Visiting Canada with family: ideas for unforgettable vacations for little ones

British Columbia: A must-see destination for a first family vacation in Canada

At the risk of sounding reductive, we will recommend several destinations in this province. Why go to British Columbia? It is one of the most beautiful provinces in Canada and is full of places and attractions suitable for families.

Vancouver

British Columbia's capital city is a great place to visit any time of year, but it's especially beautiful in the summer. Vancouver is home to Stanley Park, one of the world's largest urban parks, the Vancouver Aquarium, and the miniature train. It also has a few beaches, like Third Beach, which is secluded and perfect for watching the sunset, or Second Beach, which is more family-friendly and has a playground. Kids will love discovering and seeing the history posts of the First Nations at Brockton Point.

When you visit the rest of the city, know that it is unmissable for its night markets in summer, like the Richmond Night Market.

About an hour from downtown, Golden Ears Provincial Park is a beautiful place to relax with the kids on the beach with mountain views.

Squamish, British Columbia

This charming little town is located about 1 hour north of Vancouver, on the Sea to Sky Highway. To fully enjoy it, we recommend spending a few nights there.

West Coast Railway Heritage Park is one of Squamish's attractions. If your kids love trains, this park is a must-see! It is run by an NGO that is dedicated to sharing the history of trains and Canada's railways with visitors from around the world. You can tour restored trains that are available to the public. Kids can take a ride around the park in a mini-locomotive.

You will also find the Sea to Sky Gondola in Squamish. A 10-minute mechanical ride up will allow you to enjoy incredible breathtaking views. You can then take 2 walking trails to come back down from the summit, both of which are stroller friendly. Panorama Trail is 1.6 km long while Spirit Trail is only 400 m. There is a large playground not far from the base of the gondola, your children will be able to have fun there after the ride.

Vancouver Island

It is a 90-minute ferry ride from the city of the same name. Its capital Victoria is very pleasant with its English side and its city center is very easy to visit on foot. Many kayak trips are possible on the island and allow you to observe marine animals, such as seals, birds, enormous starfish and sometimes even whales.

However, it is not possible to swim in the surrounding waters, as they are freezing and the wind blows quite strongly. The most popular beaches are crowded in summer. Rather than going to MacKenzie beach, go to Long Beach instead.

Quebec: the essential province for family vacations

This French-speaking province is a must-see. The fact that French is spoken there will also be more enjoyable for your children, even if the Quebec accent can sometimes be very confusing.

Montreal

Visiting Montreal with kids for the holidays is a great experience. This beautiful city is a real eye candy, especially in its streets full of history. The old town, Mount Royal and the cities on either side of Saint-Laurent Boulevard are must-sees. We also recommend visiting the nature biodome, the Rio Tinto Alcan planetarium, the botanical garden or the insectarium.

To get your fill of culture and knowledge, you can visit the Science Centre or the McCord Museum to learn about the history of Canada. The Grévin Museum and its wax figures is another place to absolutely discover with your children.

Quebec

A stroll to see the imposing Château de Frontenac is a must, with a nice souvenir photo. Still in old Quebec, you can visit the Royal Square, the Plains of Abraham or take the funicular.

In summer, the Dufferin Terraces offer a great view of the lower town. To encourage your children to come back in winter, tell them about the toboggan slides that have been installed there every winter since 1884 and the Quebec Winter Carnival.

You can go to one of the city's parks for a picnic. The city lights up with fireworks from late June to August, for the International Fireworks Festival.

A sugar shack in early spring

It is one of the strong emblems of Canada and Quebec in particular, where most of the country's Canadian maple products come from. For an authentic visit to a sugar shack, you have to come when winter is ending and spring is starting to set in. This is the sugaring time, the period during which maple sap is harvested to process it. It is from this sap that maple syrup comes. Your children will love following the different stages of making this product.

Be sure to try maple taffy, a confection made from maple caramel that is hardened on flattened snow.

There are many sugar shacks around Montreal, and more than 200 throughout the province of Quebec.

Visiting Canada with family: what you need to know

Canada is a great destination that is perfect for families. Walks, outdoor activities, cultural discoveries or discovering authentic Canadian products: the possibilities are so numerous that you won't be able to get bored!

When is the best time to go to Canada?

If your family is used to the extreme cold, spending the winter and the coldest days in Canada should not scare you. However, if you are not going for skiing or alpine tourism, we recommend that you leave between the very end of spring and the beginning of fall. This will allow you to avoid the intense and relentless cold of winter.

However, to have a peaceful holiday and enjoy the sun with your family, it is better to discover Canada in summer.

How to travel with family in Canada?

If you are traveling with children and plan to travel a lot, it is best to rent a car. This will give you the flexibility and comfort you need to explore the country. You will also be able to stop wherever you want and will not be dependent on public transportation. However, avoid long car journeys. Canada is a large country and each province has a lot to see. If you have more than 250 km to travel, take the train to avoid getting tired and take another rental car in your arrival city.

What to plan for a family vacation in Canada?

Pack your bags and clothes according to the season. Note that early spring and late fall are still very cold. Bring appropriate coats and warm clothing if you are planning a trip to Canada during these times.

Animals are a safe bet with little ones and Canada and its great outdoors are ideal for observing them. Children love to try new things, don't forget to introduce them to some Canadian specialties. Examples include poutine, beaver tail, shepherd's pie and of course pancakes or maple syrup waffles.

If you want to show them a little bit of this country before your trip, we offer many Canadian products on our online store. Maple syrup, blueberries dried or in juice And tomato juice with clams : so many original items that will amaze your family.