The second-largest country in the world is filled with natural wonders, so making a list was a challenge! Although from my time exploring this extraordinarily scenic country, here are my favorite spots I’d love to share with you…
1. The Canadian Rockies
This world-famous mountain range completely floored me — jagged peaks, emerald forests, and mirror-like lakes spilling across Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks, spanning Banff, Jasper, Kootenay, and Yoho in one vast, wildly adventurous landscape!
I touched down at Calgary International Airport, picked up a rental car, and stayed for two weeks, partly staying at the Insta-worthy Penthouse At Solar A Resort and Spa. I spent it hiking glacier-carved valleys, soaking in Banff’s hot springs, and riding the legendary Rocky Mountaineer (the glass-domed coaches were awesome!)!
Location: Western Canada, spanning Alberta and British Columbia | Size: Over 1,400 km | Vibe: Wild, cinematic, and awe-inspiring
My highlights…
- Also staying at the mountain-chic 4-star MTN House By Basecamp – I love the fishing-hut photo booth, the Scandi-style beech wood and my trendy Nespresso Vertuo machine!
2. Banff National Park
I found Banff both spectacular and inviting — towering peaks, sparkling lakes, and deep forests wrapped around a lively yet intimate town that made it feel adventurous and wonderfully cozy at the same time!
I drove just over 1.5 hours west from Calgary and five days here felt like pure alpine bliss — turquoise-blue kayaking on Lake Louise, waterfall-hopping through Johnston Canyon, steaming away the miles in the Banff Upper Hot Springs, and dipping into the quirky gift shops – the trendy Cool As A Moose became my favorite!
Location: Canadian Rockies, southwestern Alberta | Size: Large alpine national park | Vibe: lively, adventure-base feel
My favorite highlights…
- Staying at the modern 4-star boutique Sunshine Mountain Lodge – I loved the huge outdoor hot tub and the cedar-lined dry sauna. It was also the only hotel in the area accessible directly by gondola.
3. Vancouver
I absolutely loved Vancouver when I visited! I also thought it was very easy-on-the-eye with sleek modern architecture and charming historic buildings, all set against a backdrop of sparkling waters, sandy beaches rugged, pebbly shores, thick forests and the snow-capped peaks of the Coast Mountains.
What I loved about Vancouver was its effortless switch-up — café culture one minute, mountains and beaches the next. After flying over from Calgary, I cycled Stanley Park, tucked into comfort food on Granville Island (the Mushroom & Spinach Pot Pie was divine!), and soared above the city on the Grouse Mountain gondola.
My personal highlights…
- Staying at the cool and unique 4-star L’Hermitage Hotel – I loved the boutique interiors which were a mix of Parisian and West Coast sophistication, my Italian marble bathroom, the super plush bed and the outdoor heated lap pool and jacuzzi!
4. Vancouver Island
I loved the calm, otherworldly feel Vancouver Island had — misty old-growth forests scented with cedar, dramatic coastal cliffs, and charming towns that mixed heritage beauty with a relaxed, artsy vibe.
After a 2-hour ferry from Vancouver, a drive to Tofino, I checked in to the gorgeously located 4-star Long Beach Lodge Resort. From Victoria’s heritage streets to the towering trees of Cathedral Grove, it was all pure drama — with orcas and humpback whales and a wild drive along the Pacific Rim Highway which lead me to remote steaming hot springs!
My highlights…
- Going for afternoon tea at the iconic 5-star Fairmont Empress – I love the dreamy waterfront location, the elegant decor, the delicate cakes and finger sandwiches and the fact that the honey was harvested from the hotel’s very own hives!
5. Jasper National Park
I just loved this vast and unspoilt park! It was just stunning with vast landscapes featuring towering mountains, sparkling lakes set against the backdrop of the rugged Canadian Rockies. To me it felt tranquil and adventurous and I found it larger but less crowded and commerlized than its famous neighbor Banff.
I drove 4 hours through the spectacular Icefields Parkway from Banff to Jasperand stayed at the cozy Pyramid Lake Lodge for four days hiking the scenic trails at Maligne Canyon and Lake, taking a boat cruise on Maligne Lake to Spirit Island, riding the Jasper SkyTram – the panoramic views were incredible!
Location: Canadian Rockies, western Alberta | Size:over 11,000 km² | Vibe: Vast, wild, and quietly spectacular
My personal highlights…
6. Niagara Falls
This is one of the most famous waterfalls on the planet! Yes, I found it touristy, but I was also in awe! It had immense cascades of water that created stunning rainbows and a cool, ever-present mist that clung to my hair and jacket, all set against a dramatic natural backdrop – it felt both powerful and mesmerizing!
I took the 2.5 hour drive from Toronto and spent two days here. I experienced the thunderous power of the falls up close on the Maid of the Mist boat tour (I let people pass to ensure I was first to the wettest spot on the boat!) and walked behind the cascading waters at Journey Behind the Falls.
Location: On the border between Ontario, Canada and New York State, USA | Size: Three massive waterfalls | Vibe: Spectacular, powerful, and bucket-list iconic
My highlights…
- Seeing spectacular 360-degree views of the Skylon Tower from its observation deck and then dining in their amazing Revolving Dining Room – the restaurant rotated 360 degrees every hour so the view changed as I ate!
7. Toronto
Toronto surprised me — gritty in places, yes, but also vibrant and handsome, with a bold skyline dominated by the CN Tower, layered architecture old and new, and a breezy lakeside setting along Lake Ontario. The energy reminded me of New York, just a little calmer, cleaner, and more compact.
I landed at Toronto Pearson Airport and headed into the city, where I took in the views from the CN Tower, explored the Royal Ontario Museum and the Art Gallery of Ontario, wandered the historic Distillery District, browsed stalls at St. Lawrence Market, relaxed on the Toronto Islands, and soaked up the creative vibe in Kensington Market.
Location: Southern Ontario, northwestern shore of Lake Ontario | Size: very large city | Vibe: Vibrant, creative, and cosmopolitan
My favorite highlights…
- Hanging out at Cineforum – this is where local eccentric Reg Hartt showed me short films and animations in his living room and even talked about his colourful party lifestyle past with a can of Labatt Blue in hand!
8. Whistler
This is a heavyweight of the North American ski scene, and I totally got why — breathtaking alpine views, forest-cloaked mountains, stylish modern resort buildings blended with traditional chalets, and an infectious buzz that perfectly balances adventure sports with easygoing mountain life.
Just two hours from Vancouver, I found big-mountain thrills at their best — epic skiing, soaring alpine views, relaxation in the eucalyptus-scented steam room in Scandinave Spa, and a buzzy village alive with après energy and outdoorsy cool. In the summer the locals told me the area was popular for hiking and biking.
Location: Coast Mountains of British Columbia | Size: Compact resort town| Vibe: outdoorsy-lux and mountain-cool
My highlights…
- Stumbling across 3 Singing Birds felt like finding a tiny creative gallery — pale wooden shelves displayed hand-thrown ceramics, botanical-scented skincare, and even little poetry zines instead of typical shop racks!
9. Quebec City
I found this city utterly charming and a bit seductive — all old-world European flair, elegant historic landmarks, French colonial architecture, and the cobbled, storybook streets of Old Quebec. Yes, it’s touristy, but with its lively festivals, cosy cafés, buzzing markets, and warm bilingual vibe, it’s popular for a reason!
I took the scenic three-hour drive from Montreal to Québec City, where I spent three days at the Insta-worthy boutique Le Capitole Hotel wandering the pretty cobbled streets of Old Québec, admiring the fairytale silhouette of Château Frontenac, and soaking up city views from the Observatoire de la Capitale.
Location: Eastern Canada, Quebec Province | Size: Mid-sized city | Vibe: Romantic and old-world-European
My favorite highlights…
10. Old Montreal
Montreal felt bold, creative, and full of personality. Yes, it had its rougher edges, but Old Montreal was stunning — historic facades, cobbled streets, a lively Old Port, and an irresistible European feel of cafés, boutiques, grand columns, and ornate churches.
I flew into Montréal-Trudeau Airport and spent four days in at the historic boutique LHotel Montreal where I wandered the cobbled historic streets, stepped inside the impressive Notre-Dame Basilica, and soaked up panoramic city views from Mount Royal Park — all fuelled by their iconic eats hearty poutine and pillowy bagels!
Location: Downtown Montréal, Quebec Province | Size: Compact cobblestoned quarter | Vibe: Romantic and European-feeling
My favourite highlights…
- The unique Bota Bota Spa (located on a former ferry!) – I went for their famous ‘water circuit’ which had cedar-scented hot pools, icy plunges pools and eucalyptus-infused stream rooms.
11. Johnston Strait
The waters here are home to some of the world’s largest pods of resident orcas! I also thought it was stunningly beautiful, with silvery clear waters surrounded by untouched coastal scenery and forest-covered mountains – the majestic resident orcas just added to the extraordinary natural drama of it all!
While staying on Vancouver Island, I drove two hours to the tiny community of Telegraph Cove. I stayed a few days and took an orca-viewing boat tour to Robson Bight Ecological Reserve, kayaked through calm, glassy waters, wandered Telegraph Cove’s quaint wooden boardwalk and hiked the nearby forest trails — the whole place felt wonderfully zen!
Location: Off the northeastern coast of Vancouver Island, British Columbia | Size: Narrow 110 km-long channel | Vibe: Wild, remote, and soul-stirring
My favorite highlights…
- Dining on linguine in The Old Saltery Pub in Telegraph Cove and watching the cute and playful sea otters on the planks just outside!
12. Yoho National Park, British Columbia
Often overshadowed by Banff and Jasper, I thought this park was an absolute gem — far quieter and more intimate, yet just as breathtaking, with thundering waterfalls, jewel-blue lakes, dense forests, rustic heritage buildings, and calm riverbank beaches.
Only an hour from Banff, this park completely floored me — mist-drenched waterfalls, impossibly turquoise lakes, and a dramatic high-alpine trail delivering nonstop glacier and mountain drama.
Location: Canadian Rockies, southeastern British Columbia | Size: Mid-sized national park over 1,300 km² | Vibe: Dramatic, waterfall-rich, and quietly majestic
My favorite highlights…
- Hiking the easy, family-friendly Wapta Falls Trail took me just over two hours, leading through pine-scented forest to the thunderous 18-metre-high Wapta Falls — the largest waterfall in the park!
13. Prince Edward Island
I thought this was such a gem! I discovered quaint maritime towns, historic Victorian architecture, rolling green hills, and pristine sandy beaches which ranged from white to red sand. I was also charmed by its welcoming small-town vibe and very slow pace of life! There were warm smiles everywhere I looked here!
After crossing the Confederation Bridge from New Brunswick, I slowed right down for three days — exploring red-cliffed Cavendish village, visiting the storybook home of Anne of Green Gables and padding across the powder-soft Singing Sands Beach.
Location: Eastern Canada, Gulf of St. Lawrence | Size: medium-sized island about 224 km long | Vibe: Gentle, storybook-pretty, and slow-paced
My highlights…
- Staying at the romantic historic boutique The Great George – I was completely charmed by the carefully restored heritage building, the in-room Lavender & Vanilla Stress-Relief Massage and my mahogany four poster bed!
14. Cape Breton Highlands National Park
To me, Cape Breton Highlands National Park felt wonderfully untamed yet welcoming — a striking mix of dramatic cliffs, forested mountains, wild beaches, and unspoilt coastal villages that made the whole place feel both tranquil and soul-stirring.
I took the Trans-Canada Highway onto Cape Breton Island and drove 3 hours to reach Cape Breton Highlands National Park. I road-tripped the famous Cabot Trail (the ocean views were superb!), hiked the Skyline Trail at sunset, and explored pretty coastal spots – Ingonish Beach was my favorite!
My personal highlights…
- Seeing a moose on the Skyline Trail — rugged cliffs, crashing waves far below me, and the salty Atlantic breeze framing one of Nova Scotia’s most iconic views!
15. Yellowknife, Northwest Territories 
This was the place my Northern Lights dream finally came true — a striking northern capital where raw Arctic wilderness meets quirky architecture, big skies, and a strong sense of community that gives it real frontier soul!
I took the 2.5 hour flight from Vancouver and spent four extraordinary days at the charming Great Slave Lakeside Bed & Breakfast. I had front-row seats to a spellbinding aurora show at Aurora Village, tore across the frozen wilderness of Great Slave Lake, and uncovered Yellowknife’s Indigenous roots at the Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre.
Location: Northern Canada, capital of the Northwest Territories | Size: Small subarctic city and remote northern hub | Vibe: Wild, aurora-famous, and frontier-spirited
My highlights…
- Visiting the unique and fun Snowking Castle which is built every November on frozen Great Slave Lake – it was great to see the artistic ice carvings then cozy up in the ice café with a mulled rose wine afterwards!
16. Churchill, Manitoba
This tiny northern town felt like nowhere else I’ve ever been — remote, wild, and sitting right on Hudson Bay, with untamed landscapes and unforgettable wildlife encounters. Known as the Polar Bear Capital of the World for good reason (I actually saw 40 of them in one day!), and locals said in late summer when beluga whales flood the bay.
I took the 2-hour flight from Winnipeg and stayed at Bears Den Guest House II. I joined thrilling polar bear tundra tours, visited the historic Prince of Wales Fort (only reachable by boat) and even saw the northern lights thanks to the high latitude and minimal light pollution — unforgettable!
Location: Remote northern Manitoba on the southwest shore of Hudson Bay | Size: Tiny Arctic-frontier town | Vibe: Wild, windswept, and once-in-a-lifetime
