Canada is a spectacularly beautiful country. There are so many amazing places to visit and under the current circumstances, travelling within Canada has never been a better option. We have gone out west for the last two summers and I would return every summer if I could. (You can read about that here.) We hope to try and make it out again this summer so the kids can see Lake Louise, minus all of the international tourists. Since I was ten years old, I have headed north every summer to our beloved campground near Parry Sound, Ontario. This area of Ontario (basically, Muskoka) welcomes you in with its glass-like lakes, starry nights and dense forests. This is where I reset; I connect with nature, I connect with my family and I connect back to myself.

I asked six friends to share their favourite places (and their personal photos!) to visit as a tribute to our beautiful country for Canada Day.

From Corry…

How do I choose my favourite place in Canada? There are so many fantastic places and I still haven’t been to so many. I’m born and raised a BC girl so I have some affiliation to my homelands. But I’m lucky enough to have married into a family who have roots in Newfoundland. I love the water as it makes me feel free and happy. Long Beach in BC is spectacular (photo above). My family went to Ucluelet a couple of years ago. It was August, known as ‘Fogust’ there. We tried surfing for the first time. We started our day with our dry land lesson, just hearing the waves. When we actually got in the ocean, it was so much work to paddle out against the waves. We certainly got beaten up by the waves, but when you got up on your board, it was amazing! It was one of the best family experiences ever. By the end of surfing, the fog had rolled out and we could see the sparkle of the ocean under the sunshine. It’s mesmerizing to just watch and listen to the waves. How much better does it get than walking through Cathedral Grove and hugging centuries old Douglas fir trees on the way to Ucluelet, surfing and walking the beach and Pacific Rim trails, eating fresh delicious seafood!

Then to the east coast…nothing makes you realize that Mother Nature rules the world than sitting on the rock in Newfoundland during a storm. The waves are so powerful! I have huge respect for the fisherman; they put their lives in her hands. My favourite place in Newfoundland is Brigus South. I can sit, drink coffee and just watch the water. I can spend the morning watching for whales. I honestly don’t even know what time of the day the whales would be active, but my theory is they’d get excited and jump up (breach) for the sun of a new day! Brigus South is magical when it’s stormy, foggy, or sparkling under the sun. And if you don’t get lost, there are some great hikes that are part of the east coast trail.

From Blair…

My favourite place to visit in Canada is the Avalon Peninsula in Newfoundland. The colourful housing makes it feel like you’re walking through a painting when you’re walking the neighbourhoods in St John’s. The people there are the most kind-hearted and friendly. Ready to offer you a smile, a story, their history or bring you home to share a meal seemingly at every corner.  Seems like everyone on the island plays an instrument and plays it well and lucky be the day you find yourself part of a kitchen party.
 And finally, the East Coast Trail is a little piece of paradise. This 300km hiking trail runs alongside the Atlantic Ocean and passes through St John’s Harbour and Signal Hill. The rugged terrain of the island offers breathtaking views of the coastline all along the trail.  

From Shirin…

Last summer my family and I visited Gros Morne National Park in Newfoundland. We loved Newfoundland due to its rugged nature, uber friendly people and delicious food – we especially LOVED the fresh seafood. We saw the Tablelands which is a UNESCO world heritage site. While there we also really enjoyed our hike to the Green Garden Trail. Another fantastic trip was our boat tour visiting the Western Brook Pond. This is another UNESCO world heritage site. The boat takes you through a landlocked fjord which is surrounded by 2000 foot cliffs. The highlight of the trip was of course hiking the Grose Morne mountain – a 16 km loop – well worth the challenge. Another fun half day activity was kayaking close to Norris point. If planning a trip like this is a bit daunting I highly recommend using the lovely ladies at Linkum Tours. They organize EVERYTHING and because they’re able to find good deals we found that it was actually cheaper and super convenient using their services rather than us planning and booking park entrance tickets, accommodations or arranging car rentals. 

From Sue…

My favourite place to visit in Canada is Smithers, British Columbia. From the time I disembark right up to departure, I have a smile on my face. The fact that a large part of my heart (see photo above) resides in Quick Station, just outside of Smithers, certainly influences my joy! Smithers is located in the Bulkley Valley. Mountains, lakes, rivers, and forest surround you. Hiking, swimming, boating and fishing invite you. The air is fresh, the wildlife abundant and a generosity of spirit is ubiquitous. I feel a sense of peace and contentment overcome me as I settle in to explore all that the valley offers. Life is good!


From Abby…

Bayfield, Ontario. An absolute summer sweet spot. What I imagine the Hamptons to be like, minus the celebrities, although I did one time spot Tim Allen (Tim the tool man Taylor) strolling the quiet cobblestone-like sidewalks of this little village. It’s, in my opinion, one of the sweetest summer destinations in Ontario, and I’m sure it could stack up to all of Canada. A quaint beachside village full of charm and independently owned shops and restaurants. An hour or so drive from Stratford, makes it the perfect day trip. Even if the public beach isn’t open, there is lots of open space to walk the streets and a MUST is taking in the incredible views at Pioneer Park. Pioneer Park is a gorgeous walk from the heart of town, to probably one of the most tranquil green spaces with THE most incredible view. Grab a coffee at Shop Bike and wander your way to Pioneer Park to sit at a bench or picnic table or just on the lush green grass. 

Another MUST do is visit the shops – most are OPEN now with proper safety precautions in place. A few of my personal favourites Hive , Archie’s Surf Shop , Sea Jewels  

More MUST dos…

EAT & DRINK here:
Best frozen yogurt of your life and FISH tacos!! Copenhagen’s
Drinks on the PATIO at The Albion Hotel
the BURGER at The Black Dog is second to NONE
secret garden patio for PIZZA at Public House 

A relaxing summer destination everyone will LOVE. 

From Brad…

Our family has been travelling to the Canadian Laurentians for over 30 years. What started out as ski vacations in the winter at Mont-Tremblant, Quebec and Sommet Saint-Sauveur have turned into summer hiking, biking and water adventures. The Tremblant region is a magical place, with two national parks and many regional parks. The local flora and fauna casts their spell on you, and we enjoy the region so much that my twin brother, Shawn, and I built a chalet on the north side of Mont Tremblant at Lac-Supérieur. A quaint and relatively undiscovered community, Lac-Supérieur is ringed with traditional water-side cottages, lived in with french spirit. The provincial food and wine feeds the anglo soul. 

Our chalet, named Spahuas 7, has Scandinavian-inspired interiors, imagined and designed by Montreal’s YH2 Architecture. Our vacation home sits on a mountain that was once the property of a former religious congregation, and it tastefully integrates contemporary architecture in a natural environment that blends into the wild contours of the land.

Hope this inspires you to see more of this great country!

Where is your favourite place to visit in Canada?