Canada has recently become a popular tourist destination, despite its extremely cold weather. Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal and Quebec have seen increasing tourist footfalls, and so, may be crowded during the peak tourist season. However, the Great White North is a vast country, with some beautiful natural locations which would be perfect for a holiday. In addition, there are also a number of land-based casinos for those with an inclination towards gambling. Casino Niagara is one of the best ones, situated at the Niagara Falls, which gives visitors some amazing views, and also allows them to play blackjack, poker and roulette. The likes of the Casino De Montreal in Montreal, Caesar’s in Windsor, and Casino Rama in Orillia, are some of the best in Canada, and well worth a visit for punters. Otherwise, these are some of the best locations to visit in Canada which are not the usual tourist traps –
St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador
Newfoundland and Labrador is probably Canada’s remotest province, and thus is the perfect location for tourists looking for a quiet getaway. Being the easternmost part of the country, it would be a bit of a journey to get there from Toronto or Vancouver, but the natural beauty makes it worth it. Visitors will have a number of hiking trails to acquaint themselves with nature, or they can check out the Cabot Tower, which offers a stunning view of the North Atlantic Ocean. Signal Hill is another beautiful location, on a cliff, no less, from where there is a phenomenal view of the ocean, and if you are lucky, you can even spot humpback whales breaching the waves.
Fernie, British Columbia
Another region of Canada that seems as if it is untouched by man, Fernie offers stunning mountain landscapes, interspersed with lakes and valleys, which make it one of the most beautiful places in Canada. There are hiking trails around the mountains, with ski lodges and mountain biking offering some options for adventure sports junkies as well. All of these are reachable from the town of Fernie itself, set in the shadows of the Rocky Mountains.
Pangnirtung, Nunavut
On the edge of the Arctic, Nunavut is probably the most remote province in Canada. Visitors here will be able to see and experience Inuit culture for themselves, while in the midst of miles of tundra. Of course, there are a bunch of activities available, from dogsledding, skiing and snowmobile tours, to kayaking, canoeing and aurora watching. The settlement of Pangnirtung itself is inaccessible by road, so travelers will need to fly into the hamlet.
The Northwest Passage
This is probably one of the most famous stretches of water in the world. The Northwest Passage connects the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans through the Arctic, and was uncharted for centuries. Norwegian expeditioner Roald Amundsen was the first to traverse the passage, in 1903, and it has become an increasingly popular destination for travellers in the years since. There are cruises and tours offered, which also retrace the steps of some of the more famous expeditions from history.
Ivvavik National Park, Yukon
Once again, Yukon is one of the most isolated areas of Canada, bordering Alaska. The Ivvavik National Park, in the north of the Yukon Territory, is probably the furthest of these. Visitors can hike and camp in the park, with a particular delight being a midnight hike during the summer solstice, with 24-hour sunlight making a mockery of one’s visual senses. The natural wilderness allows for visitors to potentially see wildlife, including the likes of grizzly and black bears, caribou, moose, Arctic foxes and many many more.
So there you have it, these are some of the best places to visit in Canada if you are looking for a vacation that is off the beaten path.