These 10 Canadian cities are hidden gems for tourists. Here's why you should visit — and what you should do when you get there
Summertime in Canada brings longer days, hotter rays and a well-deserved reprieve from the cold. Now that the weather is warmer, many Canadians have caught the travel bug and want to explore our vast, vibrant country. While some Canadians will flock to popular tourist attractions, there are many travellers who prefer to wander off the beaten path. Exploring lesser-known destinations can lead to lifelong memories, and summer marks the perfect time to visit some under-appreciated but strikingly beautiful locations across our great nation.
Keep reading for a list of 10 hidden gem destinations across Canada that could be the perfect spot for your next getaway.
British Columbia: Nelson
The City of Nelson is nestled in the foothills of the Selkirk Mountains along Kootenay Lake. History buffs relish Nelson's Victorian architecture, restored heritage buildings that offer a trip back through time to the 1880s silver rush. In-town, experience a vibrant arts culture with a thriving local food scene and authentic BC charm.
Key attractions:
Explore the pristine waters of Kootenay Lake for swimming and boating
Hike the Kokanee Creek Provincial Park and pose with perfect photogenic scenery
Enjoy intimate concerts in historic venues at the music festival near the Salmo River
Experience the local craft brewery scene and cherish local farmers' markets
Alberta: Medicine Hat
Medicine Hat is a marvel destination on the Prairies and a vibrant community renowned for its abundance of natural resources and celebration of Indigenous heritage. The quaint community welcomes visitors with prairie hospitality, world-class golf resorts, and an oasis of green space along the South Saskatchewan River. Medicine Hat offers plenty of attractions throughout the year, including the Rise Up Hot Air Balloon Festival each May.
Key attractions:
Visit Saamis Teepee, a 20-story tall unique storyboard depicting native culture & history
Play golf on some of Canada's most scenic and affordable world-class courses
Explore prime Prairie wilderness on Police Point Park's diverse wildlife and walking trails
Discover the city's unique pottery, clay heritage and local rodeo
Saskatchewan: Saskatoon
Saskatoon is not as hidden as other cities on this list, but the renowned City of Bridges has many lesser-known attractions within its quaint borders along the South Saskatchewan River. It's a delightfully vibrant downtown with warm, welcoming prairie hospitality that offers beautiful riverbank parks, excellent local cuisine, and some of the most famous berry-picking regions in all of Canada. The SaskTel Saskatchewan Jazz Festival is a prime summer attraction, a ten-day celebration of magical musical genres.
Key attractions:
Cycle or walk any stretch of +105 km along the illustrious Meewasin Trail
Visit the striking Remai Modern art museum and historic Bessborough Hotel
Explore Wanuskewin Heritage Park and feel immersed in authentic Indigenous culture
Enjoy a variety of breweries and distilleries, like Black Fox Farm and Distillery
Manitoba: Gimli
Lake Winnipeg is one of Canada's largest and most cherished fresh water lakes, and the quiet town of Gimli on the lake's western border has a very distinct heritage. It was founded by Icelanders who desired to preserve their heritage as they emigrated west to Canada. To that end, Gimli provides the largest Icelandic cultural experience outside of Iceland. The lakeside pays communal tribute to Viking heritage, perfectly woven together during the annual Icelandic Festival that takes over the town during the August long weekend.
Key attractions:
Relax on Lake Winnipeg's sandy beaches and enjoy fresh Nordic prepared fish
Explore ancient Icelandic tools and customs at the New Iceland Heritage Museum
Attend the Icelandic Festival and have a first-hand experience of life as a Viking
Visit Gimli's impressive array of waterfront restaurants with delicious fresh fish platters
Ontario: Stratford
The City of Stratford appeals to more cultural explorers across Ontario, home to Canada's premier theatre destination every summer. The Stratford Festival of Canada is an annual celebration of classic theatrical art, transforming the entire downtown into a contemporary hub of Shakespearean performances. Outside the theatrical moments, you can attend one of many shows at the Stratford Summer Music festival, a six-week celebration of the most talented upcoming musical sensations.
Key attractions:
Attend a performance at North America's largest classical repertory theatre festival
Explore downtown Stratford's vibrant shops and trendy restaurants
Discover unique musical talent at one of the many local musical festivals
Learn about Stratford's unique cultural history at the Stratford Perth Museum
Quebec: Tadoussac
Tadoussac offers world-class whale watching, charming historic architecture, and stunning natural beauty. This small village provides an intimate Quebec experience, showcasing the distinct style and culture of life outside the province's larger urban centres.
Key attractions:
Experience some of the world's best whale watching with belugas and blue whales
Explore the historic Tadoussac Hotel and the community's charming village streets
Kayak the dramatic Saguenay Fjord's pristine waters for a little life on the edge
Hike the coastal trails and enjoy the Saguenay-St. Lawrence Marine Park
New Brunswick: Shediac
The Maritimes are renowned for their love of lobster, and there's no community that owns the title more than the town of Shediac. New Brunswick's Lobster Capital of the World is a prime beachside destination with sparkling warm waters, breathtaking sunsets, and a unique Atlantic Canada culture. In no way is Shediac culture better represented than in their annual Lobster Festival, which delivers an inclusive lobster-focused entertainment and tasting—all hallmarks of a warm, welcoming community.
Key attractions:
Visit The World's Largest Lobster, an 11-metre-long tribute to Shediac's fishing heritage
Participate in authentic lobster boil competitions and tastings at the Lobster Festival
Soak up the sun on the Northumberland Strait's warm shoreline beaches
Experience traditional Acadian music and step-dancing performances
Nova Scotia: Antigonish
Nova Scotia was originally founded as a Scottish colony and its roots are best represented every summer during the Antigonish Highland Games. Aspiring liberal arts students can also visit the St. Francis Xavier University campus and take in a show at the Festival Antigonish Summer Theatre.
Key attractions:
Take part in the oldest continuous Scottish Highland Games in North America
Learn all about Scottish caber tosses, hammer throws, fiddle and highland music
Take a drive up highway 245 and explore the coastal Arisaig Provincial Park
Visit Colin H. Chisholm Park and take in a local outdoor concert or dancing exhibition
Prince Edward Island: Summerside
Summerside not just a fishing and boating community, it's also one of Canada's most stunning waterfront destinations. If you like betting on the horses, the Summerside Raceway is believed to be the oldest standardbred racing track in Canada, originally founded in 1886. If you choose to visit in July, you can participate in the annual Spud Fest, now in its sixth year as a local backyard music festival with a boundless amount of heart.
Key attractions:
Walk along the historic boardwalk and enjoy PEI-style entertainment
Dine on fresh mussels, lobster, and local potatoes in local charming restaurants
Participate in the PEI Legendary Lobster Crawl by dining at Jolly Roger's Seafood
Rent a boat and have some fun, or relax in the sun on warm sandy beaches
Newfoundland and Labrador: Trinity
Newfoundland was one of the earliest discoveries of Canada by European explorers, and Trinity is home to one of the oldest settlements in the country. The community offers stunning coastal scenery, paired with preserved historic architecture that creates an authentic culture that represents the spirit of being a Newfoundlander. When not outdoors sightseeing, you can visit the Rising Tide Theatre, a professional theatre company dating back to 1978, which produces culturally rich, local performances.
Key attractions:
Explore restored 18th and 19th-century buildings and churches
Watch for whales, icebergs, and seabirds from the dramatic coastline
Enjoy traditional outdoor storytelling at the New Founde Lande Trinity Pageant
Hike breathtaking trails with spectacular ocean views along Canada's most eastern coastlines
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
American Press
18 hours ago
- American Press
Louisiana spotlight: Nungesser keeping state top of mind for those ready to explore
Traveling has been significantly increasing since the decline during the COVID-19 pandemic — and Lt. Gov. Billy Nungesser and his team are working hard to keep Louisiana top of mind for those ready to explore. Last year, Nungesser said his office used a U.S. Commerce Department grant to increase awareness of Louisiana as a travel destination in Mumbai and New Delhi, India; Madrid, Spain; and Milan, Italy. In a few months, the team will spend a week in Canada promoting the Bayou State and its French heritage. Canada 'is about 33 percent of our international market,' Nungesser told members of the Rotary Club of Lake Charles Wednesday afternoon. 'Those Canadians love them some Louisiana.' In Paris, the Louisiana Office of Tourism also wrapped taxi cabs serving as rolling billboards to inspire travel to the state and it sponsored the London Jazz Festival last year. Nungesser said Louisiana welcomed 43 million domestic and international visitors in 2023, the most recent data available. Those visitors spent a total of $18.1 billion, an increase of 5.4 percent over 2022. International visitation showed the most significant gain, he said, increasing 16.9 percent in 2023 with spending reaching $1.7 billion. Louisiana has also been on the national stage in recent months with an alligator-themed float that crawled the streets of Pasadena, Calif., for the 136th annual Rose Parade and again as host to the Super Bowl at the Superdome in New Orleans. 'Somebody asked me what do we do better than anyone else and I said Mardi Gras,' Nungesser said. 'So we found out what parades we could go to. We were in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade for three years and now we're in the Rose Parade.' Though the floats are professionally designed, they are decorated by volunteers days before the parade. Every float is covered in flowers, leaves, seeds, bark and other natural materials to honor the Rose Parade's history. Nungesser said volunteers from Louisiana are flown to California and are shuttled between the warehouse where the float is being built to their accommodations. A New Orleans native who now resides in California brings her beignets-only food truck each day to feed the volunteers during their shifts and the best of Louisiana cuisine is served each night. 'It's a trip everybody should make,' he said. For more on volunteering, visit Nungesser said participation in the parade 'allows us to drive awareness about our state as a vacation destination to a broad number of attendees, as well as viewers watching from home,' Nungesser said. 'The return on investment for the Rose Parade has been incredible.' Nungesser said the Rose Parade media coverage — thanks to a plethora of morning show interviews aired across the nation as the float is being built — for the past four years reached an estimated 10.4 billion people and was worth $144.9 million. State Parks When Nungesser took office nearly a decade ago, seven state parks were under the threat of closure. 'I was told, 'You don't have the money to keep them open and they're in pretty bad shape,' ' he said. 'Thanks to our sheriffs and local volunteers we were able to do a lot of repair and get them presentable and today those seven parks are making a profit.' The Louisiana Office of State Parks operates 21 state parks, 14 historic sites and a preservation area that comprises 45,000 acres, 110 miles of roads and 1.2 million square feet of rental facilities that welcomed more than 1.75 million visitors last year. He said his new goal is creating resort conference centers within some of the state parks to attract visiting conferences. 'We have over 350 groups that meet every year all over Louisiana,' he said. 'They don't meet in New Orleans because the hotel does not cover their per diem, but they meet everywhere else. There's usually 300-500 people and it's a great opportunity for us and it would be a great for the local economies. One thing we won't do is we won't let anyone open a restaurant (within the conference centers) or anything that would compete with local businesses.' One state park thriving at the moment is Bogue Chitto — a top destination for travelers nationwide for its mountain biking trails, which are maintained by the North Shore Off-Road Bicycling Association. 'A thousand people a month from 10-15 states go to Washington Parish for this mountain bike trail,' he said. 'We also have horseback riding. We brought a gentleman's horses into the park and let him run the business out of the park and he's knocking it out of the park, no pun intended. These two private-public partnerships have put Washington Parish on the map. Before they had very little tourism. It has changed that town forever.' Prime Video just completed a documentary on the mountain bike trails and 25 percent of the proceeds will go into building additional trails. He said the park recently acquired an additional 600 acres to expand the mountain bike and horseback riding trails. Museums Nungesser's office oversees nine museums; the Secretary of State's office and some local cities operate the rest. He said he hopes to introduce a bill next year that would force all museums to be open on the weekends — every museum operated under the Secretary of State's Office are not — when people are off work and more likely to visit. His office has also bought the website and plans to video every museum in the state. 'We did a video about the ghost that's upstairs at the Beauregard Gothic Jail — I don't know if it's there but the lady has me convinced and I'm not going up to check — and we test marketed to people who like ghosts and at Halloween, 4,000 people showed up to find that ghost,' he said. 'If you have a ghost, we will promote it and they will come.' He said most are aware of the World War II Museum in New Orleans. Now promotions will tie in Chennault Aviation and Military Museum in Monroe, the Louisiana Military Museum in Abbeville and others to draw in like-minded visitors. He also wants to give all museums the freedom to hire the directors of their choice. Right now, that responsibility falls under the office that oversees the facility. Louisiana seafood Several key pieces of legislation passed during the 2024 Regular Legislative Session affected the seafood industry in the state. Act 47 mandates restaurants serving imported crawfish or shrimp must officially inform their customers on the menu; Act 148 requires restaurants and food service establishments to label on menus all imported seafood as such, not just shrimp and crawfish; and Act 756 transferred the Seafood Safety Task Force to the Louisiana Seafood Promotion & Marketing Board to help in the regulation of imported seafood. 'We want people to ask before they eat. The goal is to prevent imported seafood — which is filled with a lot of antibiotics — to come into this country and to level the playing field for our Louisiana fishermen,' he said. 'If you eat Boudreaux's crawfish tails, they're going to be from Boudreaux's. They're not going to be from Thailand.' Keep Louisiana Beautiful Love the Boot Week is Louisiana's largest litter removal and beautification effort. During 2024, 19,441 people volunteered a total of 100,712 hours at over 760 events, removing a record 347 tons of litter in all 64 parishes. 'It has become a movement,' Nungesser said. Their efforts diverted 293 pounds of aluminum cans and 330 pounds of plastic bottles from the landfill allowing the items to be recycled. Next month, the office will be handing out buckets at marinas around the state, asking boaters and fishermen to scoop up any trash they may see on the waterways and shorelines. 'We're not going to take our foot off the gas until we have no more trash in Louisiana,' Nungesser said.
Hamilton Spectator
a day ago
- Hamilton Spectator
Experience Indigenous culture at this 2-day festival in Ontario — Here's how to get tickets and score a free spot on a powwow bus tour
Get a chance to experience Indigenous cultural heritage by watching Indigenous artists, joining a powwow bus tour, discovering First Nation crafts and trying Indigenous cuisine during a two-day cultural event in Windsor-Essex. Caldwell First Nation will be holding its first Competition Powwow from Aug. 9 to 10 at Caldwell First Nation Reserve, located along Mersea Road 1, in Leamington, Ontario. The two-day cultural event will highlight Indigenous dancers, singers, drummers, cuisine and crafts from across Canada and the U.S. 'The powwow allows us to join with other First Nations from across Canada and the United States to share in this great gathering and exciting cultural experience,' the organizers said on the event's page. 'This is more than just a celebration — it's a high-energy, competitive powwow featuring some of the finest dancers and singers in North America.' Over $50,000 in prizes will be given to the best artists who will compete in different categories. There will be plenty of on-site food vendors offering Indigenous cuisines and local favourites as well as local artisans and craft vendors who will offer handmade jewelry and crafts, the organizers shared in a post announcing the event. Tickets to the event are $10 per person. It's free for children under eight years old and people over 60. Caldwell First Nation along with the Windsor Port Authority and Tourism Windsor Essex Pelee Island, will be offering 105 people a free bus tour on the first and second day of the event. 'The tour route will take riders along the Windsor-Essex Shoreline to highlight many hidden and ancient Indigenous sites en route to the Caldwell First Nation Reserve in Leamington,' the organizers shared in a release announcing the tour. The region's shoreline along the Detroit River and Lake Erie is home to many historically significant Indigenous sites. Before European settlers arrived in the region, the land along the Detroit River was known as Wawiiatanong and was home to Haudenosaunee, Attawandaron (Neutral), and Huron (Wyandot) peoples, according to information from the City of Windsor. The tour route will take riders along the Windsor-Essex Shoreline to highlight many hidden and ancient indigenous sites. The tour will pick up passengers from Destination Ontario — Ontario Travel Information Services at 110 Park St. E. in Windsor. The tour will explore Indigenous sites, before heading to Caldwell First Nation Reserve in Leamington for the event. Reservations for the bus tour will be open soon and guests can book a slot on their site . There's free parking on-site for those who bring their own car and won't join the bus tour. Powwow bus tour schedule. The Caldwell First Nation also known as the Chippewas of Point Pelee and Pelee Island is part of the Anishinaabe people and a proud member of the Three Fires Confederacy — Potawatomi, Odawa, and Ojibwa, according to information on the Caldwell Powwow site. The CFN has lived on the lands surrounding Point Pelee in Windsor-Essex way before the European settlers arrived. The CFN fought as allies of the British during the war of 1812 and were promised land in return. 'Despite their service, they were forcibly removed from their traditional lands in the 1920s and spent decades without a recognized land base.' The Nation's long-standing land claim was finally settled in 2010 and in November 2020 a 200-acre parcel at Bevel Line Road and Seacliff Drive in Leamington was designated as Reserve Land. After a 230-year long fight the Caldwell First Nation returned home to their ancestral land.
Buzz Feed
2 days ago
- Buzz Feed
Flight Attendants Shared Their Worst-Behaved Routes
Recently, I've been infiltrating airline forums. Most of the time, I leave because all of the airport codes give me a migraine, but these threads on r/flightattendants actually had me hooked. Started by u/Appropriate-Pop-6725 and u/AdhesivenessInfinite, the threads are filled with flight attendants divulging their "worst-behaved" air travel route. As someone from Florida, I'm relatively ashamed at how often it's mentioned. "In America, it's: Anywhere to Florida but especially Orlando, Fort Lauderdale, and West Palm Beach." "Toronto passengers give Canadians a bad name." "Going to Montreal, Toronto, Tel-Aviv, anywhere in Florida, and to Las Vegas is usually pretty bad. The reverse flights are generally pretty chill." "I have never worked so hard as I did on a MIA (Miami) – LGA (LaGuardia) flight. That is a tough crowd." "Passengers going to Aspen on vacation are the worst. Entitled and condescending." "I started my career in Seattle, WA, and never had any passenger issues. Pacific Northwest customers are largely mellow and easygoing. My next base was JFK in New York City, and I was shocked at how much more challenging the customers were. New Yorkers literally don't give a f*ck and will challenge you on everything. BUT, once you figure out how to deal with them, nothing fazes you anymore." "Anything EWR (Newark), Florida, and sometimes, SFO (San Francisco) passengers are the worst. My most pleasant is PHL (Philadelphia), surprisingly, they're always well behaved." "Whenever I see PBI (West Palm Beach, FL) on my schedule, I drop it for almost anything else. I don't need that headache. Also, Toronto is out here giving Canadians a bad name." "Newark to anywhere in Florida. I almost slid off the back of the wing after my EWR (Newark) – MCO (Orlando) flight one night. Good gracious." "Tel Aviv and Trivandrum for me. I love every Australia flight I've done so far, customers are amazing." "West Palm Beach. Anywhere in Florida, really. Except for MCO (Orlando), 'cause the kids are cute. LAX (Los Angeles) is a close second; they love that call light." "My least favourite destinations are in the Caribbean cause everyone is a sunburnt, broke, and angry tourist." "Work at an airport. Passengers from EVN (Yerevan, Armenia) have been known to scream at us, threaten to sue us, and made a few of our newer agents cry." "YUL (Montreal) – CUN (Cancun), YUL (Montreal) – PVR (Puerto Vallarta), YUL (Montreal) – PUJ (Punta Cana), YUL (Montreal) – FLL (Fort Lauderdale). Anything leaving Montreal to go to a sunny destination is something else." "As a Florida girl, my MCO (Orlando) flights never bothered me and I never understood the Florida passenger hate, but I recently worked RSW (Fort Myers, FL) and 💀 omg horrid, I get it." "DTW (Detroit) – ATL (Atlanta) has always treated me poorly." "That ATL (Atlanta) to JFK (New York City) is pretty hard. Also, the JFK (New York City) to Montreal can be challenging." Finally, "Worst? Anywhere with a 'rich' clientele, for the most part, or tourists. New York to Savannah, or anywhere in Florida. (Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket were always surprisingly pleasant, so I think it's the nouveau riche that are a pain in the ass)." If you're a pilot or flight attendant, tell us the destinations you hate flying in and out of the most and why. It could be anything from unruly passengers to stomach-churning turbulence. Share in the comments or completely anonymously using the Google form below!
