Summer season Journey in Canada 2025: Exploring Japanese Canada with Youngsters

With summer time across the nook, many households are wanting nearer to dwelling for his or her subsequent journey and there’s no higher time to rediscover the fantastic thing about Canada. From coast to coast, the nation affords a various panorama of experiences good for household journey, whether or not you’re chasing waterfalls, exploring charming small cities, having fun with the nice outside, or simply desirous to unwind at a resort.

On this multi-part sequence, let’s break it down by journeying throughout the nation, exploring family-friendly locations area by area, from the coastal charms of the East coast to the rugged fantastic thing about the West. I’ll share a number of the enjoyable experiences my household has loved, together with locations which are nonetheless on our hit listing.

On this put up, we’ll be exploring the Japanese provinces of Ontario and Quebec.

Muskoka, Ontario

Muskoka is considered one of Ontario’s premier cottage nation locations, identified for its lakes and pure magnificence. It’s dwelling to quite a lot of lakeside, family-friendly resorts like Deerhurst Resort and the JW Marriott The Rosseau Muskoka Resort & Spa. Whether or not you’re lounging on the seashore, kayaking, or paddleboarding, it’s the perfect spot for a calming household getaway. 

It’s additionally a stone throw away from Algonquin Provincial Park, the place wildlife spottings are plentiful as are the mountaineering trails. If summer time isn’t an choice, fall is a well-liked time to go to for gorgeous foliage views.

Muskoka Wharf can be a terrific place for a stroll on its boardwalks whereas trying out the small photographs. Take a experience on North America’s oldest working steamboat, the RMS Segwun from right here or try the Discovery Centre with the youngsters. 

Really helpful Keep: JW Marriott The Rosseau Muskoka Resort & Spa, situated on the shores of Lake Rosseau, affords an ideal mixture of rustic allure and trendy consolation. Suites are spacious and styled with cozy cottage-inspired décor, full with kitchenettes for added comfort. Friends can get pleasure from a novel half-indoor, half-outdoor pool, unwind on the non-public seashore, make use of complimentary water sports activities gear, and cap off the day roasting marshmallows by the fireplace.

Nightly charges this summer time vary from $600–700 (all costs in CAD) or 61,000–70,000 Marriott Bonvoy factors, which implies you may redeem a 85K Free Evening Award for an evening. Money and factors charges drop considerably within the fall, the place even a 35K Free Evening Award (with a factors top-up) that may be earned with the Marriott Bonvoy® American Specific®* Card might be redeemed.

For a extra budget-friendly choice, think about the Residence Inn Gravenhurst Muskoka Wharf. It affords nice worth with facilities like an indoor pool and complimentary breakfast for all friends at almost half the price of the JW.

Paying to your Marriott keep together with your card will earn 5 Marriott Bonvoy factors per greenback spent, serving to you rack up rewards sooner to your subsequent redemption.

Prince Edward County, Ontario

Prince Edward County in southeastern Ontario is a scenic, laid-back getaway identified for its seashores, wineries, and countryside allure. My husband and I’ve visited each as a pair and with the youngsters, and I’ve shared our expertise in a earlier put up. Regardless of its small measurement, this county is bursting with issues to see and do.

Households can go to Noble Beast Farms to satisfy alpacas, meet a beekeeper, or wander by way of aromatic lavender fields. In the meantime, adults can discover boutique wineries and savour farm-to-table eating–making it the proper mixture of enjoyable and leisure for everybody.

For some outside enjoyable, children can climb the sand dunes or swim at Sandbanks Provincial Park. With principally shallow water and calm waters, it’s a really perfect spot for little ones to play safely. You may also hike or bike a piece of the 46-km family-friendly Millennium Path, having fun with the native fauna and flora of the wetlands alongside the way in which.

Really helpful Keep: You gained’t discover lodge chains like Hilton or Marriott right here, however in the event you’re keen to remain 40 minutes away in Belleville, you’ll discover TownePlace Suites and Hampton Inn & Suites. As a substitute, get pleasure from a extra intimate keep at native mattress and breakfasts or boutique lodging just like the Drake Motor Inn, a up to date and enjoyable choice that may accommodate households of 4 and affords complimentary Polaroid cameras, and entry to communal areas like a front room, outside terrace, and fireplace pit.

In case you’re trying to splurge, Wander the Resort affords luxurious Nordic-style cabins with direct seashore entry and a brand-new onsite spa facility. Day passes to their seashore and spa will also be bought individually. Day passes to the seashore and spa are additionally out there for buy. I’ve an upcoming keep and shall be pleased to share my overview afterward.  

This property might be booked by way of our in-house journey company, Prince Assortment.

Tobermory, Ontario

In case you’re looking for an out of doors retreat with crystal-clear turquoise waters and a rugged panorama, Tobermory is the proper alternative. With points of interest like Flower Pot Island and Bruce Peninsula Nationwide Park, you’ll discover loads of outside adventures, from exploring caves and grottos to discovering sunken ships and extra.

As a licensed darkish sky neighborhood, Tobermory additionally affords distinctive stargazing alternatives, good for observing constellations. In case you’re fortunate, you might even catch a glimpse of the northern lights right here. 

Really helpful Keep: As soon as once more, a mattress & breakfast or trip rental shall be your best choice right here. Throughout the peak summer time season, nightly charges are going for $400+. For a novel and budget-friendly choice, think about a reserving a RV camper for the night time.

Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario

Niagara-on-the-Lake is a captivating city in southern Ontario, identified for its historic structure, award-winning wineries, and scenic lakefront. With boutique outlets, connoisseur eating, and the Shaw Competition theatre, it’s a romantic and stress-free getaway filled with small-town allure.

In case you’re bringing the youngsters alongside, Niagara-on-the-Lake and it’s surrounding space has loads to maintain them entertained. Head over to Fort George Nationwide Historic Web site the place you’ll be able to step again in time and watch the Warfare of 1812 come to life with musket demonstrations, costumed interpreters, and a reconstruction of the fort itself.   

If the climate is sweet, take a stroll on the Niagara River Recreation Path or choose fruit from one of many many orchards within the space. Niagara Falls can be simply stone throw away and deserves a go to in the event you’re within the space. Clifton Hill offers nonstop enjoyable nicely into the night with arcade video games, laser tag, mazes, mini-golf, and go-karts at Niagara Speedway.

Lastly, try my overview of our keep at Nice Wolf Lodge. In case you haven’t been, it’s the proper getaway for school-aged children and adults alike; and its not only a large indoor waterpark with a wave pool and water slides, however a full leisure hub with an arcade, bowling, and MagiQuest, their interactive journey sport.

Really helpful Keep: The Nice Wolf Lodge will get my vote however it may be dear for an prolonged keep. In case you’re searching for a factors redemption, then the Hilton Backyard Inn Niagara-on-the-Lake is a good choice. In extra having an indoor pool, it’s additionally situated throughout from a Wendy’s if children are craving burgers and fries. Money charges for the summer time are underneath ~$250 or 50,000 Hilton Honors factors per night time.

Montebello, Quebec

The principle draw of this small city discovered between Ottawa and Montreal is the points of interest round it, specifically the Fairmont Le Château Montebello and Parc Omega.

The Fairmont Le Château Montebello boasts a wealthy historical past, having as soon as served as a non-public membership for Canadian Pacific Railway executives. Because the world’s largest log cabin, it additionally homes Canada’s largest indoor pool. Combining rustic allure with trendy class, the resort affords quite a lot of actions, from mountaineering and kayaking to complimentary night s’mores by the fireplace. 

Park Omega, situated only a 5-minute drive north of Montebello, is an out of doors wildlife park providing guests an opportunity to expertise Canada’s various fauna in pure settings. The park’s important attraction is a 12 km self-drive safari route the place friends can encounter animals like elk, bison, and wolves, and even feed them. It’s an incredible expertise for youths to get so shut to those animals. 

Make your go to much more memorable by turning a day journey into an in a single day keep. When stayed in wolf cabin final yr, and it was unforgettable expertise watching an entire pack simply exterior, listening to their howls at night time, and seeing them up shut.

Really helpful Keep: Break up your keep between the 2 properties for a really memorable household trip. Each properties might be booked by way of our in-house journey company, Prince Assortment.

The Fairmont Le Château Montebello participates in Accor HERA, and we’ll have the ability to supply extra perks equivalent to complimentary breakfast for 2, a $100 USD resort credit score, a room improve, and extra, all at no extra price to you.

Previous Quebec Metropolis, Quebec

In case you’re searching for a little bit of European aptitude with out crossing the Atlantic, come go to Previous Quebec. This UNESCO World Heritage web site, wealthy in French colonial historical past, options cobblestone streets lined with boutiques and cafés, slim alleys, and historic metropolis partitions, affords the proper mix of historical past, journey, and household enjoyable.

For outside pleasure, households can zipline at Montmorency Falls, go rafting and mountaineering in Jacques-Cartier Nationwide Park, or cool off at Village Vacances Valcartier, dwelling to an enormous summer time waterpark with 35 waterslides, journey rivers, and a wave pool.

Go see the cannons on the Plains of Abraham and catch the Regimental Band efficiency on the Citadelle. Indoor enjoyable awaits at Méga Parc, Quebec’s largest indoor amusement park, and the Aquarium du Québec, the place over 10,000 marine animals, together with seals and polar bears,await.

Lastly, for a cultural expertise, go to Wendake to discover the traditions of Quebec’s first inhabitants in a method that’s each academic and interesting.

Really helpful Keep: For a household trip that feels straight out of a fairytale, think about reserving a keep on the Fairmont Le Château Frontenac. The enduring lodge, with its castle-like allure and French Renaissance-inspired structure, captures the town’s wealthy European roots. With spacious rooms and quite a lot of kid-friendly actions like scavenger hunts, balloon sculpting, cookie adorning, and face portray, that make it a magical expertise for the youngsters.

The Fairmont Le Château Frontenac is part of Accor HERA, which implies that if you ebook by way of our in-house journey company, Prince Assortment, you’ll get pleasure from unique perks like complimentary breakfast for 2, a $100 USD resort credit score, a room improve, and extra.

In case you’re searching for a uncommon all-inclusive expertise in Canada, try Membership Med Quebec Charlevoix. Set alongside the St. Lawrence River, it affords fashionable lodging, connoisseur eating, and a variety of family-friendly actions, together with childcare and packages for youths aged 4 to 17.

Quebec by the Sea, Quebec

Québec by the Sea spans the St. Lawrence Estuary and Gulf, together with the areas of Bas-Saint-Laurent, Gaspésie, Côte-Nord, and the Îles de la Madeleine. It’s identified for its gorgeous coastal landscapes, dramatic cliffs, tranquil seashores, and picturesque seaside villages, and affords off-the-beaten-track adventures for the entire household.

The Gaspé Peninsula options seven nationwide parks and countless outside adventures like mountaineering, kayaking, and wildlife watching. Highlights embrace the enduring Percé Rock towering over the ocean, Bonaventure Island to see gray seals and the one of many largest Northern Gannet colonies, Bioparc de la Gaspésie for alternatives to have shut encounters with native fauna (even an in a single day expertise with wolves), and Exploramer, St. Lawrence’s biodiversity centre, the place you’ll be able to go to an aquarium, be part of a sea tour to select up crab traps, or go discover what will get caught in a fishing internet. 

In case you’re an artwork fanatic, you’ll additionally wish to try Centre d’Artwork Marcel Gagnon to see the Gagnon household’s assortment of artwork items, probably the most spectacular of which is the Le Grand Rassemblement (“The Large Gathering”), the place over 100 concrete sculptures emerge onshore. 

Over on the north facet of Côte-Nord, drive alongside the Whale Route (Route 138) to go to charming coastal villages, go whale watching, and see Canada’s largest variety of monoliths at Mingan Archipelago Nationwide Park Reserve. Take the household sea kayaking, or in the event you looking for some thrill, go rafting alongside the Magpie River. 

Really helpful Keep: Large-name lodge chains are uncommon in Québec by the Sea, so trip leases and boutique resorts are your finest guess. You could find  woodland or waterfront cabins for $200–$400 an evening–a worth that’s arduous to match in additional well-known vacationer spots.

Utilizing Fastened-Worth Packages 

As you progress past bigger cities, you’ll discover fewer big-name lodge chains, and a few of finest family-friendly resorts are independently owned. An effective way to offset the price of these stays is by utilizing bank cards that supply fixed-value rewards packages.

For instance, Scene+ factors earned by way of a Scotiabank Gold American Specific® Card might be redeemed towards any journey purchases at a fee of 100 Scene+ factors to a $1.

Alternatively, TD Rewards Factors earned by way of a TD First Class Journey® Visa Infinite* Card will also be redeemed for journey purchases. Each 200 factors is price $1 off journey purchases on Expedia for TD, which is the most effective redemption choice for his or her program. 

Conclusion

Whether or not your loved ones is into outside adventures, stress-free at a enjoyable resort, or diving into tradition, Ontario and Quebec have one thing for everybody. These spots are only a glimpse of the numerous nice family-friendly locations within the area.

Touring inside Canada means getting extra worth to your cash, with out lacking out on unforgettable experiences. Keep tuned for our subsequent put up as we proceed exploring much more of what Prairie provinces of Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta have to supply.