We received over 100 responses from Canadians planning on rekindling old vacation routes and carving out entirely new ones.Illustration by Drew Shannon
Canadian patriotism is having a resurgence, and potential travellers are taking notice. Many Canadians are scrapping plans to visit the U.S. this summer, and hungering to satisfy their wanderlust closer to home instead.
Last month, we asked Globe readers where they’re planning on vacationing within Canada this year. We received over 100 responses from Canadians planning on rekindling old vacation routes and carving out entirely new ones.
Hidden Canada 2025: Ten travel destinations around the country to explore this summer
From coast to coast to coast, here are your best made-in-Canada travel plans for summer 2025.
Submissions have been edited for length and clarity.
Making new discoveries
Cape Breton Island, N.S.Supplied
My wife and I are planning on going to the Maritimes to celebrate our 25th anniversary this summer. Our plan is to start in Charlottetown and then drive through New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. We only have a week so we’ll have to plan on another trip to Newfoundland. We’re looking forward to PEI and Cape Breton, but no favourites!
We are from the Prairies and have travelled to B.C. a lot (our two older kids are there), but we’ve always wanted to travel to the east coast. No better time than this year! – Gavin Hay, Winnipeg.
Brody Wells of Powell, Wyoming rides the horse Flashed Watts in the saddle bronc event during the rodeo at the Calgary Stampede in Calgary, on July 8, 2024.Todd Korol/Reuters
I am trying to talk my wife into us going to the Calgary Stampede. As a child growing up in northern India, my first introduction to cowboy culture came from a comic book about the Cartwright Family. I always wanted to see wranglers and cowboys in real life and I feel that this summer is the right time.
Admittedly, watching 1883 and Yellowstone has also influenced my judgment. With U.S. destinations off the list, Calgary it is! – Gurprit Kindra, Ottawa
The village of Sutton in the Eastern Townships, Que.Charles Dion/Eastern Townships tourism
I am planning to visit the charming Eastern Townships of Quebec, southeast of Montreal, on a quest to discover the fictional town of Three Pines (that is not on any map). I plan to double down on my Canadian experience – on a road and bike trip into a beautiful region of our country searching out the story inspirations for one of Canada’s most popular writers, Louise Penny.
As Penny gets set to publish her 20th novel this fall in the Armand Gamache/Three Pines mystery series, Black Wolf, I will seek out Penny’s hometown of Knowlton, Que., which is said to be her inspiration for Three Pines, as well as the Gregorian Abby, the bookstore and the cafe. Perhaps I will recognize in the locals some similarities to the great characters that make regular appearances in her books. (And hopefully I won’t become entangled in an upcoming Three Pines murder case!) – Jamie Ross, Bracebridge, Ont.
Aerial view of the government campground at Pine Lake in Haines Junction, Yukon.Andrew Strain/Travel Yukon
My husband and I live in Canmore, Alberta and we will be leaving at the end of May to travel to Yukon Territory in our motorhome. We are planning to be away for about seven weeks and are very excited to be there for the solstice and to learn more about this area of Canada. We’ve never been, so we are very much looking forward to our trip. We had planned to travel to Alaska as well, but have changed those plans for obvious reasons. We will spend that time exploring Northern B.C. and its many national provincial parks. – Rebecca Chalmers, Canmore
The North Klondike Highway outside Kwanlin/Whitehorse, on March 26.Alistair Maitland/The Globe and Mail
My husband and I live in southwestern Ontario, along the shore of Lake Huron. We are going on a four-to-five week road trip, west across Canada. Our destination is Whitehorse, where we will spend a few days and then turn around and make our way back to our home. We are retired and have been planning this trip for many years but couldn’t take it until we stopped working. We have reserved some accommodations but otherwise, we will stay where we feel we want to lay our heads down. We have no confirmed return date home. Canada is such beautiful country and we can’t wait to discover more of it in this trip! – Lynne Harris, Goderich, Ont.
Buffalo Pound Pound Provincial Park, in Saskatchewan.Melanie Chambers/Supplied
My family and I live in Winnipeg. We had originally planned to go to Minnesota this summer. But with Trump’s re-election, we have no interest in crossing into the U.S. until he’s gone. Instead, we will spend 10 days in Saskatchewan, with stops in Saskatoon, Moose Jaw and Regina. We are greatly looking forward to exploring our neighbouring prairie province! – Christine Epp, Winnipeg
Mountain Biking on the ‘Three Blind Mice’ Trail Network. Views of Okanagan Lake and the Naramata Bench in the background.EVAN WISHLOFF/Visit Penticton
We live in Victoria and this summer we are excited to spend two weeks on Okanagan Lake in Vernon, B.C. Is there a more beautiful, hot, locally grown fruit-rich, swim-worthy place in Canada? We don’t think so! – Tanya Pritchard, Victoria, B.C.
Reliving old memories
Fishing boats in Eastern Passage, N.S. are docked with the Halifax skyline in the background.Sandor Fizli/The Globe and Mail
We will be retracing our honeymoon of 40 years ago. Our trip 40 years ago began and ended in Halifax. This time, our travels will take us from Niagara-on-the-Lake to Quebec City, St. Andrews, N.B., Halifax and various stops on the South Shore of Nova Scotia, before returning to Niagara for Canada Day celebrations. Along the way we will stop in many of the same places (including some restaurants!) as we did on our original journey.
It will be two weeks of rekindling old memories while travelling through a cross-section of Canada’s beautiful eastern countryside and exciting cities, on a route that holds great personal importance and touches many historic Canadian sites. – Tim O’Neill, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ont.
Cape Breton Highlands National Park along the Trans Canada Highway, in Nova Scotia.Taylor Roades
My wife and I are taking a two-week driving tour through Cape Breton. We are looking forward to great views, food, hiking and live music. Also a chance to see friends in Halifax, reminisce about attending Dalhousie University for one of us and likely visit Quebec City along the way! – Brent Moloughney, Ottawa
Quebec City’s iconic Fairmont Le Chateau Frontenac from the ferry crossing the St. Lawrence River, Aug. 15, 2015.Picasa/The Associated Press
We are planning a driving adventure. The most exciting for both of us is our favourite place, Quebec City, where I lived my teenage years. After that we’ll cross on the ferry to Lévis and drive on to Bathurst, N.B. to see our in-laws. From there we’ll stop in Gagetown, N.B. to visit my high school friend who I haven’t seen in over 30 years. Finally, we are driving over the bridge to Cape Breton Island to visit my brother and sister-in-law on the Main Street of Sydney, Nova Scotia.
At 86 and 87, we realize that now is the time to catch up on the many people we haven’t seen for so long. We realize that at our age it is a big order to fill, but the spirit is willing and we have no doubts about embarking on the most exciting way to have another look at our beautiful eastern side of Canada one more time! – Cassandra Alikakos, Oakville, Ont.
A man is silhouetted while using his phone to take a photograph of Balance Rock, in Skidegate, B.C., on Haida Gwaii, on Feb. 17.DARRYL DYCK/The Canadian Press
Our bucket list trip in 2025 is a road trip from Ontario to Haida Gwaii, B.C. My husband was born there 69 years ago while his dad worked on the phone system. At that time, the islands were known as the Queen Charlotte Islands. We have been planning this trip for 20 years! – June Vannatto, Chatham-Kent, Ont.
Family & Friends
Traffic travels along the Trans Canada Highway past Mount Rundle of the Rocky Mountains near Canmore, Alta., on April 24, 2023.Jeff McIntosh/The Canadian Press
For 30 years, a group of women in our mid-fifties – mostly Bishop’s University grads and lifelong friends – has taken an annual girls’ trip. We’ve danced through New Orleans, sunned ourselves in Mallorca and Mexico, and tackled everything from Florida beaches to Vegas clubs and Austin honky-tonks. But this May, we’re swapping passports for hiking boots and heading to Canmore, Alberta.
We’ll hike, golf, and soak in the spa at the Fairmont Banff Springs, all against the staggering backdrop of the Rockies. After decades of exploring the world, it turns out one of the most breathtaking destinations were right here at home. Who needs TSA lines and USD when you’ve got turquoise lakes, glacier peaks and your oldest friends waiting just over the next ridge? Bon voyage! – Ann Gallery, West Vancouver, B.C.
Aerial view over Second Beach pool in Stanley Park in Vancouver.John Ross/Supplied
In 2023, we travelled east to Nova Scotia and our 14-year-old son truly enjoyed exploring Halifax, Lunenburg and Peggy’s Cove, trying oysters and lobster for the first time. This August we are taking him to Vancouver to see the beautiful West Coast, mountains, Stanley Park, the Aquarium and of course, Capilano. Canada is the most beautiful country to travel and we can’t wait to see every inch of it. – Laura Dixon, London, Ont.
Newfoundland Bell Island, Avalon.Gord Follett/Newfoundland and Labrador Tourism/Newfoundland and Labrador Tourism
We are going to Newfoundland for 10 days, landing in Deer Lake and returning via St. John’s so we can really explore the beautiful province. Hopefully I will be able to connect with some long lost relatives at the same time, as I am also on an ancestry journey trying to connect with relatives of my deceased father. Should be interesting and memorable no matter what happens! – Eve Bennett, Toronto
Crocuses in front of a mountain in Haines Junction, Yukon Territory.Robert Postma/Travel Yukon
My wife, Judy, is a Yukoner. While we live happily on Vancouver Island, she has been hankering to get back to her birthplace, Whitehorse. We are planning a two-week road trip up (and back) along the Alaska Highway with our golden retriever, probably in September. Why drive and not fly? Well, it will be nice to see a different part of Canada between here and there! – Tony Eastham, Vancouver Island, B.C.
The Saskatchewan Legislative Building can be seen from Trafalgar Overlook in Regina, on Oct. 24, 2024.Heywood Yu/The Canadian Press
I’m looking forward to going to Regina for my annual trip with my childhood friend, who lives in Yellowknife, NWT. We usually opt for somewhere in the U.S., but this year, we opted for a Canadian destination instead. Regina may not a popular tourist city, but my friend and I are just looking for a place to spend time together. We were surprised at how much more affordable bookings seemed to be than our usual go-to cities, and we’re thinking of sticking with Canada for next year’s trip, too. – Debbie Ohi, Toronto
