Like every avid traveller out there, we’ve been itching all year to hop on a plane and explore the world once more. Not only are we dying to get back to Europe to introduce our little one to family, but we’re also eager to visit more places in Canada, particularly our jaw-dropping national parks and fascinating historical sites.
Hopeful for some normalcy and ability to travel in 2021, we’ve started looking into getting back to some of our favourite Canadian parks and discovering new ones. Google Street View has done an amazing job at capturing a lot of our national parks, which has allowed us to do some preliminary research and exploring from home.
So, whether you’re in lockdown and looking for an escape or planning your next trip to one of Canada’s national parks, here is a list of our top picks in each province and territory to visit virtually.
BRITISH COLUMBIA || PACIFIC RIM NATIONAL PARK RESERVE
Pacific Rim National Park is located on the west coast of Vancouver Island between Tofino and Ucluelet. This park features over 500 square kilometres of rugged pacific coast landscape and temperate rainforests. We loved exploring this beaches and trails in this area when we visited Tofino a couple of summers ago and can’t wait to go back!
ALBERTA || BANFF NATIONAL PARK (LAKE LOUISE)
There’s a reason Lake Louise is one of the most photographed sites in the world - It’s drop dead gorgeous. The lake water gets its photogenic turquoise colour from the rock flour generated by glacial erosion. While a visit in the summertime can have you fighting off crowds of visitors to get that iconic shot, if you arrive early and head out on one of the trails, you will quickly see those crowds thin out.
SASKATCHEWAN || GRASSLANDS NATIONAL PARK
The Canadian prairies are often overlooked as a travel destination, but there is something beautiful and unique about the uninterrupted skies and the expanse of land. While we didn’t make it to Grasslands National Park when we drove across Canada, it’s definitely on our list to get to. Check out the wide-open plain and keep an eye out for buffalo as you explore virtually.
MANITOBA || LOWER FORT GARRY NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE
Since I was a little girl, I’ve always been a sucker for historical sites, especially when staff are dressed in period costume. Gunther and I visited Lower Fort Garry in 2014 during our visit to Winnipeg and we really enjoyed it. Built in 1830 by the Hudson’s Bay Company along the Red River, this site really brings part of Manitoba’s rich history to life.
ONTARIO || FATHOM FIVE NATIONAL MARINE PARK
One of our favourite places in Ontario is the Georgian Bay area. If you haven’t been to this part of Ontario yet, add it to your list now! We were absolutely blown away by the Fathom Five National Marine Park. The park is home to shipwrecks, which you can see through the crystal clear turquoise water, and Flower Pot Island, known for it’s flower pot-shaped rock stacks.
QUÉBEC || FORTIFICATIONS OF QUÉBEC NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE
One thing we love about visiting Québec is how close it feels to a European destination. Take a virtual stroll along the historic walls of the only remaining fortified city north of Mexico. If you’re planning a trip to Québec City, we highly recommend the early fall season to take advantage of all the colourful foliage.
NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR || L’ANSE AUX MEADOWS
Ever since I learned about the L’Anse aux Meadows archaeological site in social studies class in elementary school I’ve wanted to visit. Over the last decade or so, this province has done an amazing job with its tourism advertising campaigns and it has made me want to go even more. While we haven’t visited yet, this UNESCO World Heritage Site is one of our top sites to see in the province. This site showcases archaeological remains of a viking encampment that is over 1,000 years old.
NEW BRUNSWICK || KOUCHIBOUGUAC NATIONAL PARK
While we haven’t yet visited this province either, Kouchibouguac National Park looks like just our cup of tea. This park has a mix of lush forests and warm ocean beaches, making it the perfect place for an outdoor adventure.
NOVA SCOTIA || CAPE BRETON HIGHLANDS NATIONAL PARK
This park is the epitome of Canadian outdoor adventuring. Follow the world-famous Cabot Trail through this park and enjoy the dense forests and panoramic ocean views. We hope to hike in this park when we visit the east coast.
PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND || GREEN GABLES HERITAGE PLACE
Anyone visiting PEI is sure to have heard of Anne of Green Gables, one of Canada’s most beloved fictional characters. This site and surrounding landscape was the inspiration for the setting of Lucy Maude Montgomery’s famous 1908 novel. We will definitely swing by this site when we make it to PEI to enjoy the warmest waters north of the Carolinas, lobster dinners and potato fudge.
YUKON || S.S. KENO NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE
The Yukon is known not only for it’s stunning landscape, but also for the Klondike Gold Rush. Located on Front Street in Dawson City, The S.S. Keno is a riverboat that dates back to the late 1860s. We are fascinated by all the gold rush stories and would love to visit this historic site someday. You can explore the steam wheeler virtually and when you’re done your tour, take a stroll down the historic street to really feel like you’ve stepped back in time to the wild west.
NORTHWEST TERRITORIES || AULAVIK NATIONAL PARK
If you’re looking for a remote hidden gem off of the tourist radar, Aulavik National Park is for you. Only 12 or so people visit this park each year! The reason for this is probably because you can only access it for a short period of time during the summer months by air charter. But what an experience it would be to discover this 12,000km arctic park. This park is known for having the highest concentration in the world of muskoxen. We would love to hike in the area and check out the 4,000 year old native artefacts.
NUNAVUT || QUTTINIRPAAG NATIONAL PARK
Quttinirpaag literally means the top of the world in Inuktitut. This would definitely be a bucket list trip, but given the remoteness of the area and the location also being a polar bear habitat, it does require advanced backcountry skill. So for now I will just feast my eyes on the vast landscape virtually.
For a full list of the national parks and heritage sites featured on Google Street View, visit the Parks Canada website.
Which Canadian national park is on your bucket list?
Post a Comment