Favorite Canadian Trip

[Anonymous]

What was your favorite Summer trip to Canada?

Suggestions for us? We've traveled all over the world as a family but have never gone to Canada. We love National Parks, exciting cities with great food, and lots of activities. Kids are late teens.

Thanks!

[Anonymous]

I loved Vancouver. I’ve also been to Montreal, Toronto and Niagara Falls, but Vancouver was the best. I want to take my family there and combine it with Vancouver Island.

[Anonymous]

We went to the Whistler area. Spent a few days in Whistler did a 2 night backpacking trip in garibaldi provincial park/hiked to panorama ridge. Then headed to Vancouver island to surf. BC is beautiful. We loved it so much that we’re headed back for a similar trip this summer.

We also visited Banff one summer and loved it. So many incredible hikes. From what I have seen on social media it’s even more crowded now though with the need to take a shuttle to moraine Lake. If you aren’t early riser I’d avoid Banff. If we went back to that area we’d go to Jasper to avoid the crowds.

[Anonymous]

I was going to suggest Nova Scotia and specifically Cabot Trail until I saw “late teens”. There might not be enough activity for them. I would either fly into Toronto and out of Montreal, or perhaps into Victoria and out of Kelowna.

[Anonymous]

We had a great time in Toronto between the CN tower, Rogers Centre, Islands and Royal Ontario Museum. Montreal has the Biodome

[Anonymous]

Canadian Rockies: Banff, Lake Louis, and Jasper National Park. Crowded, but gorgeous. Recommend Becker's Chalets near Jasper for that part of the trip: https://beckerschalets.com

[Anonymous]

We did Montreal and Quebec City this summer. It was a nice time, great weather. We also drove up to St Catherine’s for whale watching. Reminded me of driving in New Zealand in some parts.

It was nice to escape the DC heat and humidity for 2 weeks. Montreal was a wee bit humid but nothing like DC. We got around on the subway, went to the Biosphere, saw a concert, ate poutine, did some museums. Good time.

[Anonymous]

I really loved the Cabot Trail in Nova Scotia. The fiddle music, the hikes, and whale watching were all fun. The puffin tour was okay (maybe too late in the season)? If I did it over I’d build in a little more time to just sit on beaches. We flew in and out of PEI, had 10 days (including the day we flew out) and I think it was 7 on Nova Scotia and 3 on PEI but maybe 6 and 4? I far preferred Nova Scotia but I dd like the Anne of Green Gables stuff and the beautiful beaches on PEI.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Canadian Rockies: Banff, Lake Louis, and Jasper National Park. Crowded, but gorgeous. Recommend Becker's Chalets near Jasper for that part of the trip: https://beckerschalets.com

This is what I was going to say. It's so beautiful with lots to do.

[Anonymous]

Budget?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Canadian Rockies: Banff, Lake Louis, and Jasper National Park. Crowded, but gorgeous. Recommend Becker's Chalets near Jasper for that part of the trip: https://beckerschalets.com

Banff/ Lake Louise/ Jasper. Amazing!!!

[Anonymous]

For cities, culture and great food l suggest Montreal and Quebec City.

For amazing parks and nature, the Canadian Rockies and/ or Vancouver and surrounding area. That’s where I’m from. It’s the most gorgeous place in the summer. Sadly, there have been serious air quality issues for part of the summer in the last 6 of 8 summers due to forest fires. This was never an issue when l was growing up. You can’t predict when in the summer when it will happen - could be any time between May and Sept.

Toronto is very easy to get to (direct flight to downtown airport from Dulles via Porter) and a fun place to spend a long weekend. Toronto Island is great in the summer. Ottowa is about a 6 hour drive from TO and is the capital, l don’t really recommend it unless it’s on your route.

[Anonymous]

Vancouver and ferry to Vancouver Island, a few days in Victoria and then exploring island, staying in Tofino

[Anonymous]

Thanks everyone (this is OP)! One other question: is mid-June too early to go? I’d rather go in July or August to get out of DC’s heat but can’t make it happen schedule-wise.

My one concern is forest fires. We’ve had two trips in MT shortened or canceled due to them in recent years.

Someone asked about budget: not unlimited but we usually add in high end hotels if we end up spending some nights in NP Lodges. We always splurge on activities and good food.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thanks everyone (this is OP)! One other question: is mid-June too early to go? I’d rather go in July or August to get out of DC’s heat but can’t make it happen schedule-wise.

My one concern is forest fires. We’ve had two trips in MT shortened or canceled due to them in recent years.

Someone asked about budget: not unlimited but we usually add in high end hotels if we end up spending some nights in NP Lodges. We always splurge on activities and good food.

Depends on what you want to do. Mid June can be early for some hikes as there could still be a good amount of snow on the ground, but really depends on what you plan on doing in each place.

Fire are hard to predict. The year we went to Banff there were lots of fires nearby and thus, a good amount of smoke. Airbnb host even asked if we wanted to cancel, but we still went. The smoke blocked some views, but gave other views a very cool feel. Some rain brought the smoke down and gave us a few days with clearer views.