Why to visit Canada

If you ever wanted to visit Canada you should know several things about this magnificent country.

Canada is a North American country stretching from the U.S. in the south to the Arctic Circle in the north. Major cities include massive Toronto, west coast film centre Vancouver, French-speaking Montréal and Québec City, and capital city Ottawa. Canada’s vast swaths of wilderness include lake-filled Banff National Park in the Rocky Mountains. It’s also home to Niagara Falls, a famous group of massive waterfalls.

Besides taking a boat ride through the mists of Niagara Falls, some other notable experiences include hiking Newfoundland’s coastline for views of Iceberg Alley and exploring Québec’s European-style cities. Hot springs and the scenic Icefields Parkway are draws in the Canadian Rockies. Skiing, mountain biking and golf are attractions in Whistler, British Columbia. In the far north, dogsledding expeditions take visitors to see the Aurora Borealis, an atmospheric light phenomenon. Cultural highlights include Toronto’s professional theatre, the Calgary Stampede rodeo and winter festivals and ice-hockey games countrywide.

When to visit Canada

Despite Canada’s size, weather patterns are largely the same across the country, with defined seasons similar to those in Europe. While there are variations – coastal regions are usually more temperate than prairie provinces and mountain ranges attract higher rainfall and snow in some areas than others – it’s cold everywhere in winter and warm in most locations in summer.

The summer months are most popular, offering sunny days and pleasant temperatures. Springtime starts in late April through to early June and can be a delightful time of year to visit, with gradual snow melt revealing forests and wildflowers and a re-emergence of Canadian wildlife from the long winter hibernation. September’s considered the peak of the salmon run, attracting large numbers of bears. It also marks the start of autumn, with spectacular fall foliage lasting into October.