Canada is home to some of the most scenic locations in the world, with the large terrain allowing for a variety of different ecosystems, each of which are equally beautiful. Whether you prefer towering mountains and thick forestry, or a relaxing view of the water, you can almost certainly find somewhere to have your perfect vacation.
These outdoor attractions are even perfect for pandemic travel, as they’re all outdoors, where you’ll have plenty of free space and fresh air.
Here are our top 7 favourite outdoor attractions from all across Canada!
1. Jasper National Park, Alberta
Jasper, Alberta is one the best-known national parks in Canada, and there’s a reason for that. The park is filled with beautiful Rocky Mountains, forestry, and lakes that surround the central town. The ecosystem is filled with wild animals that you can admire from a distance, or in some lucky cases, even from up close.
Jasper allows for a variety of different outdoor activities like mountain-climbing, skiing, boating, and sky gondola tours, with the charming town of Jasper itself hosting lots of restaurants and resorts for a relaxing stay.
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2. Capilano Suspension Bridge Park, Vancouver
There’s nothing more unique than a park high up in the mountains, held together by dozens of suspension bridges. This park in Vancouver, BC is essentially a floating hike that allows visitors to walk between mountains and across canyons to admire the flora and fauna of the Rockies.
Although it might initially scare those with a fear of heights, the bridges are guaranteed safe, and the views are definitely worth stepping outside your comfort zone.
This is the perfect hike for those who want a new way to admire nature and keep things interesting.
3. Butchart Gardens, Victoria
Victoria, BC is a beautiful city with dozens of attractions, both indoor and outdoor, but this collection of gardens is truly one of the most beautiful. This attraction contains several unique gardens, each filled with hundreds of beautiful flowers.
Different gardens within the park have different themes, and the plants are all beautifully selected and arranged to fit within those themes.
The bright colors and beautiful floral arrangements make these gardens perfect for photos, and the river that runs alongside the gardens even offers boat rides.
4. Cabot Trail, Nova Scotia
Considered to be one of the most scenic drives in Canada, Cabot Trail is the ideal Canadian road trip route. Besides the beautiful ocean and cliffside scenery, the trail also crosses through several scenic towns and parks that can be explored over the course of a multi-day trip.
The trail passes along Canada’s East coastline, leading to some amazing views of the ocean, and there are plenty of beaches to stop and relax in the middle of your road trip. The Cabot Trail really is the perfect road trip for a beach enthusiast.
5. Aulavik National Park, Northwest Territories
Although it may be cold, the Northwest Territories makes up for it’s climate with it’s beautiful views and activities. The lack of mountains make hiking easy but still enjoyable, and the Thomsen River is not only beautiful but easy to navigate for beginner kayakers.
The park is also home to unique wildlife that can’t be found in most other places, like muskoxen and wood bison. This park is also one of the best places to get a clear sighting of the famous Aurora Borealis, as they often light up the sky just over the area.
Aulavik Park is truly one of the most underrated attractions in the country, which is even better for those looking to avoid crowds.
6. Lake Louise, Alberta
This stunning lake in Alberta is a famous tourist attraction for the beauty and serenity of the water in the summer, and the Ice Magic events that leave it covered with dozens of fascinating ice sculptures in the summer. Nearby is the luxury Fairmont Chateau, with architecture that can be admired by tourists even if you don’t actually stay in the hotel.
Ski resorts, hike trails and other lakes and rivers surround it, giving a variety of activity options in addition to simple scenery-viewing, and nearby is downtown Banff, the small park town filled with shops and restaurants to retreat to after a day on the lakefront.
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7. Niagara Falls, Ontario
This wouldn’t be a list of outdoor Canadian attractions if it didn’t include Niagara Falls, the world-famous waterfalls that stand on the border between Ontario and New York. Not only can you appreciate the scenery and take tours to learn more about the attraction’s history, but the city surrounding the falls has various other attractions like theme parks and museums that can keep you entertained for your entire stay.
Those are all our favourite outdoor Canadian attractions!
These are far from the only attractions in the country, but they’re the perfect place to start when looking for fun, outdoor vacations spots with lots of fun, pandemic-safe activities. With Canada having so many beautiful outdoor locations all across the country, there’s no reason for the pandemic to inhibit your dream vacation.
If your favorite outdoor Canadian attractions aren’t on this list, be sure to share them in the comments!
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