21 Places to Explore in Canada

Hello, fellow travelers! Canada is the second largest country in the world after Russia, and despite that, many people live on the banks of the St. Lawrence River. Despite that, Canada is still a very beautiful place.

About Canada:

Capital: Ottawa

Currency: Canadian Dollar

Languages: English, French

Government: Constitutional Monarchy (King Charles III) (despite being separated, Canada is one of the largest dominions of the British Commonwealth, now called the Commonwealth of Nations). Canada’s Prime Minister is Justin Trudeau.

Places to Visit

Toronto

Toronto is the most populated city in Canada and the capital city of the province of Ontario. Toronto is also the 4th most populated city in North America (falling behind Mexico City, New York City, and Los Angeles). Toronto, like NYC, is an international cultural hub.

To get to Toronto by car, you can cross the Rainbow Bridge, which connects the Canadian and American sides of Niagara Falls, or you can take the Peace Bridge, which stretches from Buffalo, NY to Fort Erie in Ontario.

Pacific Mall

Pacific Mall is the largest indoor Asian shopping mall in North America. It is also purportedly the largest indoor Asian shopping mall in the western world. It is located in Markham, a smaller city located in the Greater Toronto Metropolitan area.

Toronto Waterfront

The Toronto Waterfront was my favorite part of the trip. I got to see parts of Toronto’s Chinatown, the Rogers Centre (home of the Toronto Blue Jays), and the CN Tower.

The CN Tower

Another view of the CN Tower

Rogers Centre

One of the dragons located in Chinatown

Close up of the CN Tower

A sculpture of adoring fans outside the Rogers Centre

Niagara Falls

Niagara Falls is a group of three waterfalls that straddles the Canadian-United States Border. Niagara Falls is also the name of the city in which the falls are situated. The three falls of Niagara Falls are:

American Falls
Bridal Veil Falls
Horseshoe Falls

There is also a light show every night at the falls, which is impressive. During the light show, American Falls is lit up in the colors of the American Flag (red, white blue), while Bridal Veil Falls and Horseshoe Falls are lit up in the colors of the Canadian Flag (red and white).

Niagara Falls, Ontario

Niagara Falls, Ontario is the town where you can access Niagara Falls from the Canadian side. It is known for its bustling nightlife, and is known as a gambling town due to its many casinos. Niagara Falls in Ontario is twin cities with its counterpart located on the other side of the falls: Niagara Falls in New York.

The Hershey store

Coca Cola bottle sign

Hard Rock Cafe in Niagara Falls

Bear statue

Beer store sign

The Frankenstein Burger King

Clifton Hill

A sign about the first chairman of the Niagara Parks Commission.

A Sasquatch

Rainbow Bridge, which connects Niagara Falls, Ontario to Niagara Falls, New York.

Oakes Garden Theatre

The Oakes Garden Theatre is a beautiful garden that offers a stunning view of Niagara Falls.

Lake Ontario

Lake Ontario is one of the Five Great Lakes of North America. Toronto, Hamilton, Mississauga, and Kingston lie on the lake’s northern shore, while the town of St. Catherine and Rochester, New York are located on the southern shore. Toronto has many lakeside parks, which offers a stunning view of the city’s skyline.

Ottawa

Ottawa is the federal capital of the entirety of Canada. It is located in the southern portion of the province of Ontario, and borders Gatineau in Quebec province. Some attractions include Parliament Hill, the Rideau Canal, and the Office of the Prime Minister. To get to Ottawa from the United States, you need to cross the Thousand Islands International Bridge, which connects northern New York to Ontario and crosses the St. Lawrence River.

A beautiful view of the Thousand Islands.

The Embassy to Saudi Arabia in Ottawa

The National Gallery and Maman, a sculpture by Louise Bourgeois created to honor her mother.

Parliament Hill

Parliament Hill is the home of the Canadian Parliament. It contains the House of Commons and Senate chambers.

The Centennial Flame located at Parliament Hill. Around the flames, there are engravings of the coat of arms of all the provinces and territories.

Canadian Museum of History

The Canadian Museum of History is located nearby in Gatineau, Quebec. The museum’s exhibits show the history and heritage of Canada.

The fanciest post office I’ve ever seen.

Byward Market

Byward Market is a retail and entertainment district located in Ottawa. There are only small shops located in the shopping center, so there are no chain stores or restaurants. It is located across the street from the Rideau Centre, a 3 story shopping mall.

A mural on one of the windows

Some of the street art in Byward Market. I did in fact play on the hopscotch patterns.

The Byward Market clock

These maple leaf cookies are lovingly named “Obama cookies” after then-president Barack Obama visited Ottawa in 2009.

Cookies made to resemble the RCMP officers.

Sucerie de la Montagne

Sucerie de la Montagne is a family-owned maple syrup farm located in the province of Quebec, in Rigaud. People can rent the cabins on the property, and it also holds demonstrations as to how various maple products are made, such as syrup, candy, sugar, and taffy.

Montreal

Montreal is the largest city in the province of Quebec and the second largest city in Canada after Toronto. Montreal used to be called Ville-Marie (City of Mary, named after the Virgin Mary) but is now named after Mount Royal, a mountain located on the outskirts of the city. Montreal was once the commercial center of Canada, but lost that role to Toronto in the 1970s.

To get to Montreal, we had to cross the Jacques Cartier Bridge. The bridge is named after Jacques Cartier, a French maritime explorer who discovered the province of Quebec. Cartier claimed Canada for the King of France at the time.

Molson Brewery

The Biosphere on Saint Helen’s Island (in French: Île Sainte-Hélène). This served as the US pavilion during the 1967 Expo.

The La Grande roue de Montréal, a ferris wheel which opened in 2017 to celebrate Montreal’s 375th anniversary.

Monsieur Rose (Mr. Pink) in Montreal. Monsieur Rose is an art installation by artist Philippe Katerine. Unfortunately, all the Monsieur Roses are gone, as the exhibit only lasted until September 29. It was fun hunting for all the Monsieur Roses around Quebec. Each Monsieur Rose has a scar on its chest, a representation of an operation Katerine had as a child to save his life. Katerine also battled cancer as well.

The Montreal Marriott Château Champlain, lovingly called the Cheese Grater because of its unique semi-circle windows.

Mary, Queen of the World Cathedral

The Mary, Queen of the World Cathedral (Basilique Marie-Reine-Du-Monde Cathedrale) is a minor basilica located in Montreal. Entrance is free. The cathedral, much like other churches and cathedrals around the world, is a quiet space that allows people to catch a break from the busy city life.

The Ring

The Ring (L’Anneau) located at Place Ville Marie. It is not far from the Eaton Centre Montreal, and is a great landmark if you’re ever lost in Montreal.

Unlike most houses in other parts of Canada, Montreal’s houses are situated with front steps.

A Native artwork made from balancing stones.

Dorchester Square

Dorchester Square in Downtown Montreal. The cross is a symbol that this part of Montreal used to be a cemetery, but for sanitary reasons, the cemetery was moved to Mount Royal.

Notre-Dame Basilica

The Notre-Dame Basilica (Basilique Notre-Dame) is a minor basilica located in Old Montreal. The interior of the Notre-Dame is regarded to be one of the largest in the world. The cathedral is also regarded as a masterpiece of Gothic Revival architecture. Unlike most cathedrals, the stained glass in the Notre-Dame Basilica tells the story of Montreal’s history, rather than the story from the Bible.

St Joseph Oratory

The St Joseph Oratory is a minor basilica located on Mount Royal. It was founded in 1904 by Brother André Bessette. Brother André is also buried in the church. Rumor has it when you pass your hand over Brother Andre’s tomb while making a wish, it will come true. The St Joseph Oratory is also the highest building in Montreal.

The 4th floor of the basilica offers a stunning view of Montreal’s skyline.

A statue outside the 4th floor gift shop dedicated to migrants.

Dioramas located on the 3rd floor (where the parking lot is)

The Votive Chapel in the oratory

The interior of the basilica

The Tomb of Brother André

A smaller chapel on the oratory grounds

The bells of the oratory

A photo of the entire oratory

Mount Royal

Mount Royal is located on the outskirts of Montreal, and offers a stunning view of the Montreal skyline, much like at the oratory.

Old Montreal

Old Montreal (Vieux-Montréal) is the historical district of Montreal. It is home to the Old Port of Montreal. It is required by law that the shops in Old Montreal be small businesses, while the bigger chain companies are in the newer part of the city. We visited Bonsecours Market (Marché Bonsecours), a 2-story market marked with a silver dome , where they had a press photo expo, before exploring the rest of Old Montreal.

Montreal’s City Hall

Inside City Hall

Vauquelin Square with a statue of Jean Vauquelin.

Jacques Cartier Square

Some of the sights around Old Montreal

Crosieres AML

Crosiers AML is the primary tour boat company that offers tours of Montreal while sailing the St. Lawrence River. The St. Lawrence River connects the Great Lakes in the midwestern USA to the northern Atlantic Ocean. It widens near Quebec City and becomes the St. Lawrence Seaway, one of the most dangerous seaways in the world.

Sainte Leonard-d’Aston Parc de Dinosaurs

The Parc de Dinosaur consists of 12 fiberglass dinosaurs salvaged from the Hotel Madrid, which was demolished in 2011. It is located at Sainte Leonard-d’Aston, behind a Mcdonald’s and an Esso gas station. I managed to take some photos with a toy dinosaur I bought in Ottawa that I named Momoko.

Momoko with all the dinosaurs

Quebec City

Quebec City is the capital of Quebec province. It is also the oldest city in Canada and the oldest Francophone city in the Americas. Quebec City was founded by Samuel de Champlain (you may recognize this name if you’ve ever visited Lake Champlain in Vermont) in 1608. Quebec is also the only walled city north of Mexico.

Old Quebec

Old Quebec (Vieux-Québec) is a historical district of Quebec City. It is made out of two parts: the Upper Town (Haute-Ville) and the Lower Town (Basse-Ville).

The Château Frontenac, a historic hotel.

The St Laurent Building, which houses Quebec’s central post office

View from the Lower Town.

Street view of Old Quebec

Floating umbrellas

A Monsieur Rose peeking out from being a building

A mural of Quebec City’s history and culture

Notre-Dame-des-Victoires church, which was built on the site of Samuel de Champlain’s home.

Some of the European-style buildings

A bust of Samuel de Champlain

The Old Quebec Funicular (Funiculaire du Vieux-Québec). This funicular connects the Upper and Lower towns.

Plaque dedicated to Louis Joliet, a French-Canadian explorer who was the first non-native to explore and map the Mississippi River.

Quebec Parliament Building

The Quebec Parliament Building is home to the National Assembly of Quebec. It is eight stories tall and is built in the Second Empire architectural style. It is located in Quebec’s Parliament Hill.

There was also a peaceful demonstration at the Parliament Building involving nurses who wanted better pay.

Some of the pretty flowers on the Parliament Building grounds and garden.

Another view of the chateau

Levis

Levis is a city in eastern Quebec province and is across the St. Lawrence River from Old Quebec. There is a ferry that runs every 30 minutes to take people to and from Levis and Old Quebec.