Travel

50 Amazing Places to Go in Canada (PHOTOS)

With vast mountain ranges, stunning waterfalls, diverse wildlife and bustling urban metropolises, Canada is a stunning travel destination. Whether you want to kayak besides beluga whales, or taste your way through Vancouver’s restaurants, this breathtaking country has something for every type of traveler. So, in honor of Canada Day this July 1, here are 50 amazing places you have to see in Canada.

The country is brimming with stunning national parks, many of which are protected as UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Several of these parks have existed for over a century, such as Banff National Park, established in 1885. This park is Canada’s oldest park, and is also the third oldest national park in the world, according to Lonely Planet. The park is situated on the eastern side of the Canadian Rockies and is renown for its stunning mountainscape, breathtaking glaciers and lush forests. Another national parks not to miss include Waterton Lakes National Park, also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This park is a sanctuary for wildlife, including grizzly bears, deer, elk and cougars. It is also renown for its exceptional diversity of wildflowers.

(MORE: 50 Breathtaking National Parks of the World)

Animal lovers looking to get up close to wildlife should head to Churchill, Manitoba, also known as the “Polar Bear Capital of the World.” Located only 600 miles south of the Arctic Circle, this town is located in the headlands overlooking the Hudson Bay, where year after year, polar bears gather to wait for the bay to ice over so they can hunt. By November, as many as 60 bears can be seen on any one given day, according to The Huffington Post. Meanwhile, summer visitors to the area have the opportunity not only to spot polar bears, but also the chance to get up close to wild beluga whales. Every year around July, as many as 3,000 of these white whales gather in the waters near Churchill to birth their calves. Because the animals are calm natured and interactive, several tour companies, including Churchill Wild, offer tourists the chance to go kayaking or even snorkeling next to these gentle giants.

Canada is also home to a number of other whale species, making it a prime whale-watching destination. There are more than 30 species of these creatures roaming the waters of this country’s coastline, according to Lonely Planet. Travelers can join a narwhal safari near Baffin Island for the opportunity to see narwhal whales, the strange creatures which are known for their large “tusk.” Meanwhile, visitors can go whale watching in British Columbia for the chance to spot humpback whales or pods of wild orcas. The Bay of Fundy in Nova Scotia is also an important feeding ground for whales (notably Humpback Whales), as well as dolphins and porpoises, making it one of the best places to see these animals in the wild.

(MORE: Ultimate Travel Destinations for Animal Lovers)

Of course, no trip to Canada would be complete without exploring some of its historic fishing villages. Known for its brightly painted buildings that literally glow at sunset, Lunenburg is the largest of the South Shore fishing village and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It was the first British settlement outside Halifax. Also be sure not to miss St. John’s, the capital and biggest city in Newfoundland and Labrador. Perched on the steep slopes of a harbor, this town is one of the oldest settlements in North America, and is famous its ‘Jellybean Row,’ a street filled with colored Victorian row houses.

Click through the slideshow above to see more incredible destinations in Canada.

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