If you’re one of Canada’s newest residents, just arrived as a digital traveler or taking a weeks-long tour of the country, you’re learning that it’s a big country with much to offer that is awe-inspiring. Something has been catching adevnture’s eyes. Canada is the second largest country in the world by total area. Even its motto “from sea to sea,” refers to its borders touching both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.
With 10 provinces and 3 territories, the country is well known for its scenery, as well as ice hockey, maple syrup, moose, and its citizens’ general politeness. As a newcomer to Canada, start to take time to visit the must-see places near where you live or when you’re traveling. Here are seven sights to introduce you to your new breathtaking home.
Niagara Falls—Ontario
Loud, wet, and awesome, Niagara Falls is one of the most famous falls in the world and the number one natural attraction in Canada. Located in Ontario, an hour’s drive from Toronto, Niagara Falls is three falls, with the Canadian fall, also known as Horseshoe Falls, being the tallest. There are many ways to see the falls—from land, by boat, or even a tour that includes sightseeing, a winery, dinner, and cruise. Though Niagara Falls is legendary for its thundering waters, it’s just one of Canada’s 1,700 major waterfalls.
Old Montreal—Quebec
Turn into the streets of 17th-century Old Montreal in Quebec, and you enter a picturesque area along the St. Lawrence River of historic buildings lining the cobblestone lanes, open-air plazas, and shops. Truly, your surroundings make you feel you’ve stepped back in time, yet this is a vibrant area of restaurants, commerce at Bonsecours Market, and history at the Old Port of Montreal. Popular sights include the Montreal Science Centre and Chateau Ramezay, a highly acclaimed museum endorsed by UNESCO.
If you’re traveling to Canada and this shopping experience will be one of your first stops, consider sending money ahead to one of our convenient agent locations to have cash waiting for you in the local currency. It’s easy with the Western Union app or website.
Banff National Park—Alberta
A World Heritage site since 1984, Banff National Park of Canada is a scenic natural and wilderness area on the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains in the province of Alberta. The turquoise-colored Lake Louise and Moraine Lake, snow-kissed peaks, and stunning vistas lure visitors from around the world. Banff offers skiing, snowboarding, hiking, boating, gondola rides, wildlife spotting (moose!), and more. Accommodations range from camping and cabins, to inns and resorts, to booking a stay in the grand old hotel Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise.
Canadian Museum for Human Rights—Manitoba
The Northern Arctic tundra and the Hudson Bay of Manitoba are home to 80 provincial parks waiting for your exploration. Or head to Winnipeg for city stimulation. While there, visit the Canadian Museum for Human Rights which explores the diversity, evolution, celebration, and future of human rights using art, science, storytelling, and augmented reality.
Cape Spear National Historic Site—Newfoundland
At Newfoundland on the Atlantic, you have the unique opportunity to be the first to see the sun rise in North America. Remote, pristine, and beautiful, Cape Spear National Historic Site is the most easterly point in North America. Follow that wake-up event by hiking the Tablelands in Gros More National Park, whale watching, or walking the rainbow-colored harbor town of St. John’s.
Capilano Suspension Bridge—British Columbia
At 140 meters (460 ft.) long, this pedestrian bridge spans the Capilano River in North Vancouver 70 meters (230 ft.) above the river. If heights and spectacular views make your spirit soar, cross the bridge (if you dare) and visit other attractions in the park, it’s all about embracing the outdoors
Bay of Fundy—New Brunswick and Nova Scotia
The Bay of Fundy is most famous for the highest tides on the planet—up to 53 feet in difference! The sweeping tidal changes take a little over 6 hours. Find a good spot near the bay in Nova Scotia or New Brunswick to witness this phenomenon. Full of national and provincial parks, this areas shore cliffs, sea caves, and beaches are known for being the world’s most complete fossil record of life 300 million years ago, making it part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a UNESCO Global Geopark. And don’t forget to participate in the whale watching that’s here too!
There’s so much beauty to see in Canada, even beyond these seven can’t-miss sites. So take some time and enjoy!
