6 Canadian Travel Destinations Our Editors Love
(Photos: Courtesy of Tourism Thunder Bay, Tourisme Memphrémagog, Eva Blue for Tourisme Montréal, Rami Accoumeh for Destination Ontario, Aimee Nishitoba and Andréanne Dion)
There’s so much to explore in our own backyard, and there’s never been a better time to plan a Canadian vacation. According to Airbnb, searches for domestic stays are up nearly 20 percent so far this year and airlines are experiencing a significant drop in U.S.-bound bookings and, in many cases, redirecting flights to Canadian destinations. This means travelling across the country might finally be getting a little more affordable.
From idyllic remote locations steeped in nature to friendly towns with top-notch food and great shopping to big-city vibes with a European twist, our editors share their favourite bucket-list-worthy Canadian travel destinations.
Tofino, B.C.
“Tofino isn’t exactly easy to get to (you either have to take a pricey 30-minute flight from Vancouver or a two-hour ferry to Nanaimo, then drive the remaining two-and-a-half hours), but it’s absolutely worth the trip. Located on the West Coast of Vancouver Island, it has rugged shorelines, incredibly lush forests and magical sunsets over the Pacific Ocean for nature lovers, but the town's main street is also lined with cool indie businesses and restaurants for those who prefer pottering around. I loved Rhino Coffee House, where I stopped for an Americano and a breakfast wrap before popping in and out of the cute souvenir and clothing stores. Merge, with its bright pink, cottage-like exterior, is a destination in itself—it’s a beautifully curated boutique, with unique housewares, locally made jewellery, coffee-table books, clothing and the store’s own line of body care. For lunch, drive to the Tacofino food truck (the restaurant chain’s OG location) to pick up delicious crispy chicken tacos with sides of chips and guac. There’s also plenty of adventures to be had in the region: I hiked the gorgeous Wild Pacific Trail in nearby Ucluelet and took two beginner winter surfing lessons with Relic Surf Shop on Long Beach and had an absolute blast trying—and failing—to catch a wave in the frigid water. (Squeezing into a head-to-toe, multi-part winter wetsuit made me reconsider the life choices that led me there, but it made for some very funny memories.)” —Andréanne Dion, senior style and beauty editor
Thunder Bay, Ont.
“If you've read any of my editor's letters, you already know I love spending time in my hometown of Thunder Bay, Ont. But it's also a beautiful place to visit even if you don't know a soul. My dream summer day in T. Bay would start with Finnish pancakes at Kanga's Sauna, followed by a stroll downtown with stops at Entershine Bookshop, Lovely Body, St. Paul Roastery, Goods & Co. Market (a gorgeous marketplace full of local businesses and restaurants inside a former Eaton's store) and Waxxed Candle Co., which makes deliciously scented candles—the only ones I ever buy. (My favourite scent is Sauna.) Then I'd head up to Maltese Grocery for made-to-order salami sandwiches and snacks, and drive out to Middlebrun Bay (about an hour east) with my husband and dogs. After a 45-minute hike, you end up at the most gorgeous sandy beach on the shore of Lake Superior. Bonus: this beach is rarely, if ever, busy. After a few hours lounging around, I'd head back to town for dinner at Tomlin (we always order the ribeye for two) and drinks at Barkeep Cocktails. In terms of accommodations, I either stay with my family or at this gorgeous dog-friendly Airbnb, but if I needed to book a room I'd want to try the Courthouse Hotel which has historical details, gorgeous Lake Superior views and a great downtown location.” —Maureen Halushak, editor-in-chief
Prince Edward County, Ont.
“After our wedding in September 2022, my wife and I wanted to wait a while before taking an overseas trip, but we still wanted to spend a few days away decompressing and enjoying being newlyweds. We opted for a minimoon in Prince Edward County, a conglomerate of small towns about two hours east of Toronto, and we quickly fell in love. It has everything you'd need in a holiday destination: beautiful scenery, great food and friendly locals.
During our stay, we visited Sandbanks Provincial Park, which boasts long stretches of gorgeous beach, and biked part of the Millennium Trail, a 46-km path built along an abandoned rail line. The Drake Devonshire, the boutique hotel where we stayed, is situated right along Lake Ontario, making for picture-perfect sunset views year-round. (It's also home to an excellent on-site restaurant.) And beyond the views and to-dos, the County is also incredibly queer-friendly. My wife and I can't wait to visit again soon—next time, with our son.” —Erica Lenti, deputy editor, features
Montreal, Que.
“My mom is from Montreal, my partner went to McGill and my kids are in French immersion, so my family loves travelling to Quebec. Getting on the train at Toronto's Union Station and stepping off at Gare Centrale to the sound of French everywhere is a wonderful and unique experience. Montreal is incredibly bike-friendly—last time we visited, we rented bikes and did a 28-km ride along the Lachine Canal to Parc René-Levesque, and then back along the St. Lawrence to the Vieux-Port. In the summer, I take gardening inspiration from all the small, community-maintained gardens filled with native plants that pop up everywhere. And, of course, the food is always outstanding—I think about the pandan ice cream at Kem Coba on a regular basis, and can't wait to go back to Restaurant Hélicoptère, which has the best kind of atmosphere—relaxed, unstuffy, with great wine and food.” —Gillian Grace, deputy editor, digital
The Eastern Townships, Que.
“One of my favourite travel destinations in Canada isn't a city, but a collection of smaller towns. Just an hour out of Montreal, the Eastern Townships are a delight for hikers, campers, gourmands, thrifters and spa bugs alike. I've scored some of my best vintage dish finds at the antique shops in Bromont; tasted incredible ripened cheese made by monks in Saint Benoît-de-Lac; tried inventive, Michelin-level cooking with local vegetables at Chardo and was delighted to learn that the region in general is primed to become one of the country's next big wine regions. I'd love to return in October, when fall colours are at their peak.” —Chantal Braganza, deputy editor, food
Halifax, N.S.
“I visited Halifax for a friend's wedding a few years ago and I had a great time. I wandered the public gardens and shopped for snacks along the waterfront at the Halifax Seaport Farmer's Market. I had dinner at The Bicycle Thief, a chic and vibey Italian restaurant (I highly recommend the seafood dishes, which were all delicious). The city also has a great art scene and is the home base of many extremely talented artists and illustrators we work with at Chatelaine, like Sasha Stephan, Katarina Marinic and Kristen De Palma of KDP Letters Design Co. Next time I go back, I’ll make it a point to see the works of Maud Lewis at the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia as well.” —Aimee Nishitoba, art director
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