8 Reasons to Visit Canada This Year
Late in 2016, Lonely Planet released its “Best in Travel” lists for 2017. And at the top of its Top 10 Countries list – claiming the coveted #1 spot as the top country to visit in the new year – was Canada.
At first, some people were like “… Canada? Really?” But I understand Lonely Planet's pick.
Not only is Canada kind of, well, awesome, but 2017 also marks Canada's 150th birthday. And what better way to celebrate than with a trip to the Great White North?
If you still need some convincing, though, I've put together a list of all the great reasons why you should definitely visit Canada this year.
Reasons to plan a trip to Canada
1. It's NOT the same as the US
For anyone who tries to use the argument that Canada is basically just the-US-but-colder (or USA Lite or America's Hat or any of those other silly things), let me point out that these are two very distinct countries with different histories, cultures, and traditions.
Yes, many of us speak the same language, and yes, our border is an incredibly peaceful one. But Canada is not the USA, and visiting or living in one country definitely doesn't mean you've experienced the other.
2. It has its own history
Even though Canada has only been a nation for 150 years, people have been living there for thousands of years. Just like different regions of the US have ties to different Native American tribes, so too are Canada's provinces connected to its First Nations people.
Most major museums in Canada explore this history, which is really fascinating considering the harsh conditions experienced in most parts of Canada for a majority of the year.
Add to this native history strong French and British influences, and Canada's cities and provinces all have their own distinct atmospheres. Canada also remains part of the British Commonwealth, with ties to the United Kingdom.
3. Canadians are SO nice
Like, seriously, the nicest. If you bump into one of them in a crowded space, THEY will probably apologize to YOU. It's just how they are.
To those fleeing persecution, terror & war, Canadians will welcome you, regardless of your faith. Diversity is our strength #WelcomeToCanada
— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) January 28, 2017
Two years ago, I took a train trip across western Canada and ended up with one free day in Alberta, and one of my Canadian friends drove more than four hours (one way) just so she could take me to some of her favorite lakes in Banff. I can sometimes barely convince my American friends to drive an hour to come see me near Cleveland!
The stereotype of Canadians being incredibly kind is totally true.
4. It's extremely safe
There's a reason why I included Canada on my list of great places for solo female travelers: it's an incredibly safe country.
While the United States has some scary issues with gun violence among its citizens, our northern neighbor by contrast is much more peaceful. (Maybe it goes back to the ridiculously nice people?)
5. The nature is incredible
From the temperate rainforests on the west coast to the soaring Canadian Rockies to the vast prairies to the striking Atlantic coast in the east, Canada really does have some damn impressive scenery.
And the scenery *feels* bigger, too – probably because even though Canada covers 3.85 million square miles, it only has a population of just a little over 35 million.
It has some really impressive wildlife, like moose and polar bears, and is also a great place to glimpse the Northern Lights in the winter months.
Don't skip a visit to one of Canada's excellent national parks – there are nearly 50 of them to choose from.
6. Cool, diverse cities
On top of Canada's amazing nature, it also has really cool cities. From Vancouver to Calgary to Toronto to Montreal, Canadian cities are just as visit-worthy as its national parks.
And, while cities like Vancouver aren't necessarily the most affordable places to call home, Canada's major cities always make it onto top 10 lists of “most livable cities in the world” each year.
So, along with simply saying that Canada has cool cities, you can also say that the people who live in them enjoy a pretty high quality of life. (Maybe that's what makes them so nice!)
7. Fun annual festivals
Speaking of Canada's cities, many of them host some pretty cool (and unique) festivals each year. Some of my favorites include:
- The Quebec Winter Carnival in Quebec City (January/February)
- Festival du Voyageur in Winnipeg (February)
- The International Tulip Festival in Ottawa (May)
- Montreal Jazz Fest (June/July)
- The Calgary Stampede (July)
- The Toronto International Film Festival (September)
- The Celtic Colours International Festival on Cape Breton Island (October)
In short, Canadians love any excuse to come together and celebrate.
8. It's pretty affordable
Lastly, taking current exchange rates into account, Canada is really affordable right now for Americans, Europeans, and even Australians (right now $1 USD is equivalent to about $1.40 CAD).
This hasn't always been the case, so if you've been considering a trip to Canada, now is definitely the time to go!
Need even MORE inspiration? Here are some of my favorite posts about Canada that you should probably check out:
- 27 Photos from Aboard the Rocky Mountaineer
- 5 Spots in Alberta That Will Blow Your Mind
- A Dance of Lights: Awed By the Aurora Borealis
- How to See Polar Bears in Churchill, Manitoba
- There's More to Ottawa in Winter Than Just Frigid Weather
- Eating Hogtown: A Pork-Themed Tour of Toronto
- A Weekend in Winnipeg: The Best Things to Do in Winnipeg, Manitoba
- 8 of the Best Things to Do in Calgary in Summer
- 2 Days in Edmonton: A Summer Weekend in Alberta’s Capital
And find even more Canada posts here.
Who's planning a trip to Canada this year?
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Amanda Williams is the award-winning blogger behind A Dangerous Business Travel Blog. She has traveled to more than 60 countries on 6 continents from her home base in Ohio, specializing in experiential and thoughtful travel through the US, Europe, and rest of the world. Amanda only shares tips based on her personal experiences and places she's actually traveled!
Canada is just sooo beautiful. Dreaming of going there someday <3
It’s definitely a stunner! Here’s hoping you make it there someday!
Great post! I’m impatiently awaiting conditional approval for NEXUS, so I can schedule my interview and, during that trip, (re)visit Montreal and Niagra Falls.
I used to visit Canada regularly, in both summer and winter, for conferences, skiing, and the Montreal Jazz Fest, and I will resume that habit beginning this summer. I am also planning visits to Canada’s national parks and underground railroad sites, so thank you for your tip about the free national parks pass!
I hope your 2017 visits are just as great as your previous ones!
I just came back from a trip to Canada. It was my first out of country trip, in fact! I went through Quebec City, Montreal, and Toronto. I had a blast! I loved how you could really see the European culture in Quebec and even Montreal. Quebec just seemed so prim and proper and dainty. Montreal felt, well I don’t know how to explain it, but really ALIVE. Toronto had more of a modernized international feel. I did get to swing by Niagara Falls, which was breathtaking. I also really loved the exchange rate. I got three nice dresses for around $120 usd. I also noticed that the indigenous cultures seemed to be more mixed in at the museums in Canada (which I really appreciated as I have indigenous ancestry).
One thing I will say however is that I think the “friendly Canadian” thing is mostly just a myth. I was expecting some super nice people, but was surprised to find that walking down the street, if I smiled at someone passing by they would either frown back, give me a weird look, or just ignore me. Also I was bumped into with relative frequency and they just pushed past me while I was in the middle of an “Oh excuse me”. In Quebec City these two women working at a store tried to cheat us out of money (but I guess that can happen anywhere haha). One last thing that I guess is just an extra, but while we were on the road, and I was looking out the window to observe nature (my parents drove) I would make sure to smile at anybody driving by that I made eye contact with. No one smiled back or anything. I suppose that isn’t technically rude, but usually in the states at least two people would smile back, so I was kinda disappointed. Overall I had a lot of fun, but I did feel kind of feel awkward and a smidgen unwelcome due to not getting the friendly responses I was used to at home. I suppose none of these things are that bad, but I think it was especially hard on me as a teenage girl.
If I go back, which I probably will, I’ll definitely want to spend more time in Quebec Province and really immerse myself in their thriving culture. I also want to do a trip up there sometime solely to focus on learning about my native american heritage.
Welllllll Quebec is a bit different from the rest of Canada. Many consider themselves French-Canadian instead of Canadian, so maybe that explains the lack of super-nice Canadian-ness?
Yes! I”m going to Canada this summer and I am so excited! Although I lived in the US for four years, the closest I got to Canada was Vermont 😉 This year I plan on going to Quebec (have a friend there) and spend about a month site seeing and mostly hiking. I plan on taking advantage of the free pass to national parks!
Your photos are stunning 🙂
Cheers!
Ioanna
A Woman Afoot
Enjoy! There’s so much to see in Canada! (Kind of like the US.)
Unsurprisingly, given my heritage, I’ll be in Ottawa this year visiting friends. Burning some FF miles to include Ottawa in a loop that takes me down to North Carolina. I *am* avoiding Ottawa on Canada Day of the Sesquicentennial, though! It’ll be a zoo. Instead I’ll be celebrating Canada Day in Asheville, NC – day-hiking on the AT.
I’m still amused when I think back to your freezing cold winter trip to Ottawa in 2012. As much as I love my hometown you won’t ever find me there in the winter again. But it was interesting to see it from someone else’s perspective!
I enjoyed Ottawa in the winter! (Then again, I’ve been making a habit of taking at least one cold-weather trip every winter – the cold doesn’t bother me as long as I pack enough layers!)
What an amazing list! The scenery in Canada seems almost unbelievable in its beauty! The natural landscape reminds me very much of my trip to Alaska. Those resilient trees amongst such a harsh landscape, and the bright blue of the lakes, this is such a beautiful part of the continent! Excellent photos and great content!
Parts of Canada are definitely similar to Alaska – so wild and open and such stunning landscapes!