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As a country that crowns the North American continent, I couldn’t not visit Canada living just a few hours drive from the border. It extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, with the Arctic Ocean bordering its north. For travelers, Canada offers something for almost any taste. Some will be attracted by its vibrant cities, while others will welcome the peace of its vast countryside.
Canada has 2 official languages, French and English. Across Canada, you’ll hear many other unofficial languages in restaurants, on buses, and at school. In fact, more than 200 languages from around the world are spoken. Canada also has 60 Indigenous languages.
Canada’s currency is the Canadian dollar (US $1 = CA $1.29), but the U.S. dollar is often accepted.
For tourist visits to Canada of less than 180 days, U.S. citizens do not need a visa. Other types of travel (i.e., work, study, or immigration) generally require visas. A valid U.S. passport book or card and a NEXUS card satisfy entry into Canada and re-entry into the United States.
Though many cell phones will work just fine in Canada, roaming charges and other data plan fees for using a cell phone that doesn’t have a Canadian or international plan can easily add up to hundreds of dollars. In most cases, you have unlimited use of WiFi for free. Depending on where you are, you may be able to find WiFi on local public transportation. In major cities, buses and trains are usually equipped with it. You will likely need to agree to the terms and conditions before using WiFi on public transportation.
Tipping is standard practice, so you should generally expect to tip. Restaurant waitstaff – tip between 15% to 20%. Bar staff – tip $1 per drink. Hotel bellhop – tip between $1 to $2 per bag. Hotel room cleaners – start the tip at $2, a lot of it will depend on room size and messiness. Taxis – tip between 10% to 15%.
ATMs are widely available and credit cards are accepted in nearly all hotels and restaurants. Note that visitors heading to Canada’s truly remote areas will not find an abundance of ATMs, so it’s wise to bring cash beforehand.
You do not need a power plug adapter in Canada when living in the United States. In Canada, the power plugs and sockets are of Type A and B, with a standard voltage of 120 V and a standard frequency of 60 Hz.
In many ways, the fall months, particularly September and October, are the best time to travel, as the weather is frequently very pleasant, the crowds have dispersed, and accommodation prices are lower than summer. If you are looking for value, spring is another good time to visit Canada.
Unlike the United States, much of Canada is uninhabited. The main regions of Canada are the mountainous coast, flat central prairies, the east covered in forested planes, and frozen north. Almost every region in Canada is home to an abundance of forests, rivers, and lakes. This makes getting around Canada sometimes difficult to navigate.
Taxicabs of Canada are licensed by local municipalities, but they are owned and operated by private companies or just people. Most cabs are large sedans with various colors and of domestic make. Toronto, Ottawa, and Montreal are by far the best places to choose Uber over a taxi, with customers saving 50, 44, and 41 percent respectively compared to a cab fare for the same trip
Explore Canada’s cities like a local. Most Canadian cities have public transit systems. Buses account for most of the fleets. Major Canadian cities that offer subway, metro, or light rapid transit services include Vancouver (SkyTrain), Calgary (CTrain), Edmonton (LRT), Toronto (subway), Ottawa (O-Train), and Montreal (metro).
An economic and comfortable way to get from city to city, Canada’s system of bus routes spans the entire country. Greyhound is the largest provider of intercity bus services in Canada.
Traveling by motorbike, car, truck or RV is an amazing way to see the country. Car rental companies are found at airports and in towns and cities. American driver’s licenses are valid in Canada.
Tour Canada from the elegance of a train coach. Almost all of Canada’s major cities are connected by railway.
There are more than 100 airports in Canada with direct flights to US cities. These airports are often used for inter-nation travel for residents to visit other provinces.
Canadian cuisine varies widely depending on the regions of the nation. The four earliest cuisines of Canada have First Nations, English, Scottish and French roots, with the traditional cuisine of English Canada closely related to British cuisine, while the traditional cuisine of French Canada has evolved from French cuisine and the winter provisions of fur traders. With subsequent waves of immigration in the 19th and 20th century from Central, Southern, and Eastern Europe, South Asia, East Asia, and the Caribbean, the regional cuisines were subsequently affected.
Few Canadian dishes are as world-renowned as the glorious creation known as poutine. Crispy fries, squeaky cheese curds, and rich gravy all combine to create the meal of dreams, and this French Canadian food is so popular that it can now be found all around the world. The classic version is great on its own, but toppings like pulled pork, bacon, and smoked meat really knock it out of the park.
A simple bread that was once a key staple in the diets of Canada’s Aboriginal people. Modern takes on bannock include baked versions and fried versions.
Nova Scotian lobster rolls are a Canadian favorite. Canada is a massive country, with spectacular seafood from coast to coast. Not-to-be-missed experiences include Atlantic and Pacific salmon, smoked salmon, and the arctic char as well.
Canada is among the countries of the world with the lowest population densities, which means that there are plenty of pristine natural locales for resort hotels, lodges, and campsites. Canada lodging is similar to that of the United States, ranging from business-class hotels and luxurious spa resorts to small inns and B&Bs. But what Canada has that its neighbor to the south is missing are the grand, early-20th-century railway hotels that were part of the charm of train travel across the sprawling nation.
The Butchart Gardens is a group of floral display gardens in Brentwood Bay, British Columbia, Canada, located near Victoria on Vancouver Island. The gardens receive over a million visitors each year. The gardens have been designated a National Historic Site of Canada.
Banff National Park is Canada’s oldest national park, established in 1885. Located in Alberta’s Rocky Mountains, 68–112 miles west of Calgary, Banff encompasses 2,564 sq miles of mountainous terrain, with many glaciers and ice fields, dense coniferous forest, and alpine landscapes.
The CN Tower is a 553.3 m-high concrete communications and observation tower located in Downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Built on the former Railway Lands, it was completed in 1976. Its name “CN” originally referred to Canadian National, the railway company that built the tower.
Coconut Joe’s is a tiki-inspired restaurant, featuring a patio with jaw-dropping sunset views over the crystal-clear waters of Georgian Bay. The harbor town of Tobermory, located at the top of the Bruce Peninsula in Ontario, is a great destination for freshwater SCUBA diving. You can take a tour to explore over 25 shipwrecks, visit Flowerpot Island or board the ferry that connects Tobermory to Manitoulin Island in Lake Huron.
Don’t overlook Athabasca Sand Dunes Provincial Park in Saskatchewan. The vast dune fields along the southern shore of Lake Athabasca are among the most northerly in the world and are home to several species that you won’t find anywhere else.
Back in the day, Dawson City was at the center of the Klondike Gold Rush. Now a walk around Downtown is like stepping back into the very colorful past. Dawson City is home to several national historic sites and Canada’s first casino: Diamond Tooth Gertie’s Gambling Hall.
Accommodation:
Hotel or Hostel (single): $27
Double-occupancy room: $54
Hostel: $31
Camping: $14
Food
Meals for one day: $12
McDonald’s: $5.01
Tim Hortons Breakfast & Coffee: $9.42-$13
Grand Banker lunch for 2: $37
Bluenose II Restaurant:
$48
Coffee at Timmy’s: $3.93
Coffee at Starbucks: $13
All you can eat sushi lunch: $9.42
Transportation
Taxis, local buses, train: $7.07
Intercity: $35
Parking in Quebec City: $3.93
Train 2-day passes: $17
SkyTrain from Airport: $6.87
SkyTrain day pass: $7.07
15-min taxi: $9.42
Taxi from airport to downtown: $23
Airport shuttle: $28
Park pass: $16
Toll bridge roundtrip: $35
Entertainment
Entrance tickets & shows: $7.85
Hot springs: $5.75
Bata Shoe Museum for 2: $7.85
Driving range: $16
Harbor dinner cruise: $28
Stampede admission for 2: $24
Firewood: $15
Art Gallery of Ontario for 2: $16
Canoe rental: $29
Towel & mosquito smoke: $7.85
Park entrance fee: $5.05
Tips & Handouts
Guides & services: $1.28
Scams, robberies, & mishaps: $0.72
Alcohol
Drinks for one day: $5.54
Bottle of wine: $12
Absolut at Barrie: $20
Vodka: $20
Beer at Flying Monkey: $24
Water
Bottled water for one day: $0.91
Accommodation
Hotel or rental home (single): $79
Double-occupancy room: $156
Camping: $14
Food
Meals for one day: $31
McDonald’s: $5.01
Tim Hortons Breakfast & Coffee: $9.42-$13
Grand Banker lunch for 2: $37
Bluenose II Restaurant:
$48
Coffee at Timmy’s: $3.93
Coffee at Starbucks: $13
All you can eat sushi lunch: $9.42
Transportation
Taxis or Car rental: $19
Intercity: $93
Parking in Quebec City: $3.93
Train 2-day passes: $17
SkyTrain from Airport: $6.87
SkyTrain day pass: $7.07
15-min taxi: $9.42
Taxi from airport to downtown: $23
Airport shuttle: $28
Park pass: $16
Toll bridge roundtrip: $35
Entertainment
Entrance tickets & shows: $22
Hot springs: $5.75
Bata Shoe Museum for 2: $7.85
Driving range: $16
Harbor dinner cruise: $28
Stampede admission for 2: $24
Firewood: $15
Art Gallery of Ontario for 2: $16
Canoe rental: $29
Towel & mosquito smoke: $7.85
Park entrance fee: $5.05
Tips & Handouts
Guides & services: $3.94
Scams, robberies, & mishaps: $1.97
Alcohol
Drinks for one day: $15
Bottle of wine: $12
Absolut at Barrie: $20
Vodka: $20
Beer at Flying Monkey: $24
Water
Bottled water for one day: $2.25
Accommodation
Resort or hotel (single): $253
Double-occupancy room: $506
Camping: $14
Food
Meals for one day: $88
McDonald’s: $5.01
Tim Hortons Breakfast & Coffee: $9.42-$13
Grand Banker lunch for 2: $37
Bluenose II Restaurant:
$48
Coffee at Timmy’s: $3.93
Coffee at Starbucks: $13
All you can eat sushi lunch: $9.42
Transportation
Car Rentals or private driver: $56
Intercity: $260
Parking in Quebec City: $3.93
Train 2-day passes: $17
SkyTrain from Airport: $6.87
SkyTrain day pass: $7.07
15-min taxi: $9.42
Taxi from airport to downtown: $23
Airport shuttle: $28
Park pass: $16
Toll bridge roundtrip: $35
Entertainment
Entrance tickets & shows: $65
Hot springs: $5.75
Bata Shoe Museum for 2: $7.85
Driving range: $16
Harbor dinner cruise: $28
Stampede admission for 2: $24
Firewood: $15
Art Gallery of Ontario for 2: $16
Canoe rental: $29
Towel & mosquito smoke: $7.85
Park entrance fee: $5.05
Tips & Handouts
Guides & services: $14
Scams, robberies, & mishaps: $5.83
Alcohol
Drinks for one day: $40
Bottle of wine: $12
Absolut at Barrie: $20
Vodka: $20
Beer at Flying Monkey: $24
Water
Bottled water for one day: $5.34
Consider traveling during the offseason. The fall, winter, and spring can be some of the prettiest times to see Canada’s natural beauty.
At hotels and for services such as tours and activities, you can ask proprietors if they can cut you a better deal
Consider a rental property so that you can save money on accommodations and having to order food.
Rather than taking a plane, consider renting a car and making your trip fun with a road trip.
When planning for your trip to Canada, don’t forget about travel insurance! You never know what might happen and it’s better to be safe than sorry.
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