Millions of people travel to Canada each year, and most of these tourists are Americans. However, the United States already has a bunch of awesome destinations for its people to explore.
What makes these Canada vacations unique?
Here are five epic places to visit in Canada we’ll definitely want to add to our bucket lists:
1. Hôtel de Glace
We’ve all waited eagerly for snowy forecasts—or perhaps we’ve dreaded them, depending on whether we have to commute in it. However, this destination can satisfy snow day fans and foes alike.
Each year, Canada’s Hôtel de Glace is built and then torn down. Oh and by the way—it’s built totally from ice.
One of a kind in North America, this hotel is filled with some of the most beautiful ice designs carved into the inner walls. Frozen enthusiasts would call it a real-life version of the Snow Queen’s ice palace.
Our room temperature will sit below freezing, approximately 23 to 27 degrees Fahrenheit.
Don’t worry, though, we’ll also receive insulated sleeping equipment to help keep us warm. And we’ll get access to saunas, hot tubs, and a cozy backup room if we find our space too chilly.
This makes Hôtel de Glace one of the coziest places to take our Canada vacations.
To top things off, this hotel is located in the unique province of Quebec, where almost 80 percent of people speak French, making it a language lover’s paradise.
No parle français? No need to worry. Many Québécois are bilingual in both English and French.
2. Jasper National Park
Sure, ice palaces are amazing, but they’re not all Canada has to offer.
Let’s get away from the busyness for a second to see a unique kind of beauty we could never make ourselves.
Jasper National Park is where gorgeous gray mountains reach high up into the sky, waterfalls rush by, and rivers flow wherever they go. On its edge lies the Athabasca Glacier Icefield.
It is also filled with wildlife, including 53 species of furry mammals.
In a way, this park resembles the type of landscapes only found in fairytales. However, Jasper National Park truly is 100% real, located in Alberta, Canada.
The best time to visit is from fall to late summer.
3. Banff National Park
Past the glacier icefield and only 16 miles from Jasper National Park, is Banff National Park. It is also located in the Alberta province and has nearly 1,000 miles of trails to explore.
It is the very first national park to be created in Canada.
Although it’s not tropical, skiers would still consider this place paradise as it has several ski resorts and 8,000 acres of terrain to ski on.
And if we’re not afraid of heights, we can see Lake Louise and the rest of this beautiful park from the high up perspective of a Gondola.
Not enough adventure? Check out this list for more awesome activities.
Located only an hour and a half away from Banff National Park, is the City of Calgary, which is perfect if we prefer to do our adventuring with a group.
However, if we’re interested in exploring the city itself, we can do so in style via this helpful link.
4. Yellowknife
Canadians are very lucky when it comes to seeing the Northern Lights, as there are many places throughout the northern provinces to view them from.
One of the best places to visit in Canada for Northern Light viewing is Yellowknife, a small city in the Northwest Territories.
This location is unique due to its lack of precipitation, meaning we won’t have to worry about rain or snowfall ruining our view.
The best time to visit is Yellowknife is from Mid-November to early April. However, since the average winter high temp is less than 8 degrees Fahrenheit, we need to make sure we dress warmly.
If winter in Yellowknife seems too cold, don’t worry; this isn’t the only time for Northern Light seeing. Check out this Aurora Forcast tool for the most up to date viewing conditions.
Despite its amazing views, Yellowknife is not one of Canada’s safest cities and has a significant crime rate.
As we would with any destination, it’s wise to do our research and keep these travel safety tips in mind.
5. Niagra Falls
Niagra Falls sits comfortably between Canada and the United States.
In fact, ownership of this epic location is shared between the two; the river is the international border.
These falls are a great place is great for travel as it is. Both sets of falls are over 180 feet. If we want the full Niagra Falls experience, however, we really need to check out the Canadian side of the falls.
Every winter for 36 years, Canada’s Niagra Falls has hosted an amazing event—The Winter Festival of Lights.
During this event, the already amazing Niagra Falls Canada lights up in a beautiful arrangement of colors.
Aside from that, the surrounding areas feature a route of nearly 5 miles of lights and decorations.
This event attracts over a million visitors annually and takes place mid-November to mid-January.
Surprisingly, admission is completely free. However, donations are encouraged.
Final Thoughts on Places to Visit in Canada
Millions of people travel to Canada each year, and it’s no wonder why. This country is filled with epic attractions and locations that can suit a variety of our interests.
These locations listed above aren’t listed in order from best to worse or vice versa. Rather, they’re all really great places to visit in Canada.
Where then should we go?
This is a question only we ourselves can answer, but if we choose to travel to Canada, we’re won’t be disappointed.
Can’t get enough adventure? Here are 7 Inspiring Reasons to Travel The World and 5 tips to help you explore stress-free.