Page 2 | Tell me your favourite places in Canada

Forgottenmyphone · 2025-07-13T07:31:52+00:00

Planning a trip to Canada but obviously, due to both time and money, can’t see it all! Vancouver Island is a definite no this time, but apart from that, where should prioritise?

knitnerd90 · 14/07/2025 03:23

I am the reverse of a previous poster in that I think I prefer Montreal to Vancouver, but Vancouver is not dull. It’s got a gorgeous setting, a bunch of things to do, and some great food. Asian especially.

ApolloandDaphne · 14/07/2025 03:34

We are going next year flying in and out of Vancouver. We are there for about two and half weeks. We still have to sort out our route bit I am very much looking forward to it. Definitely want to go to Kelowna then head towards Banff. But we really need to work out a route and distances.

user1471548941 · 14/07/2025 03:49

Vancouver is my if you told me to up sticks and move anywhere you want in the world city. Incredible food scene, very liveable, seeing the mountains between the buildings was just amazing and so easy to get from city centre to surrounding mountains and coastal beauty spots.

Montreal and Quebec also have an out of this world food scene- we did a 3 week road trip; Montreal-Quebec-Saint Andrews-Bay of Fundy-PEI-Cape Breton, Lunenberg , back to Montreal. Never eaten so well in my life and it was a lot of driving but totally beautiful. It’s quieter and less of the dramatic mountains of BC and more gentle beautiful coastline. We spent an afternoon on the red sandy beaches of PEI without seeing another soul, hiked coastal trails in the Bay of Fundy to watch the tide rise 18m in a single day (I believe it’s the most dramatic tidal change in the world), enjoyed small town life and whale watching in Saint Andrews and St John. It wasn’t heaving with tourists, we stayed at local guest houses where people advised you the only restaurant in town stopped selling dinner at 7 when the local singer took over and the community took over for a barn dance and left you a key under the mat for when you returned. It was some of the craziest remote driving I’ve ever done. In Cape Breton the locals spoke one of 4 languages (Gaelic, French, the local native language and English was some people’s fourth language). We drove for hours on wide open highways through rolling hills and coast lines and only saw a Tim Horton’s and logging trucks. Went in fall and headed back from the coast through the forests and rolling farmland of Quebec forest which were ablaze with autumn colours. Montreal is a fun, busy, modern city with chic French culture, Quebec has a completely different vibe, heaving with character and history. It wasn’t the standout dramatic mountains and lakes of BC but Eastern Canada had so much unique culture and beauty and we loved it. Not to mention incredible fresh fruits, vegs, local cheeses and a stunning sea food scene. Every single meal was outstanding. Some nights we walked into restaurants and no one spoke a word of English, nor were they prepared for anyone to which was absolutely mindblowing to me and totally broadened my horizons of how culturally diverse Canada is. It was just different.

LemondrizzleShark · 14/07/2025 03:55

user1471548941 · 14/07/2025 03:49

Vancouver is my if you told me to up sticks and move anywhere you want in the world city. Incredible food scene, very liveable, seeing the mountains between the buildings was just amazing and so easy to get from city centre to surrounding mountains and coastal beauty spots.

Montreal and Quebec also have an out of this world food scene- we did a 3 week road trip; Montreal-Quebec-Saint Andrews-Bay of Fundy-PEI-Cape Breton, Lunenberg , back to Montreal. Never eaten so well in my life and it was a lot of driving but totally beautiful. It’s quieter and less of the dramatic mountains of BC and more gentle beautiful coastline. We spent an afternoon on the red sandy beaches of PEI without seeing another soul, hiked coastal trails in the Bay of Fundy to watch the tide rise 18m in a single day (I believe it’s the most dramatic tidal change in the world), enjoyed small town life and whale watching in Saint Andrews and St John. It wasn’t heaving with tourists, we stayed at local guest houses where people advised you the only restaurant in town stopped selling dinner at 7 when the local singer took over and the community took over for a barn dance and left you a key under the mat for when you returned. It was some of the craziest remote driving I’ve ever done. In Cape Breton the locals spoke one of 4 languages (Gaelic, French, the local native language and English was some people’s fourth language). We drove for hours on wide open highways through rolling hills and coast lines and only saw a Tim Horton’s and logging trucks. Went in fall and headed back from the coast through the forests and rolling farmland of Quebec forest which were ablaze with autumn colours. Montreal is a fun, busy, modern city with chic French culture, Quebec has a completely different vibe, heaving with character and history. It wasn’t the standout dramatic mountains and lakes of BC but Eastern Canada had so much unique culture and beauty and we loved it. Not to mention incredible fresh fruits, vegs, local cheeses and a stunning sea food scene. Every single meal was outstanding. Some nights we walked into restaurants and no one spoke a word of English, nor were they prepared for anyone to which was absolutely mindblowing to me and totally broadened my horizons of how culturally diverse Canada is. It was just different.

Agree with all of this! I used to live in Toronto, and if I ever moved back to Canada I’d want to live in NS or PEI (I think - I haven’t experienced a Nova Scotian winter yet and I hear those are pretty bad).

renthead · 14/07/2025 04:12

I live on Vancouver Island, but I agree that the Maritimes are so charming, and full of character and history. Newfoundland is an incredible place as well.

Quebec in fall foliage season is also hard to beat. It is a beautiful province!

But if you want to go west, I’d fly into Calgary, go to the Stampede, and then hit all the Rockies hotspots. I do think Vancouver is quite dull as big cities go. It’s a stunning setting but not super exciting otherwise.

realsavagelike · 14/07/2025 04:27

mdinbc · 14/07/2025 03:08

I disagree with Vancouver not having character; there are lots of things to see and do! You could use it as a starting or ending point to venture further into BC. Like others have said, a slow road trip from Van to Calgary is a good idea, with stops in Whistler, Okanagan area, south-east BC (Kootenay area) before going through the Rockies to Banff, Canmore and Calgary.

I live in north-west BC, with friends and relatives in Okanagan and Vancouver Island (Victoria), so I am familiar with those areas.

I love Whistler in the summer time, there are lots of biking trails and little lakes to swim and kayak in. The Okanagan area amazed me the first time I saw it, since I didn't realize Canada had such a desert area; it's beautiful. If you are going inland to central BC, I would recommend early summer, rather than August, since we have had so many forest fires, it may block the views of the mountains.

As a proud Canadian, we have so many beautiful areas to show off. I am originally from Niagara area, with it's fruit and wine growing area, and small quaint towns once you venture off the highways. Picton was mentioned above, and yes, that area is really lovely as well.

Tough decisions on where to go; you just have to narrow it down and try not to see too much at one time.

Glad you said 'Picton' and not 'Pickton'...

realsavagelike · 14/07/2025 04:31

user1471548941 · 14/07/2025 03:49

Vancouver is my if you told me to up sticks and move anywhere you want in the world city. Incredible food scene, very liveable, seeing the mountains between the buildings was just amazing and so easy to get from city centre to surrounding mountains and coastal beauty spots.

Montreal and Quebec also have an out of this world food scene- we did a 3 week road trip; Montreal-Quebec-Saint Andrews-Bay of Fundy-PEI-Cape Breton, Lunenberg , back to Montreal. Never eaten so well in my life and it was a lot of driving but totally beautiful. It’s quieter and less of the dramatic mountains of BC and more gentle beautiful coastline. We spent an afternoon on the red sandy beaches of PEI without seeing another soul, hiked coastal trails in the Bay of Fundy to watch the tide rise 18m in a single day (I believe it’s the most dramatic tidal change in the world), enjoyed small town life and whale watching in Saint Andrews and St John. It wasn’t heaving with tourists, we stayed at local guest houses where people advised you the only restaurant in town stopped selling dinner at 7 when the local singer took over and the community took over for a barn dance and left you a key under the mat for when you returned. It was some of the craziest remote driving I’ve ever done. In Cape Breton the locals spoke one of 4 languages (Gaelic, French, the local native language and English was some people’s fourth language). We drove for hours on wide open highways through rolling hills and coast lines and only saw a Tim Horton’s and logging trucks. Went in fall and headed back from the coast through the forests and rolling farmland of Quebec forest which were ablaze with autumn colours. Montreal is a fun, busy, modern city with chic French culture, Quebec has a completely different vibe, heaving with character and history. It wasn’t the standout dramatic mountains and lakes of BC but Eastern Canada had so much unique culture and beauty and we loved it. Not to mention incredible fresh fruits, vegs, local cheeses and a stunning sea food scene. Every single meal was outstanding. Some nights we walked into restaurants and no one spoke a word of English, nor were they prepared for anyone to which was absolutely mindblowing to me and totally broadened my horizons of how culturally diverse Canada is. It was just different.

I adore Vancouver and it is my home, but the 'liveable' part is becoming trickier and trickier with prices of everything skyrocketing here. Can't fault it for a gorgeous vacation spot though.

fantasticoplastico · 14/07/2025 05:47

Pemba · 14/07/2025 00:11

We are visiting family in Nova Scotia this summer. We are planning a trip to Lunenberg, which is the most gorgeous little fishing town, with many wooden houses in different colours going down to the harbour. It has been used as a film location several times I think - you might recognise it from the fantasy TV series 'Haven' from a few years back. (On that they pretended it was in Maine USA).

Also in the East we visited Quebec City a few years ago, which is amazing. So picturesque, and it has the feel of an old European city.

Of course the West is fantastic for scenery. Banff, Lake Louise, Lake Moraine. It makes you think of those illustrations of heaven in a Jehovah's Witness leaflet iykwim.

But you can't really see the whole of Canada over a 2 or 3 week holiday so you have to choose really.

I’m going to Nova Scotia (no car) this winter (on my own) if your family have any tips i’d be grateful!

Pemba · 14/07/2025 05:52

@fantasticoplastico I will report back!

CountryQueen · 14/07/2025 09:23

fantasticoplastico · 14/07/2025 05:47

I’m going to Nova Scotia (no car) this winter (on my own) if your family have any tips i’d be grateful!

Show quote history

Why won’t you have a car? It’ll be difficult to travel around Nova Scotia without one. It’s a picturesque but very strange place IMO.

Everything just shuts down suddenly and the streets are deserted very early in the evening (except for in Halifax). Lunenburg and Digby were two of the strangest places, and there would’ve been no chance of buses or taxis beyond about 8pm. No good when the restaurants didn’t open until 6pm!