Canada: Suggested Itinerary

Days 1-2: Best place to start your Canada trip has to be Toronto. As the most populated city in Canada and perhaps the most diverse, there’s so much to do in Toronto. The city is large and rather spread out, so if you only have a day or two here, concentrate your time on one or two areas. Popular stops in the main city area include Queen’s Park and the Ontario legislature, nearby Allan Gardens, and the Gardiner Museum of Ceramic art. The section of Toronto known as Cabbagetown is also close by and a walk through the residential streets reveals some of Toronto’s most historic Victorian houses fully restored. A stroll through popular Yorkville is another great way to spend an afternoon. This historic district has great shopping, art galleries and restaurants.

Days 3-4: Next two-day stop is Vancouver. Begin with visiting Gas Town. From Gas Town, you can choose to either stay in the neighbourhood and enjoy the sights on foot or hop on the city bus to explore another nearby area. Gas Town is home to some adorable boutiques by day and Vancouver’s most vibrant bar scene by night. Spend the afternoon shopping and checking out the famous Steam Clock on Water Street and spend the evening in a kicky pub or colourful dance club.

Days 5-6: Next, onto Montreal. Located in the French province of Quebec, Montreal includes trips to some of Canada’s most unique sights. Travelers should note that speaking French in Quebec is not simply a show. Many residents of the province speak little or no English and street signs are in French. A popular stop is the Vieux-Port. This old port has been turned into a public park and during the summer hosts live concerts on the weekends, usually free to the public. Nearby, the Le Jardin Nelson, one of the oldest and most popular restaurants in the city, serves an array of affordable fare and often features live music during lunch. The Mont-Royal is perhaps the most popular site in Montreal. Often noted as the namesake for the city, the Mont-Royal is a mountain nearby that offers incredible views of the city and surrounding terrain. For a fee, rides to the top are available throughout the year.

Days 7-8: Spend two days in Ottawa. Parliament Hill is one of the top draws, but it’s closely followed in popularity by the Museum of Civilization. Canada's fourth largest city is also home to the Science and Technology Museum, National Aviation Museum and the gorgeous Gatineau Park. Ottawa also has a number of festivals throughout the year like the Ottawa Jazz Festival in the summer and Winterlude in the winter.

Days 9-10: Final place to visit is Edmonton. Spend your last couple of days in Canada here. Edmonton is home to the TELUS World of Science, the Royal Alberta Museum and the Devonian Botanic Garden. You can also enjoy the 900 stores in the gigantic West Edmonton Mall, which features its own IMAX Theater, a Galaxyland amusement park and the World Waterpark to keep the kids busy.