Best Places To Visit In Canada

10. Barclay Mall, Calgary

Barclay Mall is a long street running through Calgary that has many exciting sites along it. For example, Eau Claire Market has many shops and restaurants on normal days and it also hosts events on special occasions. During fruit picking seasons, fresh fruit is available for sale at the market as well. The main shopping center is called the Core, which spans three city blocks and has 160 stores on four levels. A unique part of the center are the Devonian Gardens. This botanical garden is on the top floor of the building and it is the length of an entire city block. There are hundreds of trees as well as a koi pond and beautiful vegetation all in an indoor space. Visiting Barclay Mall is a must when going to Canada.

9. Rideau Canal, Ottawa

The Rideau Canal is the largest naturally frozen skating rink in the world which visitors can enjoy this attraction once it freezes over, which is usually between the months of January or February. The exact dates vary every year depending on the weather. The skate way is 4.8 miles long and goes from downtown to Dows Lake. This is a free attraction as long as you have your own skates but, if not, the two entrances have places to rent them. There are also huts selling food and hot drinks along the canal since the weather tends to be very cold (dropping down to -40 Celcius is not unheard or or even uncommon). In the summer, the canal offers a pleasant place to take a stroll.

8. Niagara Falls, Ontario

The city of Niagara Falls is located across the border from Niagara Falls, New York. The waterfall is on both the American and Canadian sides, although the falls on the Canadian side carry nine times more water. The boat tour under the falls is a great way to get a close-up view of this natural wonder and they provide waterproof gear for the passengers because there is a constant mist spraying up from the falls. In the summer, there are also weekly fireworks displays on the weekends to attract more visitors in the evening. The casino in the city of Niagara Falls, as well as attractions such as the waterpark and aviary make it an exciting destination for people of all ages.

7. Cowichan Valley Vineyards, British Columbia

The Cowichan Valley is located on Vancouver Island nestled between the Salish Sea and a string of Mountains. This creates the perfect environment for brewing Pinot Gris, Ortega, and Pinot Noir. The dry white wines are the most renowned in the region but the vineyards serve a variety of wines to their customers. The beautiful scenery also attracts many cyclists and many tourists take bicycling tours to visit a few vineyards that are located in close proximity to one another. A Cowichan special is the port-style blackberry wine and there are many high end restaurants to enjoy a meal after touring the vineyards. The highest concentration of restaurants is in Chemainus and Cowichan Bay, but there are many outdoor markets to buy your own food as well. A few notable vineyards include Cherry Point Estate Wines and Unsworth Vineyards.

6. Blackcomb Mountain

Whistler is a well-known skiing destination located about two hours away from Vancouver. The town of Whistler is tailored to those who are ready to conquer the mountains right at their doorstep. During the summer, the mountain is accessible to hikers with trails from 1 hour to full day excursions. The most popular trail is the Decker Loop - a 7.1 km hike that takes about 3-4 hours. The Decker Loop passes by the Overlord Glacier as well as a glacial alpine lake. The ski and snowboard season runs from November-May and there are over 200 trails covering the two mountains. Furthermore, there is a gondola that takes visitors from the Blackcomb Peak to the Whistler Peak. This ride gives tourists a beautiful view of the natural landscape below.

5. Battlefields Park, Quebec City

Battlefields Park was established in 1908 in honor of the Battle of the Plains of Abraham. In 1759, French and British armies clashed at the Plains of Abraham and a year later they met again at the Battle of Sainte-Foy. The second battle is honored by a section of the park called Des Braves Park. The park includes many walking trails, historical artillery pieces, and outdoor events are held there as well. For example, the park hosts many concerts and festivals during the summer. Historical sights include the four Martello Towers, built in 1812 by James Craig. The towers were never actually tested in battle and one of them was demolished in the 1900s. However, the other three remain standing and one of the towers is open to visitors during the summer.

4. Toronto Islands, Toronto

The Toronto Islands are located south of downtown Toronto and can be accessed by just a short ferry ride. The islands are about 5 kilometers long and are connected by a series of pathways and bridges. For younger children, the Centreville Amusement Park has rides as well as a small zoo. This amusement park is located on Centre Island, which is only a 10-15 minute ferry ride from the main land. This island also has picnic and barbecue areas as well as a beach. To the west, is Hanlan's Point which has a large expanse of green area as well as a beach and tennis courts. To the east of Centre Island, lies Ward's Island, which is the residential area. For tourists, there is also a beach on this part of the island.

3. Sunshine Village, Banff

Sunshine Village is a ski and snowboard resort in the winter, as well as a hiking getaway during the summer. It is located within Banff National Park in the Rockies, about an hour and a half drive from Calgary. The three mountains in the resort, Mount Sandish, Goat's Eye Mountains, and Lookout Mountain, have nine chair lifts and over 120 trails. The annual snowfall is up to thirty feet and the season starts in November and ends in May.

2. Vieux-Montréal

French settlers first landed in the area that is now Montreal in 1642. The town, first named Ville-Marie, grew into a booming city by the time of the industrial revolution. The area was declared a historic district in 1964 and some of the buildings date back to the 17th century. There are many restaurants and cafes in the area as well as activities such as street performers in the summer and a Christmas Village in the winter. Vieux-Montreal is bordered by the St. Lawrence River with the port within walking distance.

1. Stanley Park

Stanley Park is a peaceful oasis from the busy city of Vancouver. It has 400-hectares of west coast rainforests with over 27 kilometers of forest trails and many other attractions. The park is home to the Vancouver Aquarium - Canada's largest aquarium with over 70,000 sea creatures. There are also a string of beaches but the only one accessible for swimming is the Third Beach. For an interesting cultural experience, Brockton Point has a famous totem pole display. The Stanley Park Miniature Railway offers visitors a fun way to view some of the park. It weaves through over 2 kilometers of natural scenery and it is open all summer as well as on special occasions such as Halloween.