1182 Best Sights in Canada

The canal is all about leisure—biking, rollerblading, strolling along the water, and picnicking—but it wasn't always so. Built in 1825 to get boats and cargo around the treacherous Lachine Rapids, it quickly became a magnet for all sorts of industries. But when the St. Lawrence Seaway opened in 1959, allowing large cargo ships to sail straight from the Atlantic to the Great Lakes without stopping in Montréal, the canal closed to navigation and became an illicit dumping ground for old cars and the bodies of victims of underworld killings. The area around it degenerated into an industrial slum.

A federal agency rescued the site in 1978, planting lawns and trees along the old canal, transforming it into a long, narrow park, or parc linéaire. Some of the abandoned canneries, sugar refineries, and steelworks have since been converted into desirable residential and commercial condominiums. The bicycle path is the first link in the more than 97 km (60 miles) of bike trails that make up the Pôle des Rapides ( 514/364–4490).

Two permanent exhibits at the Lachine Canal Visitor Services Centre, at the western end of the canal, explain its history and construction. The center also has a shop and lookout terrace.

Winding north of Lake Louise, this 7-km (4½-mile) trail has stunning views of Lake Agnes and Mirror Lake. The trail passes through an old-growth forest and comes up the right side of a waterfall before ending at a teahouse where you can stop for dessert. It will take at least four hours to complete this trail. Moderate.

This lake is a favorite sandy beach and swimming area with locals. There is a dock, a playground, a grassy area for throwing a ball or Frisbee, and a day-use area with picnic tables, fire rings, and grills. A paved interpretive trail loops around the lakeshore. Dogs are not allowed on the beach, but they are allowed in other areas.

This kid-friendly 2.4-km (1½-mile) loop trail with interpretive signage is paved and mostly level. It takes most people less than two hours to complete. Toilets are at two locations, and there is a shelter halfway around. Easy.

Beside Lake Annette, this picnic area has shelters and tables. It's a favorite with families who come to the lake to swim.

On the Naramata Bench above Okanagan Lake, Lake Breeze Vineyards is one of the region's most attractively located small wineries. Their wines are known to be clean, crisp, and fruity. The tasting room and garden patio make for a lovely setting; the outdoor Patio Restaurant is open for lunch (weather permitting) between May and mid-October.

This beautiful turquoise lake is surrounded by mountains. It has a quiet beach and a dock. The glacier-fed water is cold, but on a hot summer day, it's a popular spot to paddle and wade. You can get there by car or bike, or hiking. Dogs are not allowed on the beach area of the lake.

One of the most photographed spots in the park, you can walk beside the lake and enjoy the nearby hiking trails in the summer or go ice skating, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and take sleigh rides in the winter. The lakeside Fairmont Château Lake Louise hotel is a departure point for several short, moderately strenuous, well-traveled hiking routes, including the popular 3-km (2-mile) trail to Lake Agnes. The tiny lake hangs on a mountain-surrounded shelf that opens to the east with a bird's-eye view of the Beehives and Mount Whitehorn. The teahouse (cash only) by Lake Agnes serves soups, sandwiches, and snacks. In 2021, Parks Canada implemented a mandatory parking fee for the Lake Louise parking lot mid-May to mid-October. Parks Canada also operates a shuttle bus service during peak season. Bus tickets must be booked in advance. 

Hop on the gondola to an alpine plateau for a stunning view that includes more than a dozen glaciers. The deck of the viewing platform is a good place to enjoy an ice-cream cone, a cold drink, or a picnic lunch, or you can buy a ticket that includes breakfast or lunch at the lodge near the gondola's base. Several easy hikes are accessible from the top of the lift and guided interpretive walks (45 minutes) take place several times daily. The Wildlife Interpretive Centre is a 5–10 minute walk from the top of the gondola and it has programming, life-size animal displays, and information about local wildlife. It's common to see grizzly bears from the safety of the gondola.

Stop here to get maps and information about area attractions and trails. Parks Canada staff can assist with up-to-date park information. Banff and Lake Louise Tourism staff can provide information on area accommodations and amenities, and you can purchase educational books and other materials.

Beautiful glacier-fed Lake Magog sits in front of Mt. Assiniboine and it is the site of most of the park's facilities and trailheads. The two main hiking routes into the park lead to this lake. An easy 3.2-km (2-mile) trail around the west shore of the lake offers wonderful views of Mt. Assiniboine reflecting off the lake surface.

A popular spot, this area has picnic shelters, tables, flush toilets, fire rings, and fireplaces. Hike, rent a boat, or try your luck at fishing.

This 2.8-km (1.7-mile) trail with minimal ups and downs in elevation takes you close to the shoreline of the vibrant, turquoise-colored Lake O'Hara. You generally follow the shoreline, and at times the trail cuts higher along the mountain and across gullies above the lake. A highlight is the Seven Veils Falls that cascades into the lake. Easy.

This 6.4-km return (4-mile) well-signed trail starts along Lake O'Hara, then proceeds past a waterfall and another small turquoise lake before reaching Lake Oesa, which is nestled among the scree slopes at the bottom of towering snow-covered mountains. Although the trail is above Lake O'Hara, elevation gain is minimal at 240 meters (787 feet) made via a series of switchbacks that pass through some grassy slopes and meadows surrounded by quartzite cliffs. In places, huge slabs of flat rock provide a stable walking surface. Moderate.

Built in 1905 with gold-rush money, this elegantly renovated brick warehouse is now home to offices, shops, and Steamworks, a popular brewpub. From the oversized bay window at the rear of the lobby, you can appreciate where the shoreline was 100 years ago, as well as enjoy views of Burrard Inlet and the North Shore Mountains.

This Second Empire–style house built in 1878 was once home to two of Canada's most important prime ministers, Wilfred Laurier and William Lyon Mackenzie King. The original furnishings, including King's crystal ball, give a glimpse into the lives of these two men whose political life spanned the two world wars. A section of the third floor duplicates the basement office in the residence of Lester Pearson. The Nobel Prize winner was prime minister from 1963 to 1968.

A passenger ferry operated by this company leaves Fortune (south of Grand Bank) from late April through December. Through July and August, there is daily service (with twice-daily service some days), but the schedule thins out rapidly in the shoulder season so check the schedule and plan ahead. The crossing takes roughly an hour; one-way is about C$65 (45€), round-trip is about C$110 (73€), but rates are set in euros so check the website and exchange rate close to your travel date.

The popular canal-side (613/594–5127) spills outside in warm weather. In winter it's a cozy vantage spot from which to watch skaters on the canal.

The Scieur brothers, Jean-Paul and François, are sixth-generation winemakers originally from France, who have created their own "Champagne universe" in Québec. Their Selection range of wines includes sparkling, white, and rosé. Red, fortified, flavored, and ice wines are also available. From mid-June to the end of October, they offer the Bubbles, Wines, and Champagne guided tour (but only in French due to the extensive vocabulary of the subject) as well as à la carte tastings for the price of a C$6 souvenir glass. Visitors may also tour the Traditional Method Interpretation Centre to learn about the history of the Scieur brothers or just wander the vineyard and experience a little bit of France in Québec.

This Acadian culture theme park re-creates the world of La Sagouine, an old charwoman-philosopher created by celebrated Acadian author Antonine Maillet. It's a make-believe island community that comes to life (in French) in daylong musical and theatrical performances, with dinner theater/musical evenings July through September. There are also four performances in English Wednesday to Sunday, from June to September. Tours are available in English and French, and the Friday-night jam sessions are accessible to English-speaking visitors, too.

Interpretive panels, walking paths, and listening posts provide insight into the demise of the only fully Canadian-owned and -operated coal mine in this region of Alberta. From mid-May to Labor Day, visitors can take a self-guided tour of this site and see the ruins of the coal processing plant and the coke ovens. You can still visit in fall and winter, but trails are not maintained and the public toilets are closed.

These beautiful falls within a park inside the Stonehammer Geopark tumble over ancient rocks and near a fossil of a rare tetrapod trackway. The park provides visitors with tantalizing views of the falls from the boardwalk in the wooded surroundings, where there are picnic tables and hiking trails. At the right time of year, you can pick wild strawberries here.

The center, which contains the Elizabeth LeFort Gallery, displays samples of the rugs, tapestries, and related artifacts that helped make Chéticamp the World Rug Hooking Capital. Born in 1914, Elizabeth LeFort created more than 300 tapestries, some of which have hung in the Vatican, the White House, and Buckingham Palace. (One standout depicting U.S. presidents is made from 11 km [7 miles] of yarn!) Les Trois Pignons is also an Acadian cultural and genealogical information center.

The archives contain more than 60 million manuscripts and government records, 2 million maps, and about 21 million photographs. Genealogists can visit for the parish registers and census returns from across Canada (call ahead). The library collects, preserves, and promotes the published heritage of Canada and exhibits books, paintings, maps, and photographs. Both the library and archives mount exhibitions regularly.

The spiraling library building, open plazas, and lofty atrium of Library Square, completed in the mid-1990s, were built to evoke images of the Colosseum in Rome. A high-tech public library is the core of the structure; the outer edge of the spiral houses cafés and fast-food outlets.

Honoring the memory of the city's first children's librarian, this branch houses the Osborne Collection of Early Children's Books, which contains over 90,000 items, including a cuneiform tablet dating all the way back to 2,000 BC. In addition, the Merril Collection of Science Fiction, Speculation, and Fantasy includes another 80,000-plus items covering everything from parapsychology to UFOs.

This former family fruit farm has morphed into a breathtaking 6-acre garden of flowers, trees, ponds, and streams. A path winds through a maze of constantly changing colors, passing over footbridges and beside jungles of wildflowers. Benches are strategically placed beneath weeping willows for shade or beside plants that draw butterflies and hummingbirds. The Frog City Café is an excellent stop for breakfast or a light lunch.