1182 Best Sights in Canada

The oldest public square in Montréal, dating to the 17th century, was a market during the French regime and later became a Victorian garden.

The cross-shaped 1962 office tower of Place Ville Marie was Montréal's first modern skyscraper. The mall complex underneath it was the first link in the Underground City. The wide expanse of the building's plaza, just upstairs from the mall, makes a good place to relax with coffee or a snack. Benches, picnic tables, potted greenery, and fine views of Mont-Royal make it popular with walkers, tourists, and office workers. While there you'll surely want to try out the gastro food pavilion, Le Cathcart Restaurants et Biergarten ( lecathcart.com/en). For more opportunities to wine and dine while also enjoying great views of the city, the building's 44th, 45th and 46th floors are home to high altitude restaurants/bars and a rooftop terrace: Rose Orange ( placevillemarie.com/en/restaurants/roseorange) on the 44th floor; Sora45 ( placevillemarie.com/en/restaurants/sora45), on, you guessed it, the 45th floor; and Hiatus ( placevillemarie.com/en/restaurants/hiatus-restaurant) on the 46th.

When Montréal was under attack, citizens and soldiers would rally at Place-d'Armes, but these days the only rallying is done by tourists, lunching office workers, and flocks of voracious pigeons. The pigeons are particularly fond of the triumphant statue of Montréal's founder, Paul de Chomedey, with his lance upraised, perched above the fountain in the middle of the cobblestoned square. Tunnels beneath the square protected the colonists from the winter weather and provided an escape route; unfortunately, they are too small and dangerous to visit.

On the western end of Cap-Pelé, this fine, sandy Blue Flag beach slopes gently into the warm waters of the Northumberland Strait, so it's very popular with families. A boardwalk runs through the adjacent salt marshes where waterfowl nest. The beach complex includes a restaurant and lounge with live music in the evening, and cottages are available for rent year-round. Amenities: food and drink; parking (fee); showers; toilets. Best for: sunrise; swimming; walking.

In 2013, Montréal got a new, ultramodern, C$48 million planetarium, one of only a handful of planetariums worldwide to have two circular theaters—one for astronomy exhibits and the other a high-tech multimedia venue. Part of the Espace pour la Vie complex, this state-of-the-art facility delivers a futuristic experience unlike any other. The permanent exhibit lets the whole family have fun exploring life on Earth and (perhaps) in the universe through interactive and hands-on stations. Hours vary seasonally, so check online before heading out.

Pick apples and strawberries (in season) or buy fresh fruits, vegetables, and apple cider at this family farm. In March/April, enjoy maple-sugar treats from the roadside shack.

The O'Reilly family home, an 1861 Italianate cottage overlooking the Selkirk Waterway, has been restored to its original splendor, with the largest collection of Victorian furnishings in western Canada. You can take a half-hour audio tour of the house (presented from a servant's point of view) and stroll in the English country garden. Point Ellice House is only a few minutes' drive north of Downtown Victoria, but it's in an industrial area, so it's more fun to come by sea. Victoria Harbour Ferries leave from a dock in front of the Fairmont Empress; the trip lasts about 15 minutes and takes in the sights of the harbor. The house is open only on weekends from noon until 4 pm.

Most of the city's former fortifications have been turned into public parks, including this one, which encompasses 186 wooded acres on a headland south of downtown with walking trails and seafront paths. The major military installation here is a massive round tower dating from the late 18th century, but the greatest threat the park ever faced came from Mother Nature. In September 2003, Hurricane Juan tore through, uprooting or damaging 75,000 trees (about 75% of the park's total) in a matter of hours, in the process leaving present-day parkgoers the same harbor views that must have inspired its use as a military command post in the first place. Having been nurtured since the storm, Point Pleasant is again immensely popular with strollers, joggers, and dog walkers. It's the perfect vantage point from which to watch ships entering the harbor, and in summer it's the site of Shakespeare by the Sea performances.

Erected in 1845, Point Prim is PEI's oldest lighthouse, a circular brick structure designed by the same architect (Isaac Smith) as Province House in Charlottetown. Knowledgeable guides will tell you the history of the lighthouse while you climb to the top.

This 3.9-km (2.4-mile) boardwalk runs alongside Policeman’s Creek and passes ponds and forested areas with views of the mountains. It's a good place to see ducks, birds, and other wildlife and there are plenty of spots with pretty views.

Opened in 2017 in a striking purpose-built waterfront facility at the foot of Lonsdale Avenue, this public gallery focuses on photography and media-based art. You can join a tour of the current exhibit, led by an art professional, on Saturday afternoon or Thursday evening. The on-site shop has an excellent selection of photography books and photo supplies, including Polaroid cameras.

A slender isthmus tethers this peninsula to the west coast. Other than about 20 tiny communities retaining a French and First Nations heritage, the peninsula's wilderness interior and rocky coastline are largely undeveloped. Cape St. George offers superb ocean views and some rewarding hiking trails.

Hiking trails and a boardwalk lead to a sandy beach here, but the park's main attractions are its two lighthouses, which share the lofty bluff above. One is still working; the other, built in the early 1920s, houses the Nova Scotia Lighthouse Interpretive Centre, which recounts the history, lore, and vital importance of the province's lights. Amenities: none. Best for: swimming; surfing. 

Just west of the Yellowhead Pass is lovely Portal Lake. A short loop trail around the lake offers the opportunity to walk on the continental divide. There's a lovely picnic area---despite its location next to a major highway. You'll also find toilets and interpretive signs. If you have a British Columbia fishing license, you can fish for rainbow trout in the lake.

In the "French Fry Capital of the World" (aka the location of McCain's HQ) it's hardly surprising that this humble vegetable, which fills fields for miles around and keeps many folks employed hereabouts, is celebrated—but you may be surprised by how interesting it is. Run by the community as a nonprofit enterprise, Potato World has some fascinating displays related to the history, industry, and science of the potato, plus hands-on exhibits; and, when the café is open, you'll have the chance to munch on some hot fries.

Visiting potters, many from France, study Canadian ceramic techniques at this pottery studio, about 25 km (15½ miles) east of La Malbaie. Classes for amateurs are available from late June through August (by the hour or longer, starting at C$15). Half of the bright yellow barn housing the studio is a store, with ceramics and other crafts made by Québec artists.

Often called the Barrier Fire Lookout trail, the Prairie View Trail switchbacks uphill on an old forestry road to a spectacular viewpoint looking south over Barrier Lake. From this viewpoint, you can either continue to the Barrier Fire Lookout on the north side of the ridge or descend along Jewel Pass. The Jewel Pass trail goes alongside Jewell Creek and passes Jewell Falls before ending on the shores of Barrier Lake. It's 9.8-km (6.1-miles) round-trip with a 475-meter (1,558-foot) elevation gain to the McConnell Ridge viewpoint and another 1.4-km (0.9-miles) round-trip with an 80-meter (262-foot) elevation gain to the Barrier Fire Lookout. If you add Jewell Pass, it's 14 km (8.7 miles) round-trip. Moderate.

This museum pays tribute to the life and work of fishermen in Twillingate, whose livelihood was determined by annual lottery, which assigned the top fishing area or prime berth. Visitors are awed by actual reconstructions of two whale skeletons, as well as an underwater camera and an iceberg gallery. There's also a blacksmith shop, an aquarium, an observation tower, and a crafts studio. The facility's owner, David Boyd, aka Captain Dave ( captdave.ca), conducts boat trips to fish for lobster and cod or to watch whales and icebergs.

Named for the prince who later became King Edward VIII, this hotel was constructed between 1926 and 1927 and was designated a National Historic Site in 1995. Take in the magnificent view from the ridge outside the hotel, or pop inside to enjoy the vista from the comfort of the expansive lobby, where afternoon tea is served. The hotel charges a parking fee, but there are a few free parking spaces. Inquire with the parking attendant about availability.

Off King Street one block back from the waterfront, this street is full of historic buildings, particularly around Princess and Duke streets, preserving some of the city's finest late 19th-century architecture. The Old Post Office, at No. 115, is a particularly fine example. This is no frozen-in-time monument, though—these buildings now hold shops, galleries, and restaurants so good and plentiful that the site has become a dining destination. The triple-bulb lamp known as the Three Sisters, at the far end of Prince William Street, was erected in 1848 to guide ships into the harbor. Next to it is a replica of the Celtic cross on nearby Partridge Island, where many immigrants landed and were quarantined.

Prince’s Island Park is a beautiful festival park that hosts the Calgary Folk Festival and the city’s Canada Day celebration. It’s easily accessible by foot or bicycle from either side of the river and offers a pleasant natural getaway from the city. Grab a picnic lunch at River Cafe and make a day of it.

At 64 meters (211 feet), Prospect Point is the highest point in the park and provides striking views of the Lions Gate Bridge (watch for cruise ships passing below), the North Shore, and Burrard Inlet. There's also a (summer only) souvenir shop, a snack bar with terrific ice cream, and a restaurant. From the seawall, you can see where cormorants build their seaweed nests along the cliff ledges.

Charles Dickens proclaimed this structure, now a National Historic Site, "a gem of Georgian architecture." Erected in 1819 to house Britain's first overseas self-government, the sandstone building still serves as the meeting place for the provincial legislature. The politicos' proceedings are notoriously dull, but the free tours of the building in July and August yield many interesting tidbits. Self-guided tours are available year-round. 

The interior chamber of this imposing building, where the premier and elected members govern the province, reflects the taste of the late Victorians. The chandeliers are brass, and some of the prisms are Waterford. Replicas of portraits by Sir Joshua Reynolds of King George III and Queen Charlotte hang here. There's a freestanding circular staircase, and the library ( 506/453–2338) owns a complete four-volume set of hand-color copper engravings of Audubon's Birds of America, one of only five sets in Canada. Wander in for a look around, or call ahead to arrange a tour.

This sail-shape building contains a bright and lively museum celebrating the province's connection with both land and sea. Exhibits include boats, ship models, and artifacts from the 1800s to the present.

Pyramid Lake sits below Pyramid Mountain and is surrounded by gorgeous mountain views. There are picnic tables and fire rings on the beach and there's a large dock with chairs where you can sit and enjoy the views. Farther along the lake is the trail that leads to Pyramid Lake Island.

The drive from Jasper townsite to Pyramid Lake is only 7 km (4 miles), but it's a pretty one that passes the equally stunning Patricia Lake (also worth a stop). At Pyramid Lake, you can rent a boat or take the short hike out to Pyramid Island. Be on the lookout for elk, bears, and other wildlife.

Set on 160 acres on the slops of Mount Boucherie, Quails' Gate Estate Winery offers wine tastings all set against a panoramic view of Okanagan Lake. Reservations are highly recommended during peak season. The family-owned winery produces more than a dozen different varieties, although it's best known for its award-winning Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. The on-site Old Vines Restaurant is open year-round.