1180 Best Sights in Canada

This may be Cape Breton's—or even Nova Scotia's—most remarkable attraction. After the French were forced out of mainland Nova Scotia in 1713, they established their headquarters here in a walled, fortified town at the mouth of Louisbourg Harbour. The fortress was captured twice (by New Englanders in 1745 and by the British in 1758), and after the second attack it was razed, a critical factor in ending France's dream of a North American empire. In the 1960s, archaeologists rebuilt a fifth of the fortress, using the original plans. From June through mid-October, costumed interpreters well versed in the history of the site convincingly re-create the era with military drills, cannon-firing, and general day-to-day activities of the 18th-century inhabitants. The three inns serve food prepared from 18th-century recipes. Free guided tours are given in high season, and events—including theme dinner theaters and archaeological programs—make a visit even more memorable. An off-season visit, without all these activities, can paint an even more compelling picture of life here 300 years ago.

Overlooking the devastation of one of Canada's deadliest rockslides, the Frank Slide Interpretive Centre tells the tale of the night Turtle Mountain crumbled and 110-million metric tons of limestone crushed the town below. You can wander through interpretive displays and listen to the stories of survivors. Outside the museum is an overlook and an interpretive hiking trail that winds through the rubble.

This incredible 206-square-km (80-square-mile) park---New Brunswick's first national park---is a microcosm of New Brunswick's inland and coastal climates, and has been designated a Dark Sky Preserve by the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada. The park has 100 km (60 miles) of hiking and mountain-biking trails, plus a playground, a heated saltwater pool, tennis courts, and a 9-hole golf course. Among the most scenic of the trails is Laverty Falls, a 2½-km (1½-mile) trail that ascends through hardwood forests to the beautiful Laverty waterfall. At Third Vault Falls, a 3.7-km (2.3-mile) trail from the Laverty Auto Trail Parking Lot, hikers can take a refreshing dip in the pool. On the way to the Coppermine Trail, visitors wind around a steep curve and through a bright-red covered bridge, a favorite spot for photographers. At a dozen scenic spots around the park, two or more red Adirondack chairs have been placed for visitors to sit and admire the view. Park naturalists offer daily programs, including beach walks and hikes that explore the forests (and even find and enjoy nature's edibles along the way). In the evening, there are interactive programs in the amphitheater and campfires. Campsites range from full-service to wilderness, and yurts and "oTENTik" accommodations.

The dozens of stalls in this world-renowned market sell locally grown fruits and vegetables direct from the farm and beyond. Other stalls stock crafts, chocolates, artisanal cheeses, pastas, fish, meat, flowers, and exotic foods. On Thursday in the summer (July to October), farmers sell fruit and vegetables from trucks outside. At the north end of the market, you can pick up a snack, lunch, or coffee from one of the many prepared-food vendors. The Public Market Courtyard, on the waterside, has great views of the city and is also a good place to catch street entertainers. Be prepared to get roped into the action, if only to check the padlocks of an escape artist's gear. Weekends can get very busy.

Grates Cove community is 75 km (46 miles) north of Harbour Grace on Route 70. Here is a photographer's dream, with vistas of both Trinity and Conception bays from the flat rocks by the harbor. In iceberg season, you cannot find a wider field of view for the startling magnificence. The fields are covered with the remains of dry stone walls built by the original Irish settlers. Maintained and well-marked walking paths wind through the hills, the community, and along the cliffs. A community-built museum is always open to the public.

Green Gables, ½ km (¼ mile) west of Lucy Maud Montgomery's Cavendish Home, is the green-and-white 19th-century farmhouse that served as the inspiration for the Cuthbert place in Anne of Green Gables. The house, outbuildings, and grounds, all of which belonged to cousins of the author's grandfather, re-create some of the settings found in the book. The same goes for short walking trails dubbed the Haunted Wood and Lovers Lane/Balsam Hollow. If you're well acquainted with the novel, you'll spy lots of evocative details on-site (say, a broken slate or amethyst brooch). An audiovisual presentation on Montgomery's life shares space with a café in the barn nearby. This National Historic Site has been part of Prince Edward Island National Park since 1937 and hosts daily events throughout July and August such as guided tours, cooking lessons of Avonlea recipes, and old-fashioned games.

The west end of the Greenwich Peninsula, known for its superior beach and shifting sand dunes, was federally protected in 1998 when a 6-km (3½-mile) section was incorporated into Prince Edward Island National Park. Because the dunes are still moving, gradually burying the nearby woods, here and there bleached tree bits thrust up through the sand like wooden skeletons. The road in ends at an interpretive center (open daily early June to mid-September) where displays, hands-on activities, and themed programs teach visitors about the ecology of this unique land formation. Walking trails let you follow the progression from forest to dune to beach, and include a photogenic boardwalk over Bowley Pond.

Seclusion and stunning scenery is your reward for taking the walk to the beach here, and there are various access points involving varying amounts of walking (the shortest is from the parking lot at the end of Wild Rose Road). But take a longer hike along one of the Greenwich Dune Trail loops and along the way you'll enjoy wonderful views across the parabolic dune system (a rare occurrence in North America) and ponds. Once there, the beach is an unspoiled expanse of fine pink sand that makes a curious sound beneath your feet. It's well worth stopping in at the Interpretation Centre at the entrance, too. Note: the dunes are extremely fragile, so keep to the beach, boardwalks, and marked trails. Amenities: lifeguards; parking (free); showers; toilets. Best for: solitude; walking.

Boo, an adult grizzly bear, has called this 20-acre forested area in the middle of the Kicking Horse Mountain Resort home since 2002. Although born in the wild, Boo's mother was poached when he was young, leaving him unable to live on his own. At this refuge center, you can see Boo going about his day, take an interpretive tour, or visit an interpretive center that provides more information on grizzlies in the wild.

One of Newfoundland's most treasured UNESCO World Heritage Sites, this national park showcases the beauty and splendor of this part of the world. The most popular attraction in the northern portion of Gros Morne is the hike and boat tour of Western Brook Pond, a 45-minute walk followed by a two-hour tour on a canopied boat with onboard bathroom facilities. Those in good shape can tackle the 16-km (10-mile) hike up Gros Morne Mountain, the second-highest peak in Newfoundland at 2,644 feet. Weather permitting, the reward for your effort is a unique Arctic landscape and spectacular views. The park's northern coast has an unusual mix of sand beaches, rock pools, and trails through tangled dwarf forests. Sunsets seen from Lobster Head Cove Lighthouse are spectacular. In season you might spot whales here, and a visit to the lighthouse museum, devoted to the history of the area, is rewarding. At the very north end of the park is the community of Cow Head, home to a popular summer program of theater and music. Also nearby, Shallow Bay Beach has a 3-km (2-mile) stretch of soft sand ready-made for beachcombing. Woody Point, a community of old houses and imported Lombardy poplars, is in the southern part of the park, on Route 431. Rising behind it are the Tablelands, a unique rock massif that was raised from the earth's mantle through tectonic upheaval. The Tablelands provide a remarkable exposure of mantle rock, rarely seen at the earth's surface; it's the main reason Gros Morne National Park has received UNESCO World Heritage status.

Located at the mouth of the Fraser River in the historic fishing village of Steveston, this cannery grew from a single salmon canning line in 1894 to British Columbia's biggest salmon cannery—with 2.5 million cans packed annually until the 1930s. Through the years, production was impacted by the landslide at Hells Gate, the onset of the Depression, and World War II, when much of its activities turned to canning herring for wartime consumption by troops and civilians. Designated a Federal Heritage site in 1987, the cannery now operates as a west coast fishing industry museum with ongoing interpretive programs and tours. You can check out the canning line, learn more about BC's fishing industry, and explore the heritage of the various ethnic groups who worked on-site. The Gulf of Georgia Cannery is a 35- to 40-minute drive from Downtown Vancouver. By public transit, take the Canada Line to Brighouse Station, then change to Bus 401, 402, or 407.

Erected between 1826 and 1856 on Halifax's highest hill, the Citadel still dominates the skyline and, as Canada's most-visited National Historic Site, remains a magnet for tourists. The present Citadel, with its dry moat and stone ramparts, was the fourth defensive structure to be built on the site, and formerly was linked to smaller forts and gun emplacements on the harbor islands and the bluffs above the harbor entrance. You can visit the barracks, guardroom, and powder magazine before heading for the parade ground to watch reenactors, sporting kilts and tall feather "bonnets," practice their drills. Tours help bring the history of the fort and the city to life throughout the day in high season, but the best time to visit is just before noon when the Noon Gun is fired—a tradition since 1857. The Citadel is also home to the Army Museum, with excellent exhibits and a War Art Gallery.

Running from the Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21 to Casino Nova Scotia, this photogenic 3-km (2-mile) footpath offers backdoor access to the Historic Properties, the Marine Museum of the Atlantic, and the Discovery Centre. You'll find two of the city's newer landmarks set on the water—the Queen's Marque development that's home to the city's swankiest new hotel, The Muir, some beautiful public art installations, and a raft of new high-end restaurants, and the Salt Yard, a collection of seasonal eateries and a massive patio bar that often has live music. Bishop's Landing (an attractive complex with condos and shops) is on the route, and the Seaport Farmers' Market and the cruise ship terminal are only a few minutes’ walk away. Shops and restaurants line the section between Sackville Landing and the Historic Properties, and in peak season, festivals and events, ice-cream peddlers, and street performers do, too. The water, however, remains the real attraction. To get out on it, take one of the many boat tours that depart from the boardwalk's Cable Wharf.

One of North America's loveliest parks, High Park is especially worth visiting in summer—when special events include professionally staged Shakespeare productions—and in spring when thousands of visitors flock to see the cherry blossoms flower on High Park's sakura trees. Popular fishing spot Grenadier Pond is named after the British soldiers who crashed through the soft ice while rushing to defend the town against invading American forces in 1813. The High Park Zoo, open daily from dawn to dusk, is more modest than the Toronto Zoo but a lot closer to downtown and free. Kids love walking among the deer, Barbary sheep, emus, yaks, llamas, peacocks, and bison.

The park was once privately owned by John George Howard, Toronto's first city architect. Colborne Lodge, his country home built in 1837 on a hill overlooking Lake Ontario, contains its original fireplace, bake oven, and kitchen, as well as many of Howard's drawings and paintings. Other highlights of the 399-acre park are a large swimming pool, tennis courts, fitness trails, and hillside gardens with roses and sculpted hedges. There's limited parking along Bloor Street north of the park, and along the side streets on the eastern side.

The 43-acre "village" is set high on a mountainside with a spectacular view of Bras d'Or Lake and narrow Barra Strait. Its 11 historical buildings (among them a forge, a school, a church, and a barn filled with heritage breeds of livestock) were assembled from all over the province to depict the Highland Scots' way of life, from their origins in the Hebrides to the present day. Costumed animators who tackle daily chores lend the village a further touch of authenticity and are always on the ready to give an impromptu Gaelic lesson. Interactive programs include games and activities for children. There's a gift shop on-site as well as a Genealogy and Family History Center (open by appointment) that may be of interest to anyone with Cape Breton blood in their veins. In the off-season, the gift shop remains open weekdays when the rest of the site is closed.

At 2,227 meters (7,310 feet), this high mountain pass along Highway 40 is the highest paved road pass in Canada. It's a beautiful driving route with stunning mountain scenery and superlative hiking trails and other sites just off the top of the pass. Since the pass is located right at the tree line, this is one of the most accessible high alpine areas in the Rockies. Near the summit, you'll find the Highwood Meadows Trail, a 0.6-km (0.4-mile) accessible interpretive trail that will take you through a fragile alpine meadow. This road over Highwood Pass is closed to motor vehicles from December through mid-June. Early June is a great time for cyclists to enjoy the route without the worry of encountering motor vehicles. Watch for elk, deer, moose, bighorn sheep, and grizzly and black bears as you traverse this pass.

The restored buildings of this British and Canadian military post is a National Historic Site and one of New Brunswick's top attractions. It extends two blocks along Queen Street and includes soldiers' barracks, a guardhouse, and a cellblock. Local artisans operate studios in the casemates below the soldiers' barracks on Barracks Square. In July and August, free guided tours run throughout the day, and there are regular outdoor concerts on Officers' Square. The square hosts a number of festivals, there's nightly entertainment in summer, and on Sunday evening in July and August, free classic movies are shown under the stars in Barracks Square at approximately 9 pm. A summertime Garrison Night Market features arts, crafts, local produce, live music, and more.

Even if you aren't a hockey fan, it's worth a trip to see this shrine to Canada's favorite sport. Exhibits include the original 1893 Stanley Cup, as well as displays of goalie masks, skate and stick collections, players' jerseys, video displays of big games, and a replica of the Montréal Canadiens' locker room. Grab a stick and test your speed and accuracy in the Goodyear Shoot Out virtual experience, or strap on a goalie mask and field shots from big-name players with the Shut Out computer simulation. The grand building, a former Bank of Montréal branch designed by architects Darling & Curry in 1885, is covered with beautiful ornamental details—note the richly carved Ohio stone and the Hermès figure supporting the chimney near the back. At the corner of Front and Yonge Streets, the impressive 17-foot bronze statue Our Game is a good photo op.  Entrance is through Brookfield Place on the lower level.

These famous "giant flowerpots" have been carved by the Bay of Fundy tides, and though a major rockfall in 2016 robbed the one they call "the elephant" of its distinctive profile, walking among them at low tide remains a remarkable experience. At high tide, all you see is the very top, crowned with vegetation and appearing as tiny islands. There are also trails, an interactive visitor center, a café-restaurant, a gift shop, and a children's play area. Guided tours are available. It's about a 15-minute walk from the visitor center to the rocks, but there's also a shuttle service (C$2 each way). The tide comes in very quickly, so check tide tables, keep an eye on your watch, and exit the beach with time to spare.

Operating since 1846, when they were wooden-hulled, coal-fired steamboats, the misty tour boats are now run by Hornblower. Double-deck steel vessels tow fun-loving passengers on 20-minute journeys by day to the foot of the falls, where the spray is so heavy that ponchos must be distributed. Evening firework cruises are twice as long and a little less misty. From the observation areas along the falls, you can see those boarding the boats in their blue slickers. Very similar Maid of the Mist boat tours operate from the American side.  Unless you cower in the center of the boat, your shoes and pants will get wet: wear quick-drying items or bring spares.

Rushing water has carved a path through this must-see limestone canyon. The first 1.1 km (0.7 mile) is a paved walkway that leads to the 10-meter (33-foot) Lower Falls. From here, a slightly more rugged 2.7-km (1¾-mile) trail leads to the nearly 30-meter (100-foot) Upper Falls and a 5-km (3-mile) trail runs to the Ink Pots—six green pools filled with spring water. It takes four to five hours round-trip to complete. Moderate.

You'll have to veer inland to see this 381-square-km (147-square-mile) national park, which is about halfway between the Atlantic and Fundy coasts. The Mi'kmaq used these gentle waterways for thousands of years, a fact made plain by the ancient petroglyphs carved into rocks along the shore. You can explore "Keji" on your own or take a guided interpretive hike—perhaps spying beavers, owls, loons, white-tailed deer, and other wildlife along the way. Guided paddles and children's programs are also available in summer, and leaf peepers can see the deciduous forests blaze with color in autumn. Designated a Dark Sky Preserve by the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada, the park conducts nighttime programs for stargazers.

This 17.3-km (10.7-mile) loop hike with an elevation of 1,325 meters (4,347 feet) is well worth the challenge. The trail passes through forests and valleys streaked with multiple avalanche paths and follows a meadowy ridgeline to the summit that provides 360-degree views of the surrounding snowy peaks. Bears love the vegetation that grows on the avalanche paths, so it's best to heed the signs posted at the trailhead and have a group of at least four to hike the trail. The final 1.2 km (0.7 mile) of the loop is along the highway. Difficult.

When the Mactaquac Dam was created in the 1960s, a number of historically important buildings were saved and moved to a new shore, later to be joined by more rescued buildings from elsewhere in New Brunswick. Restored and furnished, they created a living-history museum in the form of a typical Loyalist settlement of 1790 to 1900. The winding country lanes and meticulously restored homes reflect the society and lifestyles of the era. It's interesting to compare the life of the wealthy owner of the sawmill to that of an immigrant farmer. Hearty meals and heritage ales are served at the Kings Head Inn.

Horticulture and art combine in this spectacular public garden. Nearly 2,500 varieties of trees, shrubs, and plants cover the 27 acres, with woodland trails and many theme gardens, including one specially designed for touch and smell, a rose garden, a bird and butterfly garden, and a gravel garden. A children's fantasy garden offers child-centered activities, and there are daily programs for kids under 12 (1:30 pm in July and August). One of the oldest and rarest trees in the world, a Wollemi pine, named Pericles, is a big attraction, as is the opportunity to participate in a ladybug release program every morning at 10:30. The Sculpture Garden features works by Don Pell, exhibits on loan from the Beaverbrook collection, and many other established and emerging artists, including winners of the annual Kingsbrae Garden Canadian Sculpture Competition. Kingsbrae also has an art gallery, an artists-in-residence series, a café (with live music on Wednesday evenings in July and August), and the superb Savour in the Garden restaurant.

West of the southern end of the Burrard Bridge, Kits Beach is the city's busiest beach—Frisbee tossers, beach volleyball players, and sleek young people are always present. Facilities include a playground, restaurant, concession stand, and tennis courts. Kitsilano Pool is here. At 137.5 meters (451 feet), it's the longest pool in Canada and one of the few heated saltwater pools in the world (open May to September). Just steps from the sand, the Boathouse on Kits Beach serves lunch, dinner, and weekend brunch inside and on its big ocean-view deck. There's also a take-out concession at the same site. Inland from the pool, the Kitsilano Showboat, an outdoor amphitheater, hosts music and dance performances during the summer. Amenities: food and drink, lifeguards, parking (for a fee), toilets, and water sports. Best for: sunset, swimming, and walking.

The word Kouchibouguac (Kou-she-boo-gwack) means "river of the long tides" in the Mi'kmaq language, and this natural wilderness park consists of sandy beaches, dunes, bogs, salt marshes, lagoons, and freshwater, and is home to an abundance of birds. It is also a Dark Sky Preserve, so when the bird-watching is over for the day, stargazing can take over. The visitor center (open mid-May–mid-October) features information and interpretive exhibits. Kellys Beach is supervised and has facilities. There are more than 60 km (37 miles) of trails for biking and hiking in summer and for cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, snow walking, and kick sledding in winter. The forests and peat bogs can be explored along 10 nature trails, each of which has a parking lot. There are lots of nature-interpretation programs, and you can canoe, kayak, and picnic or rent bikes and boats. In summer there are Voyageur Canoe trips, paddling to a seal colony while your interpreter recounts tales of Mi'kmaq and Acadian culture. Other programs include storytelling, Mi'kmaq dances, and outdoor theater. Reserve ahead for one of the 311 campsites.

L'Anse aux Meadows is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Norwegian team of Helge and Anne Stine Ingstad discovered the remains of Viking settlements here in 1960. In 2021, researchers determined that the settlement had been active in 1021 AD. Parks Canada has a visitor center and has reconstructed four of the huts to give you a sense of the era and how the Vikings lived. An interpretation program introduces you to the food, clothing, and way of life of that time. The site has also turned one reconstructed hut into a very fun, interactive escape room called the Test of Tykir. 

Often regarded as one of the Old City's most iconic attractions, this stairway lives up to its playful name: Breakneck Steps. It's not just for the stunning views of the neighborhood; the sheer ambition and steepness of city architect Charles Baillairgé's 1893 design truly explain its moniker. Yet, despite the ominous name, no serious injuries have been reported on its 59 steps. This iron masterpiece was quite the upgrade from the original 17th-century wooden stairway, which first dared to link Upper and Lower Town.

Here's a wonderful opportunity to learn about the Loyalists who settled the area after fleeing the American Revolution. Several buildings, including the former county courthouse dating back to 1859, the old firehall (fire station), and a former school, house an eclectic collection that include 19th-century farm tools, Native Canadian arrowheads, and a military collection that includes uniforms and a World War I Fokker aircraft. The museum also maintains the Tibbits Hill Pioneer School, a stone schoolhouse built in 1834 to serve rural families—kids can find out what education was like in the mid-19th century.