Choose from 290 Fun Things to Do in Canada
Lachine Canal (Canal de Lachine)
- The Lachine Canal is a must for active travelers and nature lovers.
- Wear comfortable shoes, as neighborhoods and paths along the canal are best explored on foot or by bicycle.
- Boat tours typically run from May to September due to frozen river conditions during the winter months.
- Public restrooms are available in Atwater Market and René Lévesque Park, at either end of the canal’s bike path.
Moraine Lake
- Moraine Lake is a must-see for photographers and appreciators of natural beauty.
- Wear sturdy shoes, as the lakeside trail can be uneven.
- Bring warm clothes. Even on pleasant summer days, weather patterns here are unpredictable and can change rapidly.
Montreal City Hall
- Montreal City Hall is a must for politicos and anyone with an interest in Quebec history.
- Access to some parts of the building, such as the council chamber, can be restricted depending on the government’s schedule of events.
- Montreal City Hall can be accessed by wheelchair via the Gosford Street entrance.
Montreal Science Centre
- The Montreal Science Centre is a must for families with children.
- Purchase admission tickets online in advance to skip long lines.
- Self-serve lockers cost $1 (cash only).
- The food court offers a number of options, including poutine, tacos, and a standard takeout café.
- The museum can get chilly and requires a moderate amount of walking, so wear layers and comfortable shoes.
- The Science Centre is accessible to wheelchairs and strollers, and wheelchairs are available to use free of charge.
Montreal Tower Observatory
- Purchase your admission ticket online in advance to skip long entrance queues.
- Don’t forget comfortable shoes and layers, as the Olympic Park is large and some highlights are outdoors.
- Street signs, including parking and traffic signs, are written in French.
- Café In Vivo and the Botanic Garden Restaurant offer plenty of refueling options.
- The Montreal Tower and Observatory are wheelchair accessible.
Ottawa Parliament Hill
- Visitors can observe debates in the Senate and the Commons. Check ahead to make sure the chambers are sitting during your visit and be prepared for lengthy security checks.
- Centre Block tours last between 20 and 50 minutes, depending on parliamentary activity, while East Block tours are typically 30 to 40 minutes long.
- Visitors to Parliament can carry one small bag; other bags must be checked in at the ticket office.
- Tours and access points are wheelchair-accessible.
- State visits and other parliamentary activity can occasionally prevent public access.
Quebec City Old Port (Vieux-Port)
- You can find plenty of outdoor seating along the Old Port waterfront.
- Parts of the Old Port area, including the Museum of Civilization, are accessible to wheelchair users.
- Wear sturdy walking shoes; some of the streets in this area are cobbled and uneven.
Queen Elizabeth Park
- Queen Elizabeth Park is a must for families and flora enthusiasts.
- Book tickets for the Bloedel Conservatory in advance to avoid waiting in line.
- The park is wheelchair and stroller accessible, with paved pathways leading through the quarry garden and to the Bloedel Conservatory.
Quebec City Cruise Port
- Quebec City shore excursions range in length from short 15-minute helicopter rides to full-day tours incorporating out-of-town attractions.
- Some shore excursions include pickup and drop-off at the port.
- Quebec City’s streets are cobbled with lots of steps, so comfortable footwear is advised.
Lake Minnewanka
Practical Info
Montreal Little Italy
- Little Italy—and Montreal as a whole—has an excellent and extensive bike path network, making cycling an easy and pleasant way to explore.
- Go with an empty stomach so you can sample the food on offer.
Ottawa Locks
The Ottawa Locks 1 to 8 regulate the flow of the city’s signature Rideau Canal as it flows south from the Ottawa River.
The hand-cranked locks provide a gradient of 24 meters (79 feet) on the canal, which runs for more than 200 km (124 miles) from Ottawa to Kingston, a stunning example of 19th-century ingenuity and engineering.
In winter, the 8 km (5-mile) stretch of canal running through the center of the city freezes over, providing the world’s longest skating rink. In summer, walkers and cyclers promenade along the canal’s banks.
One of the best ways to see the canal locks and Ottawa is aboard a scenic canal or river cruise.
The Ottawa Locks 1 to 8 run from the Chateau Laurier hotel to Carlton University. The locks operate from May to October.
Outlet Collection at Niagara
Practical Info
Montreal Botanical Gardens
- The Montreal Botanical Gardens are a must for families and gardening enthusiasts.
- A mini-train runs through the gardens in summer; visitors with reduced mobility are given priority access.
- Interpreter-led tours and activities, from bird-watching excursions to tea-tasting sessions, are regularly held throughout the gardens.
- There are drinking fountains throughout the site.
- The gardens have a wheelchair-accessible route that passes the major highlights.
Montreal Chinatown
- Montreal Chinatown is a must for foodies and shoppers.
- Come hungry as Chinatown is home to lots of tasty, inexpensive restaurants, including some of the best dim sum and noodle spots in the city.
- Chinatown is accessible to wheelchair users via the Place-d’Armes metro station (Orange Line), which is equipped with elevators.
Montmorency Falls Park (Parc de la Chute-Montmorency)
- Fees apply for the cable car, ziplining, via ferrata access, and snowshoe rentals.
- Food is offered at the cable car station, at Manoir Montmorency, and at La Terrasse du Manoir.
- The park features three playgrounds for kids.
- Much of the park is wheelchair accessible, although only some of the viewing platforms can be reached by wheelchair.
Ottawa Notre Dame Basilica (Basilique-Cath edrale Notre-Dame)
- Ottawa Notre Dame Basilica is a must-visit for anyone with an interest in religious art or architecture.
- The basilica is an active Roman Catholic church. Be quiet and respectful of worshippers engaging in prayer or reflection.
- Concerts are occasionally staged at the cathedral; check ahead to see if any are taking place during your stay in Ottawa.
- The basilica is accessible to wheelchair users and strollers.
Queen Victoria Park
- Nature lovers, gardeners, and those looking for a break from the tourist hustle will love a visit to Queen Victoria Park.
- The open spaces are ideal for letting your kids run around.
- The park is public and free to visit.
- Queen Victoria Park has groomed trails and is fully accessible to wheelchairs and strollers.
Montreal Cruise Port
- Most Montreal shore excursions include pickup and drop-off at the port.
- The length of shore excursions range from short walking tours of Old Montreal to full-day excursions covering a wider swath of the city.
- A hop-on hop-off bus tour is an easy way to travel between major attractions.
- Choose a private tour to enjoy a customized sightseeing experience.
Orleans Island (Ile d'Orleans)
- Bundle up in winter. Orleans Island gets a lot of snow, and sub-zero temperatures are the norm from November through April.
- Temperatures rise in summer, so be sure to wear sunblock if kayaking or biking.
- Bikes are available for rent on the island.
- When returning back to the mainland, look out for Montmorency Falls, which can be seen from the bridge.