, and the Olympic Peninsula in Washington State, USA, is drawn down its center.

In 2008, Chemainus First Nation in Canada proposed the name be changed to Salish Sea. Initially met with a positive public response, the request went through a lengthy bureaucratic process that involved different government departments in both the USA and Canada. Eventually, it was decided the Strait of Juan de Fuca would keep its name; however, the Salish Sea would be used to describe the entire area, which stretches from Desolation Sound south through the Strait of Georgia and Puget Sound to Hammersley Inlet.

As the Fraser River’s largest tributary, the Thompson River is the adrenaline vein of south central British Columbia. Beginning within the town of Kamloops, where the North Thompson and South Thompson rivers flow west into Kamloops Lake, the river continues for nearly 300 miles until it meets with the flowing Fraser. Within the city limits of Kamloops, tubing, canoeing, and floating the river are popular summer pursuits, where the calm conditions and cool waters make for leisurely, long summer days. Farther down the river, however, between the towns of Ashcroft and Lytton, the river descends steeply into a canyon and froths with whitewater and rapids. This is the heart of rafting country in south central British Columbia, where seemingly every type of whitewater watercraft is splashing through roiling rapids. Grab a paddle and help navigate your group through the scenic, steep-walled canyon, or hang on tight on a powered raft while attempting to not fall in. Aside from the rafting, tubing, and sightseeing, the fishing along the Thompson River also borders on legendary. Anglers converge on Spences Bridge for summer runs of salmon, and the steelhead fishing throughout the fall is some of Canada’s best.  

A foodie paradise, this long-running farmers market occupies the historic South Market House building, which previously served as Toronto’s city hall and jail. Since 1803, residents and visitors have come here to meet, eat, and shop for food items ranging from Prince Edward Island oysters to peameal bacon to Montreal-style bagels. 

St. Lawrence Market is heaven for hungry travelers, with many visitors stopping by during food tours of Toronto. It’s also a common stop on beer tours and walking tours around Old Town Toronto, as well as on haunted tours, thanks to reports of ghost sightings in and around the market area. 

In addition to the 50 or so food vendors on the lower level, the market also features the Market Gallery on the second floor. Set within the former council chamber, the gallery displays temporary exhibits covering local history and culture. The nearby North Market hosts a farmers market on Saturdays, beginning at 5am, and an antiques market on Sundays. 

The nearest subway stop to the St. Lawrence Market is Union Station, which is about a 10-minute walk away. Alternatively, you can take the King streetcar. Get off at Jarvis and walk one block to the south. 

St. Lawrence Market is open Tuesday to Saturday. On Saturdays, particularly during the summer, the market is usually thronged, especially at lunchtime and during the afternoon. Arrive early in the day to beat the crowds. During the lead-up to Christmas, the market offers an assortment of festive specialties. 

While there is no shortage of good food at St. Lawrence Market, there are some only-in-Canada specialties that locals and visitors rave about. The Carousel Bakery, for example, sells the popular peameal bacon sandwich, which consists simply of a kaiser roll, topped with peameal bacon and mustard. St. Urbain Bagels, meanwhile, are credited with introducing Montreal-style bagels to Toronto. The bagels here are dipped in honey water before being cooked over a wood fire. 

The Squamish Adventure Centre is a one-stop shop for visitors looking to get out and explore the Outdoor Recreation Capital of Canada with the help of a local guide or experience. It was built collaboratively, giving the various activities equal exposure, whether its guided hikes, rock climbing lessons or mountain bike adventures.

Alongside the visitor information area are multiple businesses that help turn the Squamish Adventure Centre into a meeting place. Quality coffee and delicious baked goods are served up at Caffe Garibaldi, local artwork and Squamish-branded clothing are for sale at the aptly named Squamish Store and a 38-seat theater rotates mountain-themed films. There are also onsite, stand-up paddleboard and bike rentals, as well as a children’s play area. 

At the base of the Château Frontenac, Quebec City’s Terrasse Dufferin promenade looks out across the St Lawrence River from its clifftop perch atop Cap Diamant. Named after Lord Dufferin, who was Canada’s governor between 1872 and 1878, come in summertime when green and white-topped gazebos fill the 425-meter-long boardwalk and street performers entertain. Time your visit for the early evening, and you’ll also get to see the sun set over the Laurentian Mountains to the north. In winter, Dufferin Terrasse is especially popular for its Les Glissades de la Terrasse toboggan run, which wooshes people up to 60 mph down an 82-meter slide.

Just underneath Terrasse Dufferin, by the statue of Samuel de Champlain, you can visit the archaeological site of Champlain’s second fort which dates back to 1620. The residence and base of power for French, and later British, governors for over two centuries, excavations from the 17th-century fort and surrounding chateaus between 2005-2007 have revealed plenty of wine bottles, giving an insight into the hedonistic lifestyles of some of Quebec’s first governors. 

Just above Terrasse Dufferin, Jardin des Gouverneurs is another popular visit. In the center of the lawn, look out for the 50-foot-tall Wolfe-Montcalm Monument which commemorates the 1759 Battle of the Plains of Abraham.

Your visit to the natural wonder that is Niagara Falls begins at the Table Rock Welcome Centre. Here you’ll learn how to make the most of your time at the falls, plus you can buy tickets for some area attractions if you didn’t book a tour in advance. The complex has viewing platforms, restaurants, shops, and attractions.

Located on the Canadian side of Niagara Falls, Table Rock’s viewing platforms offer arguably the best views of the thundering Horseshoe Falls, other than being in a boat beside them. In the center of the entertainment and retail complex is Niagara’s Fury—a multisensory 4-D experience that re-creates the creation of the falls. The entry to Journey Behind the Falls, which takes you underground and literally behind the falls, is here as well.

Most Niagara Falls tours, whether half-day trips from Niagara Falls itself or full-day excursions from Toronto, stop at Table Rock.

Table Rock Welcome Centre is next to Horseshoe Falls, on the Canadian side of Niagara Falls. If not arriving with a tour, you can take the shuttle from Clifton Hill or park in the paid lot across the street from the complex.

Businesses at Table Rock are open year-round except for Christmas Day. Peak season at Niagara Falls is summer, particularly July and August, when the falls are at their fullest and the weather is typically lovely—yet the attractions are quite crowded. Consider a visit after 5pm, or in spring or autumn when the throngs are thinner; winter is generally quiet and lovely, though very cold.

The original Table Rock was a large, flat rock that jutted out over Horseshoe Falls and was used as a viewing platform until the early 1900s. A series of rock slides chipped away at the rock; the biggest of these saw a man and his carriage swept over the falls in 1850—and he lived to tell about it! In 1935 the remainder of the rock shelf was destroyed over safety concerns.

The Banff Gondola is a popular way to get to the top of Sulphur Mountain, as the ride takes just eight minutes instead of a two- or three-hour hike to the top. At the upper summit are two restaurants, as well as a gift shop and plenty of viewing decks. Once the gondola drops you off at the summit, it’s worth taking the 0.6-mile trail along the Banff Skywalk to the top of 7,448-foot Sanson's Peak, where a century-old meteorological observatory still stands. Take a peek through the observatory windows for a glance back in time.

Saint Paul Street, located in Montreal’s Old Port, is an historic stretch of cafes, boutiques, galleries, and souvenir shops. Constructed in 1672, Saint Paul is the oldest street in the city and home to a few of its top landmarks, including Bonsecours Market and Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours Chapel.

As a main thoroughfare in Montreal’s historic district, Saint Paul Street is a highlight on most Old Port walking tours, which also often include Place Jacques-Cartier, Notre-Dame Basilica, and the St. Lawrence riverfront. Private tours offer a more flexible alternative, allowing visitors to add a stroll or bite to eat on Saint Paul Street a customized itinerary. 

Saint Paul Street is located in the Old Port neighborhood and is easily accessible using Montreal’s public transit system. The nearest Metro stations are Square-Victoria and Place-d’Armes, or take bus 61 to McGill and Saint Paul, bus 55 to Notre Dame and Saint Sulpice, or bus 68 to Nazareth and William. A BIXI bike share docks is located on the corner of McGill Street and d’Youville Place.

As one of the Old Port’s main attractions, Saint Paul Street is busiest on weekends. Go on a weekday morning for a quieter stroll. From late May to mid September, Saint Paul Street is pedestrian-only between St. Laurent Street and Bonsecours Market.

Nowhere is Montreal’s European atmosphere more evident than at Place Jacques-Cartier, a public square flanked to the south by Saint Paul Street. With its cobblestone streets, artists and buskers, and outdoor eateries, Place Jacques-Cartier is a popular destination for visitors and locals alike. During the summer, the square is pedestrian-only.

Sunwapta Falls are a set of Class 6 waterfalls that originate from the Athabasca Glacier and the Sunwapta River in Jasper National Park, Alberta. The falls are easily accessible by car during the summer months, located a short drive off the Icefields Parkway that connects Banff and Jasper National parks.

Sunwapta is a Stoney (Assiniboine) word meaning “turbulent water.” Over time as the Sunwapta River changed its course, a deep gorge was caused in the limestone rocks. Today, the two sets of falls that make up Sunwapta Falls are over 75 feet tall. They have a total drop of 60 feet (18 meters) and a width of 30 feet (9 meters). The upper waterfall flows through a narrow canyon and drops into three lower falls. The waterfalls are at their peak in late spring and early summer when glacial melt is at its highest, and in the winter, you can ice climb, snowshoe, and admire the ice formations created by the falls.

Fire and ice bring plenty of contrast to the Stanley Glacier hike in Kootenay National Park. A major forest fire struck the area in 2003, creating quite the renewed ecosystem. The recovering lodge pole pine forest is littered with colorful wildflowers, which grow abundantly because of the newly fertilized soils caused by the fire. Further up the trail, the forest diminishes as hikers enter the Stanley Basin. Views of the glacier are spectacular from here; however, hikers must scramble uphill, over large boulders, for another kilometer to see the toe of the glacier.

The hike also traverses a thin portion of the Burgess Shale, which is a 505-million-year-old sea bed preserved on the western slopes of the Canadian Rocky Mountains. Joining a seven-hour, 12-kilometer Parks Canada interpretive hike is the best way to take in close-up views of the Stanley Glacier, while also discovering trilobites, hyolithids, brachiopods, sponges and algaes fossils that go missed by the unobservant hiker. These hikes are popular and reservations must be made in advance. 

Saint Joseph’s Oratory of Mount Royal, located in Montreal’s Westmount neighborhood, is Canada’s largest church and a registered National Historic Site. Started as a small chapel in 1904, the Roman Catholic basilica has grown to contain a cryptic church, a museum, gardens, a 56-bell carillon, and one of the largest church domes in the world.

As one of Montreal’s top landmarks, Saint Joseph’s Oratory is a stop on most hop-on hop-off bus routes, which is a convenient way to explore without the hassle of navigating on their own. Since the oratory is off the beaten path, city tours that provide coach transportation typically include a stop or drive-by viewing. You can also opt for a private tour, which will allow you to tack on an oratory visit to a customized itinerary.

Located just 2.4 miles (4 kilometers) from Downtown, Saint Joseph’s Oratory is easily accessible using Montreal’s public transit system. The nearest transit stops are the Côte-des-Neiges metro station on the blue 5 line, Oratoire Saint-Joseph on bus 166, and Victoria and No 4811 on bus 124. If traveling by car, drive north on Côte-des-Neiges Road and turn left on Queen Mary Road. Visitor parking is available for $5 per vehicle.

A place of Roman Catholic worship, the oratory is busiest on Sundays. Go on a weekday for a quieter visit. Mass is held in the cryptic church from Monday to Saturday, and in the basilica on Sunday. An annual celebration of Saint Brother André, patron saint of caregivers in Canada, is held throughout the month of August and includes outdoor concerts, recitals, Wednesday sunsets on the terrace, and exhibits on Brother André.

Saint Joseph’s Oratory holds a variety of concerts throughout the year—a local secret often unknown to visitors passing through Montreal. In addition to the Sunday Concert Series that features world-renowned organists from around the globe, the oratory holds frequent carillon recitals, boys’ choir concerts, and sunset performances on the terrace throughout the summer. A full calendar of these events can be found on the oratory's website.

St Paul’s Church is one of the most significant landmarks in Halifax; in fact, the evangelical Anglican Church is the oldest surviving Protestant church in Canada and the oldest building in the city. It was given the Bishop's seat upon completion, making it the first Anglican cathedral outside of Great Britain. Thanks to the presence of a royal pew, the church welcomed dozens of monarchs throughout the centuries, including Queen Elizabeth II, the Duke of Kent, Prince Edward and King Edward VII. Its construction was based on the ground plan of St. Peter's Vere Street in London.

Now a National Historic Site of Canada, St Paul’s Church welcomes hundreds of thousands of visitors every year, especially because of its crypt. It contains the remains of 20 congregants, including Sir John Wentworth, Charles Lawrence, Michael Francklin, Lord Charles Montagu and John Parr, to name a few. The church is located right next to the historic Halifax Old Burying Ground, a famous tourist attraction which serves as eternal resting place to over 12,000 people.

Fed by the Daly Glacier on Waputik Icefield in late spring and summer, the misty falls thunder with icy water that reaches the roaring peak in the afternoons. Be prepared to get wet if you fancy getting up close to the water. Heading to see Takakkaw Falls from Emerald Lake, 12 miles away, makes for a popular day trip, and there are also a few more waterfalls up in the valley for hikers, such as Whiskey Jack Falls.

Vancouver’s Stanley Park enjoys a stellar natural setting, surrounded on three sides by the Pacific Ocean and laid out against the backdrop of the snow-capped North Shore Mountains. At nearly 1,000 acres (405 hectares) in size, it’s a mix of coastal red-cedar forest, lakes and lagoons, and scenic meadows. A walk along the public park’s seawall is an essential part of experiencing Vancouver.

Visitors can see Stanley Park as a part of a Vancouver sightseeing tour, or dive in deeper with a guided tour along its wooded trails. Those interested in history will want to check out the First Nations Interpretive Walking Tour, which explains the local indigenous history and culture. Guided photography tours take a closer look at the beauty of the area’s temperate rain forest, while fans of the outdoors will enjoy the park’s natural beauty—and a verdant escape from the city—along its winding cycling and hiking paths. Families with kids can stop at the Vancouver Aquarium (Canada’s largest) and the Stanley Park Miniature Train, a replica of the Canadian Pacific Railway engine made famous for pulling Canada’s first transcontinental passenger train into Vancouver in the late 1880s.

Stanley Park is located at the west end of downtown Vancouver. The park’s information booth is near the Georgia Street entrance, along the seawall. Walking and cycling paths lead from downtown to the peninsula where the park is located. The TransLink #19 bus and Skytrain are public transport options, or you can park your car easily using a daily parking pass.

The park is open year-round; March to November bring the mildest weather, and it can get quite cold in the winter. To have the park (relatively) to yourself, the best times to visit are typically early morning and mid- to late afternoon.

Certainly one of the best views in Stanley Park is from the seawall looking back at the Vancouver skyline and Coal Harbour. For natural beauty, it’s tough to beat the views of the surrounding mountains, but the rose garden and beaches come close. There’s also the wildlife, including bald eagles, beavers, and birds. Culturally, the First Nations art and totem poles are a must. Other scenic spots worth seeing include the Lost Lagoon, Hollow Tree, and Beaver Lake.

These natural hot springs are filled with mineral water at 47 degrees Celsius, providing a warm welcome to relax in the beautiful Whitehouse wilderness. The hot pools emanate a warm fog into the often chilly air, beckoning for a dip. Two slightly different temperatures are kept, allowing for both a hotter and a cooler side of the springs.

Outside of a soak in the hot springs, there are 300 acres of scenic natural beauty surrounding, with hiking and biking trails in the summer and cross-country skiing and snowshoeing in the winter. In operation for more than 100 years, it’s one of the most visited sites in the Yukon.

Moose, lynx, elk, mountain goats, and more are often seen in the wilderness nearby. It is even possible to view the Northern Lights from the pools. Many combine a day in the wilderness with an evening soak in the hot springs.

A small recreation area in Toronto on the shore of Lake Ontario, Sugar Beach is not the place for a dip as swimming is prohibited. Its sandy shores are just fine for relaxing on a sunny day under the shade of a pink patio umbrella. Visitors have views of cargo ships and the Redpath Sugar Refinery, which inspired the name.

   

Muskoka (Adirondack) chairs and umbrellas available for public use are scattered across the white sand of Sugar Beach. Though you can’t swim in the water, the beach is a nice place to relax on a sunny day. There is also a splash pad with fountains that allow children and adults to cool off in the spray. The beach, created by the city of Toronto in 2010, is a popular spot for sunbathers and families.

Sugar Beach is located on Queens Quay, just south of Lower Jarvis Street on the eastern edge of Jarvis Slip. You can drive there from Gardiner Expressway. Take the Lower Jarvis Street exit to Queens Quay. Parking is available at the beach. You can take the bus to the Dockside Drive at Queens Quay East stop.

Toronto enjoys the most beautiful sunny days in the summer months of June, July, and August. However, on summer weekends at Sugar Beach, you may face crowds jockeying for a chair or a spot underneath one of the umbrellas. If you can go on a weekday, your chance of finding a good spot is better.

One of the key features of Sugar Beach is the oversized granite rocks lining the perimeter of the beach and in the plaza next to Corus Quay. The rocks were brought from a quarry in northern Quebec and were painted with candy stripes to give the park a playful, whimsical feel, complementing the bright pink umbrellas and white beach chairs.

Located in the heart of downtown and a hub for the city’s Chinese-Canadian community, Chinatown is a bustling neighborhood lined with an appealing range of small businesses. Visitors and Toronto residents flock here to dine at the area’s popular eateries and shop for produce and imported specialty items at corner grocers.

Chinatown is within walking distance of Toronto’s downtown landmarks. As such, walking tours often include a stop here for a historical overview of Chinese immigration to Toronto. Private tours offer the option to add Chinatown to a fully customized itinerary. For an experience that focuses solely on the area's gourmet eateries, food tours visit hidden gems and establishments loved by locals, from Cantonese bakeries to Hong Kong–style dim sum restaurants.

Chinatown is located in Downtown Toronto and is easily accessible using the city’s comprehensive transit system. To reach Chinatown, take streetcar 510 to Spadina Avenue and Dundas Street West or streetcar 501 to Queen Street West and Spadina Avenue. Bus 505 stops at Spadina Avenue and Dundas Street West, the closest stop to Chinatown.

Chinatown is busiest during typical lunch and dinner hours—go during these peaks to get a feel for the neighborhood’s atmosphere. To beat the crowds and enjoy a quieter experience, stroll through just as the shops open, around 9am–10am. A Chinese New Year festival (February) and a summer Chinatown Festival are held annually, offering a range of food vendors, cultural performances, and public-art displays.

Located on the fifth floor of the Dragon City Shopping Mall, in the heart of Chinatown, Sky Dragon is a hidden gem with a cityscape view. The dim sum restaurant, open daily, uses Hong Kong–style cart service to offer guests steamed treats. While you dine, look out onto Spadina Avenue and beyond for city views rarely seen by visitors.