Best Places to Travel in Canada

What are the best places to visit in Canada? 

Mapmobility, one of Canada’s largest map publishers, has shared some of its recommendations for the first-time visitor to Canada.

Niagara Falls
Niagara Falls is an awe-inspiring vacation destination. From the top of Skylon Tower to the base of Horseshoe Falls, Niagara Falls boasts beauty beyond imagination. Travel to the base of the falls aboard the Maid of the Mist, walk behind the water at Journey behind the Falls or fly over them in a helicopter. Nighttime is equally impressive, as the falls are lit up nightly. During the summer, fireworks add a little extra delight. And it's not just the waterfall itself that ignites this area. Niagara Falls is bursting with activities, making it one of top places to visit in Canada. From vineyards, golf, casinos, dining and trails to fun on the Clifton Hill main street, Niagara Falls is a one-of-a-kind experience.

Canadian Rocky Mountains
The Canadian Rockies are home to Alberta's most breath-taking mountains, lakes, waterways, and some of the best hiking and skiing in the world. The most famous areas are Banff National Park and Jasper National Park, but the sights don't end there. Numerous provincial parks and recreation areas provide year-round adventures and activities — with picturesque villages nearby — where you can enjoy simple amenities such as camping to quality five-star resorts.

Calgary Stampede
The Calgary Stampede is an annual Canadian rodeo, held every July in Calgary, Alberta. The 10-day event is dubbed The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth. The Stampede attracts more than one million visitors every year and features the world's largest rodeo. It also has a parade, midway, shows and concerts, agricultural competitions and exhibitions. Calgary becomes festival-like during the Stampede, with locals and tourists alike donning western gear. Popular events include pancake breakfasts and barbecues, which are held all over the city.

Parliament Hill
Located on the banks of the Ottawa River in downtown Ottawa, Ontario, Parliament Hill was originally used as a military base in the 18th and 19th centuries. Here, the gothic looking buildings now serve as the home of the Parliament of Canada. Three million people visit Parliament Hill every year.

Old Quebec City
A neighborhood of Quebec City — the capital of the province of Quebec — Old Quebec City refers to a part of the city "within the walls." Take in the stunning NotreDame de Quebec Basilica Cathedral and after stopping off at one of the city’s many museums, take a walking tour or a horse-drawn carriage ride to get a true feel for this historic district. Finally, feel the spirit of Canada as you dine and shop along rue Saint-Jean and rue Saint-Louis, where European charm will add to a unique experience.

Algonquin Provincial Park
Algonquin Provincial Park, the oldest provincial park in Canada, is located between Georgian Bay and the Ottawa River in central Ontario. The park features more than 2,400 lakes and nearly 750 miles of streams and rivers. Favorite waterways include Canoe Lake, Petaw.awa, and Nipissing, which were formed by glaciers during the last ice age. Because of its size and close proximity to the major cities such as Toronto and Ottawa, Algonquin Park is popular outdoor getaway.

Toronto, Ontario
The largest city in Canada and the provincial capital of Ontario, Toronto is a major scene for theatre and other performing arts, with more than 50 ballet and dance companies, six opera companies, two symphony orchestras and a host of theatres. Known as one of the world’s top international tourist destinations, Toronto is home to one of the city’s prominent landmarks, the CN Tower which one stood as the tallest free-standing land structure in the world at 1/3 of a mile high, and held the world record for more than 30 years. Toronto features the Royal Ontario Museum, the Toronto Zoo and the Ontario Science Centre which has hands-on activities and science displays appealing to children.

L’Anse aux Meadows
Discovered in 1960, L’Anse aux Meadows is the location of an archaeological site on the northernmost tip of Newfoundland. It is the only known Norse or Viking village in North America. Visitors can explore this national historic to learn about the first-known European settlements, established centuries before Columbus ever touched North America.

Dawson City
Tucked away in the middle of the Yukon wilderness, Dawson City is a well preserved living and breathing cultural and historic remnant of a time gone by. Once referred to as the “Paris of the North,” its name is synonymous with the 1898 Klondike Gold Rush. Today, Dawson’s gold lies within its vibrant community of art, music, literary and natural history enthusiasts.

Prince Edward Island
Literature enthusiasts may know Prince Edward Island as the place where author Lucy Maud created and based the characters from “Anne of Green Gables.” The Canadian province consists of several islands and provides various activities and festivals to attend. Shuck oysters, dig for clams, create chocolate delights or revel in the flavors that world-renowned chefs bring to the table in the annual Fall Flavours Festival.

About Mapmobility
Known for its detailed MapArt line, Mapmobility makes Canadian maps available digitally through the Avenza PDF Maps app — a free app for the iOS platform that combines the detail of Mapmobility’s paper maps with the interactivity of a GPS tool. Canadian visitors no longer need cell service to use the app and therefore aren’t charged high data rates when roaming Canada. 

For more Canadian travel hot spots, download the free PDF Maps app for the iOS platform and search Mapmobility’s catalog of extensive Canadian maps.

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