1182 Best Sights in Canada

Charming Main Street Jordan, also known as Jordan Village, is a small enclave of cafés and shops selling everything from antiques to artisanal foods. The Inn on the Twenty, the Inn on the Twenty Restaurant, and Cave Spring Cellars are also here. Just a few blocks long, Jordan Village can be fully explored in a morning or afternoon. Home store Chic by Janssen is worth a wander to gawk at items like Siberian fox throws, a bronze bear the size of an actual bear cub, and a C$4,000 cedar canoe. Irongate Garden Elements is a favorite with gardeners.

The Jost winery produces wines from an astonishing number of varietals, consistently winning awards for its ice wine, a sweet affair made from grapes left on the vines until frost has "iced" them. You can taste wines year-round at the store here, roam the scenic vineyards, and enjoy a delicious lunch at the on-site Seagrape Café, which specializes in fresh, local produce that compliments their wines perfectly.

Extending from Jordan River to near Port Renfrew, Juan de Fuca Provincial Park takes in several beaches, including China Beach, with soft, sandy beaches dotted with driftwood; Sombrio Beach, a popular surfing spot; and Botanical Beach, with its amazing tidal pools. The Juan de Fuca Marine Trail is a tough 48-km (30-mile) wilderness hiking trail running along the shore from China Beach, west of Jordan River, to Botanical Beach, near Port Renfrew. Several trailheads along the way—at China Beach, Sombrio Beach, Parkinson Creek, and Botanical Beach—allow day hikers to walk small stretches of it.

Located just outside the town of Radium Hot Springs, on the edge of Kootenay National Park, this moderately easy 6.4-km (4-mile) loop trail is popular with hikers and runners. The trail, which can be started at either the trailhead behind the hot springs or the trailhead at Redstreak Campground, goes through the forest, and alongside cliffs where you may spot the local mountain sheep herds, and eventually offers outstanding views down the Columbia Valley. Moderate.

This 50,000-square-foot, Scandinavian-style spa has five outdoor pools, four steam and sauna cabins, an exfoliation room, and eight treatment rooms. Other blissful offerings include a relaxation area with heated hammocks, fireside lounges, and a wellness bistro. Following an age-old tradition, spa-goers cycle through a circuit of hot, cold, and relaxation phases. This adults-only experience takes several hours. There are two sessions daily: 9 am--2:30 pm and 3:30 pm--9 pm.

This unincorporated mountain village 90 km (56 miles) southwest of Calgary was built for the 1988 Winter Olympic Games and is the location of the main facilities and services in the Kananaskis region. It was also the hosting site of the 28th G8 summit in 2002.

This museum is composed of several buildings: Keillor House, an early Regency stone house built in 1813 that contains thousands of artifacts relating to mid-19th-century life and where docents are in costume; Coach House, which contains a fascinating collection of artifacts from the Dorchester Penitentiary; and, just a minute away on foot, the St. James Museum, set in a former church and containing the Beachkirk Collection of equipment used in the manufacturing of textiles, including antique looms; you can sometimes see demonstrations of carding, spinning, and weaving, and there are also blacksmiths' and carpenters' tools. Special events are held at the museum throughout the year.

One of the last untouched tracts of coastline in Atlantic Canada, this park has isolated coves, broad white beaches, and imposing headlands, all of which are managed by Kejimkujik National Park and Historic Site (just plain "Keji" to locals or the linguistically challenged). A hike along a 6-km (4-mile) trail reveals a pristine coast that's home to harbor seals, eider ducks, and many other species. To protect nesting areas of the endangered piping plover, parts of St. Catherine's River Beach (the main beach) are closed to the public from late April to early August.

Works by contemporary local, Canadian, and international artists make up the gallery's four exhibition spaces. It's a family-friendly space, too: there are activities and programming for children (worth noting for rainy days).

Just a 10-minute walk east on the boardwalk from Woodbine Beach, the officially merged stretch of Kew Beach, Scarboro Beach, and Balmy Beach is a bit pebbly and slightly more secluded, making it ideal for those seeking a quiet stroll or a dip in the lake. Look for the historic Leuty Lifeguard Station, which was built in the 1920s. Kayak and stand-up paddleboard rental shops sit along the shore. Amenities: food and drink; lifeguards; parking (fee); toilets; water sports. Best for: walking; sunrise; swimming.

Jointly administered by the British Columbia provincial government and the Tsimshian First Nation, Canada's only grizzly bear sanctuary, 45 km (28 miles) northeast of Prince Rupert, was established in 1994. It contains one of North America's highest concentrations of grizzlies, protecting a population of about 50 bears, as well as the surrounding wilderness and wetlands that make up their habitat. Eagles, porpoises, and whales may also be spotted in the bay on the approach to the sanctuary. You can visit the sanctuary only with a licensed guide (the website has contact information) and with the proper permits, and access is via boat or floatplane only. Bear viewing is best between mid-May and late July; trips may not be offered in August and September.

This legendary pass, designated a National Historic Site for its importance as a transportation corridor in Western Canada, was punched through the Rocky Mountains in the late 1800s to allow the railway and subsequently, the highway, to pass into British Columbia. At 1,627 meters (2,415 feet), this is the highest point on the entire Trans-Canada Highway and it straddles the Continental Divide and the British Columbia/Alberta border. The pass earned its name thanks to James Hector, the first European to come upon the pass, where it's said his horse kicked him in the chest. From the lookout point, you can look down onto the transportation corridor to the west and view the Spiral Tunnels that were ingeniously engineered to allow trains to go from one elevation to another through the steep Canadian Rockies.

Spanning the Kicking Horse River in downtown Golden, at 46 meters (151 feet), this is the longest freestanding timberframe bridge in Canada. Built with a Swiss design from local wood, the bridge reflects the Swiss guide heritage of the city.

Laid out in a Union Jack pattern, King's Square is a green refuge in the heart of the city, with a number of monuments and a two-story bandstand that hosts summer concerts. The mass of metal on the ground in the northeast corner is actually a great lump of melted tools from a neighboring hardware store that burned down in Saint John's Great Fire of 1877, in which hundreds of buildings were destroyed. It's a great place to picnic on food bought at the City Market across the street, but you might not want to linger here after dark. From the west side of the square, King Street, the steepest, shortest main street in Canada, heads down toward the waterfront, with a variety of shops and restaurants along the way.

About 170 km (100 miles) west of Whitehorse, the reserve has millions of acres for hiking. This is a completely roadless wilderness, with hundreds of glaciers and so many mountains over 14,000 feet high that most of them haven't been named yet (one exception: Mt. Logan, Canada's highest peak). Kluane, the neighboring Wrangell–St. Elias National Park in Alaska, and a few smaller parks, constitute the largest protected wilderness in all North America. The staff at the Haines Junction visitor center can provide hiking, flightseeing, and other information. There's also the small Thechàl Dhâl Visitor Centre at the southern end of Kluane Lake whose staff can recommend hiking trails at numerous roadside pullouts that are great for Dall sheep viewing. If you're driving at sunrise or sunset from spring through fall, there's a good chance you'll catch sight of a grizzly bear eating roots or leaves near the side of the road. 

An easygoing winery with a friendly staff and sociable tasting bar, Konzelmann has garnered praise for its fruitier wines in particular, and it's known for high-quality ice wines, one of which was the first Canadian wine to ever make Wine Spectator's top 100 wines list. Konzelmann's vineyards border Lake Ontario, and the winery has a viewing platform with vistas of the vines and water. The retail shop is well stocked with wine-related gifts.

This viewpoint arguably provides the best vistas in the entire park. Situated as you begin the ascent to Sinclair Pass (from the north), stop at this pull-out for stunning views up and down the Mitchell and Vermilion mountain ranges.

Only 10 minutes north of the city, this delightful conservation center has more than 16 km (10 miles) of hiking trails through forest, meadow, and marshland, as well as a Bee Space where kids can see them up close and taste their honey, and an Innovation Trail that demonstrates how technology can reduce our impact on the wild. In the magnificent woods there have been sightings of foxes, coyotes, rabbits, deer, and a wide array of birds. Seasonal events include a spring sugar bush maple syrup festival and a honey harvest festival in September. To get here, drive 3 km (2 miles) north along Highway 400, exit west at Major Mackenzie Drive, and continue south 1 km (½ mile) on Pine Valley Drive to the gate.

Prince Rupert's dream of being the northeast's major port and tourist destination died along with Charles Hays, the town's founder and head of the Grand Trunk Pacific Railway, who went down with the Titanic in 1912. The story of his railway empire, and its remnants, can be seen at this small museum, which traces the lives of the linemen, agents, and operators who worked the early railroad.

Perched on a point about a mile off the highway on Wickaninnish Beach, the Pacific Rim National Park Reserve's visitor center offers insights into local culture, flora and fauna, First Nations traditions, local history, and conservation efforts; don't miss the stunning life-size carving of a whaling canoe. Park rangers are on hand to answer questions. The outside deck is perfect for spotting whales, surfers, and storms.

Knife-carved arches, columns, and other decorative elements mark the impressive wooden church built between 1908 and 1912 by more than 300 volunteers, motivated by their feeling that the community needed a sanctuary. This church follows the cruciform plan of Norman style. The nave is just over 26 feet tall, and 60 hand-carved sculptures decorate the structure.

For C$18 you can tour the vineyard and taste three award-winning wines. Upon reservation, groups can dine in the adjacent four-star restaurant serving the best in regional cuisine. Across the road, overlooking some of the grapevines, is an appealing five-room bed-and-breakfast with a spa. It's worth the trip, even if it's only to take in the splendor of the exceptionally lovely grounds.

The park entrance closest to Mont-Tremblant is at La Diable Vistors' Centre, just beyond the village of Lac Supérieur and about a half-hour drive from the resort.

This working forge belongs to the talented local artisan Guy Bel, who has done ironwork restoration for Québec City. He was born in Lyon, France, and studied there at the École des Beaux-Arts. You can watch him and his team at work; his stylish candlesticks, chandeliers, fireplace tools, and other ironwork are for sale.

Things are buzzing at this workshop and store devoted to bees and honey. An exhibit explains every aspect of honey production, and you can taste honey and honey ice creams, chocolates, and snacks made by bees that have fed on different kinds of flowers, including clover and blueberry. It's a 10-minute drive east of Montmorency Falls.

Every year, it seems, this amusement park, at the eastern end of Île Ste-Hélène, adds some new and monstrous way to scare the living daylights (and maybe even your lunch) out of you. Vipère, a free-fly roller coaster, lifts you 107 feet up and subjects you to unexpected drops, vertical free falls, and 360-degree somersaults. Chaos is a single loop that takes you forward, backward, and upside down while sitting face-to-face with other riders. Titan, a giant swaying pendulum will have you—or the kids—soaring and spinning 148 feet above the park, traveling at speeds up to 70 mph. Demon, an extreme, high-speed ride, twists you, twirls you, and turns you upside down, then douses you with water jets. The park also aims to terrify with such stomach-turning champions as Endör, the Goliath, the Vampire, Monstre, and Vol Ultime. For the less daring, there are Ferris wheels, boat rides, and kiddie rides.  The popular International Fireworks Competition is held here on Thursdays and Sundays in late June and July.

Mont-Royal's single body of water, actually a reclaimed bog, is a great place for kids (and parents) to float model boats or rent a rowboat in the summertime (See  www.lemontroyal.qc.ca/en/rowboats-and-outdoor-games for rowboat, mölkky, spikeball, and cornhole game rentals). In winter, the lake's frozen surface attracts whole families of skaters, and nearby there's a groomed slope where kids of all ages can ride inner tubes. The glass-fronted Beaver Lake Pavilion is a pleasant bistro that serves lunch and dinner. Skate, snowshoe, and cross-country-ski rentals are available downstairs.

Located beside The Fair­mont Jasper Park Lodge, this glacier-fed lake is surrounded by majestic mountains. A scenic 4-km (2.5-mile) hiking trail surrounds the lake, and bicycles, canoes, kayaks, pedal boats, and stand-up paddleboards can be rented at The Boathouse (open during the summer season) on the lake's shore.