1182 Best Sights in Canada

An expansive Victorian park west of downtown, Bowring was modeled after the famous city parks of London. Dotting the grounds are ponds and rustic bridges; the statue of Peter Pan just inside the east gate was cast from the same mold as the one in Kensington Park in London. The wealthy Bowring family, which made its money in trade and shipping, donated the park in 1914. There is a swimming pool, a splash pad (both open July and August), a large playground, and walking trails.

Less crowded than Cavendish, Brackley Beach, within Prince Edward Island National Park, stretches for miles along the north shore, so it's easy to find a secluded spot to enjoy the fine sands and clear water. It's a great place for beach walks, and there's also a cycle track a little way back from the shore. It can get very windy here, which is good news for windsurfers. A boardwalk leads from the parking lot to the beach, and there's access to the Gulf Shore Way East trail. To access the beach you have to pay the entrance fee to the national park. Pets are not allowed on the beach from April through mid-October. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards; parking (free); showers; toilets. Best for: swimming; walking; windsurfing.

Guided tours of Brazeau Collieries Historic Mine Site offer a glimpse into an industrial coal mine operation and the lives of miners who worked and lived in this area. Two-hour guided tours are given of the mine, a Provincial and National Historic Resource, three times daily during the summer.

Linked to Steveston's historic waterfront, this 8-acre (3.7-hectare) park offers a rare glimpse of life within a once-thriving mix of canneries, boatyards, residences, and stores. Britannia Heritage Shipyard dates back to 1885 and is the oldest remaining shipyard structure on the Fraser River. Weathered to a silver-gray color by a century of exposure, many of the buildings are the last examples of their type on the entire coast. Several buildings have been restored. These include Murakami House, once the three-room home of the 11-member Murakami family; boatworks buildings; shipyard residences; stilt houses; the last surviving Chinese bunkhouse on the west coast; and a board-and-batten First Nations House similar to traditional 19th-century Coast Salish longhouses. Year-round programs include the restoration of wooden boats. 

Kids adore riding the rails at the British Columbia Forest Discovery Centre, a 100-acre outdoor museum just north of Duncan. Pulled by a 1910 steam locomotive, a three-carriage train toots through the woods and over a trestle bridge across a lake, stopping at a picnic site and playground on the way. Forestry-related exhibits around the site include a 1930s-era logging camp, historic logging equipment, and indoor exhibits about the modern science of forestry. Interpretive trails through the forest lead to ancient trees, one dating back more than 500 years. During July and August, a gas locomotive runs every hour. In May, June, and September, the train may be replaced with a gas locomotive.

From late June to late August, the park promises interpretative programs, plus a wealth of outdoor opportunities—including boating, hiking, and horseback riding. Two championship golf courses (Brudenell River and Dundarave) are the icing on its proverbial cake.

Founded in 1953, this museum is one of Alberta's oldest. Its goal is to educate visitors on First Nations' cultures. The museum displays Indigenous artifacts, hunting equipment, ornamental regalia, and arts and crafts. There's also a decorated teepee to explore.

Recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site and part of the larger Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks World Heritage site, this layer of rock deposits contains amazingly well-preserved fossil specimens that have visible details from the creatures that existed in an underwater ecosystem over 505 million years ago. The Mount Stephen trilobite beds were discovered in 1886 after a railway worker reported finding stone "bugs" in the talus. Paleontologist Charles Walcott from the Smithsonian Institute visited Mt. Field in 1909, where he opened a quarry and started collecting and analyzing specimens.

A layer of rock deposits containing amazingly well-preserved fossil specimens, Burgess shale formations were first discovered in 1886 by a railway worker in nearby Yoho National Park. Subsequently in 1909, Smithsonian Institute paleontologist Charles Walcott started collecting and analyzing specimens. The current site at the base of the Stanley Glacier in Kootenay National Park was not discovered until 2012 and contains fossils with clearly visible details of the bones and insides of creatures from the underwater ecosystem that existed for a short time after the first explosion of multicellular life on earth over 505 million years ago. The Burgess Shale fossils are recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site and part of the larger Canadian Rocky Mountain Parks World Heritage site.

One of the most photographed trees in Alberta sits near the eastern edge of the Crowsnest Pass. The Burmis Tree is a limber pine that lived for about 700 years before it died in the 1970s. Limber pines have one of the longest lifespans of any tree in Alberta and are known for their ability to thrive in harsh conditions. In 1998, high winds toppled the dead tree over, but the community shored it up with rods and brackets to keep it standing. It's considered an important landmark and a symbol of home for residents of the Crowsnest Pass.

With wines consistently taking home medals in international competitions, Burrowing Owl is one of the area's best-known vineyards. Cellar tours are offered on weekends from May through October, and tastings are available year-round. At the 25-foot tasting bar, the donations asked for tastings go toward the Burrowing Owl Conservation Society. To savor the sweeping views of the vineyards and Osoyoos Lake, enjoy a meal at the terrific Sonora Room Restaurant.

Winding through the forest, this 7.4-km (4.6-mile) one-way trail leads to two shallow bodies of water known as the Burstall Lakes. From there, you cross what is known as the Willow Flats, an area with many streams, before climbing through forest and then across a picturesque valley to a cirque (an amphitheater-like valley formed by glacial erosion). The views of the remote southern end of Banff National Park at the end of this challenging hike are worth the effort. There's 470 meters (1,550 feet) of elevation gain. Moderate.

After the 1886 Great Fire, which wiped out most of the fledgling settlement of Vancouver, George Byrnes built what is now Vancouver's oldest brick building. It now houses shops and offices. But for awhile, this two-story building was Vancouver's top luxury hotel, the Alhambra Hotel, charging a dollar a night. The site of Deighton's original saloon, east of the Byrnes Block, is the starting point from which all Vancouver street addresses begin.

In the former commissariat used by the Royal Engineers and Colonel John By during the building of the Rideau Canal—the oldest stone masonry building in the city—are exhibits that record the life and times of Bytown and Ottawa.

Excellent fresh produce and maple products have been attracting shoppers to this farmers' market since 1826. Surrounding the market stalls are permanent specialty food shops, some well over 100 years old, as well as restaurants, nightclubs, cafés, and boutiques.

In addition to a popular campground, 360-acre Cabot Beach Provincial Park has fine day-use facilities—particularly for families. In summer, the sandy beach is supervised, plus there's a playground and children's programming. Naturalist-led walks are also available. Surf conditions can sometimes deter swimmers, and alerts are issued if it becomes dangerous, but when it's calm, it's very calm. Amenities: lifeguards; parking (free); showers; toilets. Best for: sunset; surfing; swimming; walking.

This long, sandy beach remains untouched by modern development, other than the picnic tables on the adjoining grassland. It's a great place for beachcombing and pondering the journeys of First Nations boatmen who once set out from here to paddle to Newfoundland. A cairn in the park, commemorating the purported arrival of John Cabot from England in 1497, offers further historical insights, but the jaw-dropping views of Aspy Bay and the surrounding wilderness area provide the best reasons to come here. Amenities: parking (free). Best for: solitude; walking.

A long, sandy, driftwood-strewn beach backed by a grassy park with plenty of picnic tables and shade trees draws families to this sheltered bay, accessible via the Scenic Marine Drive. Kids enjoy the sea creature structures in the play area (including a replica of the legendary "Cadborosaurus" sea serpent said to live in these waters). Hiking trails, a boat launch, and tennis courts keep adults busy; swimming is safe here, if you don't mind the cold (or the sea creature). Snacks can be had at nearby Cadboro Village. Amenities: parking (free); toilets. Best for: walking; sunrise.

In the foothills,10 km (6 miles) west of Calgary, is western Canada's largest outdoor family amusement park, which has been recently expanded. It includes live entertainment, miniature golf, a fishing pond, shops, and an RV park. Buy your tickets online to save money.

The focal point of this ornate building in the heart of Chinatown is the Dr. Henry Fok Cultural Hall, a building modeled after the Hall of Prayers in Bejing’s Temple of Heaven. The column details and paintings include 561 dragons and 40 phoenixes. The center houses a cultural museum, an art gallery, a crafts store, an herbal-medicine store, and a 330-seat Chinese restaurant.

Also known as the New City Hall, the angular, mirrored walls of this building reflect several city landmarks, including the old City Hall, a stately 1911 sandstone building that houses the mayor's office and other city offices.

This is Calgary’s most iconic Downtown building. The views from this 191-meter (626-foot) scepter-shaped edifice take in the city's layout, the surrounding plains, and the face of the Rockies rising 80 km (50 miles) to the west. A "torch" that crowns the tower is lighted for special events and occasions. The tower top also holds the revolving Sky 360 Restaurant and Lounge, which serves dinner nightly and weekend brunch. It also boasts Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse and a gift shop.

Although the Okanagan Valley is known for its wine, there are quite a few cideries popping up as well. One of the best is Cambium Cider Co. in Vernon. Their tasting room is rustic and intimate; however, call ahead if you have a particular cider you want to try. They're known to sell out. If you can, try the Gin Botanical or the Traditional Dry. There's also a restaurant on-site.

These beautiful falls are one of the most photographed sites in Waterton. Located right in the townsite, a paved walkway and bridge as well as a paved trail beside the falls makes them accessible to all. Interpretive signage explains the geology and history of the falls.

Enjoy a picnic near one of the most scenic spots in the Rockies. Six picnic tables surround Cameron Lake and one partially enclosed picnic shelter. There are also toilets.

The jewel of Waterton, Cameron Lake sits in a land of glacially carved cirques (steep-walled basins). In summer, hundreds of varieties of alpine wildflowers fill the area, including 22 kinds of wild orchids. Canoes, rowboats, kayaks, and fishing gear can be rented here.

Relatively flat and paved, this 1.6-km (1-mile) one-way trail offers a peaceful hike. Look for wildflowers along the shoreline and grizzlies on the lower slopes of the mountains at the far end of the lake. Easy.