Canada is a large country with many marquee attractions, and you may well be familiar with heavy hitters like the CN Tower, Banff National Park, the Victoria Harbour and Cape Breton Island. But there’s a lot more to see and do in Canada for those willing to go off the beaten track. These 30 attractions offer a different and deeper exploration of what Canada has to offer.
Located on the far northeastern end of Newfoundland, the journey to this ancient site is a bit of a trek, but those that make the effort are wowed by its extraordinary history. This is where archaeologists found sound evidence that Norse explorers (perhaps even Leif Erikson himself) landed in North America, leaving remnants of a Viking encampment that predates Columbus. Visitors will find recreations of the settlement’s sod houses as well as original Viking artefacts.
Quebec’s Charlevoix region is a recreational area at the widening of the St Lawrence River that’s popular with weekenders from Quebec City, but is less well-known outside the province. Charlevoix’s commercial centre Baie-Saint-Paul is a jewel of a town, with a quaint main street full of cute shops and a disproportionate number of art galleries. Charlevoix also produces some of Canada’s best cheese, which can be sampled at the town’s many independent restaurants.
British Columbia’s Okanagan Valley gets a good deal of fanfare for its dreamy lakes and booming wine country, but the quieter Similkameen Valley to the southwest of Okanagan Lake should not be overlooked. The arid climate makes this one of the warmest parts of the country, resulting in acres of orchards and vineyards serving the fruit stands and wineries around the town of Keremeos. Further east, the town of Princeton is full of interesting bronze sculptures to examine.
One of Nova Scotia’s most diverse parks, Kejimkujik isn’t as dramatic or colourful as coastal sites like Peggy’s Cove and Lunenburg, but it does offer a breathtaking slice of East Coast beauty. The park is split into two parts: an inland area made up of wild old-growth forest and a coastal portion 62 miles (100km) away on the seashore. Both are set on the traditional lands of the Mi’kmaq peoples and both are worth a look, but the seaside section is particularly worthwhile for its white sand beaches and sea life-filled bogs.
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Alberta is rich with First Nations historic sites, with both Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump and Writing-on-Stone Provincial Park earning UNESCO World Heritage Site designation, but this attraction east of Calgary is also incredibly important to the story of Western Canada’s Indigenous peoples. It sits on the site of the signing of Treaty 7 (an 1877 territorial agreement between First Nations leaders and the British government) and now boasts a modern interpretive centre with a museum depicting the history and culture of the Siksika Nation.
Toronto is full of bright and shiny modern attractions that make this old castle feel a bit quaint, but Casa Loma remains an intriguing glimpse into the city’s history. Constructed in 1914, the castle sits just north of downtown Toronto and was the largest private residence in Canada when it was built, though it is now owned by the city and operated as a tourist attraction and events space. These days, visitors can explore the castle’s classic architecture and browse exhibits about its founder Sir Henry Pellatt and his family.
Vancouver Island is a lot bigger than many people think. Most visitors head to the city of Victoria on the southeast tip and the wildly popular area around Tofino on the west coast, and that leaves a lot of the island underexplored. The Malahat Skywalk, located near the agriculture-rich Cowichan Valley, is a relatively new attraction that gives visitors a bird's eye view of the island. Climb to the top, enjoy the view and then feel the thrill of sliding down a tube back to the bottom.
Whitehorse is by far the best-known city in Yukon Territory, but Dawson City is also a compelling place, thanks to its connection with the gold rush of the late 1800s. The best place to dig into that history is at this local museum, located in a restored venue that was once the city's main administrative building. The museum is packed with authentic archival material detailing the history of the city and the rugged folks that tried to make their fortune in the wild northwest.
Lighthouses are the ultimate symbol of Canada’s maritime provinces. The most famous one in the country is the tower at Peggy’s Cove in Nova Scotia, but there are plenty of other pretty lighthouses on Canada's east coast. This little square tapered beauty with its signature stripes is a particularly pleasant specimen on a relatively remote part of the island. While there, be sure to take a walk around the nearby Cedar Dunes Provincial Park.
Most Canadians never get the chance to explore the wildernesses of the Northwest Territories simply because the area is so, so remote. True nature lovers shouldn't miss this pristine national park with its spectacular landscape carved over millennia by the Nahanni River, including a dramatic waterfall that's twice the height of Niagara Falls. Continental shift accounts for the jagged mountains and awesome granite spires that give this park a sense of otherworldly wonder.
Located off the northeastern shore of Newfoundland, the fishing village of Twillingate is not easy to get to, even though there's a causeway linking it to the mainland. Once visitors arrive they’ll be treated to old-fashioned East Coast hospitality and stunning edge-of-the-world views. Twillingate is nicknamed the 'iceberg capital of the world', and iceberg spotting is its main attraction, with boat tours widely available. There’s also a museum and plenty of local arts and crafts to enjoy.
Ontario’s main cities of Ottawa and Toronto both get a lot of visitors, but the rest of the province rarely gets its due. Billed as one of the largest living museums in North America, Fort William Historical Park is worth taking a road trip to visit. Once an inland HQ for the historic North West Company, Fort William was an important post in the fur trade of the 1800s. Today it serves to educate visitors on settler and Anishinaabe history.
The history of ceramics might not sound that exciting, but this arts hub in eastern Alberta is a surprising gem. In the early 1900s the small Alberta city of Medicine Hat was a major manufacturer of pottery that was so bustling the city still has a historic clay district. The most famous of Medicine Hat’s pottery manufacturers was Medalta, the largest producer of Canadian stoneware in the early 20th Century. Today, the old Medalta plant is a historic site and museum.
Since the city of Winnipeg has the distinction of hosting the much-visited Canadian Museum For Human Rights, the other museums in the city tend to be overshadowed, including this award-winning centre for heritage and science learning. A series of unique three-dimensional walk-through galleries tell the history of Manitoba (dating back millions of years), detailing the complexity of the land and its people. There’s also a planetarium on site.
With so much spectacular nature in British Columbia it’s hard to stay on top of every hiking and biking trail, but the Kettle Valley Rail Trail deserves some special attention. Set along the decommissioned Kettle Valley Railway that was built in 1915, the trail consists of 400 miles (650km) of connected pathways for cycling and walking. One of the best segments is the Myra Canyon stretch just south of the city of Kelowna, featuring 18 thrilling wooden trestle bridges and two tunnels.
Ironically, the name of this site and its lighthouse literally means 'Fame Point' (originally a misinterpretation of the French word 'faim', or hunger, in reference to the sailors shipwrecked on its shores), but its out-of-the-way location on the Gaspe Peninsula means that most people aren't even aware that it exists. The current lighthouse was built in 1907, then moved in 1977 so people could visit it in Quebec City, but it’s since been returned to its original location.
This well-curated little museum on the campus of the University of British Columbia usually flies under the radar, even though it showcases an invaluable collection of totem poles and Haida artefacts – all with an eye on representing BC’s Indigenous history respectfully and equitably. There's also a host of items from various other cultures around the world, all housed within a building that is a work of art itself.
For obvious reasons, Canada's lighthouses tend to be found around the coast, but this obscure beacon sits in a completely land-locked province. The lighthouse, which was built in 1988, offers beautiful lakeside views from its position on Pirot Hill at 1,867 feet (569m) above sea level, overlooking Jackfish and Murray Lakes. The site is near the town of Cochin, a resort village in the western part of the province.
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Quebec is widely known for its cheeses and its churches, and the best way to experience both is to leave the busy cities of Montreal and Quebec City and explore the province’s vast countryside. Church and cheese come together in the village of Sainte-Elizabeth-de-Warwick northeast of Montreal at the Fromagerie du Presbytère, an adorable chapel now used to age award-winning Quebec cheese. The family that manages the fromagerie also runs a dairy across the road to ensure quality.
Sable Island is remote – so remote that visitors can only access it by air or by sea, on a private vessel or through a plane or helicopter tour. The crescent-shaped island sits 109 miles (175km) from mainland Nova Scotia and acts as a refuge for some 500 wild horses that are thought to have been introduced in the 1730s. Wholly isolated and ruggedly beautiful, the beach-lined island is also home to the world’s largest breeding colony of grey seals.
This small town in southern Alberta wasn’t named for Mr Spock (Star Trek didn’t exist when it was founded in the 1910s), but the sleepy community has started capitalising on its name in recent decades and has developed a niche tourism industry. Star Trek fans come to visit a replica of the Starship Enterprise as well as the Trek Station tourism centre. The late Leonard Nimoy even visited Vulcan in 2010 when it was designated the official Star Trek capital of Canada.
Among the best-kept secrets in a province that feels like a well-kept secret itself, Grand Falls Gorge is a striking natural feature in northwest New Brunswick. Nature lovers can walk the mile-long (1.6km) trail along the edge of the gorge and thrill-seekers can get an even better view by zip-lining across it. A 400-step staircase leads down into the canyon for an even better vantage point.
Most people don’t think of the small city of Saskatoon as a major centre for modern art, but the city’s Remai Modern is a feast for the artistic senses. Set along the banks of the South Saskatchewan River, the boldly designed gallery holds over 8,000 works in its collection and regularly hosts thought-provoking exhibitions, talks and events. Visitors can see everything from contemporary Metis art to ceramics by Pablo Picasso, plus experimental video installations and shows from local artists.
The Bata shoe company was founded in what is now the Czech Republic and is headquartered in Switzerland, so it’s surprising that there’s a museum in downtown Toronto founded by the Bata family. The museum is a celebration of all things footwear, with over 1,000 shoes and other artefacts on display, all from a collection of over 15,000. See everything from preserved shoes worn by Queen Victoria to Inuit seal skin boots.
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One of the largest islands in the world, Baffin Island is easy to spot on a globe, but its far-north location can make it challenging to reach. The island’s Auyuittuq National Park offers a prime view of Canada’s incredible north, with untouched swathes of ancient rock formations and stunning fjords. Visiting features like the Akshayuk Pass is a dream for any adventurer or mountaineer lucky enough to make it to this wild wonderland.
Golden, a mountain town just west of the Alberta-BC border, has historically been seen as little more than a pit stop between Calgary and Vancouver, but the development of the Kicking Horse ski resort has turned it into a popular winter destination. In the summer visitors can take in the new Golden Skybridge attraction, featuring Canada’s highest suspension bridge. Brave souls can walk 426 feet (130m) above a canyon, whizz down a pulse-pounding zipline or try their hand at axe throwing.
Those seeking cowboy culture often wait for the Calgary Stampede, but the real Western action is down at Bar U Ranch near Longview, Alberta. The site was founded in the 1800s and was a working ranch for decades. It’s now an interpretive site run by Parks Canada where visitors can learn about old-school farming and ranching practices. There's a real 'home on the range' vibe, with a cookhouse, a First Nations tipi village plus other historic experiences.
Wakefield is a small town in Quebec just across the river from Ottawa, and its proximity to the capital and history as an English settlement sets it apart from most of the French-speaking province. The town’s claim to fame is its charming covered bridge, a sprawling classic red wooden structure that spans the Gatineau River and can only be crossed by foot. The town is also home to the Wakefield Mill Inn and Spa, a luxury spot to get pampered in the heart of central Canada.
Indigenous peoples lived throughout Canada long before settlers landed, so the country is filled with sacred sites of varying cultural importance. The Agawa Rock pictographs can be found in Lake Superior Provincial Park – these are red-ochre rock paintings created by Ojibwe artists several centuries ago. The paintings are a little bit out of the way – tourists can access the park near Sault Ste Marie and then take a short hike to the site.
Canada has some massive amusement parks, but for those seeking something slightly slower paced, Sandspit in PEI fits the bill. The classic midway features 15 amusement rides including the whopping Cyclone roller coaster, bumper boats and a picture-perfect Ferris wheel. Old-fashioned carnival games are also on offer, as well as mini-golf and other wholesome family fun, all presented in a pretty island setting.
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