Tourism in Canada has long been synonymous with postcard scenes: the mist and spray of Niagara Falls, Toronto’s CN Tower aglow at night, Lake Louise’s bright blue glacial waters in Banff National Park. These famous sights draw continuous crowds each year, all vying for the same selfie. But Canada is a vast land with stunning and diverse topographies and cultures. What lesser-known, small-town destinations are we missing out on?
Here are some noteworthy, under-the-radar towns worthy of a detour on your next Canadian road trip:
Zeballos, B.C.
Zeballos is a picturesque deep-sea port surrounded by mountains with a rich gold mining history.Village of Zeballos/Village of Zeballos
British Columbia’s smallest municipality, Zeballos, is also one of the province’s most naturally beautiful gems. About a 2½-hour drive north of Campbell River on Vancouver Island, Zeballos is a picturesque deep-sea port surrounded by mountains with a rich gold mining history. The village is a sea kayaker’s dream – the gateway to both Nootka and Kyuquot sounds, where a constellation of islands, inlets and bays teem with wildlife. In the fall, the salmon runs attract hungry black bears and bald eagles, while Roosevelt elk roam the encompassing Sitka spruce forest year-round. Nearby Artlish Caves Provincial Park, accessed via a logging road, is home to Canada’s largest known active river cave system. For a more accessible cave adventure, head to Little Huson Caves Regional Park, which comprises 15 karst caves with goosebump-inducing limestone formations and plenty of little pools to jump in.
Clinton, B.C.
British Columbia’s Wild West history is preserved in the friendly ranch town of Clinton, which served as a rest stop during the Cariboo Gold Rush.Big Bar Guest Ranch
About a 4½-hour drive from Vancouver, British Columbia’s Wild West history is preserved in the friendly ranch town of Clinton, which served as a rest stop during the Cariboo Gold Rush. Surrounded by panoramic landscapes of valleys and plateaus – best viewed on horseback – Clinton is also home to what locals call the “Grand Canyon of the North,” a stunning, 80-kilometre-long geological wonder of volcanic and sedimentary rock in Stikine River Park. Nearby lodges such as the Stswecem’c Xget’tem First Nation-owned Big Bar Guest Ranch offer horseback riding tours, wildlife viewing experiences and, in the winter, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. After exploring the rugged terrain, head to the town’s main street, where antique stores offer a treasure trove of trinkets.
Gimli, Man.
Gimli, a town known as the heart of New Iceland, is bursting with history and Nordic charm.Courtesy of Travel Manitoba
An hour’s drive north of Winnipeg, Viking spirit runs deep in Gimli, a town known as the heart of New Iceland, bursting with history and Nordic charm. Icelandic settlers first arrived at the little patch of land along Lake Winnipeg in 1875 and established an autonomous government. That special history is celebrated and kept alive in Gimli, where a five-metre-high Viking statue attracts selfie-takers and history buffs alike. The town also hosts several annual events that keep things in constant motion. The Gimli Ice Festival takes over in March, with cars racing on the frozen lake and locals participating in a frozen fish toss. In the summer months, the Gimli Film Festival offers screenings on the beach, while the famous Iceland Festival puts on riotous Viking battle re-enactments and strongman competitions paired with plenty of live music and fried fish.
Goderich, Ont.
Boasting the title of “Canada’s prettiest town,” Goderich isn’t shy about its allure – and with a turquoise shoreline that could rival the tropics, the town lives up to that promise. About a 2½-hour drive from Toronto, Goderich sits on bluffs overlooking the shore of Lake Huron, with your pick of three beaches to lounge on. Main Beach, the most popular, has long stretches of sand to walk on, while the smaller St. Christopher’s and Rotary Cove are where you’ll find more locals. Try your hand at time travelling by catching the stunning sunset twice: First, watch the sun dip into the horizon from the shore at Main Beach, then quickly climb up one of the walkways to Lighthouse Park at the top of the bluff to catch it again. In August, a host of concerts take over the town during the Celtic Roots Festival, a week-long affair with local food, artisanal crafts, art demonstrations and performances by Canadian and Celtic musicians.
Île du Havre aux Maisons, Magdalen Islands, Que.
Quebec’s Magdalen Islands, an archipelago of 12 islands in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, offer some of the most stunning, sweeping views you can get in Canada. But how do you pick which island to visit? With a rolling hillside landscape dotted with colourful houses, Havre aux Maisons has a bit of everything – rural charm, vast stretches of sandy beaches, rugged, rust-coloured cliffsides, whale watching, gull watching and delicious seafood. The island is home to the only airport on the archipelago, with regular flights to and from urban centres around Quebec. A five-hour, comfortable ferry from Prince Edward Island is also an option for road trippers. With abundant viewpoints and kilometres of landscape to explore, rent a bike to traverse the sand, trails and roads. For a dose of culture, take in the sight of a thousand herrings being smoked at Le Fumoir d’Antan, a family-owned smokehouse in operation since 1942.
Hampton, N.B.
Situated on the Kennebecasis River, a bird watcher’s paradise, Hampton is a picture-perfect village only a 30-minute drive from Saint John. Community spirit keeps the place alive, with locals often congregating in the town square pavilion for movie nights, concerts and yoga lessons. Nature lovers can rent a kayak and explore the network of waterways or hike the many trails around Spooner Island Nature Park, which is surrounded by marshy wetlands. Take a self-guided walking tour of Hampton’s historic heritage homes, which look right out of a Stephen King novel – some built as far back as the late 1800s. Hampton is also home to one of the most scenic golf courses in the province: the Hampton Golf Club, an 18-hole course overlooking a lake with gorgeous sunset views.
Ferryland, N.L.
Known as the Irish heart of Newfoundland and Labrador, Ferryland is a small town with a big spirit only an hour’s drive from St. John’s.Rugged Rock Media/Newfoundland and Labrador Tourism
Known as the Irish heart of Newfoundland and Labrador, Ferryland is a small town with a big spirit only an hour’s drive from St. John’s. It’s not only the scenery – dramatic cliffsides and peaceful green hills – that evokes Ireland but also that iconic Newfie accent among the locals here, who burst with charm and hospitality. The legacy of the Irish fish merchants who settled in the area in the 18th century lives on here. Get a dose of Ferryland’s charismatic Irish-Newfoundland culture at the annual Shamrock Festival in July, where local musicians put on a show to stir the soul. In the summer months, spot giant icebergs and humpback whales while picnicking next to the red lighthouse, then head to the colony of Avalon, the best-preserved English colonial site in North America, complete with a recreation of a 17th-century kitchen.