Summer time Journey in Canada 2025: Exploring the Maritimes with Children

With summer season across the nook, many households are wanting nearer to house 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 provides a various panorama of experiences good for household journey, whether or not you’re chasing waterfalls, exploring charming small cities, having fun with the good outdoor, 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 Maritimes to the rugged fantastic thing about the West. I’ll share a few of the enjoyable experiences my household has loved, together with locations which are nonetheless on our hit checklist.

Let’s begin off with Jap Canada, the place for those who love the good outdoor, there’s undoubtedly loads to see and discover.

Prince Edward Island

Prince Edward Island delights households with its iconic pink sand seashores and a contact of literary magic. At Inexperienced Gables Heritage Place in Cavendish, youngsters can step into the world of Anne of Inexperienced Gables and convey the beloved story to life.

Of the quite a few seashores that dot the island, my high picks are:

• Cavendish Seaside. which gives good sandcastle-building with supervised swimming areas
• Basin Head Provincial Park, nicknamed “Singing Sands Seaside”, which options distinctive squeaking sand and a maritime museum
• Thunder Cove Seaside. which provides secluded pink cliffs and a well-known sandstone arch good for exploring throughout low tide.

Really helpful Keep: Delta Resorts Prince Edward in downtown Charlottetown provides spacious, no-frills lodging with an indoor pool, all inside an hour’s drive of most of Prince Edward Island’s high points of interest.

Nightly charges this summer season vary from $300–400 (all costs in CAD) or 39,000–50,000 Marriott Bonvoy factors, which suggests you possibly can use a 35K Free Night time Award (with a factors top-up) that comes yearly with the Marriott Bonvoy® American Categorical®* Card.

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

Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia

Cape Breton Island enchants guests with its breathtaking coastal views, greatest skilled alongside the scenic Cabot Path. Cape Breton Highlands Nationwide Park provides seashores, climbing trails, wildlife recognizing and spectacular views.

One family-friendly hike to not miss is the Skyline Path—straightforward, rewarding, and providing sweeping vistas.

For one thing totally different that celebrates Canadian heritage, head to the seasonal Alexander Graham Bell Nationwide Historic Website, the place youngsters can get hands-on with interactive reveals and discover the world of invention.

On the south facet of the Cape Breton, go to the Fortress of Louisbourg the place historical past comes alive with costumed interpreters and demonstrations. 

Really helpful Keep: Cape Breton Villas is a superb trip rental property to discover the northern a part of the Cabot Path from. It’s proper near the coast and provides as much as 4-bedroom villas. Costs begin at simply over $300 per evening for a 2 bed room villa in the course of the summer season.

If in case you have golfers within the household and are up for a splurge, the Cabot Cape Breton provides luxurious however expensive rooms and villas with gorgeous coastal views. I stayed right here just a few years in the past on a {couples}’ golf journey and whereas I’m not a golfer myself, I’d return only for the setting.

Vacation Inn Sydney-Waterfront, situated additional south, gives snug lodging with an indoor pool and waterslide and quick access to downtown points of interest for underneath $200–300 per evening, or an affordable 26,000–40,000 IHG One Rewardsfactors per evening.

St. Andrews by-the-Sea, New Brunswick

In case you’re on the lookout for a resort-style escape in a picturesque coastal city, St. Andrews by-the-Sea in New Brunswick is a improbable selection. Certainly one of Jap Canada’s most charming small cities, it’s filled with boutique outlets, artwork galleries, and a laid-back seaside vibe.

On the town you’ll additionally discover the Kingsbrae Backyard, the place youngsters can work together with alpacas whereas having fun with the floral shows. When the tide goes out, you may even drive throughout the ocean flooring to succeed in Minister’s Island, as soon as house to Canadian Pacific Railway President Sir William Van Horne.

For an up-close take a look at the area’s marine life, go to the Fundy Discovery Aquarium for hands-on reveals nice for youths. Older youngsters and adults can be part of one among their Huntsman Marine Experiences – land and boat day excursions led by skilled naturalists–for an immersive, enjoyable, and academic dive into the area’s sealife.

In case you’re already in New Brunswick, it’s nicely value making the three.5-hour drive to Hopewell Rocks Provincial Park, the place you may stroll on the ocean flooring at low tide and marvel on the towering rock formations.

Really helpful Keep: The Algonquin Resort St. Andrews by-the-Sea, Autograph Assortment is the place you’ll need to stick with your loved ones. This full-service resort has all of the facilities you’ll need for a enjoyable, laid again household trip, with an indoor pool and waterslide, outside pool, and Playzone video games room.

Nightly charges this summer season vary from $300–500 per evening. Base room redemptions vary from 37,000–50,000 Marriott Bonvoy factors per evening, however sadly solely accommodate as much as two friends.

In case you’re reserving a money fee, make sure you get in contact with our journey company, Prince Assortment, for a quote. This property participates in Marriott Luminous, and we’re capable of provide extra perks comparable to complimentary breakfast, a $100 USD resort credit score, and extra, all at no extra value to you.

Sable Island, Nova Scotia

In case you’re up for a splurge and a novel journey, Sable Island sits 300 km southeast of Halifax. This distant sandbar is known for sand dunes and wildlife. Entry requires chartered flights or boat excursions from Halifax with advance Parks Canada permits. 

Points of interest embrace observing wild horses, beachcombing pristine shores, and photographing numerous hen populations and seal colonies. With no on-island lodging, households ought to base in Halifax. 

Though the resorts in Halifax are cheap, the island expertise doesn’t come low-cost, with transfers costing at minimal $2,000 per individual, however will probably be a memorable one. This premium tour provides a once-in-a-lifetime alternative to see one among Canada’s most protected ecosystem.

Whilst you’re in Halifax, try the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic. It’s an academic and interesting cease for youths who love ships, tales, and hands-on discovery. They will discover actual boats, study pirates and the Titanic. Afterwards, seize lunch and let the youngsters burn off some power on the harbourfront play space.

Really helpful Keep: Muir, a Luxurious Assortment Resort, Halifax  gives an expensive possibility alongside the harbour for ~$700 or 72,000–80,000 Bonvoy factors per evening for a room with two queen beds. This property can be part of Marriott STARS, a most popular companion program accessible by means of our in-house journey company, Prince Assortment.

For extra economical choices, there’s the brand new Moxy Halifax Downtown for underneath $300 or 25,000–33,000 Bonvoy factors per evening, or a full-service resort with a pool, think about the Halifax Marriott Harbourfront Resort for ~$400 or 42,000–49,000 Bonvoy factors per evening. 

Fogo Island, Newfoundland

Fogo Island provides a particular expertise on Newfoundland’s northeast coast. This distant vacation spot options rugged magnificence, conventional fishing tradition, and world-class structure. 

Apart from taking within the wonderful ocean views, summer season is a superb time for climbing the various terrain, whale watching, puffin viewing, berry selecting, and probably iceberg viewing for those who’re fortunate.

The Marine Interpretation Centre additionally gives interactive reveals about native marine life whereas on the Wood Boat Museum youngsters can study boat constructing.

Really helpful Keep: The architecturally gorgeous Fogo Island Inn provides an ultra-luxury, all-inclusive expertise and welcomes youngsters aged 8 and older. Meals and native experiences like hikes, jam-making, foraging, wildlife watching, and extra, are all included.

E-book this property by means of our in-house journey company, Prince Assortment, which might give you entry to unique perks to raise your keep.

Finances-conscious choices are additionally accessible for $200–300 an evening all through the island and will be booked by means of Airbnb (and bear in mind to e-book by means of British Airways’s platform to earn Avios to your keep).

Gros Morne Nationwide Park, Newfoundland

Gros Morne Nationwide Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Website in Newfoundland, isn’t only for hardcore hikers–it’s an unbelievable playground for households, too. With its dramatic fjords and views that rival these of New Zealand, quiet seashores, and straightforward trails, there’s one thing for youths of all ages to get pleasure from. 

The Discovery Centre options interactive reveals explaining the park’s distinctive geology in kid-friendly methods earlier than embarking on a climbing path. For a comparatively flat, straightforward hike, the place it seems such as you’re strolling on Mars, try the beginner-friendly Tablelands path.

The Inexperienced Gardens path provides an extended trek that results in coastal cliffs, sea stacks, and grassy meadows. Lastly, for individuals who are up for a climb, try the Lookout path for wonderful panoramic views. 

For a extra stress-free day, households can discover tidal swimming pools at Shallow Bay Seaside or take a ship tour of Western Brook Pond for a more in-depth view of the spectacular fjords, towering cliffs, and waterfalls. 

Really helpful Keep: You’ll need to keep near the the Nationwide Park to make the most of all it has to supply. The cities of Rocky Harbour, Norris Level, and Woody Level are 10–45 minutes away and can be your only option.

Sadly, they don’t have resort chains like Hilton, Marriott, or Vacation Inn. As an alternative, they provide a number of domestically owned mattress and breakfasts and boutique lodging that present a extra intimate and genuine expertise. Many of those will be booked by means of Airbnb. 

Utilizing Fastened-Worth Applications within the Maritimes

As you enterprise past the cities within the Maritimes, you may discover an absence of big-name resort chains. An effective way to offset the price of boutique stays or Airbnbs is by utilizing bank cards that supply fixed-value rewards applications.

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

Alternatively, TD Rewards Factors earned by means of a TD First Class Journey® Visa Infinite* Card may also be redeemed for journey purchases. Each 200 factors is value $1 off journey purchases on Expedia for TD, which is the perfect redemption possibility for his or her program. 

Conclusion

If your loved ones loves the good outdoor, the Maritime provinces provide loads of locations good for a summer season getaway. This publish highlighted just some, however hopefully it’s sparked your curiosity in exploring the East Coast for some household enjoyable this 12 months.

Staying inside Canada means your greenback goes additional—with out sacrificing the journey. Keep tuned for the following publish the place we’ll discover the opposite Jap provinces, Ontario and Quebec.