The best Canadian alternatives to American tourism destinations

Sample gold medal wine in Ontario and British Columbia

Napa Valley? Think again!

Canada is known for beautiful forests, deep wilderness and unrivalled natural beauty, but is also a rising north star when it comes to wine and spirits.

British Columbia and Ontario are the two provinces best known for their devotion to the grape. These twin heartlands produce Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon, among others.

What’s more, Canada’s reputation as a great place to not only dine, but wine, has been steadily building for decades with more and more gold medal wins each year from globally recognized wine tasting bodies.

In Ontario some great options for wine country tourism include:

• Niagara-on-the-Lake and the Niagara Peninsula
• Prince Edward County
• Lake Erie North Shore
• The Niagara Escarpment and surrounding area

Meanwhile, BC offers a raft of other tasting opportunities, including:

• The Okanagan Valley
• The Similkameen Valley
• Fraser Valley
• The Kootenays

For wine connoisseurs, Niagara-on-the-Lake and the Okangan Valley are two of the best wine spots in the country. Both regions have produced gold medal quality wines, according to the International Wine & Spirits Competition and beautiful wineries to visit. Since 1969, the IWSC has been a world leader in wine and spirits tasting.

Unexpected vet bills don’t have to break the bank

Spot Pet Insurance offers coverage for treatment of accidents, illnesses, prescriptions drugs, emergency care and more.

Plus, their preventative care plan covers things like routine check-ups, microchip implantation, and vaccinations, if you want to give your pet the all-star treatment while you protect your bank account.

Get A Quote

Shopping north of the border: alternatives to buying US

The threat of on-going US tariffs and an evolving trade war have led Canadians to fight back by changing our travel destinations and our buying habits.

Canada's big three shopping hubs are Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver, all of which offer unique shopping experiences that can satisfy even the most curious tourist.

Taking in Toronto: markets and more

Toronto’s St. Lawrence Market is perfect for anyone looking for the feeling of a European style marketplace with the culinary variety to match.

Meanwhile, a fantastic spot for a more original Toronto vibe is Kensington Market with its combination of walkable, pedestrian-friendly streets, and tiny shops. Unlike St. Lawrence Market Kensington is part of a residential neighbourhood so you’ll be shoulder-to-shoulder with Torontonians going about their day.

Your last stop could be the delightfully retro Distillery District east of the downtown core, which sports a heady mix of high-end shopping, restaurants and art galleries.

True to the name, the Distillery District was re-developed from an old distilling and shipping area. This makes for picturesque, cobblestone streets perfectly suited for a social media post or two.

Making it in Montreal: Canada’s nightlife capital

Montreal has long been considered one of the biggest hubs for Canadian culture in the country, both in terms of nightlife and shopping. Part of this is thanks to the mixing of French and English that combines the best of North America and Europe.

If you’re taking in the city during the day, Bonescours Market is a fantastic spot to shop for produce or made-in-Canada jewellery, crafts and art. The market also offers a range of exhibitions and events.

One of Montreal’s most vibrant neighbourhoods is the Plateau. Mont-Royal Avenue cuts right through this student hub and showcases the city’s character with second-hand shops, great restaurants and bars.

Québec City is also worth a mention while we’re on the topic of francophone Canada. Québec City is one of the oldest cities in Canada and is designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to its melding of French and English colonial architecture.

Canada’s Disney World

One of the best alternatives for Canadians and Americans looking to swap out a Mickey Mouse vacation is a visit to Canada’s Wonderland.

The theme park opened in 1981 and has long been a destination for Ontarians looking to brave roller coasters, catch the classic Halloween Haunt, or ward off the winter blues with WinterFest. Aside from these special events Canada’s Wonderland includes over 200 attractions and a 20-acre water park.

Canada’s top credit cards—find your perfect match!

Maximize rewards, save on interest, or earn cash back. Compare the best credit cards in Canada and pick the one that works for you!

Find Your Card Now

Snowcapped mountains and skiing: alternatives to Colorado

Canada is already known for a wintery climate perfectly suited for winter sports of all stripes, including skiing and snowboarding.

One of the best-known ski resorts in the world is British Columbia’s very own Whistler-Blackcomb. This mammoth pair of mountains offer 8,171 acres of terrain, 200 plus marked runs, 16 alpine bowls and even three glaciers.

Whistler-Blackcomb is open daily and a truly unique experience. You can book tickets here.16

For those planning a trip to Canada’s east your best options for skiing are either Mont Tremblant if you’re keen for the night life, or Le Massif de Charlevoix for straight skiing.

Exploring the Canadian Rockies in Alberta and BC

Naturally, no post about Canadian tourism would be complete without mentioning the Rockies.

After all, Canada’s wilderness, rugged landscape and pristine forests are a huge draw for the adventurous — whether you’re keen to ski or hit the backcountry with bag in hand.

The Canadian Rockies stretch all the way from BC to Alberta. Unlike the American Rockies, our national geological fixture was shaped by the retreat of glaciers, which led to the formation of dramatic peaks, valleys and basins.

Today, the Canadian Rockies are both a haven for dedicated trail blazers and the perfect resort side attraction.

Alberta’s Rockies: mountainside resorts

One of Alberta’s crown jewels is the resort town of Banff, located right in Banff National Park.

Banff is one of the most beautiful resort towns in Canada. Take in the iconic twin turquoise waters of Lake Louise or Moraine Lake. Explore icefields, ride a gondola up Sulphur Mountain and end the day with a soak in a natural hot spring.

Travellers on a budget should check out the Banff Legacy Trail, which was built for Banff National Park’s 125th anniversary and offers 22.3km of paved paths reaching from the Bow Valley Parkway to the Banff Park East Gate.

Last, but not least, we suggest checking out some of the nearby ski resorts.

• Sunshine Meadows
• Lake Louise Ski Resort
• Mt. Norquay Ski Resort

If travelling to Banff in the off season some of these resorts also offer summer activities, often with a focus on local wildlife viewing.

British Columbia’s Rockies: rugged wilderness

The Canadian Rockies also stretch into BC, including the picturesque Kooteneys and Yoho National Park of Canada.

Both regions have less tourist and resort infrastructure compared to Banff. This makes for a more rugged, less crowded opportunity to explore Canada’s rich landscape.

The Kootenays span over 200km of trails, scenic driving in a landscape shaped by glaciers, and plenty of backpacking for those looking to dig deep into the park.

Another highlight for archaeologists, amateur or otherwise, are the park’s deposits of Burgess Shale. Over 500 million years ago, the Kootenays were covered by a shallow sea, which means the very peaks of the mountains are rich with perfectly preserved fossils of marine life.

Meanwhile, Yoho National Park is also only 17 miles, or a 45-minute drive, from Lake Louise in Alberta, making it a great day tripping option. Some great spots to visit include the stunning Wapta Falls, Emerald Lake and the picturesque village of Field in the centre of the park.

Stargazing and camping in the prairies and New Brunswick

Due to our sparse population, Canada is also the perfect place to stargaze while camping, whether beneath the prairie sky or nestled among ancient trees.

The Canadian government is committed to carving out spots to take in the cosmos through its Dark-Sky Preserves program. These areas are far from the lights and sounds of a city and provide some of clearest views of the night sky around.

The program includes 13 viewing areas split across national parks like Saskatchewan’s Grasslands National Park and New Brunswick's Fundy National Park.

Saskatchewan is perfect for certified star chasers thanks to the province’s endless horizon — the Grasslands National Park is no exception. This also makes it the perfect place for astrophotographers to observe once-in-a-lifetime cosmological events.

Manitoba is another great option for those in search of a return to nature. For example, the Wapusk National Park marks the shift from boreal forest to arctic tundra. During February and March, curious visitors can observe polar bears through Wat’chee Expedition.

Meanwhile, Fundy National Park trades prairie vistas for a dense Acadian forest, remote tidal pools and the ocean floor at low tide.

Aside from star-gazing in an ancient forest, you can hike, bike, golf, swim, paddle and even fish depending on your interests. For a more settled experience, visitors can rent cabins. Thrill seekers on the other hand might be more interested in backcountry camping.

Atlantic Canada: whale watching and the sea

Canada’s trinity of Atlantic provinces also offer plenty to see and do.

For instance, Newfoundland and Labrador includes St. John’s on the east coast of the island, which has stood by the sea for 500-years. For those looking to get off the beaten path you could instead book a tour to see icebergs, puffins and perhaps even a whale cruising around a glacier. On the west side of the island, you can visit Gros Morne National Park, a recognized UNESCO heritage site, and the Tableland mountains.

On the other hand, Nova Scotia serves up 13,300km of coastline ideal for seaside hiking from lighthouse to lighthouse. The region also sports its fair share of award-winning wineries.

Lastly, Prince Edward Island offers one of the most compact tourist destinations in the country. Driving across the island only takes between three to four hours on a direct route so planning an idyllic day of travel is best. PEI is known for its red-sand beaches, seafood — especially oysters — and coastal views.

The Canadian territories: strong, wild and free

Canada’s northern territories are just as spectacular, but often come with a higher barrier of entry due to their isolation.

The Yukon, Northwest Territories, and Nunavut are all ideal places to take in a wintery night sky, but they also offer unique chances to explore Canada’s frigid climates.

Nunavut is perfectly suited for learning about northern wildlife, including at bird sanctuaries. The Yukon offers hiking far away from the comfort of a city, including the Chilkoot Trail and the Tombstone Mountains.

Finally the Northwest Territories is one of the best places in Canada to take in the Aurora Borealis (commonly referred to as the Northern Lights) or plan a hunting trip, provided you have the appropriate licenses.

Vacation in Canada

All in all, there’s never been a better time to explore Canada’s extensive wilderness and tourism hot spots — especially if it means supporting local businesses.

This guide only scratches the surface of what Canada has various natural splendours and attractions. Every province and territory has something special to offer an inquisitive mind, whether arriving from near or far.