9 Canadian Travel Destinations That Rival U.S. Hot Spots

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The only thing you’re likely making rain these days are your tears since our dollar’s so low, low, low, it hit the trading floor. If the loony loonie has put a serious smack-down on your travel plans, turn that chump change into some homeland love by exploring this here true north, strong and free, instead

Canada vs US travel guide

Wish you could wine it up in Sonoma? Hit Prince Edward County instead

Just as Sonoma sometimes gets overshadowed by its more popular regional wine sister, Napa, Ontario’s Prince Edward County is quietly all like, “Heyo, I’m totes cooler than Niagara, you might wanna recognize.” The picturesque town has become a veritable wino destination that is, in fact, Niagara’s cooler hipster sister (case in point: trendy Toronto boutique hotel The Drake opened the Drake Devonshire in PEC). Cuddle up with your honey at a chic B&B and work off those chardonnay tastings by pedaling between wineries.

Wish you could surf in Malibu? Hit Tofino instead

National Geographic named Tofino one of the best surf towns in the world. Rip on that, Malibu! Tofino is surrounded by looming rainforest and sweeping mountain vistas, and it offers up some pretty gnarly waves off its 35-kilometre coastline and beautiful beaches.

Wish you could go hipster-ing in Brooklyn? Hit Hamilton instead

Ontario’s once blue-collar city is being compared to New York’s Brooklyn—which turned its likewise industrial past into a hipster hotbed of arts and culture—for good reason. You can gorge on ridic tasty tacos at The Mule, then throw back bourbons at the Baltimore House. Too many bourbons? Sip a bring-you-back-to-life organic tea at the vegan-friendly Democracy and then saunter over to the Hundred Dollar Gallery to check out the art.

Wish you could take a wee island getaway to Cape Cod? Hit Cape Breton instead

Travel + Leisure named Cape Breton the number-one island to visit in North America some years back. With fishing villages, pretty seascapes, rolling hills and hints of Gaelic culture, Cape Breton is a darling of a county. Hit the Cabot Trail and wind your way around the coast for spectacular views.

Wish you could party at Coachella? Hit Osheaga instead

The Montreal-based music fest always boasts a great line-up (Major Lazer, Mumford and Sons, Lorde, Jack White, Joey Badass, etc. have all played it) and is one of the most well-organized festivals going. And let’s be real. If you haven’t scooped up Coachella passes yet, that festival be passing you by. But it’s all good since Osheaga offers some of the same tickets—and your flower-power headbands and jean-short cut-offs will look just as good in la belle province.

Wish you could run the slopes in Telluride? Hit Sun Peaks, B.C. instead

Canada’s self-professed best coast is having one of their best ski seasons this year with sweet, soft, glistening powder that’ll have you all like, Colorado who? Along with planning firm Ecosign, the man responsible for helping to breathe new life into Telluride Mountain Resort did likewise with Sun Peaks’ village after a research mission to Europe. The result feels like a wee Scandinavian paradise. The pedestrian-only village—adorned with colourful facades and surrounded by snow-capped peaks—is perfect for your Insta feed. And the resort is filled with hot snowboarding bros so regardless of how well you shred, you’ll likely get your blood a-flowin’ one way or another.

Wish you could après-ski in Vail? Hit Whistler instead.

Speaking of skiing, if you’re more proficient at hitting the sliders and scotch than you are at hitting the slopes but can’t afford Vail this year, Whistler-Blackcomb might satisfy your post-slalom partying needs. Conde Nast Traveller and Ski Magazine reckon it’s got the best après–ski in the continent. There are tons of bars, and cute Aussies abound, so win-win.

Wish you could hit Cali’s Big Sur for a scenic drive and then some? Hit up B.C.’s Sea to Sky highway instead

If you have yet to cruise the Sea to Sky highway, you have yet to see one of your homeland’s most stunning landscapes. Eye candy for days, y’all! Sweeping vistas, the Rockies and glacier-fed turquoise waters will have you in a B.C. state of mind. Take the high road from VanCity to Squamish, a lesser-traversed mountain-flanked region with gorge views for a bit of an off-the-beaten path experience. Ride Squamish’s new Sea to Sky gondola for more landscape stunners. And if you’re a ballin’ belayer, Squamish boasts some of the world’s best rock climbing.

Wish you could capture the ultimate Insta post via Alaska’s aurora borealis? Hit up the Yukon instead

From September 
to the end of March, Yukon’s night sky is on fire with an insane glow that twists and swirls like a heavenly lava lamp that just won’t quit. What’s that, you ask? Basically, electrically-charged particles that emanate from the sun are driven towards the poles by the earth’s magnetic field; their varying colours are a result of different gases all up in the upper atmosphere. #DroppingScience #OoohhhYourSkyIsOnFire

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