8 Amazing Summer Destinations to Explore in Canada

Covering an impressive 6,204,391 square miles and bordered by three oceans, Canada boasts a rich tapestry of landscapes and cultures. This is particularly evident in summer, when hidden gems are unveiled under the warm sun.

Narrowing down such a vast and varied country to a select few spots can be challenging, but here are eight of our top picks for enjoying summer in Canada.

1. Prince Edward Island

As Canada’s smallest province, Prince Edward Island offers a delightful blend of stunning coastal scenery, red sandstone cliffs, and pristine beaches, all complemented by fresh maritime cuisine and charming towns.

Although Hurricane Fiona in 2022 caused significant erosion to many of the island’s cherished sand dunes, the inauguration of the Canadian Centre for Climate Change and Adaptation in St. Peters Bay brings a glimmer of hope. Adventurers can also explore the Island Walk, a 435-mile trail that opened in 2021. This route circles the island, showcasing beaches, PEI’s iconic red dirt roads, breathtaking viewpoints, and coastal paths. With 32 sections, it’s convenient to hop on and off for some exploration and culinary delights like lobster rolls.

Accommodation Options

Visiting Charlottetown? The Great George offers 54 rooms and suites spread across 17 beautifully restored heritage properties in the city’s historic area.

2. Churchill, Manitoba

In the so-called 'polar bear capital of the world,' there’s more than just polar bears to admire. During the summer, around 60,000 beluga whales—the largest concentration globally—migrate to areas like the Churchill River Estuary in Hudson Bay.

For an up-close experience with the whales, you can kayak alongside these friendly creatures. However, starting summer 2023, visitors will have the unique opportunity to observe their underwater behaviors from below the surface aboard the Matonabee, Lazy Bear Expeditions’ new vessel featuring 12 submerged windows. Coastal boat tours also provide sightings of local wildlife along the shore, such as Arctic foxes and hares, while polar bears may occasionally be seen lounging on boulders, swimming, or rolling in fields of wildflowers.

Where to Stay

Lazy Bear Lodge is a charming log cabin crafted from timber salvaged from a boreal forest fire, adorned with recycled wavy glass windows from a 19th-century Hudson Bay Trading Post.

3. Métis Crossing, Alberta

Métis Crossing, Canada’s first significant Métis cultural site, serves as a gathering place and interpretive center for both Indigenous and non-Indigenous visitors, making it an ideal venue for promoting cultural understanding and reconciliation.

During summer, visitors can engage in traditional Métis crafts like beading, ribbon skirt-making, or embroidery with Knowledge-Keeper Lilyrose Meyers. Outdoor experiences include guided tours of the wildlife park, which features elk, horses, and three bison species; stargazing sessions and Métis storytelling; or paddling in a replica Voyageur canoe down the North Saskatchewan River, reminiscent of the Indigenous fur traders of the past. It was also recognized as one of Dinogo’s top destinations in 2022.

Accommodation options

Guests can choose to camp in traditional trapper tents or enjoy a luxurious stay at the Métis-designed boutique lodge, which opened its doors in December 2021. Starting summer 2023, stargazers will have the unique opportunity to gaze at the stars from the comfort of their beds in the new sky watching dome accommodations.

4. Halifax, Nova Scotia

Cities may not always come to mind for those craving outdoor adventures, but Halifax is a notable exception. With stunning beaches (some featuring surf schools), provincial parks, and numerous islands, this vibrant city of 420,000 truly comes alive in the summer.

Recently, this once-sleepy Atlantic town has embraced a more sophisticated identity, thanks to a burgeoning food, wine, and craft brewery scene. A significant $200 million investment has revitalized the waterfront, unveiling the Queen’s Marque in November 2021—a premier destination for arts, dining, and shopping, complete with world-class galleries and public art. Dining highlights include Drift, which offers a modern twist on traditional Atlantic Canadian cuisine; the cozy bistro and wine bar Peacock; Bar Sofia, showcasing Argentinian and Peruvian flavors; and Daryâ, featuring eastern Mediterranean dishes.

Accommodation options

A proud member of the Dinogo 2023 Stay List, Muir Halifax is Atlantic Canada’s first five-star boutique hotel, offering guests exclusive tours of Halifax’s coastline aboard its 36-foot yacht or speedy 24-foot motorboat.

5. The Fundy Trail Parkway, New Brunswick

While you may be familiar with Cape Breton Island’s Cabot Trail, the Fundy Trail Parkway deserves your attention as well. Completed in 2021 after 25 years of development, this stunning 18-mile route hugs the rocky shores of the Bay of Fundy and functions as a nature park. The park features five beaches, four waterfalls, and 22 miles of hiking and cycling trails, along with nearly two dozen scenic viewpoints and observation decks.

Experience a First Nations-guided tour during the bay’s incredible tides (the highest in the world) to uncover the history and culture of the Wolastoq and Mi’kmaq peoples, as well as insights into their traditional medicines. At Cape Hopewell, explore the ancient Hopewell Rocks, dating back 600 million years, and for the adventurous, consider kayaking among these stunning geological formations at night and high tide with Baymount Adventures.

Accommodation options

Settle into the Bay of Fundy at the newly opened Beach Street Inn in the quaint fishing village of St. Martin’s. Enjoy cozy amenities like a terrace, a garden, and fireplaces in your room.

6. Kootenay Rockies, British Columbia

Home to three mountain ranges, six national parks, and 47 provincial parks, the stunningly remote Kootenay Rockies in British Columbia are a paradise for nature lovers. This region was the first in Canada to adopt a community-driven strategy aimed at creating a clean transportation network in rural areas. Trendy mountain towns like Golden, Trail, Fernie, and Revelstoke are attracting alpine ski enthusiasts, backcountry adventurers, hikers, and nature-inspired artists, with an evolving food scene to match.

Outdoor enthusiasts will find plenty to enjoy here: tackle steep mountain biking trails, splash around in waterfalls, unwind in hot springs, and paddle through the Columbia Wetlands to spot birds and mammals in their summer habitat. Don't miss a visit to Boo, a 20-year-old orphaned grizzly bear, at the Kicking Horse Grizzly Bear Refuge.

In Golden, adventure seekers will love the Golden Skybridge, a newly opened outdoor adventure park that stretches around the edge of a rock canyon. Launched in 2021, it features two suspension bridges, the tallest in Canada, suspended high above a dramatic gorge.

Where to stay

Immerse yourself in the natural beauty of British Columbia and indulge in gourmet dining at either Heather Mountain Lodge or Purcell Mountain Lodge, the latter of which is accessible only by helicopter.

7. Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario

While Ontario’s Niagara peninsula is famous for the iconic Niagara Falls, the area also boasts sun-drenched vineyards, award-winning wineries, sandy beaches along Lake Erie, relaxing spas, championship golf courses, and picturesque hiking and cycling trails. The highlight of the region is the charming town of Niagara-on-the-Lake, home to 18,000 residents, boutique shops, beautifully preserved Victorian architecture, and the celebrated Shaw Festival.

Established in 1962, the Shaw Festival is a renowned destination for theater enthusiasts, running its season until November. This year's program includes 13 plays such as The Playboy of the Western World, The Amen Corner, Prince Caspian, and The Shadow of a Doubt. The Spiegeltent, available only during summer, will showcase Mother, Daughter and The Game of Love and Chance. Another outdoor venue will host various shows and events.

Where to stay

In the Old Town, consider staying at the newly updated and expanded 124 Q Hotel & Spa. For those wishing to immerse themselves in vineyards, the Riverbend Inn & Vineyard, set in a Georgian mansion, is an excellent choice.

8. Bas St. Laurent, Quebec

Quebec offers more than just Montreal and Quebec City. On the southern banks of the St. Lawrence River lies Bas Saint-Laurent (the Lower St. Lawrence), a unique maritime area located east of Quebec City.

A journey along Route 132 isn’t complete without visiting Kamouraska. Known locally as le doux pays (“the sweet land”), Kamouraska offers a charming scene of meadows and farmland leading to the river, vibrant Victorian houses with gabled roofs and wraparound porches, and a main street dotted with delightful boutiques and eateries.

Also worth a visit are towns and cities such as Notre-Dame-du-Portage, Saint-Pascal, and Sainte-Flavie, which serves as the gateway to Gaspésie. Sainte-Flavie is home to the Centre d’Art Marcel Gagnon, an eclectic art gallery with an exterior reminiscent of a Gaudí masterpiece. The beachfront is adorned with Le Grand Rassemblement (The Great Gathering), an art installation featuring 80 concrete sculptures anchored in the water.

Whale watching is a popular activity here, with tours offered by Croisières AML departing from Rivière-du-Loup.

Where to stay

The Auberge du Portage resort boasts an outdoor heated saltwater pool, a tennis court, a scenic walking trail, and a patio ideal for enjoying drinks at sunset.