The Art Gallery of Ontario in Toronto, on March 3. The Canada Strong Pass will offer free admission to national galleries and museums for kids under age 18 this summer, which can make a good rainy day activity.Carlos Osorio/Reuters
A weak loonie, the ongoing trade war and an uncertain economy mean our family is skipping U.S. cities and European beaches and prioritizing travelling within Canada this summer. But choosing domestic doesn’t mean I’m not also focused on cost.
There’s a reason we have booked trips to Portugal instead of PEI in the past – it can be cheaper to fly across the Atlantic than within our own borders, especially for cross-country routes like Toronto-Vancouver. Add in accommodations, rental cars, food and activities, and it can be more affordable to book an all-inclusive vacation in the Caribbean – or just stay at home.
To alleviate the cost of travelling within Canada, Prime Minister Mark Carney launched the Canada Strong Pass in April, which will allow children under 18 to travel for free on VIA Rail this summer as long as they’re accompanied by a parent or guardian, with discounted fares for youth 18-24.
My husband and I live a few hours outside of Toronto and we’re planning to take our daughters on their first train ride to the big city before our oldest starts kindergarten. My hope is that the train ride is so thrilling for them that the rest of the trip is just gravy.
If accommodations are a budget sticking point, or if unlike me you would rather be one with nature, the price of camping sites across Canada will be reduced as part of the Canada Strong Pass initiative as well.
Or, you could try swapping homes with another Canadian family using a website like HomeExchange (make sure you pretend you’re living in the movie The Holiday) – a bonus is that the other family may have all the kid gear you need on-site.
In addition to our trip to Toronto, we’re planning a week-long local staycation. We did this last year and found it was much more affordable than going away, and with two toddlers, much easier logistically.
We planned a kid-friendly itinerary, visiting the beach, a local pool, an ostrich farm and local wineries and breweries with kid-friendly outdoor spaces. Most of these activities were either free or inexpensive, and it helped us to support local small business owners, while also discovering new things in our own backyards.
If you’re not great at planning itineraries, companies such as Guess Where Trips curate kid-friendly surprise one-day itineraries at various destinations across Canada, so you can discover local treasures without doing the research. Parks Canada also offers free admission to youth under 17, meaning your kids can visit national parks, natural historic sites and marine conservation areas for free.
The Canada Strong Pass will also offer free admission to national galleries and museums for kids under age 18 this summer, which can make a good rainy day activity. And of course the great thing about summer is that local playgrounds, parks and beaches are often completely free, and your kids will get hours of entertainment.
Whether you’re travelling in Canada this summer, going abroad, or staying at home, we can all agree that supporting local businesses will be crucial as we navigate uncertain economic conditions.
Elisha Andrewsky is planning summer travel for her family and a tourism small business owner in Ontario’s picturesque Prince Edward County.
Her summer holiday plans with her family are focused on travel in Canada, including trips to Toronto and B.C.
“Choosing Canadian means whether you’re buying a coffee or planning an entire staycation, you are reinvesting in a strong economy for us all,” Ms. Andrewsky says. “I like feeling like I am making an impact just by supporting the local businesses I love.”
Whether on planes, trains or automobiles, there’s never been a better time to explore our beautiful country – and build core memories with your kids.
Erin Bury is the co-founder and CEO of online estate planning platform Willful.co. She lives in rural Ontario with her husband and two young children.
