Québec City(or Québec) is the capital and second largest city of the mostly French Canadian province of Québec. Same as in other parts of Canada, different First Nations people have called this area home for thousands of years.
The French explorer Samuel de Champlain first founded a community called New France here in 1608. Soon after, the British arrived in this area as well. During the Seven Years War (1756-63), the French lost Québec City to the British in 1759. After Canada’s birth in 1867, Québec City went back into French hands.
I visited this city for two days in July 2023 and liked it very much! Its main attraction is the Vieux Québec (Old Québec) district, which became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985. Old Québec is famous for cobblestone streets, European charm, unique historic sites, culture, and a vibrant restaurant scene!
So without further ado, here are 11 Reasons to Visit Québec City!
Disclosure: I only recommend products that I’ve used in the past, and all opinions expressed in this post are my own. This post contains affiliate links. If you use one of the links throughout the page to buy something, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you!
Visit the Basilique-Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Québec
Address: 16 Rue De Buade, Québec, QC G1R 4A1, Canada
The majestic Basilique-Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Québec (Cathedral-Basilica of Notre Dame de Québec) is a Roman Catholic cathedral in Old Québec. It’s the oldest church in Canada!
The original building was completed back in 1647, but it burned down and had to be rebuilt several times. Today, the Basilique-Cathédrale de Notre-Dame de Québec is a National Historic Site of Canada as well as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The Basilique-Cathedrale Notre-Dame de Québec from the outside (Photo credit:Wilfredo Rafael Rodriguez Hernandez on Wikimedia Commons) and the altar area.
While the cathedral looks iconic from the outside, its interior looks even more impressive! I especially liked the golden statues above and behind the altar. It’s also home to one of the eight Holy Doors in the world!
Admission is free and the cathedral is open 365 days a year.
Shop at La Boutique de Noël de Québec
Address: 47 rue De Buade, Québec, QC G1R 4A2, Canada
People who feel Christmassy all year can be sure to find great goodies at La Boutique de Noël de Québec(Christmas Boutique of Québec)! They carry Christmas tree ornaments, nutcrackers, snow globes, candles, lanterns, Christmas stockings, and so much more!
La Boutique de Noël de Québec is open daily from 10 am to 6 pm (except December 25 and January 1).
Visit the Dufferin Terrace & Fairmont Le Château Frontenac Hotel
Address: Rue des Carrières, Québec, QC G1R 5J5, Canada
The 430 meter (1,410.8 ft) long wooden Dufferin Terrace offers great views of the St. Lawrence River and its surrounding area. Samuel de Champlain first built it in 1620 as the St. Louis Fort and later, the governor’s residence was added underneath the terrace.
Unfortunately, a fire wrecked the terrace and governor’s home in 1834. The boardwalk was restored in 1838, and opened to the general public soon after. Besides, you can visit the ruins of the governor’s residence at the Forts-et-Châteaux-Saint-Louis archeological cryptunderneath the Dufferin Terrace today.
Many people come to Dufferin Terrace to relax and watch street performers in the summer. It’s also famous for firework displays! If you’re a dare devil, go tobogganing down the wooden sledding runs in the winter, with speeds going up to 70 km/h (43.5 mph)!
Another popular spot next to Dufferin Terrace is the iconic Fairmont Le Château Frontenac Hotel (opened in 1893). It has more than 600 rooms on 18 floors and is one of the most photographed hotels in the world!
Walk up the Stairs to The Citadelle de Québec
Address: 1 Côte de la Citadelle, Québec, QC G1R 3R2, Canada
Further up the stairs from the Dufferin Terrace, there’s The Citadelle de Québec. It’s the oldest British fortress in North America and was completed in 1850. The Americans tried to invade Canada in 1812, so the British decided to build it for protection.
The Citadelle de Québec is still in operation today and is the home of the Royal 22e Régiment, the Canadian Military Forces’ only French-language regular force infantry regiment.
A part of the Citadelle de Québec. Photo credit: Thomas1313on Wikimedia Commons.
You can watch the Changing of the Guards (in summer), walk around the outside fortress, join a guided tour (in French or English) around the Musée Royal 22e Régiment (museum), and listen to the Beating of the Retreat.
Admission is 18 CAD per person and includes all of these activities. The Citadelle de Québec is open daily from 10 am to 5:30 pm (early September to mid-May) and 9 am to 5:30 pm (mid-May to early September).
Stroll around The Plains of Abraham
Only a few steps away, you’ll find the The Plains of Abraham. This is where French and English troops fought over the reign of Québec City and the rest of Canada on September 13, 1759. In less than 30 minutes, the British had won this historic battle.
Today, The Plains of Abraham is a 103-hectare urban park for walking, relaxing, playing sports, visiting open air festivals and concerts, and cross-country skiing and snow shoeing in the winter months.
The Plains of Abraham Park. Photo credit: Michel Rathwellon Wikimedia Commons.
The Plains of Abraham Museum encourages visitors to learn about the battles that took place here. You can choose between an interactive museum experience or a guided tour.
It’s open daily from 9 am to 5 pm. Admission is free on Canada Day (July 1) and Remembrance Day (November 11) every year.
Get Lost Around Old Québec for a While
Thanks to its cobblestone streets, European architecture, and cultural and historic attractions, Old Québec is the most popular district to wander around the city! Besides, it’s the most intact fortified town north of Mexico, and this is where French North America came to life more than 400 years ago!
You’ll spot many attractions here or nearby, like the Cathedral-Basilica of Notre Dame de Québec, The Morrin Centre, The Plains of Abraham, and the Fairmont Le Château Frontenac Hotel. I also found the colourful Umbrella Alley (Rue du Cul-de-Sac, Québec, QC G1K 4H6, Canada), which looks super cool!
One of the historic streets in Old Québec and the Umbrella Alley.
Whether you’re into tourist shops or unique boutiques, Rue Petit-Champlain (Petit Champlain Street) has it all! It’s best to explore this area on foot, so you don’t miss anything special! There are tons of restaurants, cafés, and ice cream parlours in Old Québec as well.
Visitors can also join a guided walking tour around this district. Two cool sounding examples are the Free Walking Tour of Québecwith local guide Samuel Dubois or a Ghost Tour of Québec (May 1 to October 31)!
Eat some Poutine!
Now let’s take a break from exploring and grab some Poutine! While it’s a popular dish all over Canada, it was invented right here in the province of Québec.
Poutine consists of only three main ingredients: French fries, cheese curds, and gravy. So it’s the perfect comfort food to dig in after a long day! I had vegetarian poutine atLe Chic Shack(15 Rue du Fort, Québec, QC G1R 3Z8, Canada), which was very tasty!
Visit The Morrin Centre & Maison de la Littérature
Do you love books? Then head to The Morrin Centre(44 Chau. des Écossais, Québec, QC G1R 4H3, Canada)! This Victorian English-language public library opened more than 200 years ago, and used to be one of Québec City’s first prisons. Public hangings occurred here as well!
Today, there’s a selection of 27,000 older and newer books here, and the décor is stunningly beautiful! They also offer guided Discovery Tours on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, which includes a visit to the former jail cells! Besides, you can join events, e.g. the Annual Writers’ Festival and readings.
Before entering the Library area, you need to buy a Day Pass of C$ 5.00 on site. The Morrin Centre is open Wednesday to Sunday (12 to 4 pm, except 10 am to 4 pm on Saturdays).
Right across the street, you can’t miss the equally stunning Maison de la Littératureor House of Literature (40 Rue Saint-Stanislas, Québec, QC G1R 4H1, Canada)! This French-language public library is inside a former Methodist church that opened back in 1848.
The stunning Maison de la Littérature from the outside.
Everyone is welcome to visit the library, and there are writing rooms, a comic book workshop, creation studio, writer’s residence and a literary stage as well. Besides, the Maison de la Littérature is proud to host workshops, conferences, and shows throughout the year.
The Maison de la Littérature is open Tuesday to Sunday, and admission is free.
Admire some Amazing Street Art around the City
Last but not least, it’s worth watching out for some unique street art in Québec City!
Although all artwork was awesome, my favourite was the sticker with Sid Vicious from the Sex Pistols on it! 😀 I stumbled upon it while walking along Rue Saint-Joseph Est in the Saint-Roch Neighbourhood, a former working-class district of the city.
It’s about 25 minutes of a walk from Old Québec, and is famous for quirky boutiques, bars, cafés, microbreweries, and restaurants.
Conclusion
As you can see, Québec City is a great place to visit for a few days! Whether you’re into European-influenced history or culture, trying tasty poutine, shopping, reading books, or cool artwork, this city has it all!
My favourites were walking around The Morrin Centre, exploring Old Québec and the Saint-Roch Neighbourhood, and spending time on the Dufferin Terrace!
If you’re looking for even more than 11 Reasons to Visit Québec City, there are some cool events and attractions happening during the year.
For example, join the Saint Jean Baptiste Day celebrations on June 24, or enjoy the Indian Summer in the fall. If you like winter, check out the Québec Winter Carnival in February and the only Ice Hotelin North America (January to mid-March)!
So I hope I inspired you to visit this cool city someday! 😀
Spending more time in Eastern Canada or the Maritimes? Then check out these posts:
Fredericton is the capital and third largest city by population of New Brunswick in eastern Canada. If you like a mix of history, culture, exploring green spaces, unique artistic vibes, and an exciting social life year-round, then Fredericton is the perfect place to visit!
While the city was founded by British loyalists in the 1780s, the Maliseet and Mi’kmaq people had lived in the area long before that. According to Fredericton Tourism, about 1.8 million visitors spend time in the Fredericton Capital Region every year.
I lived in Fredericton for five months, and got to know this city pretty well. So I’m psyched to share the 16 Best Things To Do in Fredericton with you! From the Bill Thorpe Pedestrian Bridge, Boyce Farmers Market, Beaverbrook Art Gallery, to an amazing live music scene and festivals, it never gets boring here!
Disclosure: I only recommend products that I’ve used in the past, and all opinions expressed in this post are my own. This post contains affiliate links. If you use one of the links throughout the page to buy something, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks.
Wander around the Historic Garrison District
Let’s start with the Historic Garrison District in downtown, that has been a National Historic Site since 1964. Several Victorian buildings stand in this area, including City Hall (397 Queen St, Fredericton NB, E3B 1B5), which was completed in 1876.
It is the oldest city hall of the Maritime provinces that’s still in use today. Until 1952, there was a public farmers market on the square in front of the building.
The Changing of the Guard Ceremony at Officers Square is quite a spectacle, when 20 City Guards of the New Brunswick regiment start marching and playing their bagpipes and drums. This happens daily in July and August. The Canadian Military was born here in 1883, and soon after, the Infantry School Corps (ISC), Company “A” was established in Fredericton as its Maritime location.
The Changing of the Guards Ceremony. Photo Credit: Fredericton Tourism.
If you keep on walking, you’ll find the Justice Building (427 Queen St, Fredericton, NB E3B 1B7). First, it was constructed as a military hospital in 1827, later the Provincial Normal School (teacher’s college) took over until it burned down in 1929. In 1975, it was turned into the Justice Building.
Then there’s the Soldiers’ Barracks (463 Queen St, Fredericton, NB E3B 4Y7) that the British Army built in 1827. More than 200 British soldiers lived here under sparse conditions. The rooms only had iron beds, shelves, a table, and wooden benches for 19 soldiers in each room. Unfortunately, this attraction is currently closed because of construction.
Want to get more insider information about Fredericton’s history? Then join a free Guided Heritage Walking tour around this area! Your guide will wear a historic costume, and will meet you daily in front of City Hall (June to October).
Beaverbrook Art Gallery
The Beaverbrook Art Gallery (703 Queen St, Fredericton, NB E3B 1C4) has been around since 1959, and is one of Canada’s best art galleries. Its Permanent Collection has more than 5,000 objects from Maritime, Canadian, Indigenous, British, and international artists to look at.
The most famous piece displayed at Beaverbrook Art Gallery is “Santiago El Grande” by the Surrealist artist Salvador Dalí, the second largest mural he ever painted. Besides, you can find paintings by Andy Warhol and the ‘Grandfather Akwiten’ Wolastoqiyik canoe, that was built in the 1820s. It’s the oldest birchbark canoe in the world!
A small selection of the artwork displayed at Beaverbrook Art Gallery.
Beaverbrook Art Gallery also a small gift shop that sells unique items made by local artists and the Daily Espresso Café. The latter has locally made drinks and pastries, and is perfect for taking a break after your visit!
The Beaverbrook Art Gallery is open from 10 to 5 pm (Mon-Wed, Fri and Sat), 12-5 on Sundays, and 10 to 9 pm on Thursdays.
Shop ’til You Drop at The Boyce Farmers Market & Summer Night Markets
Every Saturday from 7 am to 1 pm, you can find tons of locally made goodies at The Boyce Farmers Market(665 George Street, Fredericton, NB E3B 1K4). It was named one of Canada’s Top 10 farmers markets and has been around for more than 70 years! It’s open year round.
More than 200 vendors offer fresh produce, pastries, smoothies, flowers, pottery items, maple syrup, jam, quilts, jewelry, soaps, and so much more! There are also several food trucks for buying lunch, e.g. Dee’s Quiet Café, Kang’s Chinese food, Nada’s Lebanese Cuisine, and Milda’s Pizza!
I was positively surprised by the many vegan items I found at the Boyce Farmers Market 😀
Vegan spread from Scottage Cheeze and a Vegan Breakfast Sammy from Dee’s Quiet Café! 😛
If you’re visiting Fredericton during the summer months, don’t miss the Garrison Night Market(11 Carleton St, Fredericton, NB E3B 3T1) and the ReCap Night Market at the Tannery (375 King St, Fredericton, NB E3B 1E4) on Thursday evenings! With more than 100 vendors, the Garrison Night Market is Atlantic Canada’s largest night market.
You can find tons of cool stuff at the Garrison Night Market, such as microbrews, maple candy stalls, cider, arts and crafts, jewelry, clothing, farm products, and food trucks with multicultural cuisine! The ReCap Night Market has up to 10 vendors, who sell thrift clothing, cosmetics, arts, and more!
Left: The Garrison Night Market (Photo Credit: Fredericton Tourism). Right: The ReCap Night Market.
Walk or Bike Across the Bill Thorpe Pedestrian Bridge
The Bill Thorpe Pedestrian Bridge is Fredericton’s prettiest landmark, in my opinion! It was a CN Railway Bridge from 1889, before it was turned into a walking/cycling trail in 1997. The 0.6 km (1,905 ft) long steel bridge links the north and south side of the city and stands above the Wolastoq (Saint John river).
With more than 600,000 people crossing it every year, this bridge is popular with locals and visitors alike. It’s also a great photo spot, thanks to its unique design! Last but not least, the Bill Thorpe Pedestrian Bridge is a part of the Trans Canada Trailnetwork. It spans all over Canada, from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and Arctic Ocean.
The Bill Thorpe Pedestrian Bridge at sunset. Photo Credit: Fredericton Tourism.
Explore Killarney Lake Park
Wanna spend some time in nature now? Then visiting Killarney Lake Park(1653 St. Mary’s Street, Fredericton, NB, E3G 8T6) is a great idea! It’s less than 10 minutes of a drive, or about 30 minutes by bus #12N from downtown Fredericton. This scenic park covers more than 645 hectares and has 30+ km (18 miles) of multi-use trails.
The supervised sandy beach next to Killarney Lake is perfect for playing and sunbathing, then jump into the lake to cool off! From June to early September, Second Nature Outdoors offers single kayaks and stand-up paddleboards for rent, as well as SUP yoga on the lake! There’s also a playground behind the beach area.
Once winter hits, the trails around Killarney Lake are awesome for cross-country skiing and snow shoeing!
Walk along The Green, Odell Park & Carleton Park
Fredericton has more than 120 km (74 miles) of trails throughout the city. One of them is The Green, which goes from the Government House in downtown to Morell Park, along the banks of the Wolastoq river. It is 5 km (3 miles) long and is a popular cycling, running, and walking path with locals and visitors alike.
A great spot for a break on the way is the Lighthouse by 540 (615 Queen St, Fredericton, NB E3B 4Y7), that has been a landmark since 1989. Many people enjoy their food (e.g. shrimp tacos, salads, chicken wings, and burgers) and drinks on the patio. Teddy’s Two Scoops Ice Cream Shack is right next door.
Another local gem in the heart of the city is Odell Park (Waggoners Ln, Fredericton, NB E3B 3X5). It covers 333 acres with 16 km (9.94 miles) of trails that snake around a diverse forest. Some of the trees are more than 400 years old! So it’s a great spot for hiking, walking, and mountain biking.
Odell Park also has a botanic garden, picnic areas, a playground, waterfowl pond, and disc golfing spots. Lastly, the Odell Lodge stands here, that the Queen Mother opened in 1967. In winter, visitors can take advantage of the outdoor skating rink, sliding hill, and groomed cross-country ski trails.
Hiking path inside Odell Park, and beautiful flowers in the Botanic Garden!
After crossing the Bill Thorpe Pedestrian Bridge, spend some time at Carleton Park. Even though it’s smaller than other parks in Fredericton, it’s an amazing spot to watch the Wolastoq river and downtown area, especially at sunset! It’s part of the North Riverfront Trail. You can launch a boat here, chill on one of the benches or in the grassy areas, or have a picnic.
Rent equipment from Savage’s, Second Nature Outdoors & Cruze Scooters
Fredericton has three major places to rent equipment for getting around the city in a fast and/or eco-friendly way!
Savage’s Bicycle Centre (441 King Street, Fredericton NB, E3B 1E5) has been around since 1897, which makes it the longest established bicycle shop in Canada! So the experienced staff will be happy to help you choose the right bike to ride around the city!
Bike rentals are available hourly, 1/2 day, full day, or multiple days. They have well-known brands, including Norco, Haro, and Specialized. Besides, they sell bikes and bike gear and offer repair services all year.
During the summer months, you can rent kayaks, canoes, bikes, SUP’s, and e-bikes from Second Nature Outdoors (63 Brunswick St, Fredericton, NB E3B 4Y7)! This is their main location, right next to the Wolastoq river, about 10 minutes from downtown. Equipment can be rented per hour, for two or four hours, or an entire day.
They also offer guided and self guided tours, e.g. a Sunrise Paddle Tour within the Hartt Island Resort and Sunset Paddle and Women’s Wednesdays, both in Oromocto, about 25 minutes outside of Fredericton.
Left: Rental bike from Savage’s. Right: Rental bike from Second Nature Outdoors.
A different, but equally fun idea is to grab an e-scooter fromCruze Scooters (150 Smythe Street, Fredericton NB, E3B 3C5)! They are New Brunswick’s first e-scooter experience. I didn’t try them out this time, but lots of people were riding them around the city, so they must be very popular!
Rock Out to Fredericton’s Vibrant Nightlife Scene
Once the sun goes down, Fredericton’s nightlife scene comes to life! There’s tons of cool options, from night clubs, pubs, sports bars, lounges, to live music venues. Examples are Dolan’s Pub, The CAP, Monarch Nightclub, Snooty Fox, and Pine Tree Bar & Grill.
There’s free live music at the Garrison Night Market and the ReCap Night Market during the summer months as well, with different artists playing every time.
Local band Crosscut (Blues/Swing/Rock’n’Roll) and Klarka (Pop/Garage Rock from Sackville) playing at the ReCap Night Market.
Fredericton’s major music festival is Harvest Music Festival in September. It’s the largest music festival in the Maritimes, with 400+ musicians (both domestic and international) playing on 27 stages across six days! From Blues, Jazz, Funk, Pop, to Rock, there’s something for everyone!
Our favourite venue is The Broken Record Bar & Music Room (422 Queen St, Fredericton, NB E3B 1B6)! They host mostly local and domestic live bands several times a week, from Punk, Metal, Grunge, to Pop and Hip Hop music. Also, this is a great place to go if you like karaoke and open mic nights!
They also organize the Punkocalypse Festival in June and the Metalodon Fest in October!
Another awesome spot for live music (and a pint of Guinness!) is O’Hickey’s Irish Pub(514 Queen St, Fredericton, NB E3B 1B9)! You can sit inside or outside on their patio. Besides, they show football and rugby games, and the Irish decorations (e.g. flags and license plates) are just great!
O’Hickey’s Irish Pub from the outside and Teenage Bottlerocket playing at the Punkocalypse Festival in 2023!
Check Out the Craft Beer Scene & The Taproom Trail
Fredericton is the perfect place for craft beer lovers. In fact, it has the most taprooms per capita in Canada, with one taproom per 5,400 people. So it’s no surprise that Fredericton is known as Atlantic Canada’s Craft Beer Capital! There are plenty of local distilleries, breweries and cideries all over the city.
One special thing about the craft beer culture is the Fredericton Taproom Trail. Beer and cider enthusiasts can pick up a passport-style map from either of the 11 taprooms, and will get a stamp for each taproom that they had a drink at!
Once you collected 8 stamps, you’ll get a tap trail t-shirt, and for all 11 stamps, you’ll be entered into a craftcation getaway contest by Fredericton Tourism!
We tried a few local ciders and craft beers from Graystone Brewing (221 King St, Fredericton, NB E3B 1E1) and Gahan House (426 Queen St, Fredericton, NB E3B 1B6), and they were very tasty!
Left: Cider and craft beer from Graystone Brewing. Right: Cider selection by York County Cider (Photo Credit: Fredericton Tourism).
Try Out some Local Restaurants
Before you’re partying the night away in Fredericton, it’s a good idea to put some food into your tummy! Similar to other Canadian cities, Fredericton is very multicultural, which shows in the variety of restaurants to choose from. Here are some of my favourites:
J’s Asian Kitchen is perfect if you’re craving Asian food and they have two locations in Fredericton. Their menu features amazing Thai, Japanese, Korean, Chinese, and Vietnamese dishes, e.g. Okonomiyaki, Chow Mein, sushi, Pad Thai, Vermicelli noodles, and Bibimbap.
Pad Thai and Veggie Inari Sushi Rolls. 😛
Although Fredericton is a smaller city, there’s a good selection of vegan and vegan-friendly restaurants! The best one, in my opinion, is The Abbey Café & Gallery (546 Queen St, Fredericton, NB E3B 1B9). You can choose from their Lentil meatball panini, Seitan Gyros wrap, Coconut Curry, Caesar Salad, and more!
Another bonus are the yummy desserts and rotating art pieces displayed all over the walls.
Seitan Gyros Wrap and some of the paintings at The Abbey Café & Gallery.
Only a few minutes of a walk away, you’ll find Cinnamon Café(469 King St, Fredericton, NB E3B 1E5). This family-owned restaurant is happy to serve vegan food with a Persian/Arabic twist!
A few examples are the Falafel Platter, Tabbouleh Salad, Shawarma Wrap, Lentil Rice, and Gheymeh Stew. Their vegan cakes are supposed to be amazing, and I loved the unique décor inside the restaurant!
Shawarma Wrap and awesome décor inside Cinnamon Café.
Isaac’s Way(649 Queen St, Fredericton, NB E3B 1C3) is a great choice for (mostly) North American comfort food! Everything is made from scratch, and customers appreciate sitting on the outside patio when it’s warm out!
They serve Maritime Seafood Chowder, Philly Sandwich, Chickpea Burger (vegan), Lamb Burger, Fish’n’Chips, Smoked Tofu Carbonara, and more! Lastly, there are lots of rotating artworks displayed on their walls as well!
Haddock Fish’n’Chips and Chickpea Crunch Burger.
Fredericton also has plenty of cool locally owned coffee shops! We liked Mill Town Roasters(461 King St, Fredericton, NB E3B 1E5) and Coffee and Friends (415 King St, Fredericton, NB E3B 1E5). Be sure to try their smoothies and sandwiches!
While not a “real” coffee shop, Tobe Milk Tea (608 Queen St, Fredericton, NB E3B 1C2) offers the best cold tea and coffee options (e.g. Matcha, Oolong, Iced Cloud Coffee, and fruit sodas) in the city.
Snuggle with Kitties at the Purrfect Cup – A Cat Café
Although many of Fredericton’s attractions are within or close to the downtown area, there’s a unique one in the north of the city: The Purrfect Cup – A Cat Café(580 Two Nations Crossing, Unit 9 Fredericton, NB E3A 0X9)! It was opened in 2018 and is the first cat café of the Maritimes.
They offer locally made coffee, tea, and pastries, but of course, the main attraction are the adorable kitties in the separate Cat Lounge! They are rescues from all over New Brunswick and they look forward to meeting their new human friends who’ll hopefully adopt them!
Besides, you can buy some kitty-themed goodies (like earrings and cat toys) and join one of their regular events! For example, they have Yoga with Kitties, Baby Mornings, and Gift Wrapping. There are also games, books, a table, and comfy chairs and couches to sit inside the Cat Lounge.
The Cat Lounge can get very busy, so it’s recommended to make a reservation through their website. From downtown, take bus #14N, that takes only 11 minutes (or seven minutes by car) to the Purrfect Cup.
Walk Around The Old Burial Ground
If you need some peace and quiet after touring Fredericton’s downtown district, walk around The Old Burial Ground (500 Brunswick Street, Fredericton NB, E3B 1H5) for a bit. This is the final resting place of many of the Loyalist families who founded the City of Fredericton and New Brunswick.
The province’s first clergy, judges, and government workers are buried here, too. The oldest graves are from 1787, so it’s one of the most historically significant cemeteries in New Brunswick.
Browse Through some Independent Shops
When you walk around downtown Fredericton, there are quite a few cool independent shops to visit.
For example, Westminster Books(88 York St, Fredericton, NB E3B 3N5) has an awesome selection of all kinds of books! They’ve been around for more than 40 years and the store has a cozy vibe, which encourages customers to hang out for a while!
BackTrails by The Radical Edge(386 Queen St, Fredericton, NB E3B 3L4) is perfect if you’re looking for outdoor clothes and equipment (e.g. backpacks, camping gear, hiking shoes, and canoes)!
Rocker Chic Boutique (59 York St, Fredericton, NB E3B 3N4) is the best place to go for alternative clothing! Whether your inner rebel desires Goth, Glam Rock, Punk, or Rockabilly clothes, you’ll find what you’re looking for here! They also have band shirts in all sizes!
You can find a list of all downtown Fredericton shops here.
Please keep in mind that most of these shops are closed on Sundays.
Look at Fredericton’s Street Art
As an artsy city, it’s not surprising that there’s lots of cool street art in Fredericton!
I stumbled upon these while walking around downtown.
Visit a Local Festival
Fredericton is proud to host tons of events and festivals throughout the year! Here are just a few coming up this summer:
The Fredericton Pride Week from July 12-21, 2024. During this period, you can visit the Pride parade, drag shows, flag raisings, nature walks, and so much more! Check out Fredericton Pride’s Facebook page for more details.
Celebrate Scottish and Celtic heritage at The New Brunswick Highland GamesFestival from July 26-28, 2024. This event takes place at the historic Government house grounds. There will be music, piping and drumming, highland dances, traditional Scottish athletics, and more!
The Trail Folk Music Festival from August 16-18, 2024. If you like nature activities and folk music, don’t miss this festival in Minto, only 40 minutes from Fredericton.
Here are a few festivals I visited during my time in Fredericton:
The Sitansisk (St. Mary’s First Nation) Annual Powwow(510 Union Street, Fredericton, NB E3A 3N2) happens on two days in June. The best part are the many dances by indigenous performers, and everyone is welcome to join! There are also booths with Native clothing, arts and crafts, and food trucks.
Animaritime is the premier anime convention in the Maritimes. It occurs in June as well at the Fredericton Convention Centre (670 Queen St, Fredericton, NB E3B 1C2). For three days, anime fans and cosplayers can play video games, buy anime and cosplay merch, and meet famous cosplayers.
The Sitansisk Annual Powwow and the Fredericton Pride Parade. Both photo credit of Fredericton Tourism.
Stay at a Historic Bed & Breakfast
By now, you may be wondering what’s the best place to stay in town? If you’re looking for a historic accommodation with genuine maritime hospitality, I recommend the Carriage House Inn(230 University Ave, Fredericton, NB E3B 4H7).
It’s only minutes from downtown, the Bill Thorpe Pedestrian Bridge, The Green, and other attractions. Besides, it’s Fredericton’s largest bed and breakfast.
This Victorian house was completed in 1875, and Harry Beckwick, Fredericton’s Mayor, lived here with his family in the late 1800s! Some original doors, a staircase, and flooring throughout the home are still used for today’s guests.
They have a nice selection of cozy and historic rooms. The hostesses, Emily and Angie, go above and beyond to make guests feel right at home! The house is in a quiet neighbourhood, so it’s perfect to relax after a long day of exploring Fredericton.
Many guests have been raving about their homemade blueberry banana pancakes for breakfast, which are served in their elegant dining room, so don’t forget to try them!
One of the bedrooms and the impressive dining room!
Conclusion
Whichever time of year you decide to visit Fredericton, there’s always something fun going on! It’s a great place to visit with friends, family, as a couple, or solo traveler. I hope this detailed guide of The 16 Best Things to Do in Fredericton gave you lots of inspiration, no matter what the weather does! I recommend spending at least two or three days in Fredericton.
Even though it’s smaller than Toronto, Halifax, or Montreal, Fredericton doesn’t need to hide at all. Instead of high skyscrapers, you’ll find Victorian buildings and many tree-lined streets, which is much better! There are daily flights from Fredericton International Airport to Toronto, Ottawa, and Montreal.
Thanks to the many university and college students living here, Fredericton has quite a young and fresh vibe. It’s also known for its small town feel and cleanliness, and the locals are very down to earth. Besides, Fredericton is one of the safest cities in Canada and the Atlantic Ocean is only a few hours away!
It’s quite easy to get around the city by car and local buses go pretty much everywhere.Maritime Bus goes daily to Saint John and Moncton as well.
I had a blast during my time in Fredericton! My favourite things to do are Odell Park, the Bill Thorpe Pedestrian Bridge, Killarney Lake Park, Garrison Night Market, and hanging with the cats at the Purrfect Cup!
If you have any insider tips, feel free to share them in the comments. Cheers 😀
Spending time in the Maritimes for a bit longer? Then check out these posts:
Kelowna is inside the Okanagan Valley in Southern Interior BC and is the region’s largest city. It’s located on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territory of the syilx/Okanagan people. The word Kelowna comes from the syilx/Okanagan word ki?láwna?, which means grizzly bear.
Kelowna is right next to the scenic Okanagan Lake. Like the rest of the Okanagan Valley, Kelowna is famous for its vineyards, with more than 40 wineries in the area, as well as craft breweries, cideries, and distilleries.
So here’s a detailed guide on How to Spend a Great Weekend in Kelowna 🙂
Disclosure: I only recommend products that I’ve used in the past, and all opinions expressed in this post are my own. This post contains affiliate links. If you use one of the links throughout the page to buy something, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you!
Things to See and Do in Kelowna
Museums and Kelowna Art Gallery in Downtown
After arriving in Kelowna, stretch your legs while exploring the downtown area and get a feel for the awesome vibe of this city! You can find several museums, e.g. the Okanagan Heritage Museum (470 Queensway Avenue, Kelowna, BC V1Y 6S7), Okanagan Military Museum (1424 Ellis St, Kelowna, BC V1Y 2A5), and Kelowna Art Gallery (1315 Water St, Kelowna, BC V1Y 9R3) here.
Kelowna’s City Parks
Then take a stroll around Kelowna’s parks (City Park, Kerry Park, and Stuart Park), that are right next to the gorgeous Okanagan Lake. Each park is an attraction within itself. City Park has the Variety Children’s Waterpark, playground, skate park, a sandy beach, and the Veterans’ Memorial Square. Kerry Park is famous for the Ogopogo statue and concerts, and Stuart Park is home to the Grizzly bear statue, the Kelowna Yacht Club and an outdoor skating rink in the winter.
Walking around City Park, the Grizzly Bear statue (Photo credit: tourismkelowna.com – Shawn Talbot photography) and one of the sandy beaches by Okanagan Lake.
If you keep on walking, you’ll find Waterfront Park and the Rhapsody Plaza, with the famous dolphin sculpture named Rhapsody, created by Scottish-born artist Robert Dow Reid in 1993. Concerts and music festivals happen here as well during the summer months.
Kasugai Japanese Gardens
A hidden gem in Kelowna’s downtown district isKasugai Gardens (1435 Water Street, Kelowna, BC V1Y 1J4). It covers 0.29 hectares, and is known as Kelowna’s Japanese garden. Here you can unwind from the busy city life for a little bit!
The gardens have tons of traditional Japanese elements, like the Japanese Snowbell Tree, Green Panda Bamboo, Japanese Maple trees, and koi fish swimming around a pond. There’s also a waterfall, bamboo fountain, pathways, and stone lanterns.
The gardens were completed in 1987 to celebrate the union and friendship of Kelowna and Kasugai, its sister city in Japan.
There are sitting benches and a small gazebo to get some shade and just watch the beautiful scenery. The park is open from early March until late October and most of the trails inside the gardens are wheelchair accessible.
The Circle of Friendship Sculpture
After exiting the park, don’t miss the Circle of Friendship Sculpture, which was built by Geert Maas to honour Yukihisa (Roy) Tanaka (1915-1995). Roy worked hard on supporting the harmony and understanding between Kelowna and Kasugai. It stands for the close relationship between the local Japanese-Canadian community as well.
Rent a Bike with Kelowna Bike Rentals
If you like exercising, rent a bike with Kelowna Bike Rentals (589 Poplar Point Dr, Kelowna, BC V1Y 1Y2). Their fleet consists of city (cruiser) bikes, e-bikes, mountain bikes, trikes, gravel bikes, tandem, and adaptive bikes. So everyone gets to enjoy cycling around the city and beyond! All bikes come with a helmet, lock, and maintenance kit.
Kelowna Bike Rentals is at the Knox Mountain Overflow Parking lot from May to October, and rental rates start at C$ 25 for two hours. You can also rent bikes overnight or even multiple days.
What makes this company stand out is that they support two local charities, Elevation Outdoors and CRIS Adaptive. You can find more information on these organizations here.
I’m renting a cruise bike and it’s perfect for cycling around downtown Kelowna and the nearby Okanagan Rail Trail. The bike is super light, so it’s not exhausting to ride around, and I’m sad to return it at the end, lol!
Book lovers shouldn’t miss Mosaic Books (411 Bernard Ave, Kelowna, BC V1Y 6N8), which is the Okanagan Valley’s largest independent bookstore. It’s been family-owned ever since it opened in 1968.
They are proud to offer fiction and non fiction books, puzzles, diverse reads (also by indigenous authors), and books written by local authors.
There are also journals, greeting cards, card games, and calendars for sale! You can order books online on their website, and there’s a monthly book club as well.
The Mosaic Book store from the outside (photo credit: Mosaic Books).
Orchard Park Shopping Centre
Another great shopping spot in Kelowna is Orchard Park Shopping Centre (2271 Harvey Avenue, Kelowna, BC V1Y 6H2) with more than 160 retail stores and services. It’s the largest shopping centre between Calgary and Vancouver.
You can find Sports Chek, Old Navy, Best Buy, Lush Cosmetics, Sunrise Records, Purdy’s Chocolates, and many more stores here.
Of course, there’s so much more to do in Kelowna! It’s also very family friendly, so if your kids are joining you on your trip, check out Crystal’s post on the 15 Best Things to Do in Kelowna in the Summer!
Check out the Kelowna Visitor Centre
I also recommend stopping by the Kelowna Visitor Centre (238 Queensway Avenue, Kelowna, BC V1Y 6S4) to learn about other things to do in and around Kelowna. The staff are super friendly and there’s a lovely gift shop with many gems made by local artists.
The visitor centre is currently open daily from 8:30 am to 8:30 pm. There’s also a kiosk at Kelowna International Airport (open daily from 8 am to 8 pm) in the Arrivals Lounge.
As you can see, Kelowna is a fun destination to visit all year-round. In the spring, summer, and fall, cycling, boating, golfing, and hiking are popular outdoor activities.
Like any bigger city, Kelowna has a great selection of cafés and restaurants.
Here are a few I got to check out during my visit:
Robbie Rare Books & Pulp Fiction Coffee House (1598 Pandosy Street, Kelowna, BC V1Y 1P4). This unique retro coffee house is super charming, especially because of the many antique books and cool posters on the wall! Don’t miss the Robbie Rare Books section, and admire the many antiques around the café (e.g. clocks, a couch, and copper bookends)!
It’s awesome to learn about Pulp Fiction (not the movie 😉 ), which are books printed on cheap (pulp) paper starting in the early 1900s and became super popular in the 1930s and 1940s! Dogs are welcome too.
Veggie Calzone and Chai Tea Latte and some cool antique books!
Marmalade Cat CaféDowntown (#102 1195 Richter St, Kelowna, BC V1Y 2K8). This cool café offers healthy breakfast and lunch made from scratch, and vegan and gluten free options are available. They like to display work of local artists and there’s often live music on Friday evenings!
I love the vibe and colours of this café (dark blue and yellow), what a great contrast! While there are no real cats to hang out with, they sell some cool cat-themed stuff! They have three locations in Kelowna (Downtown, Pandosy, and Okanagan College).
Veggie wrap at Marmalade Cat Café.
Pick Thai Restaurant(467 Bernard Ave, Kelowna, BC V1Y 6N8). Although this restaurant doesn’t look super fancy from the outside, it’s very much worth it to give it a chance.
They serve authentic Thai food, like Pad Thai, Green Curry, Tom Yum soup, and bubble tea! The food and drinks are very affordable and feel free to grab a book from their small library while waiting for your food!
Ga-On Sushi Restaurant (605 K.L.O. Rd, #3B, Kelowna, BC V1Y 8E7). This cute little restaurant offers a great selection of sushi, but also Udon and Yakisoba noodles, Teriyaki, Donburi, and bento boxes! The light green and light brown colours inside the restaurant create a calm vibe.
Veggie stir-fry with coconut rice at Pick Thai and Veggie Bento box at Ga-On Sushi.
If you’re into pizza, music, and beer, check out DunnEnzies Pizza Co.Downtown (1559 Ellis St, Kelowna, BC V1Y 2A7)! The cool outside street art grabs my attention immediately!
Their New York style pizza was voted Kelowna’s Best Pizza in the Best of Kelowna Awards. They also have salads, calzones, nachos, wings, tacos, burgers, and even brunch on weekends!
They often host events, like open mic night, jam nights, trivia games, drag shows, Celtic nights, and Punk Rock Bingo! While I only saw this place from the outside this time, I can’t wait to try their food and check out an event when I’m back in Kelowna!
Where to Stay in Kelowna, BC
I’m staying at the Samesun Kelowna Hostel (245 Harvey Avenue, Kelowna, BC V1Y 6C2), that is only a few steps from Okanagan Lake and downtown’s bars and restaurants. It has private and dorm rooms and I’m staying in a 4-bed female dorm.
The room is a bit small, but has everything you need, and the beds are very comfortable.
There’s luggage storage, a spacious kitchen, TV room with a library, laundry room, back patio, and common area to use. Moreover, you can join daily activities, play pool, or get a snack from the vending machines!
How to Get to and Around Kelowna
Kelowna is right next to Highway 97, which is easily accessible from Kamloops (166 km/103 miles) and Vernon (45 minutes). From Vancouver, it’s a 389 km (241 miles) drive, and from Calgary, it takes about 7 hours to get to Kelowna.
Or you can take Ebus from Kamloops (2.5 hours), Vancouver (5 hours 40 minutes), or Vernon (1 hour) to Kelowna. They stop in downtown Kelowna (516 Lawrence Ave), Kelowna International Airport, and West Kelowna.
Kelowna International Airport is about 10 minutes north from Kelowna. They offer many flights within Canada (e.g. Vancouver, Toronto, Calgary, and Edmonton), but also from/to Seattle, Phoenix, Cancun, and Puerto Vallarta.
There are local buses available in Kelowna with BC Transit. If you’re going to different areas in Kelowna, it’s useful to take the bus, as the city is quite spread out. The bus goes pretty much everywhere.
You can also rent e-scooters and through Spin. Just leave them somewhere for the next person when you’re done!
Of course, Uber and taxi services are available as well.
Well, that’s a wrap on How to Spend a Great Weekend in Kelowna!
Traveling around British Columbia for a while? Then check out these posts:
In my experience, many tourists prefer to visit only the hot spots of a destination. But I suggest to also check out small towns that are off the beaten path to recharge from all the hustle and bustle. Here’s a travel guide about Blue River, BC, my favourite Canadian small town!
Blue River is inside the North Thompson Valley in Interior British Columbia, surrounded by the Monashee and Cariboo Mountains. Its nickname is “The Jewel of the Yellowhead”. 230 year-round residents call this town home and the main industries contributing to the economy are logging and tourism. Moreover, this area is traditional territory of the Simpcw First Nations.
So here’s a guide on how to spend Summer in Blue River, BC!
Disclosure: I only recommend products that I’ve used in the past, and all opinions expressed in this post are my own. This post contains affiliate links. If you use one of the links throughout the page to buy something, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you!
What to See and Do in Blue River
Eleanor Lake
Blue River’s main attraction is Eleanor Lake, right in the heart of town, so it’s impossible to miss! Here you can chill at the beach for a bit (and chat with a friendly local), go for a swim, canoe or kayak, or standup paddle board (SUP), or go for a walk on Eleanor Lake Trail around the lake.
There are tons of nice walking and mountain biking trails in and around Blue River, such as cross-country ski trails, only minutes away from the beach.
Eleanor Lake beach and having a blast canoeing on the lake!
Entrance to one of Blue River’s cross-country ski trails, with beautiful Saddle Mountain in the distance.
The Blue River Community Park
But wait, there’s much more to do in this area! The Blue River Community Park is right next to Eleanor Lake beach, and it has a volleyball field, sitting areas with a fire pit (great for a small get together or BBQ!), and a playground is only a few steps away, too.
Bears & Other Wildlife in Blue River
If it’s your lucky day, you might meet one (or more!) black bear(s), that live in this area. They sometimes hang out near the train tracks across the street from Eleanor Lake. One of their favourite things to do is getting high on grains falling off from trains passing through!
Even though they look cute and fluffy, please keep your distance to not startle these majestic creatures. Also, don’t forget to bring bear spray if you plan to spend time in the bush.
BC Parks has a great guide on how to behave around British Columbia’s wild animals, including bears. Other wildlife living in the Blue River region are moose, deer, eagles, cougars, and wolverines.
Mud Lake
Another popular spot in the Blue River area is Mud Lake. But don’t be fooled by its name, as the water is of a spectacular jade colour! Same as Eleanor Lake, it’s perfect for many water activities, but with less people around you.
There’s even a camp site, and if you have an ATV, it’s great fun driving up the trails close to this lake (we like Red Sands Mountain) and admire a beautiful view of Blue River and its surroundings!
Awesome times at Mud Lake 🙂
On our way up Red Sands Mountain trail and beautiful Parberry Falls <3
Go for a Hike at Green Mile
People like to go hiking and mountain biking on Blue River’s many trails in the summer. A great one is Green Mile, which grows to an elevation of 220 meters (721 feet). Besides, it’s within a lush inland rainforest, with tons of cedar and spruce trees around you!
Moreover, blueberries and huckleberries grow here each year, so feel free to pick some as a snack 🙂 You can find more details about these activities in Blue River here.
Murtle Lake
Murtle Lake is popular with both locals and visitors, especially because it’s North America’s largest paddle only lake! It’s a 24 km (17 miles) drive from Blue River on a graveling backcountry road, which starts behind the Blue River Campground. After you reached the parking lot, it’s another 2.5 km (1.55 miles) walk on a wheelchair accessible trail to the lake.
Murtle Lake is inside Wells Gray Provincial Park and with more than 100 km (62 miles) of shoreline, it’s the largest lake in the area. Some people spend the night at one of the 70 wilderness campsites around the (mostly sandy) shoreline, and enjoy the starry nights. You may even see the Northern Lights! Unfortunately, no dogs are allowed at Murtle Lake.
Mystery Lake Recreation Site
Mystery Lake Recreation Site is also a great spot for adventure and tranquility seekers! Just get on to Highway #5 next to Blue River, turn left onto Blueberry Road, and drive for 10 kilometers. Make sure that your car is suitable for this (mostly) graveling road though!
Not many people know about this gorgeous spot. If you’d like to spend the night and have experience with wilderness camping, there’s a free campsite for two tents, two picnic tables, fire pit, and an outhouse toilet, all only a few feet away from the lake. There’s a boat launch as well.
For any of these outdoor activities, I highly recommend to bring bug spray, as lots of mosquitoes live in this area!
Beautiful Mystery Lake <3
Where to Stay in Blue River
Mike Wiegele Helicopter Skiing
Address: 1 Harrwood Drive, Blue River BC V0E 1J, Canada
Mike Wiegele Helicopter Skiing is perfect if you’re looking for a special getaway experience. There are 22 cozy chalets (cabins) inside this famous heli ski resort. The chalets range from two to six bedrooms, and all have en-suite bathrooms, a common area and kitchen, which is perfect for couples, families, or friend groups.
Although the resort’s other amenities (e.g. the Main Lodge with the Powder Max Dining Room and Silver Buckle Lounge) are only open during the winter season, guests enjoy walking in and around the resort, and looking at the beautiful flowers!
This resort is right next to Eleanor Lake, and the Blue River Motel(791 Spruce St, Blue River, BC V0E 1J0) and Saddle Mountain Lodge (Yellowhead S Highway 5, Blue River BC V0E 1J0) are a part of the Mike Wiegele operation, too.
The Blue River Campground & RV Park
Address: 991 Blue River West Frontage Rd, Blue River, BC V0E 1J0, Canada
The Blue River Campground & RV Park is quite a budget-friendly option, with basic tent sites and full service sites. The campground is open from May to October, and has 52 tent and RV campsites, and cabins.
You can also book one of their Canoe Trip Packages to Eleanor Lake, Mud Lake, or Murtle Lake (plus transportation, if needed). Outdoor equipment rentals, like canoes, stand-up paddle boards (with a cart or transportation), camping and fishing gear, and mountain bikes and cruiser bikes are available as well.
There’s also a small store, laundry facilities, showers and flush toilets, sand area for small children, badminton area, free WiFi, and a log cook shelter with a BBQ and fridge for 20 people or more to use. You can also get trail maps from the campground staff.
The Glacier Mountain Lodge
Address: 869 Shell Rd, Blue River, BC V0E 1J0, Canada
The Glacier Mountain Lodge is a lovely hotel right next to the Petro Can gas station. It is ideal if you’re looking for comfort, but don’t want to spend a fortune.
They offer 35 standard rooms, with one Queen (with a couch) or two Queen beds (and with a third single bed, if needed). Continental breakfast, an indoor hot tub, WiFi, free laundry service, and BBQ are available for guests as well.
The Sandman Inn
Address: 795 Highway 5 South, Blue River, BC V0E 1J0, Canada
The Sandman Innis right next to Highway #5, that goes through Blue River. It has one or two Queen bed rooms and your furry friends are welcome, too! Moreover, seniors get a special rate at this hotel.
The Glacier Mountain Lodge (left) and the Sandman Inn (right).
Where to Eat & Drink in Blue River
If your stomach is screaming for food when you arrive in Blue River, head to the Grizzly Food Shack next to the Glacier Mountain Lodge. This tiny house style place has an outside sitting area, perfect on a sunny day! You can choose between many types of burgers, wraps, fries, hot dogs, poutine, salads, and even breakfast!
Or you if you’re hanging out by Eleanor Lake, grab some food from the Don Forsyth Beach House. Their menu consists of burgers, hot dogs, wraps, fries, pop, ice-cream, and more! What a great way to support the local economy, plus the food is prepared by lovely volunteers of the Blue River Community Association!
The Beach House is open on weekends only until the rest of the summer.
The Don Forsyth Beach House, Veggie Burger and Beach Burger, and onion rings. So yummy :p
Saddle Mountain Restaurant across from the Mike Wiegele Heli Ski resort is open daily during the summer months from 11 am to 8 pm. Their menu includes tasty burgers, sandwiches, pizza, salads, homemade chips, cocktails, and milkshakes! Sitting on the outside patio and enjoying the gorgeous mountain views is just another bonus of this restaurant.
For a drink after dinner, check out the Royal Canadian Legion (817 Pine St, Blue River, BC V0E 1J0), the only bar in town. Although a bit outdated, it’s a fun place to hang out, and they have some games as well (pool and darts on the wall). It’s currently open on Fridays and Saturdays only, from 6 to 9 pm (or later, depending on business).
Or if you prefer to cook your own meals, Blue River has a small liquor and convenience store called the Tilted Bear Liquor (848 Cedar St, Blue River, BC V0E 1J0). They have a limited supply of groceries (e.g. fresh produce, dairy, meat, canned food, spices, and sometimes even vegan cheese)!
There’s the Buy Low Foods grocery store in Clearwater and a smaller IGA store in Valemount (both an hour away from Blue River) as well.
How to get to Blue River
Blue River is halfway between Kamloops, BC, and Jasper, Alberta (2.5 hours each way), and is reached via Highway #5 North (Yellowhead Highway).
The closest airport is Kamloops Airport, which offers flights to Calgary and Vancouver several times a day.
Unfortunately, public transportation to this tiny remote town is very limited. The Thompson Valley Charters bus from Edmonton to Kamloops (and vice versa) stops here twice a week (Mondays and Thursdays from Kamloops and Tuesdays and Fridays from Edmonton). The bus always stops next to the Petro Can gas station.
Moreover, The Canadian operated by Via Rail stops here on Wednesdays and Saturdays (to Vancouver) and Tuesdays and Saturdays (to Toronto). But please keep in mind that this train is often delayed (sometimes even several hours!).
I hope this post has inspired you to visit Blue River sometime! In my opinion, it’s a welcoming and tranquil place to relax and recharge from city life!
If you’d like to learn more about cool things to do in BC, check out these blog posts:
Every winter season, ski and snowboard enthusiasts head to Western Canada’s ski resorts to enjoy some awesome skiing or snowboarding. One of my favourites to spend a Ski Weekend is Marmot Basin Ski Resortnear Jasper, Alberta.
The small town of Jasper is within Jasper National Park. At 11,228 sq km (4,335 sq miles), it’s the largest national park inside the Canadian Rocky Mountains.
This place sits on traditional lands of the Beaver, Cree, Ojibway, Shuswap, Stoney, and Métis Nations. Besides, it is one of the 20 UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Canada.
About 5,000 people live here year-round, but up to 12,000 seasonal workers live here each winter. Besides, in 2023, the readers of Condé Nast Traveler Magazinevoted Marmot Basin as the third best ski resort in Canada in their annual Reader’s Choice Awards!
Disclosure: I only recommend products that I’ve used in the past, and all opinions expressed in this post are my own. This post contains affiliate links. If you use one of the links throughout the page to buy something, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks.
Marmot Basin Ski Resort
General Information about the Ski Resort
Address: 1 Marmot Rd, Jasper, AB T0E 1E0, Canada
This ski resort is a 25-minute drive south of Jasper. According to its website, it has the “highest base elevation of any major Canadian ski area”, at 1,698 meters (5,570 ft). The summit is at 2,612 meters (8,570 ft)! That’s why it’s open longer than other ski resorts, from mid-November until early May.
On average, more than 440 cm (14.4 ft) of fresh snow falls every year.
This area covers 1,720 acres, and skiers and snowboarders can choose from seven lifts and 91 runs for all abilities.
The terrain consists of groomed runs, tree runs, moguls, powder runs, alpine bowls and chutes. If you’re into more excitement, check out their two terrain parks, with jumps, rails, boxes, and jibs!
I’m a beginner, so I prefer to ski the green (novice) and some blue runs, which have helped me improve my skills a lot! I like to take the Canadian Rockies Express Lift all the way to the top, then ski back down until the base (bottom), ready to do it all over again!
View from the Canadian Rockies Express Lift and a map of ski runs at Marmot Basin.
Food & Beverage Facilities at Marmot Basin
If your legs need some rest, stop at one of the food and beverage facilities. You can just leave your skis or board at one of the racks outside next to these spots, which is very convenient!
We’re having lunch at the Cariboo Chalet at the base of the mountain, which has a bar and grill, and café area. Or you can stop mid mountain at Paradise Chalet for a rest. There’s a nice outdoor sitting area, so you can watch these magnificent mountains while sipping a drink!
But as in many places popular with tourists, the prices can be quite high, so if you’re on a budget, bring your own food and drinks instead. You can find more details about these facilities here.
Retail Store, Rental Shop & Little Rascals Nursery
But of course, Marmot Basin Ski Resort offers more than just skiing or snowboarding and eating, lol! You can also buy tons of gear at the Outdoor Limits Retail Store and rent equipment at the rental shop, which are at the base of the mountain.
Besides, this is a great spot for families, as there’s the School House Chair and Learning Area, and lessons can be booked for kids and adults. The Little Rascals Nursery is open as well (for kids from 19 months to six years). It’s open on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and Holidays from 8:30 am to 4 pm.
Events at Marmot Basin Ski Resort
Marmot Basin Ski Resort hosts a ton of fun events each season, such as Demo Days, Ski with Jasper the Bear, and the Jasper Pride & Ski Festival. Please find more info about upcoming events here.
Pride Festivities at Marmot Basin. Photo credit: Marmot Basin Ski Resort.
Admission Cost & Ski Lift Tickets
Here are the full day lift ticket prices during the 2024/25 season:
Adult (18-64 years): From C$ 111.75
Senior (65-79 years): From C$ 90.00
Youth (13-17 years) and students from 18-24 years (with ID): From C$ 96.00
Junior (6-12 years): From C$ 39.00
“Mites” (children 5 years and under) and “Super Seniors” (80+) are C$ 6.00.
In 2021, Marmot Basin made the move to RFID ski passes and tickets, so visitors get a card during their first visit of the season. You’re supposed to put it into the left sleeve pocket of your jacket and it will be scanned automatically before entering the lift. This card can be used all season long.
You can purchase lift tickets online, at the Marmot Sales Centre in downtown Jasper (611 Patricia Street, Jasper, AB T0E 1E0), or at the Guest Services Office at the base of mountain.
Marmot Basin can get very busy on weekends, especially if there’s a special event going on. So if you’d like to escape the crowds, it’s best to visit on a weekday.
Special Deals & Directions to Marmot Basin Ski Resort
If you’re a local who comes to Marmot Basin a lot during the season, you should look into the Marmot Escape Card. It allows you to ski for half price, all season long! You’ll also get discounts when paying for food or drinks, or renting equipment on site, as well as certain accommodations in Jasper.
You can also buy a regular Seasons Pass at Marmot Basin Ski Resort.
If you’re driving, you can just park at one of the four parking lots inside the resort right next to some runs! So all you need to do is put on your skis or snowboard, and get crackin’!
Marmot Basin is open daily from 9 am to 4 pm and the resort facilities close at 5 pm. If you’re interested in current snow and weather conditions at the resort, please find their Weather Forecast and Snow Report here.
Sunrise by Mt. Kerkeslin and Mt. Hardisty inside Marmot Basin Ski Resort. Photo credit: Marmot Basin Ski Resort.
Was Marmot Basin Ski Resort affected by the Jasper Wildfire?
Thankfully, Marmot Basin Ski Resort wasn’t affected by the Jasper Wildfire in summer 2024. So the ski resort could open as planned on November 22, 2024!
Unfortunately, the wildfire destroyed 30% of buildings in the town of Jasper. When I went to Jasper in mid-October 2024, some restaurants and shops were still closed. So I recommend checking what’s open in Jasper before your visit.
Where to Stay in Jasper
I highly recommend staying in Jasper for a night or two. This small town has a great selection of accommodations, including hotels, hostels, and Bed & Breakfasts. Here are my two favourite places to stay in Jasper:
The Astoria Hotel
Address: 404 Connaught Drive, Jasper, AB T0E 1E0, Canada
The Astoria Hotel is the place to stay in town if you like historic accommodations, that are also close to shops and restaurants. First opened in 1925, it’s been family-owned ever since.
It’s hard to miss from the outside, because of its unique building style. But don’t worry, while this boutique hotel has an antique vibe, it’s not outdated at all.
Guests can book queen, twin, king, or mountain view rooms. The rooms have a fridge, smart TV, en-suite bathroom, and free wifi, and it is very clean.
The Astoria Hotel from the outside.
Partial King bed room, and the antique room phone (it still works!) 😀
Jasper Downtown Hostel
Address: 400 Patricia St, Jasper, AB T0E 1E0, Canada
The Jasper Downtown Hostel is perfect for budget-minded travelers of all ages, but also families, who like a great value accommodation. This place has dorms (mixed and female only) for 7-8 guests, and private rooms, with private or shared bathrooms. I stayed in a female dorm and private room before, and I love that it has a fireplace!
The private rooms can accommodate 2-5 guests, and they have bunks, queen, twins, and queen/bunk bed combinations to choose from. Like other hostels, the Jasper Downtown Hostel has a full kitchen, lounge, lockers, and laundry facilities for guests to use.
Here’s a great overview of what this hostel offers, video credit of Jasper Downtown Hostel:
Jasper Downtown Hostel Video
Where to Eat & Drink
Same as other touristy places, Jasper has tons of cafés and restaurants to offer. Here are some places we checked out during our visits:
Lou Lou’s Breakfast & Pizzeria
Address: 407 Patricia Street, Jasper, AB T0E 1E0, Canada
Lou Lou’s Breakfast & Pizzeria is a smaller and a bit more budget-friendly restaurant in Jasper, but the food is very tasty! There’s a great selection on the menu. We ordered a Meatlovers’ Pizza and Pineapple and Mushrooms Pizza.
Gluten-free pizza is available as well, but unfortunately, I didn’t see any vegan pizza options. They also have salads, poutine, pasta dishes, burgers, and wings on their menu.
The De’d Dog Bar & Grill
Address: 404 Connaught Drive, Jasper, AB T0E 1E0, Canada
The De’d Dog Bar & Grill is right next to the Astoria Hotel! You can choose between many comfort food options, like Shepherd’s Pie, chicken wings, burgers, sandwiches, but also salads and a Buddha Bowl.
I’m having the latter, which is perfect for a healthy pick-me-up after a long day of skiing or boarding! After dinner, grab a drink and challenge your friends to a pool tournament! They also have live music quite often.
One Sushi Japanese Restaurant
Address: 622 Patricia Street, Jasper, AB T0E 1E0, Canada
One Sushi Japanese Restaurantis a perfect spot if you love sushi and other Japanese and Korean food! For Korean food, you can order Yangnyeom Crispy Chicken, Chibab, Dak-Gangjeong, and more!
We tried the Crazy Girl Special Roll, Veggie Teriyaki with tofu and rice, and Avocado Roll. Everything was to die for and the calm vibe of the restaurant and super friendly staff were just another bonus!
Fiddle River Restaurant
Address: 620 Connaught Drive, Jasper, AB T0E 1E0, Canada
While this rather classy restaurant is great for seafood, fish, or meat lovers (e.g. chowder, fish cakes, salmon, mussels, and steak), the Fiddle River Restaurant has a very small veggie selection as well.
I ordered their vegan Fiddle Veggie Bowl (Lentil and rice bowl with grilled veggies and chickpea fritters with a black olive and tahini dressing) and it was really yummy! Their desserts are really good, too! I hope that they’ll add more veggies entrées with time.
Directions to Jasper
If you’re driving, there are three different ways to get to Jasper:
From Calgary, take Highway #1 towards Banff, then travel north until you reach the Icefields Parkway (Highway #93). Then just keep going straight ahead and it’s about a 5-hour drive.
From Edmonton, keep following Highway #16 westbound, which takes about four hours.
From Kamloops, take Highway #5 North, then turn right at Highway #16 (eastbound) at Tête Jaune Cache. It’s about a 5-hour drive to Jasper.
If you don’t have a car, you can book a bus ticket with Thompson Valley Charters from Kamloops (Mondays and Thursdays) or Edmonton (Tuesdays and Fridays). It stops at the Via Rail Station in downtown Jasper.
SunDog Tours also offers daily bus service from Edmonton to Jasper and back. They also provide transportation from/to Calgary from October 2024 to April 2025.
Lastly, Via Rail Canada also goes to Jasper, so if you have time, hop on “The Canadian” from Vancouver to Toronto (or vice-versa). It goes either way twice a week and there’s also a train from/to Prince George and Prince Rupert three times a week.
A quiet morning in Jasper.
Wrap Up on Spending a Ski Weekend in Jasper
Jasper, Alberta is the a great spot to spend a Ski Weekend. From awesome skiing or snowboarding to a great selection of hotels and restaurants, Jasper will have you covered.
So hopefully, I’ve inspired you to Spend a Ski Weekend in Jasper someday 🙂
If you’re visiting Calgary on your trip to Alberta and love cats, check out this blog post:
While planning my trip to Victoria and Vancouver Island in 2021, I learnt about the cool-sounding “Orcas: Our shared future” exhibit at the Royal BC Museum. These giant marine creatures have been in my Top 5 of favourite animals for many years, so of course, I had to check it out!
After being in the making for five years, this exhibit opened in mid-April 2021 and ended on March 31, 2022. It covered 10,000 square feet, and featured 10 movie presentations and 7 interactive games for its visitors.
Poster advertising the Orcas exhibit at Victoria International Airport.
The Royal BC Museum Corporation was founded in 1886, and as per its website, is “one of Canada’s greatest cultural treasures”. In a nutshell, its core galleries (Natural History, Becoming BC, Our Living Languages, and First Peoples Gallery), and temporary exhibits teach visitors about British Columbia’s natural and human history.
The IMAX Movie Theatre is in the same building, where you can watch both educational and commercial films. The Royal BC Museum stands on the traditional territories of the Lekwungen (Songhees and Xwsepsum First Nations), who have lived here for many years.
Lastly, this is one of Victoria’s most popular tourist attractions (860,000 visitors in the 2018/19 season), and is only steps away from the Inner Harbour and Empress Hotel in downtown.
After taking an escalator to the first floor, where the Orcas exhibit was displayed, the first thing you saw was the whale tail-shaped entrance door. What a great way to start a museum tour!
Right after entering, visitors were greeted by Ruffles, Slick, and her daughter, Scarlet, three local orcas hanging from the ceiling, who, of course, weren’t real, but 3D printed replicas. They were Southern Resident Orcas, and each replica looked exactly the same as the original. For example, Scarlet had several scratches and scars on her body, which were caused by her difficult birth, when other orcas of her clan had to pull her with their teeth out of her mother’s womb.
There was very little light in this room of the exhibit, and several screens on the left and right showed marine creatures, just swimming around and singing, and you could hear them breathe, by listening to the bubbles rising up to the “surface”. Some of them were orcas close to the replicas, so Ruffles, Slick, and Scarlet felt comfortable, and it felt like you’re right there with them in their home!
The whale tail-shaped entrance door, and the three 3D printed orca replicas, and screens on both sides. Both photo courtesy of the Royal BC Museum.
Then I walked to the next section of the exhibit, which showed a bunch of panels with cool information about orcas. For example. did you know that more than a dozen orca species live in all oceans, both inside the Northern and Southern Hemisphere, and they are distinguished by their behaviour, hunting styles, anatomy, and diet?
Apart from the Southern Resident Orca, who eat mostly Chinook salmon, the Bigg’s (Transient) Orca, who’s diet consists of other whales, seals, and sea lions, and the Offshore Orca, who prefer to eat sharks and other fish, call the North American west coast home.
A detailed overview of orca kinds around the world, and what’s unique about each one!
Another panel in this section taught visitors about the orca’s anatomy, and that females can weigh up to 5,000 kilograms (11,023 lbs), and can be up to 8.5 meters long (27.88 ft), and live up to 80 years in the wild! Males, on the other hand, can even weigh up to 6,000 kg (13,227 lbs), and get up to 9.5 meters (31 ft) long, but “only” live up to 60 years!
Lastly, they can stay underwater for up to 17 minutes, like to swim 55 to 60 km (34 to 37 miles) per hour(!), and can dive up to 260 meters (853 ft) deep.
Next, did you know that orca species around the world live and travel in pods (e.g. the Southern Resident Orcas are separated into J, K, and L-pods and each whale has his/her own number), and every family has its own dialect and preferred territory to swim in?
Each pod is led by the oldest female, who, with other females of the group, passes on her extensive knowledge about ocean life (like good areas to hunt, and which to avoid), including their unique dialect, down to their offspring.
In 2018, you may have seen tons of media content about a heartbreaking incident that happened to Tahlequah (J35), when her baby had died only an hour after birth. Afterwards, she kept carrying her child’s body with her on the surface for 17 days, which, in my opinion, is a proof that orcas, among other animals, can experience grief and other sad (or happy) feelings, just like us.
Panel showing a few members of the J-pod of the Southern Resident Orcas. Photo courtesy of the Royal BC Museum.
Here’s one fact that amazed me the most in this section: Orcas used to live and walk on land, before entering the water about 50 million years ago, which caused their back legs to get smaller, their tails grew long and powerful, and their nostrils turned into blowholes! The earliest known orcas (Pakicetus) had ankle bones similar to a cow’s, deer’s, or hippo’s, and the latter is the closest living relative of today’s whales.
Man, the animal world has so many surprises to show to us humans!
The next stop of this exhibit was the Indigenous Views Gallery, which told visitors about the strong significance that orcas have had for local coastal and inland tribes for many years. As per Lou-Ann Neel, Curator of Indigenous Collections of the Royal BC Museum, orcas are perceived as family, and these groups believe that orcas feel the same way, because they are so gentle and friendly to us.
They are respected like elders, and some nations are convinced that their loved ones are reincarnated as orca whales after passing away. Orcas can also transform themselves into humans and other animals, and talk to all of these beings, to share their wisdom, wealth, power, and healing.
I was very impressed by these beliefs, but also by the stunning art pieces displayed in this gallery. There were 100+ indigenous artifacts, and a lot of them were traditional work, like a large orca carving, and a button blanket with Killer Whale crest by Elizabeth Kasalas Hunt of the Kwagu??, Kwakwaka’wakw tribe, which was made before 1897, but also contemporary art.
My personal favourite was a screen print reproduction called “Killerwhales”, that was created by Don Yeomans from the Haida people in 1999, because I thought that the blue, red, white, and black colours match very well.
Last but not least, there were animations by two young Haida artists, telling stories about orcas that have been passed on to younger generations for many years!
From the top left to bottom right: “Scana with the Woman” screenprint reproduction by Freda Diesing of the Haida people (1980), Button blanket with Killer Whale crest by Elizabeth Kasalas Hunt, “Killerwhales” by Don Yeomans, and orca carving,
Now it was time to check out the Science Section of the exhibit, that had a bunch of great information about orcas as well. One of the best parts, in my opinion, was a real skeleton of Rhapsody, another local Southern Resident orca, that hung down from the ceiling! Sadly, Rhapsody was pregnant when she died in 2014, and her calf’s bones were displayed underneath her skeleton.
Next, you could look at (and touch!) a silicone replica of an orca brain next to a human’s brain, it’s amazing that the orca one is almost 4 times bigger than the human’s (5 kg vs. 1.3 kg/11 lbs vs. 2.8 lbs)!
There was no way to miss the scientific equipment from various decades, that’s been used to support orca research in BC and around the world, like drones, hydrophones, a tape recorder, and a digital acoustic recording tag. The latter is needed to find out the speed and orientation of whales while they swim, both during the day and at night!
Last but not least, I learnt that orcas can hear frequencies of 0.5 Hz to more than 120,000 Hz (in comparison, a human can hear frequencies of 20 Hz to 20,000 Hz), and use echolocation (i.e. reflected sounds), to find and hunt their prey.
From the top left to bottom right: silicone replica of an orca brain vs. a human’s, scientific equipment to research orcas whales’ behaviour, partial panel about orcas finding their prey through echolocation, and Rhapsody’s skeleton.
Next, let’s look at a dark era of orca history, which was caused by human beings. I’m talking about Orca Captivity, that first started close to Saturna Island in BC in 1964, when Moby Doll was captured and later taken to the Vancouver Aquarium.
Before that, humans never got this close to an orca, and marine scientists were able to study them close-up for the first time. For many years, orcas were seen as “killer whales” in Western culture, and many people were scared of them, but then, they learnt what Indigenous cultures had known for a long time: Orcas are intelligent and friendly creatures towards us humans, so they fell in love with them.
Soon after, more orcas and other marine creatures were captured, and marine theme parks and aquariums featuring them opened their doors, like SeaWorld in Orlando, Florida, and Loro Parque in Tenerife, Spain. These marine theme parks were incredibly popular in earlier decades, and the exhibit displayed some original material, like a trainer’s wetsuit, and tons of rare footage. Some of it hadn’t been shown to the public in 40 years!
Moreover, there was no way to miss the Wall of Commercial Photographs, which were supposed to promote a fun time for the entire family, and the small movie theatres in the exhibit showed rare film footage, too.
But with time, it became obvious that taking orcas away from their families (often at a young age), and forcing them to perform and spend the rest of their lives in a tiny pool terribly affects their mental and physical health. In the wild, orca families stay together for their entire life, and if there are conflicts with other pods, they can get away from each other, but this is not possible in captivity.
Another sign of stress and mental trauma is a floppy dorsal fin, which commonly happens to orcas in captivity, but only to 1% of them living in the wild. Nowadays, life captures of orca whales are banned in BC, but they are still captured and bred in marine theme parks in other parts of the world.
After taking in this sad (but I think, important to know) information, I moved on to the next section, Orcas in Popular Culture. In the past, several orcas gained fame while participating in popular movies, like Namu, the Killer Whale (1966) and Free Willy (1993), and this section featured the original movie posters, and a detailed biography of each famous orca.
I’ve loved Free Willy since I was a kid, and Keiko, the whale who played Willy, was the first orca being released back to the wild in 1998, after children around the world had raised money to make this possible. Of course, it’s devastating that Keiko wasn’t able to survive on his own for long, and passed away because of pneumonia in 2003.
Partial area of the Orcas in Captivity and Orcas in Popular Culture sections. Photo courtesy of the Royal BC Museum.
Original movie poster of Free Willy and Keiko’s detailed biography.
Thankfully, the popularity of marine theme parks has decreased drastically in recent years. One reason for this is the documentary Blackfish, published in 2013, which shows how much orcas suffer in captivity, and how this affects their mental and physical health, and other beings around them. The “main character” of this movie is Tilikum (1981-2017), an orca who lived in captivity for many years, and killed several of his trainers. The original movie poster of this movie was displayed in this section as well.
With time, several orca rights organizations were founded, such as the Free Morgan Foundation, who fights for Morgan, a malnourished orca whale who was rescued off the coast of the Netherlands in 2010, but once she was cured, was taken to Loro Parque in Tenerife, Spain, instead of being returned to the wild.
In 2018, Morgan gave birth to a calf, Ula, from whom she was separated right after, and last year, Ula died, at only 3 years old. Until today, Morgan still lives at Loro Parque, so hopefully, she’ll be freed someday!
According to Dr. Lorne Hammond, Curator of History at the Royal BC Museum, children who visited marine theme parks often become teenage activists, who fight for orca rights. My family and I visited SeaWorld in Orlando, Florida, in 1993, but after my mother learnt about these horrible conditions, we never went to one of these places again.
I only became an animal (including orcas) activist in my early Twenties, though! 😉
Collaterals from the Free Morgan Foundation and buttons that support orca rights.
A much more ethical way to get close to orcas is Whale Watching. There are several whale watching companies in Victoria and the rest of Vancouver Island, and many people like to support them, especially national and international visitors.
Of course, it’s not guaranteed to see orcas and other marine creatures (like in an aquarium), but I think it’s worth it, to see them happily swimming around their natural environment, and either way, it’s always exciting to be out on a boat!
If you’re out with a tour group, the tour leader tries his/her best to make the whales feel comfortable while they’re being looked at. For example, he/she would turn off the boat’s motor, or it’s switched for a quieter electrical motor, and the boat is within a kilometer (0.6 miles) of the whales.
The Signal Flag, introduced by the North Island Marine Mammal Stewardship Association.
Although capturing orcas to perform is much less popular nowadays, there are still other man-made threats that orcas and their fellow sea dwellers have to deal with. Orcas are apex predators, so same as humans, they don’t have any natural enemies.
Some major threats are starvation, often because of overfishing, air and noise pollution, habitat destruction, climate change, and (plastic) trash found in the oceans.
Remember Scarlet, one of the 3D printed orca replicas who greeted us in the beginning of our tour? Unfortunately, she’s not with us anymore, as she passed away from malnutrition in 2018, at only 4 years old. Moreover, her clan, the Southern Resident Orcas, are endangered because of these issues.
So this section wants to show visitors how some of our behaviour influences the lives of orcas, either directly or indirectly, and us as well in the future, because everything is connected.
There was the Ocean Health interactive table, on which you could move pieces around, to learn how our habits affect the health of the oceans and orcas. What a cool way to learn about these issues, for both kids and adults!
One of the Royal BC Museum’s slogan was “Orcas need clean, quiet oceans, and pollution-free food. What about you?”, and I think that’s all that needs to be said to motivate humans to think about how we can improve, so hopefully, we can all live together in peace someday!
The Ocean Health interactive table, and a display of trash found in the ocean in the background. Photo courtesy of the Royal BC Museum.
This was the end of the Orcas exhibit, and wow, I’m amazed by all the great things I learnt about these magnificent marine mammals!
The Royal BC Museum is open daily from 10 am – 5 pm, and tickets are valid all day, for all exhibits, so it’s a great way to spend a cold or rainy day in Victoria! I recommend to arrive fairly early, so you’re in no rush to explore the museum. Visitors are strongly encouraged to buy tickets through the museum’s website here. You can also buy combination tickets to visit both the museum and the IMAX theatre!
CONTACT INFORMATION
Royal BC Museum
675 Belleville Street
Victoria BC
V8W 9W2
Telephone: +1 250-356-7226
Email: reception@royalbcmuseum.bc.ca
MUSEUM ADMISSION PRICES
Adult (19+) $29.95
Senior (65+) $19.95
Youth (6-18) $16.95
Student (19+ w/ ID) $19.95
Child (3-5) Free
What I really liked about this exhibit is that it was fully accessible to everyone. The museum is fully wheelchair accessible, elevators are provided, and several benches are available if you’d like to take a break.
But wait, of course, no museum visit is complete without checking out the gift shop, lol! It’s on the ground floor of the Royal BC Museum, and upon entering, a bunch of cool orca souvenirs (e.g. t-shirts, books, stuffed animals, and chocolate) grabbed my attention.
But if you keep on walking around the store, there are even more nice things, like gifts made or designed by local indigenous people, games, jewelry, puzzles, and other items related to exhibits at the Royal BC Museum.
Awesome orca souvenir selection at the Royal BC Museum’s gift shop, and really yummy orca chocolate 😛
Thank you for checking out my blog today 🙂 Cheers!
Nanaimo, also called “The Harbour City”, is on the east coast of Vancouver Island, Canada. It’s the second largest city on the island and is right next to the Strait of Georgia inside the Salish Sea.
While less popular with tourists than other places on Vancouver Island, you shouldn’t miss Nanaimo. It’s known for its stunning areas of unspoiled nature, artistic vibe, and its growing culinary scene!
I visited Nanaimo for two days in July 2021 and I’m psyched to share the Best Nanaimo Travel Guide with you!
Disclosure: I only recommend products that I’ve used in the past, and all opinions expressed in this post are my own. This post contains affiliate links. If you use one of the links throughout the page to buy something, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you!
The Best Things to See and Do in Nanaimo
The Urban Art Gallery
Address: 458 Wallace St, Nanaimo, BC V9R 5B5, Canada
Downtown Nanaimo alone has many cool things to see and do, so I recommend you start your tour here. The attraction that striked me most is the amazing Urban Art Gallery at the previously decadent A&B Sound Building.
These murals were launched by Humanity in Art, a local artist initiative, and five local artists in 2018. This organization also hosted the Hub City Walls Mural Festival in 2020, when even more local artists could add their artwork around downtown.
I loved the variety of colours, painting styles, and themes, which I think makes both Nanaimoites and visitors smile, no matter if it’s a rainy or sunny day. You can also walk on rainbow-coloured crosswalks on Bastion & Commercial Street (painted in 2016 by the LGBTQ2+ community)!
Browse around Cool Shops & Boutiques in Downtown Nanaimo
If you’re on a hunt for hidden gems, Nanaimo’s downtown area has awesome stores to offer.
For example, Sound Heritage (33 Victoria Crescent, Nanaimo, BC V9R 5B9) has Nanaimo’s largest selection of used and new CD’s, vinyl, tapes, video games, electronics (like stereos, speakers, and record players), and more!
Flying Fish(180 Commercial St, Nanaimo, BC V9R 5G6) has many stylish kitchen and cooking accessories, jewelry, body products, furniture, and other home décor.
Next, I bought a cute kitty-themed notebook created by UK artist Hannah Dale at Nanaimo Museum’s Gift Shop (100 Museum Way, Nanaimo, BC V9R 5J8). They also have books about local history, jewelry, crafts, and First Nations merchandise and art.
Downtown Nanaimo has trendy clothing boutiques as well, such as Lucid, Guava Apparel, and Cayo Fashions (all on Commercial St). I loved the drawings of celebrities (including Kurt Cobain!) next to one of the shop’s windows!
You can also find boutiques and specialty shops within the Old City Quarter (Fitzwilliam St, Nanaimo, BC V9R 3A9), only a few minutes of a walk from the downtown core.
The Historic Bastion
Address: 98 Front St, Nanaimo, BC V9R 5H7, Canada
Next, stop at the two cannons outside of Nanaimo’s historic Bastion. It’s a three-floor blockhouse built from 1853 to 1854 by the Hudson Bay Company to defend its coal mining operations.
It’s the oldest building in Nanaimo. During the Summer 2024 season, the Bastion is open from June 29 to September 2 on weekends and stat holidays only. Group tours can be booked as well.
Historic photo of the Bastion (photo credit: Nanaimo Museum D1-25) and the two cannons.
The Harbourfront Walkway
Afterwards, go for a stroll on Harbourfront Walkway, a shared and fully accessible 4.5 km (2.7 miles) long path which snakes along downtown waterfront and Newcastle Channel. Breathing in the salty ocean air and watching the boats and seaplanes in the harbour marina made me feel calm and relaxed right away!
One of the best locations to take photos of the Salish Sea is the Swy-A-Lana Lagoon Walking/Fishing Pier, which is also popular for fishing crabs.
Maffeo Sutton Park
Address: 100 Comox Rd, Nanaimo, BC V9R 3H7, Canada
If you keep walking, you’ll get to Maffeo Sutton Park that overlooks Nanaimo Harbour. It’s a great place for picnics and community events and has a swimming area, playground, walking trails, as well as the Nanaimo city sign!
Harbourfront Walkway continues almost all the way to the BC Ferries Departure Bay Terminal.
Swimming area by Maffeo Sutton Park and more cool street art!
Bowen Park
Address: 500 Bowen Road, Nanaimo, BC V9R 1Z7, Canada
If you want to keep exploring, Bowen Park, one of Nanaimo’s 200+ parks, should be on your list. It’s a 36-hectare natural area, and is only 10 minutes from downtown by local bus. Its many interpretive trails are all close to Millstone River inside the park.
Be sure to check out the scenic waterfall and duck ponds, and just enjoy the earthy scent. All of these will surely make you forget that you’re in a city!
Bowen Park has plenty of amenities as well, such as an outdoor swimming pool, tennis court, disc golf course, picnic shelters, and amphitheatre. Dogs are welcome, too, but have to be on a leash at all times.
Other Things to See and Do In and Around Nanaimo
Unfortunately, it was impossible to see everything Nanaimo has to offer in just two days.
So here are a few more things that sound pretty awesome:
Gabriola Island. This Gulf island inside the Strait of Georgia has a year-round population of 4,200 people. It’s just a short ferry ride from the Nanaimo Harbour ferry terminal in downtown or accessible by float plane from Vancouver International Airport.
Gabriola Island is also called “The Isle of the Arts” because many artists live here, and it has more than 70 artist studios open to visitors.
Moreover, you can learn how to make cheese, check out a festival, taking it easy at one of the beaches, or have a bite at a restaurant. Gabriola Island is an outdoor person’s paradise, with more than 170 kilometers (105 miles) of hiking trails, kayak and bike rentals, swimming areas, salmon fishing spots, and more!
Newcastle Island Marine Provincial Park. Also known as Saysutshun, this island, same as the rest of the Nanaimo region, is traditional territory of the Snuneymuxw First Nations. They lived on Saysutshun throughout the late winter and early spring every year to catch as many herring as possible.
After someone of the community died, people close to them came here to spiritually cleanse their body and soul from the suffering, and letting go of their tears.
Nowadays, attractions include interpretive tours of the island, visiting Snuneymuxw village sites, hiking on trails, eating at Q’uluc’tun Bistro, and admiring the view of the Coastal Mountains.
Newcastle Island is only accessible by passenger ferry from Maffeo Sutton Park from May to mid-October (about 10 minutes, 7 days a week). Afterwards, the ferry will run on a low season schedule, and you can also get there by private boat, stand-up paddleboard, or kayak.
Whale Watching with Vancouver Island Whale Watch. Nanaimo’s only whale watching company is along the downtown seawall (#5, 90 Front St, Nanaimo, BC V9R 5H7). They offer three to four-hour whale watching tours inside the Salish Sea.
It’s either on an open vessel or a semi-covered boat, and private tours. There’s a 90% chance to see wildlife on their tours, like Transient (Bigg’s) orca, humpback whales, sea lions, harbour seals, porpoises, and eagles.
Their goal is “to offer BC’s most sustainable whale watching”, as per their website, so their tours don’t focus on the endangered Southern Resident orca whales. C$ 2.00 from every ticket purchase is donated to whale conservation initiatives in BC and they work with the Keta Coastal Conservation organization.
If you’re looking for more info about Nanaimo, Tourism Nanaimo (2450 Northfield Road, Nanaimo, BC V9S 0B2) is the best place to stop. The Visitor Centre is open year-round.
Where to Eat & Drink in Nanaimo
Like other bigger cities in Canada, Nanaimo offers a large selection of cuisines from around the world.
Here are a few restaurants I recommend you check out in Nanaimo:
New York Style Pizza & Pasta (Downtown) (299 Wallace St, Nanaimo, BC V9R 5B4). It’s one of Nanaimo’s oldest restaurants. In 2009, their pizza was proclaimed the best in the city! Their menu features many pizza and pasta dishes, but also salads, like the Manhattan Salad.
I grab their Mushroom Fettuccine for takeout. The sauce is super creamy and the meal size is perfect! Their pizza can be veganized by ordering dairy-free cheese for a small surcharge, and gluten-free pizza crusts are available as well.
If you feel like lunch (or satisfying your sweet tooth), take the bus to Columbia Bakery (2151 Bowen Road, Nanaimo, BC V9S 1H8). They offer many European pastries (e.g. apple strudels and “Bienenstichkuchen” (bee sting cake)), but also savory sandwiches, breads, soups, and pretzels.
I’m having their German cheesecake while sitting in the cute café area. The rich filling is to die for, very similar to my German grandmother’s cheesecake! Moreover, you can find a small selection of imported groceries, like pancake mix, candy, and prepared cooking sauces.
I also had dinner at the Coach & Horses British Pub, which unfortunately, closed its doors for good in January 2022. 🙁
Some of the walls were decorated with beer coasters from around the world and the menu included burgers, savory pies, wings, fish & chips, and many vegan options. They also offered imported and local beers.
The Nanaimo Bar Trail.While visiting Nanaimo, you shouldn’t miss the famous Nanaimo Bar, the city’s major invention! The Visitor Centre staff is happy to give you the Nanaimo Bar Trail Brochure, to learn where you can enjoy this tasty dessert.
There are 39 places all over and close to Nanaimo selling the classic Nanaimo Bar and many variations, such as raw, vegan, gluten-free, deep-fried, fudge, ice-cream, and even spring rolls!
I had my Nanaimo Bar fix at Waffle Magic (101-427 Fitzwilliam St, Nanaimo, BC V9R 3A9), which has a Nanaimo Bar waffle. It’s a perfect combination of hot and cold ingredients! They also have many other kinds of sweet and a few savory waffles, either Brussels (light and crispy) or Liege style (soft and sweet).
Brussels style waffles can be made gluten-free for a small surcharge.
Where to Stay in Nanaimo
I stayed at the HI Nanaimo – Painted Turtle Guesthouse (121 Bastion St, Nanaimo, BC V9R 3A2), a cozy, clean and affordable hostel in a heritage building in downtown. It’s only a few steps to most tourist attractions and is open year-round.
I booked a private queen bedroom this time, which was quite bright and spacious. Besides, although right next to the road, it was very quiet at night. There are also 4-bed dorms (mixed, male, and female) and family rooms, and shared bathrooms are found on each floor.
The hostel has a kitchen, small library, lounge area, laundry facilities, and WI-FI, towels, and linens are included. Of course, the friendly staff is also happy to share insider tips on what to see and do in Nanaimo and its surrounding areas.
How to Get To and Around Nanaimo
Nanaimo has a good local bus system (BC Transit) and buses go pretty much everywhere. But the city is quite spread-out, so it can take some time until you arrive at your destination. Fares start at C$ 2.50 for a one-way ticket.
It’s easy to get to Nanaimo Airport from Kelowna, Vancouver, Fort St. John, and Calgary. Several seaplane airlines (e.g. Harbour Air) and HeliJet Helicopters fly from Vancouver Harbour and Richmond (YVR Airport South) to Nanaimo as well.
Moreover, Nanaimo has two ferry terminals (Departure Bay and Duke Point), and ferries go to Vancouver (Horseshoe Bay and Tsawwassen) many times a day. Ferry service is provided by BC Ferries. Of course, Nanaimo is easily accessible by car, too, via Highways 1, 19, and 19A.
Since August 2023, there’s a new ferry service from/to Nanaimo’s Port Authority (100 Port Way, Nanaimo BCV9R 0C7) to the Harbour Flight Centre in Downtown Vancouver called Hullo.
Buses go to/from Nanaimo every day, such as the Vancouver Island Connector, Tofino Bus, and IslandLink Bus, from many locations (including Victoria, Tofino, and Campbell River). Ticket prices are reasonable and the buses are safe and clean.
In general, Nanaimo is very walkable. It’s also one of Vancouver Island’s most popular mountain biking locations, so there are more than 50 km (31 miles) of trails for all skill levels to ride on and enjoy the scenery! There are also many bike shops in Nanaimo.
Departure Bay next to the BC Ferries Terminal.
While visiting Nanaimo is most popular in the summer, its temperate climate also invites travelers to check it out during the rest of the year, when it’s less busy. With all the great things to see and do and delicious restaurants and cafés, I think it never gets boring here!
So hopefully this post will inspire you to visit Nanaimo someday!
Feel free to check out my posts about other cool places in BC as well:
When I first arrived in Canada in May 2012, I spent about a month in Toronto. I’d never been there, so unlike many other people, who started their Canadian adventure in Vancouver, I decided to check out Toronto.
Toronto is in the eastern province of Ontario and is Canada’s largest city by population. This city is known for business, technology, architecture, arts, fashion, culture, and tourism.
Toronto Pearson International Airport is the busiest and largest airport in Canada. Here’s the Best Toronto Travel Guide, in which I’ll tell you about its many attractions, such as CN Tower, Kensington Market, Sugar Beach Park, Lake Ontario and the famous NXNE Festival in June every year.
Disclosure: I only recommend products that I’ve used in the past, and all opinions expressed in this post are my own. This post contains affiliate links. If you use one of the links throughout the page to buy something, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you!
The Best Things To Do in Toronto
CN Tower
Address: 301 Front Street W, Toronto ON M5V 2T6, Canada
As I’m walking around downtown Toronto on my first evening in 2012, a tower higher than any other building amazes me. It’s CN Tower, a communications and observation tower built out of concrete, that is 553.30 meters (1,815.3 ft) high.
CN Tower is Toronto’s major landmark, first opened in 1976, and more than 1.5 million visitors stop here each year. Until 2009, it was the world’s highest tower!
So I got in line for one of the six glass elevators, that took me up to the Main ObservationLevel in only 58 seconds! This area is at 346 meters (1,136 ft), and what a great way to see Toronto and beyond from a bird’s eye perspective! There’s also a glass floor to stand on and look down.
You can even upgrade to access the Sky Pod Level at 447 meters (1,465 ft), where you can see up to 160 km (99 miles), all the way to Niagara Falls and New York state! Tickets for both levels can be bought online or at the bottom of the tower.
Another cool thing about CN Tower is that it’s often lit in various colours at night, especially during special occasions, like a hockey or baseball game!
Last but not least, 360 Restaurant, a fine dining place featuring local, fresh, and sustainable meals from across the country is inside this tower. At 351 meters (1,151 ft), it has the world’s highest wine cellar!
CN Tower is open daily from 9:30 am to 9:30 pm.
Edge Walk at CN Tower
When I visited Toronto again in July 2023, I felt really adventurous, so the Edge Walk at CN Tower was a must! This experience includes walking in a circle two stories above the Main Observation deck (at 356 m/1,168 ft) in 30 minutes!
First, I had to sign a waiver at the base camp on the ground level, then the helpful staff put me in a special red suit. Finally, our group took the elevator all the way up!
Your body is attached to “an overhead safety rail via a trolley and harness system”, according to CN Tower’s website. Of course, a guide is with you at all times, and if you dare, lean forward, and just enjoy the best view of Toronto! Alex, our guide, was super nice and very understanding of people being a bit scared (me, lol)! :p
Photo credit: CN Tower.
The Edge Walk experience occurs seasonally (in almost any kind of weather). It includes two photo prints, video, a certificate of achievement, and a visit to the two observation levels. You can also buy digital photo copies for an additional charge.
Kensington Market
Address: Kensington Avenue, Toronto ON M5T 2K2, Canada
Next, spend a few hours at Kensington Market, a multicultural and artsy district of Toronto. It has been a World Heritage Site of Canada since 2006. It’s in downtown as well and has many narrow streets, so it’s easier to walk than drive in this area.
Every last Sunday of the month (except during the winter months), only pedestrians can enter Kensington Market. You can enjoy live music and street theatre shows, dancing, and games, as well as the Winter Solstice Festival in December.
The biggest eye-catcher is the colourful Garden Car on Augusta Avenue & Oxford Street, which is used as a community garden from May to November every year. The original one put up in 2007 retired in 2012.
Soon after, the second Garden Car took over, and its look was updated again since then as well. It was launched by “Streets for the People”, a (now inactive) local anti-car advocacy group.
The Garden Car in 2012 (left) and in 2023 (right).
Kensington Market is also famous for its shopping (e.g. meats, fish, vegetable, cheese shops and bakeries), cafés and restaurants (with food from all over the world), clubs, new and vintage clothing stores, and lots of street food.
Kensington Market has been a popular spot for immigrants to live since the early 20th century, so it’s no surprise that its attractions are so diverse today! Lastly, don’t miss the many unique street artworks in this neighbourhood!
Explore Toronto Islands
Address: 40 Avenue of the Islands, Toronto ON M5J, Canada
Another place worth visiting is Toronto Islands, a group of 15 small islands inside Lake Ontario. It can be reached by ferry from the Jack Layton Ferry Terminal in downtown Toronto or by water taxi in just 13 minutes!
Locals and visitors come here for a picnic or BBQ at Toronto Island Park, rent a canoe, kayak, stand-up paddleboard, or bicycle. There are also tennis courts, Japanese cherry trees (Sakura), walking trails, playgrounds, water play areas, Centreville Amusement Park and petting zoo, and disc golfing.
This area is also known for its many beautiful beaches, including Hanlan’s Point Beach, where clothing is “not necessary”, one of only two of that kind in Canada! Many of these attractions, as well as the Gibraltar Point Lighthouse, completed in 1908, are on Centre Island. It’s the largest and most popular of Toronto Islands.
But don’t worry, all islands are connected by bridges and pathways, so it’s easy to get to the other islands. The entire island area is about 5 km (3.1 miles) long.
I especially like the view of Toronto Skyline, which always makes a nice picture, whether it’s rain or shine! Toronto Islands is also home to various wild animals, like turtles, herons, swans, Canada geese, and 35 species of fish, and it’s pretty much a car-free area (except for service vehicles).
The ferry goes to Centre Island, Hanlan’s Island, and Ward Island several times a day, and roundtrip tickets can be bought online or right by the ferry dock in downtown Toronto.
Dogs on a leash are welcome on Toronto Islands and there are some cafés and restaurants as well. So Toronto Islands is an awesome spot for anyone looking to relax or explore and escape from the bustling city life for a bit!
NXNE Music & Gaming Festival
If you’re in Toronto in June, visiting the NXNE Music & Gaming Festival, which lasts for 10 days, is a must! It has been a part of Toronto’s entertainment scene since 1995. Its main location is Yonge-Dundas Square and a part of Yonge Street, but also many other venues in downtown.
Apart from live music, visitors can watch comedy shows, participate in eSports gaming tournaments, and browse a flea market. According to NXNE’s website, more than 200,000 people visit this festival every year.
NXNE Festival has been proud to host many local but also some famous music acts over time, like Billy Talent, Iggy and the Stooges, The Lumineers, The Tragically Hip, and Ludacris. The open air shows at Yonge-Dundas Square are always free, but you’ll have to pay for a ticket to go to concerts at other venues.
I visited the NXNE Festival in 2012, and found out by accident about the headliners playing at Yonge-Dundas Square: Bad Religion! I arrived just after the show started, so I was at the back of the crowd, but luckily, a screen was nearby, so I felt “closer” to the band, lol!
Bad Religion’s lead singer Greg Graffin and bassist Jay Bentley performing at NXNE Music & Gaming Festival in 2012.
Canada’s Walk of Fame
If you’re walking on King Street West and Simcoe Street in downtown Toronto, be sure to look down sometimes, so you don’t miss Canada’s Walk of Fame! This collection of stars looking similar to maple leaves was founded in 1998 and honours famous Canadians from various fields.
Examples are Bryan Adams, Terry Fox, The Tragically Hip, Jim Carrey, Michael J. Fox, Neil Young, Wayne Gretzky, and Alexander Graham Bell. Since the first induction in 1998, more than 190 Canadians have been added.
A map of the stars of Canada’s Walk of Fame (Photo credit: Canada’s Walk of Fame).
Lake Ontario
Next, sit by Lake Ontario for a little bit. It’s a nice spot to relax, soak up the sun, and watch the many boats and ships go by. Lake Ontario is the smallest of the five Great Lakes in North America by surface and is accessible through parts of Southern Ontario and a part of New York state.
The word “Ontario” comes from the Huron word Ontarí’io, which means “great lake” and the deepest spot of Lake Ontario is at 244 m (802 ft). Since 1954, nearly 50 people have completed a swim across Lake Ontario.
Sugar Beach Park
Toronto also has beaches, such as Sugar Beach Park. This man-made urban sandy beach park next to Toronto’s East Bay waterfront was opened in 2010. It is right across from the Redpath Sugar Refinery.
While visitors aren’t allowed to wade or swim in Lake Ontario, there are lots of other things to do, like chilling in one of the lounging chairs, reading, playing in the sand, and joining social activities.
Sugar Beach Park also has sunshades, two giant granite rocks to sit on, an amphitheatre, and candy trim, so it’s a beautiful place to hang out without having to leave the city! Sugar Beach Park is also a popular spot for concerts and other events.
The Bata Shoe Museum
Address: 327 Bloor Street W, Toronto ON M5S 1W7, Canada
Finally, stop by the Bata Shoe Museum, a museum about footwear and its history. It has four galleries, and “regularly displays over a thousand shoes and related artifacts, chosen from a collection of over 13,000 objects”, as per theirAbout page.
Over 4,500 years of history are featured in “All about Shoes”, their permanent collection and the three other gallery displays change on a regular basis.
In 1979, Sonja Bata started the Bata Shoe Museum Foundation and in 1995, the Bata Shoe Museum opened its doors. Unfortunately, I only saw this cool-sounding place from the outside, but some people I know visited it and had an awesome time!
The Bata Shoe Museum is open Mondays to Saturdays from 10 am-5 pm, and Sundays from 12-5 pm, and general admission is C$ 14 per person. On Sundays, admission is free!
Outside poster of the Bata Shoe Museum.
Where To Stay in Toronto
Clarence Park Hostel
Address: 7 Clarence Square, Toronto ON M5V 1H1, Canada
During my recent visit to Toronto in July 2023, I stayed at the Clarence Park Hostel. It’s only a short walk from cool attractions, like CN Tower, King Street West, and Kensington Market.
I slept in a female dorm and the bed was very comfortable (especially if you’re in a wider lower bunk bed), and every dorm has a private bathroom. There’s a simple free breakfast consisting of toast and cereal every morning and feel free to hang out in the common areas as well.
One of the common areas inside the Clarence Park Hostel.
My Couchsurfing Experience
Back in 2012, I did Couchsurfing for about half of the time in Toronto. It’s a worldwide online community where you can sign up to stay at local people’s homes at no charge.
I really liked meeting and getting to know my Couchsurfing hosts, seeing some parts of Toronto I hadn’t been to before, getting insider tips on what to do, and saving lots of cash!
Because let’s be honest, although it’s fun to stay in hostels and hotels, the cost for accommodation can add up very quickly! I even heard that some of these stayovers can turn into friendships or even relationships!
I usually stayed with a host for two to four days and everyone was very kind and helpful. For example, one host introduced me to Dollarama and another one let me use their bike. As a thank you, I helped with cooking, bought them some booze, and told them about my travel stories.
It’s important though to stay with hosts who are verified by the Couchsurfing community, who have received good reviews from previous guests. Also, be sure to tell your friends or acquaintances where you’re staying, especially if you’re a solo traveler.
Back in 2012, it was free to use the Couchsurfing website, but since May 2020, members in most developed countries, including Canada, have to pay a monthly fee of US$ 2.39 or US$ 14.29 for a whole year.
Where to Eat & Drink in Toronto
Toronto is a great place to visit if you’re vegan or vegetarian, as it has 100+ veggie restaurants!
So during my visit in July 2023, I ate at these places:
My favourite was Tenon Vegan Sushi(487 Bloor Street W, Toronto ON M5S 1Y2), which offers authentic Japanese sushi dishes and Thai appetizers. Their menu features an awesome selection of more than 30 sushi rolls and many fake meat, fish or seafood dishes.
I went for the Soy beef on a Skewer appetizer, Kay Satay (Soy chicken on a stick with Thai peanut sauce), King Mushroom Special Roll, and Salmon Sashimi with cucumber. Everything was super tasty, so part of me just wanted to keep eating, lol!
Another great restaurant I had to try was German Doner Kebab(246 Queen Street W, Toronto ON M5V 1Z7)! In case you don’t know, doner kebabs are a very popular street food in Germany. Although they serve meat, their Veggie Kebab with fries was delicious and very filling! :p
Of course, Toronto also has lots of dessert places to choose from!
If you’re vegan or gluten-free, a great place to check out is Bunner’s Bakeshop(244 Augusta Avenue, Toronto ON M5T 2L7) in the heart of Kensington Market. Their menu includes any pastry you can think of, from cakes, cupcakes, muffins, cinnamon buns, brownies, cookies, ice cream, to so much more!
I chose their Vanilla ice cream cone, and it was so nice and creamy!
Moreover, I went to Second Cup quite a lot back in 2012 and during my recent Toronto trip, and my favourite is their Frozen Hot Chocolate! They have locations all over the city.
How to Get Around in Toronto with Public Transit
It’s easy to get around in Toronto and its suburbs by public transit, which consists of subways, streetcars, and buses. The subway has two lines, the Yellow Line from Yonge Street to Union Station (north to south) and the Green Line, which runs from Etobicoke to Scarborough from east to west.
The Union Pearson Express takes you from Union Station in downtown Toronto to Toronto Pearson International Airport (about 25 minutes) and vice-versa, at a one-way cost of C$ 12.35. They run every 15 minutes, seven days a week.
Toronto also has a second airport, the Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport on Toronto Islands. It offers flights from/to more than 20 locations in Canada and the United States, including Montreal, Boston, Chicago, Halifax, New York, and Ottawa. Besides, it’s only a short walk to downtown Toronto!
Buses and streetcars go pretty much everywhere in and close to Toronto. GO Transit buses and trains and VIA Rail have their hub at Union Station in downtown, which take passengers to the Greater Golden Horseshoe region and other places in Ontario and beyond.
If you’re into biking, Bike Share Toronto has 3,000 bikes available at almost 300 stations throughout the city. But it’s fun to walk all over Toronto’s downtown area and beyond as well!
Toronto’s Union Station Bus Terminal from the outside.
My Opinion on Toronto
Spending time in Toronto was an awesome start to my Canadian adventures in 2012. First of all, the locals I met were very nice and helpful.
For example, I walked around with a tourist map (my antique phone didn’t have Google Maps) one day, and was surprised when total strangers asked me if they could help! This had never happened before, although I heard they are getting paid for this, and even if that was true, I much appreciated it!
I also liked Toronto’s multicultural and open-minded society, which in particular became evident in the Couchsurfing hosts I stayed with, who were from various countries and backgrounds. So it was great to learn about their culture and customs a little bit.
Another thing I like is that Toronto has some nice parks and other green spaces as well!
But it was really tough to find a job in May and June, which probably had to do with me not having much work experience (and none from Canada). Also, some people told me that many temporary positions were already filled earlier in the year with students. Of course, this is not Toronto’s fault!
Unfortunately, a few things were different in downtown Toronto during my visit in 2023. I noticed that it’s quite dirty (in 2012, I found it pretty clean) and there are way more homeless people as well. While they didn’t bother me, it makes me sad that this has gotten worse here since the pandemic.
But of course, these things won’t stop me from visiting Toronto again in the future!
If you’re spending some time in Ontario and like reptiles, check out this post as well:
It’s July 2019, and unfortunately, my trip through Western Canada is slowly coming to an end. But there’s one spot left on my list: The Regal Cat Café in Calgary, Alberta.
I first learnt about this place after their big opening in June 2017, but didn’t have a chance to visit until now.
So, as a cat lover, I’m super excited to check it out!
Introduction to the Regal Cat Café
The Regal Cat Café is the first and only cat café in Calgary. There are three rooms open to the public: The café area, Kitty Kingdom room, and a small preparation room between the two. Usually, up to 12 adoptable cats share the second room, waiting for visitors to relax, cuddle or play with, and maybe even become their new roommate!
The Regal Cat Café is owned by the MEOW Foundation, a local cat rescue organization, where all kitties come from. They’ve worked with them since Day One.
Before a cat can move to the Regal Cat Café, he/she has to be spayed or neutered, micro-chipped, up to date with vaccines, and in good health. Also, MEOW Foundation’s staff ensures that he/she enjoys socializing with other cats and humans, to make things as easy as possible, and the majority of cats is at least five months old.
In July 2023, the Regal Cat Café achieved a major milestone since its opening in 2017: More than 1,000 cats have found a loving home!
When I enter the Regal Cat Café, the scent of freshly brewed coffee and yummy pastries from the café area wafts up my nose right away. But first, I have to meet the kitties! Some of them are already checking me out through the big glass wall, that separates this room from their Kitty Kingdom.
After reading through the Kitty Visit Rules, washing my hands, and admiring the kitty drawings on the wall (all inside the preparation room), I’m ready to go!
The Kitty Kingdom
Wow, stepping inside the Kitty Kingdom feels like a whole other world! Immediately, a few friendly cats are walking towards me to say hello! Others are napping in one of the chairs or inside the coffee tables that are all over the room, playing with a visitor, or hiding somewhere. Many cats are less active in the afternoon, so it’s understandable that not all of them feel like hanging out with humans right now!
Today, nine kitties are sharing the Kitty Kingdom. The majority has cool fishy names, like Guppy, Tuna, Mahi Mahi, and Avery Shark! Most of them have black and white fur, but there are a couple of orange tabbies, and one grey and white tabby cat. Although it’s summer, there are only five other visitors in the room, and a kind staff member is checking on everything briefly as well.
After a while, the cats decide to go to someone else or have a bite (or a nap!). So I have a chance to look at the rest of the room’s features. There’s a large shelf with lots of napping and climbing spots for the kitties, but also a sitting area at the bottom with a few funny books.
Next, I read through each cat’s profile on the wall, which includes their name, gender, age, markings, the adoption date, and a brief description of their personality and background story. The youngest member of the gang is eight months old, and two of these lovely kitties are moving into their new forever home in a few weeks.
Suddenly, a few more cats are making their way towards me. The one who likes attention the most makes me laugh by crawling into a little box, then looking out at me! There’s also a large window to the street, for the kitties to watch the world go by.
Unfortunately, my half hour at the Kitty Kingdom is almost over, so I check out the kitty-themed games, that are sitting on one of the coffee tables. The ones most appealing to me are “Kitties in a blender” and “Cat Lady”, lol!
The Café & Gift Shop area
After all this kitty fun, I’m taking a break inside the café area. The Regal Cat Café is proud to offer a large selection of hot and cold drinks, like locally roasted coffee and tea specialties, juices, pop, and water.
Try one of their unique, mostly locally-baked treats as well, such as kitty-themed macarons, tarts, cookies, cupcakes, and muffins! Vegan and allergy-friendly (gluten, egg, dairy and nut-free) items are available, too. I’m having a Chai Tea Latte and a brownie that are to die for!
Then I walk to the gift shop next to the café area. Here, cat lovers can find pretty much everything their heart desires: T-shirts and pillows, greeting cards, key chains, mugs, tote bags, buttons, and enamel pins, but also loose tea, coffee beans, and kitty paintings. Most of these goodies are handmade or painted by local artists.
Top pictures: Small selection of drinks and pastries (all photo credit of the Regal Cat Café), and gift shop area.
Fun Events and Classes at the Regal Cat Café
The Regal Cat Café often hosts cool events and classes, such as Kitty Paint Parties with all supplies, instructions, and a kitty visit included. Their Cats & Yoga nights, Cat Photography class (for kids from 10-14 years), Paper Art Parties, and 3D Cat Portrait making class sound like lots of fun, too!
Besides, customers can book private events, like birthday parties or team events, visits in the kitty lounge, or a private version of some of the events above. You can find more details on these fun events here.
Kitty Adoption Procedure
Every second Wednesday evening of the month (except for holidays), the Regal Cat Café hosts their Adoption Night. Afterwards, a bunch of new adorable kitties arrive at the café.
If you’d like to adopt one or more, you should submit an application as soon as possible, as it’s first come, first serve. More information about the adoption process and a description of every cat currently living at the café can be found here.
Admission Prices and Hours
The Regal Cat Café has only limited walk-in spots available each day, so it’s highly recommended to reserve a spot through their website. For 30 minutes of kitty time, the cost is C$ 10.00 per person.
Children 10 and under have to be accompanied by an adult. Tweens and teens from 11 to 17 years can enter by themselves, but a parent or guardian has to sign a waiver before their visit.
Food and drinks from the café can be taken into the Kitty Kingdom, as long as there’s a lid on it, and they are not left unattended. Up to 10 visitors can be in the kitty lounge at the same time, and the Kitty Visit Rules need to be followed at all times.
Their FAQ pageis very helpful, especially if it’s your first visit to the Regal Cat Café. The entire place is also fully wheelchair accessible.
Here are the Regal Cat Café’s hours:
Monday-Sunday: 8 am to 8 pm
Please note that the Kitty Lounge doesn’t open until 10:30 am.
Directions to the Regal Cat Café
From downtown Calgary, take the red C-Train line towards Crowfoot, and exit at Sunnyside station. From there, it’s just a few minutes of a walk to the Regal Cat Café.
It’s also a short bike ride (ca. 15 minutes) or walk (about 30 minutes) from downtown Calgary. If you’re driving, paid parking is available in the Kensington building parking garage, as well as street and lot parking.
I have no doubt that the kitties at the Regal Cat Café are enjoying their temporary home at the Regal Cat Café very much! There are lots of hiding and napping spots, great food, fun toys to play with, and the room is very clean. Plus, they get to cuddle with their cat buddies and people every day!
But if a cat doesn’t feel like having company, he/she is welcome to hide and come out later. It’s obvious that the cats’ well being is the staff’s highest priority. Even more, it seems that the cats are encouraged to feel like royalty, which is awesome, as I’m sure some of them had horrible past experiences.
Besides, I love the warm and calming colours used for decorating the place. I think the mix of colours contributes to a relaxing and cozy atmosphere for both humans and cats, and the accessories in the kitty lounge are super cute! Also, I like that they stand for the “Adopt, don’t shop” motto.
While cats are awesome, it’s important to ensure the customers’ health and safety as well. That’s why the kitties are never allowed inside the café area. Many people can’t have cats because of allergies, landlord restrictions, other pets, or a lack of time, so this café is perfect for getting your kitty fix!
It’s also a great place for visitors to Calgary, who want to take a break from a long day of exploring. Last but not least, hanging out with cats is supposed to be great for your mental health, so it’s a fulfilling and calming change to everyday life!
Here’s a video about this cool place, credit of the Regal Cat Café:
So if “Cats, Cuddles, and Coffee” sound PURRfect to you, stop by the Regal Cat Café during your next visit to Calgary! 😀
Explore Regal Cat Cafe!
If you’re visiting Alberta and love skiing or snowboarding, check out this post as well:
Disclosure: I only recommend products that I’ve used in the past, and all opinions expressed in this post are my own. This post contains affiliate links. If you use one of the links throughout the page to buy something, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thanks.
It’s June 2014, and we have a few days off, so we go on a short road trip, with no destination in mind. From Calgary, we head west on Highway #1 (Trans Canada Highway), that leads us through a very small part of the Rocky Mountains, then into British Columbia.
After a while, we’re thankful to see Golden appearing on the horizon. After driving around this town for a bit, we decide to spend the night.
Golden is inside the Columbia Valley in southeastern BC. It’s surrounded by the Rocky and Purcell Mountains, and is close to six national parks (Yoho National Park, Kootenay National Park, Banff National Park, Glacier National Park, Jasper National Park, and Mount Revelstoke National Park).
Besides, two rivers are located in Golden, the Kicking Horse River and Columbia River. Many tourists travel on the Trans Canada Highway every year, so Golden is a popular stop. That’s why the local economy is highly dependent on tourism.
We really want to go camping this summer, so we’re staying at the Golden Municipal Campground & RV Park(1411 9th Street S, Golden, BC V0A 1H0). It has 70 campsites (both serviced and unserviced tent sites, and rates start at C$ 35 per night. We’re lucky to find a spot right next to the Kicking Horse River, and are amazed by its turquoise colour.
This campground is perfect for us, as it’s clean and well maintained, and offers a bunch of amenities, like a convenience store, laundromat, free WiFi, showers, and a firepit at each site (fire wood can be bought at C$ 12 per bundle).
Besides, it’s only minutes away from downtown Golden, an outdoor swimming pool, playground, as well as the Golden Rotary Trails, which start at the back of the campground, and are popular with hikers and cyclists.
The first thing I do after arrival is going for a walk on the pretty path by the river, to recharge from the drive!
Several trains go by on the opposite side of the river quite often, so that’s fun to watch, too. Tonight we cook our own dinner, instead of eating at a restaurant, but plan to do that next time.
If you’re sensitive to train noise at night, you might want to book a campsite further away from the river and/or bring earplugs.
The pathway next to the mighty Kicking Horse River and our tent site.
The next day we don’t do much, except for driving around Golden a bit more, then head back home. Still, this town left a great first impression on us, so we can’t wait to see more of it in the future!
In October 2016, we travel around Alberta and BC again, and my companions want to see Golden. How exciting! Of course, the weather is a lot chillier now, so this time, we stay at Le Beausoleil Bed and Breakfast (1403 Deer Ridge Road, Golden BC V0A 1H1) for a few nights. It’s within a peaceful residential area, but just a short drive from the city centre and other attractions.
Heather and Bob Munro, the kind owners and our hosts, meet us at check-in, and the warm and friendly atmosphere makes us feel right at home. We also love that natural wood and stones were used to build this place, as it makes it even cozier than it already is.
Guests can choose between four large bedrooms, and there are private bathrooms, a guest lounge with TV and library, free WiFi, a ski and sport locker for storing equipment, an outdoor hot tub, and a beautiful garden area with a patio, deck, and walking path.
Le Beausoleil B&B from the outside, Purcell Room, and guest lounge. Photo 2 and 3 are courtesy of Le Beausoleil B&B.
A selection of tasty homemade breakfast food (bread, bagels, muffins, jam, waffles, etc.) is waiting for us each morning inside the two guest service areas. No single use dishes and cutlery are used, so that’s another bonus!
Since this residence is on a hill, it offers a great view of the Purcell Mountains and the Kicking Horse Mountain Resort, and sometimes, local wildlife (e.g. eagles, bears, mountain sheep, deer, and coyotes) likes to hang out nearby, depending on the season.
Garden area, mountain sheep enjoying the nice weather, and a view of the Kicking Horse Mountain Resort in winter, from the back of the facility. Photos 2 and 3 are courtesy of Le Beausoleil B&B.
Unfortunately, as of June 2023, the lovely Le Beausoleil B&B is closed.
It’s a beautiful fall day, so we’re heading out to explore some of Golden’s downtown area right after. I’m excited to introduce my companions to the Kicking Horse River, which hasn’t changed at all since our last visit, and they love it just as much!
So we go on a long walk on the path next to the river and back, and walk across the Kicking Horse Pedestrian Bridge(8th Avenue N, Golden BC). It’s 46 meters (150 ft) long, and was completed in 2001. As per Tourism Golden, it is “the longest freestanding timber frame bridge in Canada”.
The Kicking Horse River and Kicking Horse Pedestrian Bridge.
We keep strolling around downtown Golden for a bit, when suddenly, a bright yellow and red coloured building grabs our attention: The Bacchus Bookstore & Café (409 9 Avenue N, Golden, BC V0A 1H0).
This quirky independent business has been at its current location for about 20 years, and is co-owned by Katie Mitzel and Petra Musick, who have many years of experience in professional cooking and catering.
Bacchus Bookstore & Café from the outside, partial sitting and books area, and some gift items. All are photo courtesy of Bacchus Bookstore & Café.
The building has two floors, where new and used books of numerous fiction and non-fiction genres, but also journals, maps, and cards can be found!
They also have many handmade gift items, like jewelry, bags, t-shirts, mugs, paintings by local artists on the walls, and even chocolate from Mexico for sale! But now it’s “refueling time”, so we walk up the creaky stairs, where their café area is located.
Bacchus Bookstore & Café offers a variety of homemade sweet and savory foods for breakfast and lunch (e.g. muffins, cinnamon rolls, cookies, sandwiches, soups, and Buddha bowls), and is eager to use as many local ingredients as possible.
Vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options are available, too. For drinks, you can choose from coffee (by The Banff Roasting Company) and tea specialties (by The Banff Tea Company), smoothies, and other cold drinks.
My companions are in the mood for a café latte, and I’m having a berry smoothie, and all are super tasty! We’re happy to relax and enjoy our drinks while sitting at one of the tables, which gives this place a very cozy and “no rush” vibe.
“Coarse Salt and Caramel Cinnamon Rolls” and “Mama’s Turkey Soup and Garlic Bread”, both photo courtesy of Bacchus Bookstore & Café.
It’s too bad that it’s cold outside, so we cannot spend time in their outside sitting area, but it’s only open during summer months anyway.
Bacchus Bookstore & Café is open Monday-Saturday from 9-5 pm and 10-4 pm on Sundays.
Later that day, we have burgers for dinner at a restaurant in downtown Golden. We much appreciate the tasty food and friendly service, but unfortunately don’t remember the restaurant’s name. 🙁
In general, Golden offers a variety of cuisines for restaurants, such as North American, Indian, Japanese, Mexican, Chinese, and Italian, as well as pubs and bars, cafés, and fast food places (e.g. Mc Donald’s, A&W, and Subway).
Many among these have vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options, and welcome families with children. More details can be found on TripAdvisor or Tourism Golden’s website.
Although we only saw a very small part of Golden, we had a blast, and can’t wait to come back! This gorgeous little mountain town is a wonderland for adventure seekers and outdoor enthusiasts, no matter what time of the year you visit.
So here are a few ideas for spring, summer, and fall, which sound like lots of fun:
Golden offers numerous water and land activities to locals and tourists. For example, there’s kayaking and canoeing on the Kicking Horse River and Columbia River, and on lakes in the nearby backcountry, like Emerald Lake inside Yoho National Park. These bodies of water, same as Blaeberry River, Kinbasket Lake, and Cedar Lake, are great for stand up paddle boarding as well.
Nearby national parks (Yoho, Glacier, and Kootenay National Park) look like a Hiker’s paradise for all abilities. The Kicking Horse Bike Park (accessible by gondola from late June to early October) and Mount 7 are mountain biking hotspots, especially if you’re into downhill riding!
Golden is famous for (whitewater) rafting as well, on the Kicking Horse River, Columbia River, and Blaeberry River. Yoho National Park and the Northwest Ridge of Mt. Sir McDonald, 80 west of Golden, “one of the three classic 50 climbs in North America”, according to Tourism Golden, are great spots for climbing and mountaineering.
Of course, there are a lot more things to do, like sightseeing, fishing, waterfall viewing, horseback riding, golfing, skydiving, and last but not least, lots of shopping opportunities (like the Golden Farmers’ Market from late May to early October)!
If you’re into indoor climbing and bouldering, check out the Dogtooth Climbing Gym and Gear Store, which is open all year, and all ages and abilities are welcome. Depending on the activity, tour packages, rentals or lessons can also be booked with local operators all year.
The Golden Visitor Centre (1000 Trans Canada Highway, Golden, BC V0A 1H1) is open daily from 9 am to 5 pm until September.
The staff is happy to give you Golden travel guides and maps, and hiking and biking trail maps, if you wish. The visitor center has free WIFI, picnic tables, a dog run, sani dump stations, charging stations for electric cars, and you can buy Parks Canada passes and Kicking Horse Resort passes.
Here’s a video about fun summer activities in and around Golden:
Golden BC - Seek And You Will Find
If you’re driving, Golden is about 3 hours west of Calgary, and 7.5 hours east of Vancouver. The Rider Expressbusoffers transportation from/to Vancouver (11 hours) and and Calgary (4 hours) as well.
For visiting Yoho and other nearby national parks, it’s recommended to buy a Discovery Pass, which allows unlimited entry to all national parks of Canada for one year. Please see Parks Canada’s website for more information.
So whether you’re into spending time outdoors and being adventurous, or looking for a relaxing getaway, I suggest visiting his cute little mountain town in the future!
Please feel free to check out my other posts about destinations in BC as well:
