6 Ideas To Get You Excited About Visiting Canada
It may not seem as glitzy a destination as somewhere like Italy or Japan, but Canada offers more than its fair share of incredible attractions for visitors. If you're looking for places and activities to check out on a trip to the Great White North, consider the ones listed here, which span zoos, luxury hotels, historic neighborhoods, and outdoor experiences. This video was made with Ezvid Wikimaker.
6 Great Options for a Canadian Vacation
| Name | Location | Description |
|---|---|---|
| The Golden Ultra | Golden, British Columbia | A three-day stage and ultra running race, incorporating two stage races and their component days into one big mountain trail running festival |
| Safari Niagara | Stevensville, Ontario | A 150-acre, privately-owned and operated nature park, home to more than 1,000 native and exotic mammals, reptiles, and birds, plus a range of family activities |
| Hotel Quintessence | Mont-Tremblant, Quebec | Luxury boutique hotel on a mountainside historic waterfront estate |
| High Park Zoo | Toronto, Ontario | Has eleven paddocks home to a variety of animal species from around the world |
| Hotel William Gray | Montréal, Quebec | Luxury spa hotel located in the oldest and most lively district of the city, near Place Jacques Cartier, the Basilique Notre Dame, and the Old Port |
| Gastown | Vancouver, British Columbia | Historic downtown neighborhood featuring a diverse mix of retail and dining options housed within authentic heritage architecture, alongside a vibrant creative and tech scene |
Experience the Luxury of Hotel Quintessence
5 Canadian Spots for Food & Drink
| Name | Location |
|---|---|
| Minami Restaurant | Vancouver, BC |
| The Bite House | Forks Baddeck, NS |
| Pullman Bar à Vin | Montreal, QC |
| Kinton Ramen | Toronto, ON |
| FIKA Cafe | Toronto, ON |
The Sights and Sounds of Gastown
In Depth
Canada is a beautiful destination that blends natural scenery with thrilling attractions, from family-friendly zoos to luxurious lakeside resorts. Travelers can explore eclectic neighborhoods and enjoy world-class sporting events that take advantage of the country's wide-open spaces. In no particular order, here are some inspiring things to do in Canada.
Coming in at #1, The Golden Ultra is a three-day stage race, ultramarathon, and relay in the mountains of British Columbia. Runners have multiple distances to choose from, or they can create a customized competition by selecting their preferred course length each day. The race covers challenging, well-marked trails in the forested wilderness around the city of Golden.
More than 500 athletes compete in the race each year. The main competition is the 120-kilometer ultramarathon, a pendulum loop across the Columbia River Valley. There are also 45-kilometer and 85-kilometer courses. Runners will also find special festival events before and after the races for mingling with other outdoor sports enthusiasts.
More than 500 athletes compete in the race each year.
#2 on our list is Safari Niagara, a 150-acre zoo about 15 minutes from Niagara Falls. Privately owned and operated, the nature park is home to more than 1000 native and exotic mammals, reptiles, and birds. Guests can take behind-the-scenes tours to learn insider information and get closer to giraffes, rhinos, and lions.
The zoo also offers narrated tram rides, a ropes course, and a splash pad for cooling off in hot weather. There's also a Mellow Marsh Boardwalk along with daily Keeper Talks with animals like hippos, otters, and wolves. The Wonders of Flight Demonstration showcases owls and other birds of prey.
#3 is Hotel Quintessence, a five-star boutique resort located in Mont-Tremblant. Established in 2003 on a historic mountainside estate, the waterfront retreat is situated on Lake Tremblant and within walking distance of the pedestrian village. The year-round destination offers upscale dining, shopping, and cultural events.
Established in 2003 on a historic mountainside estate, the waterfront retreat is situated on Lake Tremblant and within walking distance of the pedestrian village.
All of the suites provide views of the lake, marble baths with heated floors, and private balconies or terraces. Spa Sans Sabots offers massages and facials, and guests can enjoy fine dining at Restaurant La Quintessence. Activities for vacationers include helicopter tours, in-suite yoga, and horseback riding.
High Park Zoo is #4 on our list. Originally opened in 1893 for deer, the animal paddocks have always been the zoo's most popular attraction. Today there are eleven paddocks that house a variety of species from many different countries, including bison, llamas, peacocks, emus, and Scottish Highland cattle.
Located in Toronto, High Park Zoo is free to the public. The paddocks are close together, from capybaras to sheep to yaks, so there's no need to walk for hours between animals or spend an entire day at the zoo. In the right season, guests may also get to see a newborn calf or a baby llama.
The paddocks are close together, from capybaras to sheep to yaks, so there's no need to walk for hours between animals or spend an entire day at the zoo.
At #5, Hotel William Gray is a luxury retreat in Montreal near Place Jacques Cartier, close to the Basilique Notre Dame and the Old Port. It's situated in a modern building that integrates a pair of historic 18th-century cottages, about a 6-minute walk from the Champ-de-Mars Metro station.
The boutique hotel's "Living Room" is its social center and includes a library, full bar, pool table, and vinyl collection. There's also an upscale restaurant, a large spa, and a rooftop terrace with views of the city. Rooms and suites feature custom artwork, stone walls, and cathedral ceilings. Some also have private balconies.
#6 on our list is Gastown, the historic downtown core of Vancouver and the oldest part of the city. The neighborhood offers a diverse mix of indie boutiques, coffee shops, and trendy eateries that are housed within authentic heritage architecture. It covers twelve city blocks and has undergone an urban revival in the last decade.
The neighborhood offers a diverse mix of indie boutiques, coffee shops, and trendy eateries that are housed within authentic heritage architecture.
Today, Gastown is a bustling urban center with modern attractions tucked inside of historic Victorian buildings. There are elegant cocktail lounges, eclectic fashion studios, funky gastropubs, and public art installations. Vintage lamp posts and cobblestones add historic character, and the unique Steam Clock is the top spot to take a selfie.
