Must Do Canada

The Best Things to Do in Canada

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37 of the Best Things to Do in Vancouver

By Matthew G. Bailey 19 Comments

things to do in vancouver

Things to Do in Vancouver Last updated: May 23rd, 2022

When people ask us what we think is the most beautiful city in Canada, Vancouver is our answer. Although it’s one of the most densely populated cities in North America, it’s also surrounded by stunning natural beauty, including lush rainforest, mountains, and the Pacific ocean. It’s because of its setting that we often rank Vancouver, British Columbia as one of the prettiest cities on Earth.

Vancouver is also vastly urban, with hundreds of skyscrapers dotting the landscape. You can easily be surrounded by a concrete jungle in the morning and out in the forest in the afternoon. This is what makes it such a great place to visit. However, it’s also one of the most expensive cities in Canada, especially when it comes to real estate and accommodation.

If you’re looking for a vibrant art scene, loads of delicious restaurants, historic districts, thriving markets, incredible urban parks, and beautiful vistas, Vancouver should be on your bucket list. In this Vancouver Travel Guide, we’ll share with you some of the best things to do in Vancouver while also sharing some tips on saving money, how to get around, where to stay, and more.

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29 Best Things to Do in Calgary, Canada in 2022

By Matthew G. Bailey 13 Comments

Things to Do in Calgary. Drone flight overlooking the city.

Updated: March 14th, 2022

Although Calgary’s biggest draws might be the Calgary Stampede and its proximity to the Canadian Rockies, there are actually a lot of things to do in Calgary that have nothing to do with those two things. In fact, Calgary is one of Canada’s most beautiful cities, surrounded by prairies, foothills, and mountains along with a dazzling city skyline and two beautiful rivers snaking their way through the city.

We’re actually based in Calgary and have experienced a lot of what this city has to offer. From cruising down a sheet of ice in an Olympic bobsleigh to enjoying a slow cruise down the river on a tube, Calgary is a wonderful city to explore. So, whether you’re looking for things to do in Calgary with kids, attractions for adults, or simply cheap things to do in Calgary, we’ve got you covered in this Calgary travel guide.

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The BEST Things To Do in Banff, Alberta in 2022

By Matthew G. Bailey 27 Comments

Banff Tunnel Mountain Hike
Enjoying views from Tunnel Mountain.

Last updated: April 28th, 2022

Canada’s first national park, which also happens to be one of the first national parks in the world, is also the country’s busiest and most popular. A “fairytale” mountain town surrounded by towering mountain peaks, there are lots of incredible things to do in Banff, Alberta. Living just over an hour away in Calgary, we’ve been to Banff well over 100 times and never get tired of visiting this beautiful slice of alpine paradise.

Attracting approximately 3-4 million visitors each and every year, it’s no secret that this is a bustling tourist town. But that’s okay. With that comes a variety of hotels, activities, bars, restaurants, and, of course, plenty of souvenir shops as well. If you’re looking for things to do in Banff, you’re in the right place.

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The Best Things to Do in Charlottetown

By Matthew G. Bailey 5 Comments

things to do in charlottetown PEI

Charming and quaint, Charlottetown is the largest city in Prince Edward Island. It is also the capital city and is known as the “Birthplace of Confederation” as it was home to the famous Charlottetown Conference in 1864, which began the talks that eventually led to the Canadian Confederation.

Named after Queen Charlotte, this seaside city of roughly 40,000 people is a wonderful place to see Victorian-style homes and is full of culture, festivals and events, artisan shops, world-class restaurants, and more. It’s also a convenient base for exploring much of the island as it’s close to many top attractions such as Prince Edward Island National Park, Cavendish and the Anne of Green Gables site, beautiful beaches, and more.

In this guide to the best things to do in Charlottetown, we’ll help you plan your next trip by sharing the best things to do as well as where to eat, where to sleep, and what to do when you explore the rest of PEI.

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The BEST Things To Do in Prince Edward Island

By Matthew G. Bailey 76 Comments

things to do in pei

Updated: October 23rd, 2021

With a beautiful coastline and stunning red sand, Prince Edward Island has become a popular Canadian Maritime destination. It’s small and picturesque, unique in its history, and home to an incredible cuisine with some of the freshest seafood available anywhere in the world. Whether you’re looking to eat fresh mussels right next to the sea, learn about Canada’s history, get outdoors for some hiking, or go on a fun and scenic coastal road trip, Prince Edward Island should be on your Canadian bucket list.

PEI is also the smallest province in Canada, and so unlike our other provincial travel guides, we’ll focus on the entire province rather than splitting it out into different regions. After all, you can drive the entire length of the island in less than three hours. It is, however, sandwiched in-between other Atlantic provinces as well, such as New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Newfoundland, so if you have more time, you can always extend your trip and truly take in the splendour of Atlantic Canada.

To learn more about Prince Edward Island, including what to do, where to go, and how to get there, this travel guide is for you!

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The BEST Things to Do in Fernie, BC

By Matthew G. Bailey 1 Comment

Hiking Mt. Fernie is one of the best things to do in Fernie for outdoor fun and adventure.

Last updated: April 11th, 2022

Looking for a beautiful town to explore the Canadian Rockies from? Look no further. In fact, Fernie is the only town in BC that’s fully encircled by the Rocky Mountains.

Located in the East Kootenay region of Southern British Columbia, Fernie is a paradise for outdoor adventurers at any time of year. At the same time, there’s much more to Fernie than outdoor adventure. Thanks to its history of being an important coal-mining town, as well as two fires that ripped through the city in the early 1900s, Fernie is home to quite a few beautiful historic buildings in its downtown core. There’s also a vibrant art scene and a variety of restaurants, shops, and cafes. Plus, when you’re done with Fernie, you can explore the neighbouring historic coal mining towns of Crowsnest Pass or head north and explore the Kootenays for even more mountain paradise.

In this travel guide, we’re going to help you explore Fernie by telling you the best things to do, where to eat, where to stay, and more.

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Best Things to Do in the Alberta Foothills

By Matthew G. Bailey 2 Comments

Cowboy Trail near Longview, Alberta.

Located on the outskirts of Calgary, the Alberta foothills are a great place to explore small towns, farms, artisans, and see some of the most beautiful scenery in the province. In fact, one of the things that make exploring Calgary so great is that when you’re done with the city, you have so much more waiting for you less than an hour away.

The Alberta foothills basically start where the Rocky Mountains finish, with rolling hills stretching all the way past Calgary until it truly becomes the wide-open prairies. It’s one of the most scenic areas in the province because you have these beautifully lush hills and small towns with views of the Canadian Rockies in the distance.

The Alberta Foothills also has a special place in our hearts because we called it home for a decade and in a way, it’s still home as we can leave our apartment in Calgary and be in places like Bragg Creek or Okotoks in just 30 minutes.

Whether you’re flying into Calgary for an Alberta adventure or on a road trip in Alberta, the Alberta Foothills should be on your bucket list, and in this guide, we’re gonna show you why!

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The Best Spots to Go Fishing in Alberta

By Matthew G. Bailey 1 Comment

fishing in alberta
Marvel Lake – Photo by Andy Best @andy_best

From world-class trout fishing on the Bow River to the hundreds of lakes spread out across the province, Fishing in Alberta is a popular thing to do.

Growing up in Fort.McMurray, fishing was one of my favourite activities. My dad and I would often drive out to small lakes to fish for Rainbow Trout or fish for Northern Pike at many other northern lakes. It was such a blast.

These days, I don’t get out as often due to all the Canada road trips we’re always on, but I did just make it out for my first fly-fishing adventure right in downtown Calgary, which is what inspired me to write this article.

So, if you’re interested in going fishing in Alberta, this article will give you loads of advice on how to do it and where to go.

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Best Things to Do in Cypress Hills Alberta

By Matthew G. Bailey 14 Comments

Elkwater Lake is one of the top things to do in Cypress Hills Alberta.
Elkwater Lake, Cypress Hills, Alberta.

Unlike any other place in Canada, this mountain on the prairies is home to scorpions, rare orchids, petrified figs, and a “wild-west-sort-of” past that actually ignited the formation of the Mounties. Today, Cypress Hills Alberta is an oasis for camping, bird watching, watersports, biking, and so much more.

Cypress Hills Alberta is another one of those beautiful places that just escaped us for many years. I grew up in Alberta and have travelled it more than almost anyone else, but this one little slice in the Southeastern corner of the province was still on my bucket list. That is, until 2021 when I finally made it happen.

Located just 45 minutes from Medicine Hat, Cypress Hills Alberta is this rare oasis on the edge of the Canadian Badlands. From what I could see, it’s basically where the rolling hills of the Alberta badlands meet the forest. In fact, it’s a very unique ecosystem because it’s one of the few places in Western Canada that escaped the glaciation period, which has led to it having some truly unique flora and fauna.

But whether you’re into admiring rare orchids or not, there’s lots of outdoor adventure in Cypress Hills. With lakes, hills, and plenty of trails, there’s no shortage of fun things to do in Cypress Hills for all ages. Let’s dive in.

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The Best Things to Do in Wetaskiwin Alberta

By Matthew G. Bailey Leave a Comment

Racing cars in Wetaskiwin, Alberta.

Like many Albertans, Wetaskiwin is a place we’ve passed through but never actually explored. I knew the name well though. As a kid, I watched many commercials about Wetaskiwin thanks to their famous jingle “Cars cost less in Wetaskiwin.” Long story short, word on the street was that car dealerships charged less for cars there. I’m not sure if there was any truth to it, but the commercial sure caught on.

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