Four Reasons Why You Should Vacation in Canada This Summer (+ Recommendations for Every Province!)

If you’re planning a trip this summer, don’t overlook what’s right here at home 🇨🇦.

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Before you book that international trip this summer, here are four great reasons to keep your travel dollars right here in Canada. First, our landscapes are world-class. From Arctic mountains to turquoise alpine lakes to red-sand beaches, Canada has some of the most diverse scenery on Earth. Second, your travel dollars support Canadian communities — local guides, small restaurants, family-run inns and parks that rely on tourism.

Third, it’s easier and often more affordable. No passports, no long-haul flights, no exchange-rate surprises — just pack the car or hop on a short flight and explore. And fourth, the people. Canadians are known around the world for their friendliness and hospitality. And traveling within our own country means meeting welcoming locals everywhere you go.

So, if you’re looking for inspiration, here’s one incredible summer destination in every province and territory. British Columbia — Garibaldi Lake. This stunning turquoise lake sits high in the Coast Mountains. After a scenic hike through wild flowers and forests, the colour of the glacial water almost looks unreal.

Alberta — Lake Louise, of course. Surrounded by the Rocky Mountains, this bright blue lake is one of the most photographed places in all of Canada. Rent a canoe and paddle across the water fed by ancient glaciers. Saskatchewan — Athabasca Sand Dunes. Massive dunes rise out of the northern wilderness along Lake Athabasca.

Feels more like you’re in the Sahara than the Canadian Shield. Manitoba — Churchill. Love it there. Most people know it for polar bears, but summer brings thousands of beluga whales into the Churchill River — one of the best wildlife spectacles in the country. Ontario — Sarnia. Located on the shores of Lake Huron,

Sarnia is famous for its beautiful sandy beaches and spectacular sunsets over the water and I live there. The nearby Blue Water Bridge and waterfront parks make it a perfect summer destination. Quebec — Percé Rock. This enormous rock arch rises dramatically from the Gulf of St. Lawrence.

Boat tours circle the formation and visit nearby Bonaventure Island, home to thousands of northern gannets. New Brunswick — Hopewell Rocks. Here in the Bay of Fundy, the highest tides in the world sculpt giant “flowerpot” rock formations.

Walk the ocean floor at low tide and kayak the same spot at high tide. Nova Scotia — The Cabot Trail. This legendary coastal drive winds through cliffs, forest, and fishing villages inside Cape Breton, Highlands National Park. Prince Edward Island — Prince Edward Island National Park. Red sandstone cliffs, rolling dunes and gentle beaches make this one of the most relaxing coastal landscapes in all of Canada.

I love it there. Newfoundland and Labrador — Gros Morne National Park. Are you kidding? A UNESCO World Heritage Site with fjords, dramatic mountains and its surreal Tablelands where the earth’s mantle is exposed. Yukon — Kluane National Park and Reserve. A vast wilderness of glaciers and mountains, including Canada’s tallest peak,

Mount Logan. The Northwest Territories, love it there — Nahanni National Reserve. Deep canyons, wild rivers, and the breathtaking Virginia Falls, nearly twice the height of Niagara Falls. Nunavut — Auyuittuq National Park. This Arctic park on Baffin Island features glaciers and towering granite peaks, including Mount Thor, famous for the world’s greatest vertical drop. From the Pacific Coast to the Arctic tundra to the Atlantic shoreline, Canada offers some of the most spectacular travel experiences anywhere on earth.

So this summer, skip the long flights and explore your own backyard — because Canada is a magnificent place to vacation. The best.