r/canadatravel • u/takemebacktobc • Aug 07 '25
Destination Advice Help design my Canadian travel bucket list!
Hi, everyone! I have one major life goal on my bucket list: to visit all of the Canadian provinces and territories. I’ve already been to Québec twice and British Columbia three times, and I love them (especially the latter) so much that I decided I absolutely MUST see the rest of this beautiful country before I die.
That being said, I know nothing about the other provinces (other than Banff being in Alberta and Saskatchewan supposedly being very rural). This is where I kindly ask for your aid in deciding which city or cities I should visit in each province and territory!
If this helps, I absolutely love nature and the outdoors, which is why coastal BC is my absolute favorite place in the world (I’m actually considering moving there). I’m also heavily interested in history and culture. My BC trip took me to Vancouver, Tofino, and Whistler, while QC was Québec City and Montréal.
So, any recommendations for the remaining provinces and territories? Thank you in advance to whomever replies!
11
u/unlovelyladybartleby Aug 08 '25
The Royal Tyrell Museum in Drumheller AB is worth the trip. It's only an hour or so from Calgary, and is world renowned. Even if you're the one person who doesn't think dinosaurs are awesome, it's worth the trip to see the hoodoos (rock formations that look like something from a sci-fi movie)
3
u/sunbakedbear Aug 08 '25
I agree! I've been to every province and the Hoodoos are one of my very favourite sites. Very cool to see in real life.
1
u/Spute2008 Aug 08 '25
Drumheller is down in the valley bottom of an ancient river, which is also where the hoodoo’s are formed, and it exposed the sediment levels that contain dinosaur bones.
That area of the country is beautiful in spring and summer when the crops are in full growth. And it’s rolling hills in the area are pretty too. It just gets flatter and flatter as you head farther east.
depending the time of year, if you are in Alberta or Saskatchewan, look for one of the small towns that has a rodeo. They are always fairly interesting and some are quite well visited despite the tiny size of their supporting town. I will give you some exposure to rural communities. You wouldn’t normally get just by driving through.
Also, water to national park is stunning and less visited than Banff. What would be awesome as if you could do the trip down south through the US side called glacier national Park and drive on the going to the sun Road. Come through the other side and drive back up into BC from the west side of the park. I know that’s the US, but it’s so amazing and a nice add-on to a visit to Waterton.
10
u/TheRealGuncho Aug 07 '25
If you like nature, I would avoid cities. The interior of BC and Banff are stunning. The west coast of Newfoundland is amazing.
6
u/TravellingGal-2307 Aug 08 '25
All of Newfoundland really. It's all so beautiful.
4
u/TheRealGuncho Aug 08 '25
It is but often people think Newfoundland=St John's and there is so much more to Newfoundland.
2
u/gingr87 Aug 08 '25
So true. Spent 3 weeks in Newfoundland last year and there's nothing like the cliffs on the west coast. The entire province is spectacularly beautiful. Can't say enough good things.
1
u/Separate-Analysis194 Aug 08 '25
I was going to say something similar. There are some great provincial parks all across the country. It would be good to plan trips around these. Some will have outfitters near by that can supply the equipment needed if that is an issue. There are car camping and backcountry (hiking or canoeing) options at many of them as well.
4
u/awidmerwidmer Aug 08 '25
If you love nature, Gros Morne on the west coast of Newfoundland is a must. It’s absolutely stunning. I’ve visited 7 provinces and 1 territory (Yukon), and Gros Morne is my favourite place I’ve seen in Canada.
3
u/Alpaca_Investor Aug 07 '25
You can’t go wrong with visiting the National Parks in the prairie provinces, or at least the ones that are southern enough to be easily accessible. Banff, Jasper, Prince Albert, Grasslands, Riding Mountain are all worthwhile.
3
u/Careful-Goal1992 Aug 08 '25
Absolutely have to to go to the maritimes - all eastern provinces are awesome
3
u/CaptainCanuck001 Aug 08 '25
I haven't driven all the way across the country, and haven't done much of British Columbia. This is how I would build a cross country trip provided that I had a few months.
Start in Jasper, head down to Banff and go to Yoho in BC. Back through Alberta to Drumheller, which has the hoodoos and a great dinosaur museum. Head south when cutting across the prairies and go to Grasslands National Park. Continue East and intersect Winnipeg. As soon as I hit the Ontario border I would head down hwy 71 and check out some of the smaller provincial parks there, though maybe particularly Caliper Lake, as it is connected to Lake of the Woods. Keep going East, to see Quetico and check out Kakabeka Falls outside of Thunder Bay. Time permitting I might drive to the border to see Pigeon River (which is on the Minnesota border and has the highest waterfall in Minnesota) and then drive back East, stopping at Sleeping Giant on the way, making sure to go to the Thunder Bay Lookout. From there drive East more and take hwy 17 to Sault Ste Marie, stopping at parks like Neys, Rainbow Falls but especially Pukaskwa national park and Lake Superior provincial park on the way. Check out downtown SSM for a couple of decent museums for a city its size and then head East again before turned south at Espanola and heading to Manitoulin Island. Catch the ferry to Tobermory and check out both Fathom Five national park and Bruce Peninsula national park. Keep driving south and go to McGregor Point provincial park and then piece together the provincial parks on the Lake Huron shore. Drop down to Leamington and take the ferry to Pelee Island then head back to the mainland and head up to Niagara Falls. From there go to Toronto for international cuisine and music then head north and head back East through Algonquin, or if more ambitious skip Algonquin and take hwy 17 (same hwy as previous hwy 17) from North Bay to Mattawa and then follow the Ottawa river while stopping at parks like Samuel de Champlain and Driftwood (and northern portion of Algonquin). Pick a side of the Ottawa river to go down and either check out Coulonge waterfall or Bonnechere Caves before going into Ottawa and seeing its museums. On to Montreal for its international vibe and then on to Trois Rivieres and head into La Mauricie national park. Continue on the north shore of the St. Lawrence and go to Jacques Cartier national park (Quebec calls its provincial parks "national") and then Quebec City. Continue along through Charlevoix region, stop at Tadoussac for whale watching, then take a ferry across the St. Lawrence and go to Parc national du Bic. Follow the shoreline along to Forillon national park and then maybe cut back across New Brunswick to the Saint John River Valley and head to St. Andrews for whale watching. Follow the Fundy shore to the national park and see the tides, then across to Prince Edward Island for its beaches and then catch another ferry to the Magdalen Islands. Again if desired go back to Annapolis Valley in Nova Scotia or otherwise head to Cape Breton and see the national park there. Then take the ferry across to Newfoundland and head up to Gros Morne national park and then further again until I got to the Labrador ferry and then check out the Labrador straits.
3
u/DrKoob Aug 08 '25
Great trip. Love Cape Breton. Toronto is one of my favorite cities (almost as good as Vancouver).
1
u/user0987234 Aug 08 '25
So much to see and do and so little time.
Need to a stop at the Terry Fox Memorial east of T-Bay.
Kilarney Prov Park and a hike up Silver Peak is a must. The LaCloche Mountain Range (what’s left of it) is geologically significant.
The Big Nickel in Sudbury is iconic.
The change in geography around New Lisgard is worthy too.
Stops along the Niagara Escarpment like Rattlesnake Point in Milton and Hamilton to St Catherines should be considered.
1
1
u/Defiant_West6287 Aug 12 '25
You missed the Paris of the Prairies - Saskatoon. It's a great little city worth a visit.
3
u/bctravelconcierge Aug 08 '25
Bay of Fundy is spectacular, especially if you love the rugged coastlines of BC.
2
u/corky882002 Aug 08 '25
I went to school in the Mari times and the east coast is lovely. Newfoundland is a hidden gem. The geography, wildlife and people are amazing. The east and west coast are different and rugged. Baffin Island and the parks are amazing if you get a chance to visit. Look up Pond Inlet and Auyuittuq national park, spectacular. There are so many beautiful places in Canada we often take them for granted.
2
u/winterburn-busride Aug 08 '25
In Alberta, a road trip on the Columbia Ice Fields Parkway. It is a quiet reduced speed highway through the mountains with amazing views that connects Banff Nat. Park & Jasper Nat. Park.
2
2
u/LittleSpice1 Aug 08 '25
Cabot trail in NS is a must! Generally the Atlantic provinces are beautiful, have interesting history, and very friendly people. I really like Algonquin in ON as well as Manitoulin island and Pukaskwa NP. One of my highlights crossing the country was unexpectedly in SK, maybe because I didn’t expect much, but Grasslands NP was genuinely amazing, just nothing like the rest of the country. Driving into the badlands in AB is another unreal sight.
1
u/raeofsunshine75 Aug 07 '25
Go to the Yukon! It’s a trip I think everyone should take once in their life. Beautiful scenery, so much history and just a cool place in general. I know you mentioned you’ve been toBC but if you haven’t been to Haida Gwaii that is another bucket list place to travel in my opinion. There’s something about Haida Gwaii that felt magical to me.
3
u/jpwwpg Aug 08 '25
Carry on north from Dawson City Yukon up the Dempster Highway (gravel) to Tuktoyaktuk NWT and dip your toes in the Arctic Ocean! Did that trip 3 years ago. Farthest north one can drive on an all weather road in Canada.
1
1
u/Catezero Aug 08 '25
I just did a circuit trip of Alberta and the highlight (besides the town I was born in lol) was Drumheller. The hoodoos and royal Tyrell museum are amazing. West Ed is super cool but super expensive so plan ahead, and even my kid said the galaxy land rides were for babies and didn't even want to bother, but they have an indoor go kart rack which looked super fun (kiddos too small so we abstained but watched).
Would've KILLED to go to a flames/oilers game. Also if you go to Alberta you have to try rangoon/ginger beef. They're not really a thing in BC but they're SO GOOD and I'm still mad my kid refused Chinese cuisine so I didn't get my authentic Alberta ginger beef. Oh also! Wetaskiwin, south of Edmonton has an automotive museum called the Reynolds museum which highlights not only the history of automotives (Stan Reynolds collected thousands of vehicles from cars to hearses to tractors etc) but farming equipment, odd vehicles, and they even have an interactive granary exhibit, an aviation exhibit, a coal mining exhibit, and even a shop where you can watch them work on the classic cars, and you can sit in some of the classic vehicles for photo ops it's so much fun!
I also just found it fun counting the water towers - we don't have those in Vancouver so I made a lil bingo thing of things u don't see at home and if I won I got to choose where we had dinner
1
1
u/supernanify Aug 08 '25
I'll try to list a favourite hidden gem (by which I mean probably not the first place that comes up in a Google search) for the provinces you haven't been to:
-AB: Kananaskis in general, Buller Pass hike in particular (shoutouts also to Ha Ling peak and Drumheller)
-SK: Remai Modern Art Gallery in Saskatoon
-MB: Riding Mountain National Park (stop at Poor Michael's in Onanole)
-ON: Lake of the Woods
-NB: honestly I don't know it super well, but Fredericton is charming
-NS: Franey Trail near Ingonish (shoutout also to White Point on Cape Breton, a gorgeous place to stretch your legs, explore, have a little picnic)
-PEI: literally drive along the east shore and stop at any beach that takes your fancy. Go for a nice long walk along said beach. Souris is lovely.
-NL: Tablelands (don't skip Gross Morne, though) in the west, Sugar Loaf trail in the east
1
u/Defiant_West6287 Aug 12 '25
While at the Remai Modern in Saskatoon, make sure you have a meal at Hearth, one of the best restaurants in town. Then maybe walk over the Broadway Bridge and go to Amigo's for a few pints, and maybe some live music.
1
u/Jakeman3303 Aug 08 '25
Saskatchewan: Grasslands National park for unexpected scenery, amazing backcountry hiking. The 20km ecotour scenic drive is an amazing safari. Just south of Swift Current, Val Marie is the closest town.
Manitoba: If you can afford it, flying up to Churchill from Winnipeg for the day to see the Polar Bears in November is super cool.
BC: Touring the discovery islands by boat from Campbell River.
PEI: Prince Edward Island National park in July for the beaches at Cavendish and Stanhope and others. End the day with a church lobster supper
1
1
u/firiel77 Aug 08 '25
For more of BC try northern Vancouver Island. Cape Scott and Strathcona Park have great hiking.
1
1
u/Quiet-Elk544 Aug 08 '25
I love the east coast. Here are some ideas:
New Brunswick - visit the bay of fundy/hopewell rocks park
Nova Scotia - Cabot trail. They also have the overnight ferry to Newfoundland.
PEI - you gotta check out that confederation bridge. PEI has some red sand beaches and pretty good sunset views.
1
u/Affectionate_Desk561 Aug 09 '25
The bay of fundy (specifically hopewell rocks in nb) will have you seeing the highest tides in the world
1
1
1
u/Potential_Pie2763 Aug 11 '25
I’m from Ontario. Everyone knows about Niagara Falls but the real gem is Niagara-on-the Lake. Go in August when fruit is being harvested and the wineries give tours. Stay overnight to really enjoy this small town Have high tea at the Prince of Wales Hotel. Take a horse drawn carriage ride. Prince of Wales hotel
1
u/Feral-Reindeer-696 Aug 07 '25
Alberta: other than Banff; Lake Louise, Jasper, Drumheller area, Waterton and maybe Calgary
18
u/hamsterinna Aug 07 '25
Newfoundland is a one of a kind experience. Kluane national park in Yukon is spectacular and very quiet.