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O Canada, what a place. Like America but different. Safer, quieter, smaller portions of food. I wonder if Destination Canada needs a new marketing campaign for reasons to visit Canada?
But you know I’m not actually from Canada originally. I moved to Vancouver for a 6 month work visa when I was 23. I loved it so much that I spent the next 3 years trying to move here permanently. Now in my 40s I’ve been in Canada well over a decade, and have zero regrets.
I love Canada. I am now a full citizen of this fine country (I took an oath and everything). Which means I’m in a pretty good position to convince you to visit with these top reasons to visit Canada, and why it should be on your list.
We have mountains
Yep, we have mountains. Big ones. Like crane your neck out the side of the car while driving kind of mountains. I come from the UK. We have mountains but not many. Most of them are rolling hills which are really pretty. But then you come to Canada and you see what mountains really are.
Canadian mountains are beautiful and big and so damn close to the highway that you can’t even ignore them. I mean, why would you want to? If you want big mountains you need to head to British Columbia and Alberta. The Canadian Rockies should not be missed. Trust me!
Canada has lots of open spaces
Canada is the second largest country in the world by area size. That’s pretty impressive in itself. But our population is tiny compared to all those other big countries. We have only 38 million people. The USA is the third largest country in the world and their population is almost 330 million people. So that gives you an idea of just how much open space Canada has.
Yes there are large cities, but there are also wide open spaces, flat land in the prairies and entire provinces that have less people than some average cities (I’m looking at you Prince Edward Island). So rent a car and drive into the wide open country when you’re visiting Canada.
I couldn’t get too far down this list without mentioning one of Canada’s biggest exports. Are you even Canadian if you’ve never done a shot of maple syrup?
The number one breakfast condiment might not be consumed as much as stereotypical media would have you assume, but that doesn’t mean we don’t love the sweet sticky syrupy goodness every now and again.
And in most places you’ll find maple flavored goods a staple. So get yourself to a Timmy’s right away for the maple dip donut you’ve been craving.
Wildlife viewing is a daily activity
We have so much wildlife it’s unbelievable. For one, I guess with a smaller population there are less people to get in the way of all the animals. Many of them are left to their own devices and there’s no greater excitement than seeing a bear at the side of the road no matter how many you’ve seen.
Black bears, grizzly bears, moose, wolves and the most iconic Canadian animal, the beaver. We have it all. Go North in Manitoba to Churchill and you’ll even be able to take a polar bear tour! If that isn’t one of the best reasons to visit Canada, I don’t know what is.
Even in the city there are plenty of raccoons, skunks and coyotes. As a Brit I am always excited to see wildlife as even our coolest animals are too elusive to ever see, unlike in Canada
There are some amazing natural wonders
There are two main natural wonders you cannot miss if you come to Canada. The first is Niagara Falls. It’s iconic, and unfortunately in a very touristy town not too dissimilar to Las Vegas, but still is a must do activity if you’re visiting nearby Toronto. The other is the Northern Lights.
That’s right, we have multiple areas of the country where you can view the Northern Lights. Try going to the Northernmost areas of British Columbia, Ontario or Manitoba. But the Yukon and Northwest Territories are also some of the best places to camp out and view this magnificent phenomenon away from the bright city lights.
Train travel is king
To drive from coast to coast in Canada without stopping would be the best part of 3 days. So if you want to get the most out of your trip to Canada and still get some sleep, hopping on a train might be the way to go.
VIA rail, our national rail company, do trips across the country where you can get a cabin onboard, or a seat if you’re feeling frugal. There are stops along the way so you can break your journey up. Did you know new Canadian citizens get a year long pass for 50% off rail travel through VIA rail? That’s a pretty sweet deal and a great way to see the country.
Looking for a little more luxury? How about taking the Rocky Mountaineer for a portion of the journey from Vancouver through to the Rockies. I can tell you first hand this is a train trip you will not want to miss.
Coastlines for days (literally)
Gosh does Canada have some unreal coastlines. I’m in Vancouver, right by the Pacific Ocean so I am all about the water. There are so many islands around here, as well as the big (unimaginatively named) Vancouver Island.
Getting on a ferry for a weekend or a camping trip is a popular activity, but you can also head on up the coast of the mainland (still needing the occasional ferry to get there).
Then there’s the other side of the country, the Maritimes: New Brunswick, PEI and Nova Scotia. All have incredible coastlines with the most Insta-worthy lighthouse views. Seriously, get yourself over there and you’ll see what I mean.
We have more lakes than mountains
If oceans aren’t your thing then maybe I can entice you to Canada with some of the most beautiful lakes in the world. The Canadian Rockies just has lake after lake (with a few mountains in between).
You drive through the Rockies, and you’d think that you’ll get to the point of saying “oh look, another lake…yawn!”. But you can’t because they’re SO.DAMN.BEAUTIFUL!! The bluest turquoise lakes are so popular you need to get up early to find parking there, but it’s worth it.
Then there are the Great Lakes in Ontario: Huron, Erie, Ontario and Superior. I’ve never seen lakes like them. You almost think you’re at the ocean as seeing the other side is not possible in most places.
Culture is important to us
Canada is a land of immigrants. Like me! And with that a lot of different cultures are brought together. For the most part I see Canadians embracing this and it’s one of the things I truly love about the country. Little pockets of different cultures can be found around some of the bigger cities and with it some of the most amazing food from around the world.
But when you head to the Eastern part of Canada like Quebec, you might even think you’re in Europe. The architecture, the language and the traditions will confuse the heck out of you as you wonder “am I still in Canada?”. You are, and that’s why Canada is amazing. You can visit Europe without even leaving North America.
Canada is also a country that still celebrates a lot of its aboriginal people, the Indigenous people who were here before any settlers made Canada their home. I love learning about the First Nations cultures and traditions, and if you’ve ever seen Indigenous art you’ll agree the colorful depictions are fantastic.
There are lots of great museums where you can see this art and learn more about the aboriginal people of Canada. Make sure you don’t miss making this a big part of your trip.
The people are a friendly bunch
