Guides
Five Great Cities to Visit in Canada During the Summer Months
There’s no shortage of things to do Canada-wide when summer arrives and the weather heats up.
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As a Canadian travel journalist, I’ve been fortunate enough to visit cities in every province and two territories. (Northwest Territories, I promise I’ll get to you!) And my experiences have taught me one thing: with all due respect to our national passion for hockey, summer is the perfect time to travel and relax around Canadian cities.
From winery tours and music festivals to parasailing and bike riding, there’s no shortage of things to do Canada-wide when the weather heats up. So here are my picks for five great cities to visit and the amazing summer activities they offer.
PENTICTON, BRITISH COLUMBIA
Did you know Penticton enjoys more than 2,000 hours of sunshine annually?
In this delightful Okanagan Valley city of 40,000, soak up some rays while soaring 300 feet over Okanagan Lake with Penticton Parasail Adventures. Or bike the Kettle Valley Railway Trail along the Naramata Bench, stopping to sample Elephant Island Winery’s apricot dessert wine and Hillside Winery’s Merlot.
CALGARY, ALBERTA
Alberta’s biggest city is best-known for the Calgary Stampede, but you can also head to Heritage Park to learn hands-on about Western Canadian history. Highlights include the First Nations Encampment’s colourful tipis and paddlewheeler steamship rides on the S.S. Moyie.
Craft beer lovers can explore Calgary’s Barley Belt brewery district with Urban Pedal Tours. Alternatively, feast on local bison striploin at the greenery-surrounded River Cafe in Prince’s Island Park.
NIAGARA-ON-THE-LAKE, ONTARIO
Theatre aficionados flock to this bucolic Lake Ontario town for the Shaw Festival, featuring indoor and outdoor productions like My Fair Lady and Candida.
To up the adrenaline, Whirlpool Jet Boat Tours offers spray-laden river rides – hitting speeds of 80 km/h – to Niagara Falls. And some 40 area wineries offer ample tasting opportunities for Niagara-on-the-Lake visitors.
QUÉBEC CITY, QUÉBEC
The Festival d'été de Québec is among Canada’s biggest music festivals. Acts like Duran Duran and The Offspring rock out in front of up to 100,000 fans on the Plains of Abraham.
Forty minutes northeast of Quebec City, Canyon Sainte-Anne – a spectacular natural gorge – offers outdoor thrills aplenty with suspension bridges and a via ferrata course. Chill out at the Fairmont Le Château Frontenac’s Sam Bistro with a charcuterie board and an Ungava gin and tonic.
HALIFAX, NOVA SCOTIA
In the summer, Halifax’s waterfront is extra-lively. Discover the ill-fated Titanic’s history at the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic or diverse immigration stories at Pier 21.
When the weather’s gorgeous, paddle around the bustling harbour with Kayak Halifax. Or enjoy free roller blade or scooter rentals at the Emera Oval. At happy hour, salute a stellar day in the Maritimes with a Seafoam Royal Gin Fizz at Drift.
Lucas Aykroyd
Contributor
Lucas Aykroyd is an award-winning Canadian travel and sports journalist who's written about polar bears in Manitoba, Viking history in Newfoundland, and Indigenous culture in Haida Gwaii. He's covered six Winter Olympics and close to 50 men's & women's world hockey championships. Born in Victoria and based in Vancouver, Lucas also contributes to publications like the Globe and Mail, the Toronto Star, and Explore Magazine.
