10 Best Things To Do Over The Summer Holidays In Canada - Updated 2024

Anupama
Anupama 
Updated
| 5 min read

With beautiful landscapes and unique sites for travelers to explore, Canada welcomes nearly 18 million travelers each year. Tourism forms an integral part and leads to a profit of USD 80 billion per year. Canada’s snowy climate and mountainous geography attract outdoor lovers who enjoy skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, camping and hiking. Niagara Falls is one of the most popular attractions here, where tourists can enjoy a walk down the Clifton Hill leading to the gorge and falls. Tourists also love to visit Toronto, which is on the shores of Lake Ontario. Visitors can head to the iconic CN Tower, where they can admire the stunning views while enjoying a dinner in the revolving 360-restaurant. History lovers will enjoy exploring the streets of Old Montreal, which are lined up with historic buildings, shops, and fine dining. Unwind at Vancouver’s 405-hectare Stanley Park, where kids can go biking along the designated path. Apart from these, there are multiple things to do in Canada for adults, as well as children. Check out the 10 best things to do over the summer holidays in Canada.

1. Witness the Canadian Rockies from the Rocky Mountaineer train


Tourists visiting Canada during the months of April to October can board the luxurious train from the Rocky Mountaineer Train Station, which will take them past the Canadian Rockies. Extending across the provinces of British Columbia and Alberta, the Canadian Rockies has magnificent ice-capped peaks, alpine lakes, diverse wildlife, and outdoor activity sites. Nestled amid the Rocky Mountains is the Banff National Park, which is frequented by travelers. Click pictures in front of Lake Louise said to be the jewel of the park.

Rocky Mountaineer Train Station

Address: Railway Ave, Banff, AB, Canada

Website: Rocky Mountaineer Train Station

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2. Step on a thrilling cliff walk on the Capilano Suspension Bridge (from USD 43.55)

summer holidays in canada | step on a thrilling cliff walk on the capilano suspension bridge

The Capilano Suspension Bridge Park is one of the most sought-after tourist hotspots in British Columbia, and thousands of tourists enjoy this self-guided tour on a daily basis. With history, culture, and nature blending in a unique way, this 27-acre (10.9 hectares) park offers a thrilling experience 70 meters (229.6 feet) above the rivers, forests, and canyons. The Cliffwalk has 16 anchor points in the cliff, which supports the structure and the two glass platforms. Enjoy a walk across the 137 meter-long (449.36 feet) suspension bridge above the waters of the Capilano River to reach the canopy of the coastal rain forest. There are seven suspension bridges in all and tourist between 2 to 92 years are allowed to enjoy these hourly tours. Raptors Ridge birds of prey and Canyon Lights are interesting seasonal events occurring here.

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Vancouver: Capilano Suspension Bridge Park Entry Ticket

713 reviews

3. Celebrate Montreal en Lumiere


Montreal en Lumiere is the celebration of lights, which take place in the dark of winter at Place des Festivals’. Live performances, fine dining events, and all-night activities are the major attractions of this festival. Tourists can gather around St. Catherine Street and Place des Arts’ adjacent plaza, to dance to the tune of local DJs and watch live concerts featuring local French music artists. Witness the Festival of Quebec Cheeses, which is one of the festival’s gastronomic attractions. Here you can try over 60 different Quebec cheeses made by 20 different producers on a grand scale. One of the biggest attractions of Montreal en Lumiere is the Nuit Blanche, which offers more than 200 free activities.

Montreal en Lumiere

Address: 400 Boulevard de Maisonneuve O, Montréal, QC H3A 1L4, Canada

Website: Montreal en Lumiere

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4. Visit the Banff National Park (from USD 6033.62)

summer holidays in canada | visit the banff national park

Enjoy this tour from Vancouver in order to explore the astonishing beauty of the Banff National Park. Visit the natural wonders of Vermilion Lakes, the thermal springs of Cave and Basin National Historic Site and Bow Falls waterfall at this park. Stop by the Two Jack Lake to click Instagram-worthy pictures of the Rundle Mountain, while taking a gondola ride to the Sulfur Mountain. Tourists can also opt for a boat trip on Lake Minnewanka.

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Vancouver to Banff and Jasper 5 Day Private Tour

Duration: 5.0 day

1 review

5. Rejuvenate at the Wreck Beach


Located in Pacific Spirit Regional Park, Wreck Beach is a clothing-optional beach, where you can relax and rejuvenate yourself. An internationally acclaimed 7.8 km (4.84 miles) long nudist beach, it allows tourists from over 150 countries and makes a profit of USD 60 million in tourist revenue annually. Jellyfish is considered to be an important precaution over here, but swimming is allowed as you observe the exquisite marine wildlife and flora. Being the busiest beach in Canada, it is popular with all ages including families.

Wreck Beach

Address: NW Marine Drive Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z2 UBC

Website: Wreck Beach

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6. Spot beluga whales at Arctic Watch in Nunavut


One of the best things to do during the summer season in Canada is to enjoy Beluga-watching in Nunavut. Stay at Arctic Watch Wilderness Lodge, which is only 800 km (496 miles) inside the Arctic Circle. Here you can spot the Beluga whales and other incredible varieties of wildlife under 24 hours of daylight. Tourists can also enjoy kayaking alongside beluga whales, and a have an experience of their lifetime.

Arctic Watch

Address: Box 1252 Yellowknife NWT X1A 2N9 Canada

Website: Arctic Watch

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7. Explore the dinosaur capital of the world - Drumheller (from USD 329.0)

Enjoy an all-day small-group tour discovering the spectacular landscapes of Drumheller in an air-conditioned vehicle with large viewing windows. Stop by Horseshoe Canyon where you can see the drastic change of landscape and pose in front of the picturesque hoodoos. Tour the underground Atlas Coal Mine National Historic Site before heading to the Royal Tyrrell Museum. Tourists will come across an impressive collection of more than 130,000 fossils in the only museum in Canada, which is dedicated to paleontology. Stop for lunch at East Coulee School Museum where you can find exhibits exploring the region’s coal mining past, or buy souvenirs from the gift shop.

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Private Sightseeing Tour of Drumheller and Badlands in Alberta

Duration: 8 to 10 hours

22 reviews

8. Walk through the tides at the Bay of Fundy in New Brunswick (from USD 156.0)

Tucked in between the provinces of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, Bay of Fundy is one of the curious spectacles of Canada. Tourists can enjoy kayaking or walk through the tides at the Bay of Fundy. At the start of the tour explore the Granite Town Farms in St. George, which has a large blueberry industry offering sample homemade treats. Visit the award-winning Port City Royal in Uptown St. John to relish a delicious appetizer. Head next to the St. John City Market, where you can browse the stalls. Last but not least, pay a visit to the enchanting Spa Chance Harbor, before heading to the Bay of Fundy waters.

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New Brunswick Saint John Bay of Fundy Half-Day Shore Excursion

Duration: 5 hours 30 minutes

20 reviews

9. Visit one of the wonders of the world, Niagara Falls (from USD 81.74)

visit one of the wonders of the world, niagara falls

Take a full-day coach tour from Toronto in order to explore the Niagara Falls, which is one of the world’s most spectacular natural wonders. Drive through the picturesque historic town of Niagara-on-the-Lake to visit the Falls. Tourists can enjoy a sit-down buffet lunch while admiring the stunning views. After that board the Niagara Falls cruise, which will take you to the base of the majestic Horseshoe Falls. Pose to click Instagram-worthy pictures at the famed Floral Clock and the observation deck of the mighty whirlpool rapids, before buying unique souvenirs from the gift shops at the Table Rock Complex.

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Toronto: Niagara Falls Classic Full-Day Tour by Bus

Duration: 9.5 hour

700 reviews

10. Ski on the Cypress Hills (from USD 118.0)

Start a short drive from downtown Vancouver to reach the Cypress Creek Lodge, which is located on the mountains. Ski passes and rental arrangements are done by tour agents, which will allow tourists to explore 600 acres (242.8 hectares) of skiable terrain, 2010 feet (612.6 meters) of vertical rise, peruse six chair lifts, 53 runs, and 4 freestyle terrain areas. Enjoy tight tree runs and epic forest explorations, wide-open groomed slopes, fresh powder lines or a day in the park and moguls runs, amidst spectacular views over the Pacific Ocean. Relish a delicious meal or warm yourself up with a hot drink. Simply sit back and relax with a glass of wine at the lodge as you gaze at the mountains.

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Vancouver Cypress Mountain Full-Day Ski or Snowboard Adventure

Duration: 7 hours

4 reviews

Explore the gems of Canada

Canada offers the perfect opportunity to enjoy a memorable trip. Board a train at the Rocky Mountaineer Train Station to explore the turquoise-colored lakes, snow-capped peaks and glaciers in the majestic Rocky Mountains, watch the migration of polar bears near the town of Churchill in Northern Manitoba, or enjoy strolling, relaxing, shopping, dining and watching street performers at Victoria’s Inner Harbor. With hidden gems around every corner, this amazing country offers everything one needs to suit their taste, style, and budget.

Any must-sees we missed? Tell us about them in the comments section or write a post here to help out fellow travelers!
Disclosure: Trip101 selects the listings in our articles independently. Some of the listings in this article contain affiliate links.

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Anupama Passary has contributed to various online publications, showcasing a particular fondness for all things tech and travel-related. She is also a chocoholic, stargazer, and dreamer....Read more

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