Visiting Canada
Canada, a country that is big in size but not many people know all the amazing thing that it has to offer.
Living in Canada for so many years now has given me the opportunity to experience all the amazing things this country has.
There are so many different provinces in Canada to explore and I can not wait to dive into the many adventurous we can do in this beautiful country that I have learned to call home.
Traveling To Canada
Before traveling or visiting Canada, make sure that you have all the papers you need to actually be allowed to enter the country!
You can find all this information over at immigration Canada!
Canada offers a lot of different options that you can utilize to visit Canada depending on your needs.
By finding out exactly what you need to travel to Canada, will make it much easier on you to obtain all the paperwork!
Before we get started on the tips for visiting Canada, we did want you to follow us on Instagram for more tips.
We also wanted to take the opportunity to let you know that we use Affiliate links on some of our blog posts. This means that we could make a commission if you click on an affiliate link and purchase something. Read our full disclosure and blog policy for more information.
Canada’s Capital
Let us begin by talking about the capital of Canada.
This amazing city of Ottawa seems to be quiet at first glance, but there are so many things we can get ourselves into.
Here are just a few ideas of what to do in the city of Ottawa.
Things to do in Ottawa:
1// Parliament Hill
Parliament Hill is a place where representatives from across Canada come to make all major decisions that can affect the lives of their fellow Canadians.
It is also a place where Canadians celebrate most of their activities, festivals and enjoy passing a good time.
Take a tour of the Parliament with your family where you can take beautiful pictures with the Centennial Flame.
In the summertime, there is also yoga on Parliament Hill, another activity you can enjoy with your friends and family.
2// Renting a Canoe on Doe’s Lake
Are you visiting Ottawa with your special someone?
Renting a Canoe or Kayak on Doe’s Lake could be the perfect thing to do on a warm sunny day.
The cost is only $8 person and you get to enjoy the beauty and nature that surrounds you, whiles also putting in a bit of a workout.
3// Visit the Farmers Market
Depending on where you are staying in the city you can visit Ottawa Farmer’s market in different parts of the city.
Lansdowne Park Market is open from 9 am to 3 pm every Sunday, from May 5th to October 27th.
Bryan Park in Westboro is open every Saturday from 9:30 am to 3 pm from May 18th to November 2nd and the Orleans Market every Thursday from 12 pm to 6 pm from May 23rd to October 10th!
You will find the Barrhaven Market opened every Sunday from 10 am to 2 pm from June 02nd to October 13th.
As you can see, they are so many amazing things you can do in Canada’s Capital, Ottawa.
If you are looking for more free things to do in Ottawa, think museums, spending time at the beach in Ottawa and hiking in the Gatineau area!
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Canadian Provinces
Canada is made up of 10 different provinces and each one has something absolutely amazing to offer.
Whether you want to visit the great Niagara Falls of Ontario or the warm springs of Alberta, there is something in Canada to do within each province.
1// Alberta
Alberta is in the western province of Canada!
It has a population of about 4,067,175 and it is known for its rocky mountains and its beautiful lakes!
But what else is there to do in the province of Alberta? Let’s dive in and find out.
Things to do In Alberta Canada
Are you the adventurous type, why not hike up the Rocky Mountains.
It is about a 6-hour hike for ultra-runner, but for the regular people like me, it can take up to 16 hours.
Escape for a day or two in the Hot Springs of Alberta.
Visit Calgary Alberta where you can visit about 5 amazing hot springs in just one day.
The Banff upper hot springs, Radium Hot Springs, Fairmount Hot Springs, Ainsworth Hot Springs Resort and Lussier Hot Springs are all the springs you can visit on your trip to Calgary.
One thing you can’t miss out on is visiting the West Edmonton Mall.
This mall is like no other!
You can spend a whole day there with your kids and tire them out for the day. There is a wave pool, a golf course, and an ice palace.
If I could spend my whole vacation time at this mall, I totally would!
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2// British Columbia
Another Western Province in Canada is British Columbia.
It has a whopping population of over 4.992 million people. It is made up of so many fascinating cities, with so many adventures to uncover.
Things to Do In British Columbia
Stanley Park in Vancouver has so many activities to explore.
In fact, when I went to Vancouver last year, that was one of the first places to visit on my list and we had a blast as a family!
Visit the Vancouver Aquarium, where you can admire over 50,000 species of marine life.
Vancouver is also known to have some of the most beautiful beaches in Canada.
Kitsilano Beach, Wreck Beach and second beach are some of the beautiful beaches you can visit on your trip to Vancouver BC.
If you love the white powdery snow then Whistler BC is where you want to be during the Canadian winter.
One of North America’s largest ski resorts is located in Whistler; it’s called the Whistler Blackcomb Resort.
You don’t have to wait for winter to enjoy this resort!
There is something to do there whichever time of the year you decide to visit Whistler.
If you are visiting British Colombia, hiking is a must!
There are so many parks around to enjoy the beauty of this province. Joffree lakes Provincial Park is just one of the many popular hiking parks in BC.
This park is located near Pemberton and gives access to three different glaciers fed lakes.
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3// Manitoba Canada
Manitoba is a Canadian province bordered by Ontario to the east and Saskatchewan to the west!
It has a population of 1.352 million people and it is known for their Northern polar bear population.
Churchill in Manitoba is commonly known as the polar bear capital.
What is Manitoba known for?
Manitoba is a city that is known for hiking, biking, canoeing, camping, fishing and protecting the wildlife in Canada.
Seems like a province you can never run out of things to do.
Speaking about wildlife in Canada, you can visit Churchill and Wapusk National Park!
Here you can get to see the white polar bears in the months of October and November and the Whales, Birds and Northern lights from the month of late November to Late March.
Another thing Manitoba is famous for are the Northern lights.
Peak view times are between January to March, but the lights are visible for up to 300 nights a year in the northern part of Manitoba.
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4// New Brunswick
New Brunswick is one of Canada’s Eastern Maritime Provinces.
It has a population of over 770, 633 and they are known for their warmest saltwater beaches, the best seafood, the world’s highest tides, and their untouched nature.
There are so many activities you can plan for you and your family when traveling to New Brunswick.
Things to do in New Brunswick
Fundy is known as the Maritimes National treasure.
There are so many activities you can get into at Fundy national park, so if you are the adventurous type get ready for a fulfilling vacation in New Brunswick.
There are hiking trails that bring you through the most beautiful forests.
In the spring and autumn birds watches come to all the different species of birds that the park has to offer.
Boyce farmers market is always a place you want to visit especially if you love fresh fruits and vegetables, or handmade crafts.
Saturday mornings, the market is usually flooded with Fredrickson residents waiting to visit over 250 local vendors for the day.
So start off your day with a fresh croissant and a cup of coffee and head on over to Boyce farmers market.
Who knew white sand beaches exited in Canada, well they do in New Brunswick!
Take the family out for the day and visit Parlee beach north of Moncton New Brunswick.
The waters can go up to 20 degrees Celsius on a hot day.
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5// Newfoundland and Labrador
Newfoundland and Labrador form the most easterly province of Canada.
It has a population of about 525 355 people and is the 9th most populated province in Canada.
It is known for having some of the friendliest people (although technically, Canadians are all friendly ;)!)
A very good friend of mine is from St Johns Newfoundland and I had an opportunity to visit them at their home town!
Things to do In Newfoundland and Labrador
Diving in Newfoundland and Labrador are like a diver’s paradise! It’s like going to swim for buried treasure.
There are about 8000 shipwrecks on the seafloor of Newfoundland and Labrador.
There are also many tour companies that offer wreck diving tours that you can look into while you are in town visiting this gorgeous Canadian province.
Skiing is another adventure you can get into when staying in Newfoundland and Labrador.
There are some areas where you get about 16 ft of fresh powdery snow.
Did you know that Newfoundland and Labrador have the longest ski season in Canada?
They are many ski resorts in this province and if skiing is your dream sport, you can plan your perfect ski vacation in Newfoundland and Labrador.
Marble Mountain, Atlantic Canada’s premier ski resort has the highest ski area.
Whale watching in Newfoundland is another fun activity you can add to your adventure list of things to do in Newfoundland.
The humpback and minke whales usually arrive any time after the middle of May and stay till September depending on how much food is available to them.
The peak season for viewing these amazing creatures are from mid-June to mid-August but can differ slightly from year to year.
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6// Nova Scotia Canada
Nova Scotia is one of Canada’s Eastern Maritime Provinces on the Atlantic.
It has a population of about 959 942 and it is known for its high tides, lobsters, fish, and yummy blueberries.
Things to do in Nova Scotia
Visit the old town of Lunenburg where you will be amazed by the colorful buildings of the town.
Get captivated in the tales of seafaring and rum running.
Being that it is the historical part of Nova Scotia and holds the UNESCO world heritage site, there are so many historical adventures you can get into.
I know everywhere I travel to there is one thing I must get from that place and that is my alcohol!
Take a short tour and take time to visit some Nova Scotia Distilleries. Try a sample of your favorite at each distillery and pick up a bottle of your favorite for your collection.
Outdoor water activities are my favorite, so when I heard about Tidal bore rafting, I knew I wanted to learn more about it.
Because of the rising of the tides at certain times of the day, you could be floating along the river one minute, enjoying the scenic view all around you and the next minute you are caught in a wave roller coaster.
It is both scary and exhilarating at the same time.
Definitely, something you want to try out when visiting Nova Scotia.
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7// Ontario Canada
Ontario is a province in east-central Canada that borders the U.S. and the Great Lakes.
It has a population of over 14.32 million people and it is best known for its capital city Toronto which is Canada’s largest and most popular city.
Things to do in Ontario
Since I live in Ontario this might be my favorite part of the article, just kidding I love all the provinces equally.
So, things to do in Ontario:
I love going to Niagara on the lake, why you may ask? Because I love my wines.
This is one of the things Niagara on the lake is known for.
The many different wineries you can visit while staying in Niagara on the lake are endless, and the best part is that you can book your wine tour so you don’t have to drive.
Toronto, the capital of Ontario has so much to offer but I will just give you a small sample of what can be done.
When visiting Toronto there are certain things you absolutely must do.
Visiting the CN tower is a must, even if you don’t go up, just seeing it from the ground is a site to see.
Learn a little about the culture of the world at the ROM, or take the kids to Ripley’s aquarium for a fulfilled and adventurous day.
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8// Prince Edward Island Canada
Prince Edward Island is one of eastern Canada’s maritime provinces, off New Brunswick and Nova Scotia in the Gulf of St. Lawrence.
It has a population of over 153, 244.
Prince Edward Island is best known for its red sand beaches and its red soil.
Did you know that it is also the smallest province in Canada? Let’s find out what fun and adventurous we can get into on this island in Canada.
Things to do on Prince Edward Island Canada
Being an island in Canada, the first thing I always look for when I hear the word island is beaches, and guess what Prince Edward Island has many of them.
Spend the Day at Cavendish beach, where you can dip your toes in the fresh cool water or lay on the red sand and do some sunbathing.
Check out the Prince Edward Island National Park where you can get into all different types of activities, like camping, Kayaking, hiking and so much more.
The adventures are endless!
This is the perfect park to have the most exciting family vacation in Canada.
While in PEI, take a trip to Avonlea village.
It is known to be one of the main attractions in Cavendish PEI!
It’s a small village that offers a glimpse into Anne of Green Gables with its quaint little shops and restaurants.
So if you are visiting the island of PEI this summer, make this one of your stops, you won’t regret it.
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9// Quebec
Québec is a French-speaking province in eastern Canada with 2 vibrant cities in its south, connected by the Chemin du Roy highway along the Saint Lawrence River.
It has a population of over 8.39 million people.
It is best known for its European feel, its architecture, and many different festivals.
Things to do in Quebec
Canadians love poutine, and where do you find the best poutine you may ask, Montreal of course.
According to the many Google searchers, La Roulette is known to be one of the best poutine restaurants in Montreal.
So, if you are in Montreal and need some cheesy, saucy goodness over some fries, you know where to go.
With every city, you decide to visit, be sure to always taste the different foods in order to fully enjoy the culture!
If you are a foodie like us, then you are not afraid to try out new dishes!
I know I talked a lot about Poutine in Montreal but there is so much more than just that!
On a hot sunny day, if all you want to do is dip your feet in some cool water and have a drink, there is a gorgeous place in Montreal you can go and just relax!
It’s called Old Port of Montreal!
Old Port of Montreal is known to be one of the most beautiful areas of Montreal. It is filled with a lot of fun activities for the kids, amazing restaurants and terraces and just plenty to do!
Have a drink with your bud at La Cour Arrière Festibiere bar.
If you are a history buff you would totally love to visit the Canadian Museum of History.
Located in the town of Gatineau, Quebec, this museum explores the human history of Canada.
Learn about the culture of the first nations of Canada.
This is an experience you could share with your family or a visit with your friends.
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10// Saskatchewan Canada
Saskatchewan is a Canadian province that borders the United States to the south.
It has a population of about 1.162 million people.
It is best known for its grain farming and cold winters and it is also the world’s largest producer of potash.
Things to do in Saskatchewan
Since there are some very cold winters in Saskatchewan, you might as well make the best of it!
Why not try your hand at some dog sledding at Anglin Lake Recreation site.
In the summer you and your family can go on over for some camping fun, roast some marshmallows around the campfire which is really popular in Saskatchewan.
Are you an adrenaline junkie? Then this just may be the thing for you!
Hit the trails of Regina Saskatchewan with your dirt bike.
Regina is known as the dirt bike destination.
You can sign up for the motor valley raceway at the Regina Motor-cross club.
You can also head out to the outer edge adventure park Lumsden, a town not too far from Regina.
At this park, you can sore through the sky on a zip line, so if you are not afraid of heights this may be the perfect activity for you.
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3 Canadian Territories
And there you have it, a list of the 10 Provinces in Canada and what you can do!
But Canada is technically split into ten provinces and three territories.
The 3 Canadian territories are Northwest Territories, Nunavut, and Yukon.
1// Northwest Territories
This province is mainly made up of mountains and forests and is home to over 40, 000 people!
What can you do in the Northwest Territories?
The Northwest Territories in Canada is extremely famous for diamonds, the gold rush and for being very, very, cold!
And Yellowknife is also very famous for its amazing food, outdoor celebrations, and of course, being one of the best places in the world to see the Northern Lights!
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2// Nunavut Canada
Nunavut is the newest territory in Canada as it separated from the Northwest Territories in 1999!
It has a population of 35,944 people.
Nunavut is known for its indigenous Inuit people’s artwork, carvings, and handmade clothing.
Things to do in Nunavut
Book a private Arctic tour that features riding a hot-air balloon to see the beauty that Nunavut has to offer!
You can also check out the Alianait Festival in Iqaluit!
Alianait Festival is an arts festival that takes place every June, taking advantage of the 24-hour sunlight to offer performances, music, and traditional Inuit games well into the wee hours of the night.
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3// Yukon
The Yukon is the smallest and most western territory of Canada, bordering Alaska.
It has a population of 34, 200 people and most of them live in the capital city of Whitehorse!
Things to do in Yukon Canada
Soak in Takhini Hot Pools located on the outskirts of Whitehorse!
I love hot springs and any chance I get to enjoy them, I will!
You can also check out the Yukon Wildlife Preserve!
This preserve is a unique wildlife viewing property with more than 700 acres with various natural habitats that are home to 10 species of northern Canadian mammals
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Which Province Will You Be Visiting While in Canada?
Read This Next:
Traveling Alone: Pros and Cons for Enjoying A Solo Trip
Best Places To Travel Alone – Perfect For Female Travelers
This post was a guest post from our sister blogger – Jeanelle who blogs over at St Lucia Travels!
This is quite a detailed write-up! Thanks for sharing all these information!
You are welcome.
Have you ever visited Canada?
Very slick blog! I’ve been to Canada and enjoyed it. I’m even toying with the idea of relocating there in the future. I’m getting a lot of good info here. Keep it up!
Oh, I am glad you loved the post.
Please do tell us if you do visit Canada in the future.