5 Great Canadian Places to Visit this Summer
By Shondell Varcianna
July 17, 2015
Lifestyle
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Canada is one of the most diverse and beautiful countries in the world. There may be no true desert here, but there are many of beautiful mountains, valleys, grassland, rivers, lakes, beaches and miles and miles of picture perfect coastlines. We also have some of the most beautiful cities in the world where something interesting is happening every day. Because most of these places are too cold in winter, summer is the perfect time to visit these places.
So, here are 5 great Canadian places to visit this summer:
1. Niagara Falls:
Niagara Falls needs no introduction. One of the largest and the most famous waterfalls in the world, it attracts millions of tourists from all over the world. Niagara Falls is actually a set of three large waterfalls located on the Niagara River: the Horseshoe Falls, the American Falls and the Bridal Veil Falls. The three falls combined have the highest flow rate of any waterfall in the world. Both the Horseshoe, the largest, and the American, which is entirely in the USA, can be viewed best from the Canadian side of the border. Summer is the best time to visit the falls since they are at their full force.
2. Algonquin Provincial Park:
If you are a nature lover, then the Algonquin Provincial Park in Ontario is one place you mustn’t miss. This 7,653 sq. km park is the oldest national park in Canada and great for camping, hiking, nature walk and animal watching. It has 1,200 kilometers of rivers and streams and over 2,400 lakes within its boundaries. One of the most biologically diverse parks in Canada, it is home to 45 species of mammals, 30 species of reptiles and amphibians, 262 species of birds, 50 species of fish and over 7,000 species of insects.
3. Ottawa, Ontario:
Exotically named Ottawa, the capital of Canada, is one of the most beautiful cities in the world. The city is littered with world famous tourist attractions, which include the Parliament Hill, renowned for its grand Victorian architecture and museums, the 126-mile Rideau Canal, a UNESCO World Heritage site which is filled with boats in the summer and turns into a natural ice-skating rink in winter, Byward Square, which is lined with boutiques, shops and nightclubs, and Notre Dame Basilica, the city’s oldest and grandest church famous for its exquisite stained glass windows and statues of hundreds of religious figures.
4. Calgary, Alberta:
If you find cowboys fascinating and would like to dress up as one, then Calgary, Alberta is the place to be in the summer. For ten days every July, the city hosts the Calgary Stampede, billed by its organizers as “The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth”. Highlights of the event include one of the largest rodeo events in the world, parades, fireworks, stage shows, chuckwagon racing, First Nations exhibition and a free pancake breakfast for everyone. The event attracts over one million visitors each year.
5. Pacific Rim National Park, British Columbia:
Here is another great place if you want to be somewhere far from the crowd this summer. The Pacific Rim National Park in British Columbia has endless pristine beaches and hiking trails that wind through the northern rainforests along the picturesque Pacific coastline. The park is made up of Long Beach, which attracts surfers, beachcombers and marine life enthusiasts, the Broken Group Islands, and the West Coast Trail, where you can hike and trek for days.
Picture by Stefan Schinning
So, here are 5 great Canadian places to visit this summer:
1. Niagara Falls:
Niagara Falls needs no introduction. One of the largest and the most famous waterfalls in the world, it attracts millions of tourists from all over the world. Niagara Falls is actually a set of three large waterfalls located on the Niagara River: the Horseshoe Falls, the American Falls and the Bridal Veil Falls. The three falls combined have the highest flow rate of any waterfall in the world. Both the Horseshoe, the largest, and the American, which is entirely in the USA, can be viewed best from the Canadian side of the border. Summer is the best time to visit the falls since they are at their full force.
2. Algonquin Provincial Park:
If you are a nature lover, then the Algonquin Provincial Park in Ontario is one place you mustn’t miss. This 7,653 sq. km park is the oldest national park in Canada and great for camping, hiking, nature walk and animal watching. It has 1,200 kilometers of rivers and streams and over 2,400 lakes within its boundaries. One of the most biologically diverse parks in Canada, it is home to 45 species of mammals, 30 species of reptiles and amphibians, 262 species of birds, 50 species of fish and over 7,000 species of insects.
3. Ottawa, Ontario:
Exotically named Ottawa, the capital of Canada, is one of the most beautiful cities in the world. The city is littered with world famous tourist attractions, which include the Parliament Hill, renowned for its grand Victorian architecture and museums, the 126-mile Rideau Canal, a UNESCO World Heritage site which is filled with boats in the summer and turns into a natural ice-skating rink in winter, Byward Square, which is lined with boutiques, shops and nightclubs, and Notre Dame Basilica, the city’s oldest and grandest church famous for its exquisite stained glass windows and statues of hundreds of religious figures.
4. Calgary, Alberta:
If you find cowboys fascinating and would like to dress up as one, then Calgary, Alberta is the place to be in the summer. For ten days every July, the city hosts the Calgary Stampede, billed by its organizers as “The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth”. Highlights of the event include one of the largest rodeo events in the world, parades, fireworks, stage shows, chuckwagon racing, First Nations exhibition and a free pancake breakfast for everyone. The event attracts over one million visitors each year.
5. Pacific Rim National Park, British Columbia:
Here is another great place if you want to be somewhere far from the crowd this summer. The Pacific Rim National Park in British Columbia has endless pristine beaches and hiking trails that wind through the northern rainforests along the picturesque Pacific coastline. The park is made up of Long Beach, which attracts surfers, beachcombers and marine life enthusiasts, the Broken Group Islands, and the West Coast Trail, where you can hike and trek for days.
Picture by Stefan Schinning