Do you have a favourite park or historic site in Canada? I feel very lucky to live in Canada, where we have so many protected National Parks, National Historic Sites and National Marine Conservation Areas. Parks Canada is a national organization with a mandate to protect Canada’s natural and cultural heritage, and foster understanding, appreciation and enjoyment on behalf of the people of Canada. Visiting Canada’s Parks has been a favourite activity of our family for many years. We love going for hikes, camping and exploring nature. There are so many unbelievable places to see in Canada!
Our family really enjoys going to historic sites and learning about our country’s history. Some of our favourite historic sites in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick are the Halifax Citadel National Historic Site, Fortress Louisbourg, Carleton Martello Tower and the Alexander Graham Bell Museum.
We have visited Citadel Hill many times and my husband and I have even walked through it at night during a Parks Canada Ghost Tour! It was fantastic. The extra programs, costumes and events that Parks Canada put on at the historic sites, are incredible and very entertaining for children. If you haven’t taken your family to a historic site, because you think they are boring…think again! You need to give it a try.
Did you know that Parks Canada runs many educational programs? You can take a Learn to Camp Program at one of Canada’s National Parks and your children can become Parks Canada Xplorers on your next vacation.
This year our family is hoping to visit Banff National Park and many other Parks Canada sites for the first time as we head to Alberta and British Columbia. If you have any favourite parks or historic sites in Western Canada please let us know in the comments below!
Are you already an avid explorer of Canada’s parks and historic sites? Have you heard of the Family Discovery Pass? I have one to give away to one of my readers!
A Discovery Pass gives you or your family unlimited entry into all participating National Parks and Historic Sites under the management of Parks Canada for a whole year! (* Up to seven people arriving together in a single vehicle at a National Park, or at the same time at a National Marine Conservation area or National Historic Site.) Isn’t that amazing! Camping fees, for the use of a national park campsite, are NOT included with the purchase of a Discovery Pass). See terms and conditions for full rules.
Don’t forget to follow Parks Canada on Facebook and Twitter to stay up to date on special events and learn more about Canada’s National Parks and Historic Sites!
I’m not even sure if I’ve ever been to one, my favourite provincial park though is Algonquin. It’s been years since we’ve been but it’s always a favourite.
I loved the Rideau Canal !
Jasper is our favourite park!
We love visiting Point Pelee! It’s so beautiful year round!
I would really love this for my family this summer.
Jasper National Park is so beautiful too.
My favourite National Park that I’ve visited so far is Banff National Park. The pleasure of sitting in a hot spring in the middle of winter surrounded by the majestic Rockies is so awe inspiring.
My favourite National Park memory is backpacking through the Rockwall Trail in Kootenay National Park with my three teenaged daughters and one of their friends. People asked if I was leading a girl guide troupe, since it was just me (widowed mom) and the four teen girls. That was an amazing adventure and we all came out feeling dazzled by the beauty and more confident in our own abilities. I cannot recommend enough getting “out there!”
Thanks for sharing Tasha, that’s a wonderful story!
I absolutely love Cape Breton Highlands National Park as I grew up next door to it, I’ve recently visited Grand Pre and Fort Anne which I enjoyed, I’ve enjoyed Kejimkujik and one park I hope to visit soon this summer is Fundy because I study the Bay of Fundy and would like to experience it from a Parks Canada perspective as well!
Waterton Lakes National Park. Not nearly as busy as some of the other western parks and the scenery and hikes are just as spectacular, if not more spectacular.
I love Jasper National Park
Fuday National park is our favorite!
Grose Morne was our favourite. The beauty and wonder of such a pristine massive space! A gift to the senses!
I think Jasper never fails to amaze me, but I’ve yet to visit a National Park that wasnt absolutely beautiful!
My family and I love Thousand Islands National Park.
I love Elk Island National Park
My favorite is Fundy, so many great childhood memories. Also really enjoyed Fortress of Louisbourg.
I really enjoyed visiting Les Plaines D’Abraham in Quebec City.
Close to home we’ve got the Middlesex County Court House…
LOVE Fundy National Park and visit at least a couple of times each year!
I love Cape Breton Highlands
thanks
Ahh too hard to choose. I love them all. We had a fantastic time in the oTENTiks last summer and I am hoping to do that again, though.
Oh, we would really like to try the oTENTiks too!
There are so many that I haven’t yet had a chance to visit! A pass would be fantastic. Of those that I have visited, my favourite historic site is the Peterborough Lift Lock.
Wasaga Beach is our favourite.
I love taking my kids to Wasaga Beach, longest fresh water beach and oh so beautiful.
I have a nostalgic love for Riding Mountain National park in Manitoba since we used to visit there every summer. I also enjoy Cape Breton Highlands National Park as it wonderful, too!
Jasper – it is a 4 hour drive and we usually spend a few days there each summer, beautiful and so peaceful!
Thousand Islands National Park
Rideau Canal is great! I have visited a few of the locks in the summer and went skating on the canal in the winter.
id love to take the kids to Paramount canadas wonderland this summer
Hi Laura,
That would be amazing, but it isn’t a Parks Canada attraction, so the the Discovery Pass wouldn’t get you in there.
Best of luck,
Laura
I’ve only been to a few (don’t really have a favourite), and I’d LOVE to see more!
I love exploring Banff national park with my kids as the mountains are so majestic and beautiful!
Some many nice ones! I love you nature! I would say Cape Breton Hightlands Park, just so breathtaking!
Have spent a lot of time exploring BC’s parks in the last few years, now am looking forward to spending the summer in Ontario and rediscovering what this province has to offer!
There are so many GREAT ones! I love The Fortress of Louisbourg and Cape Breton Highlands and Hopewell Rocks.
Cavendish on PEI *might* be my favourite because it reminds me of summer – and how much I long to go back!
Cape Breton Highlands National Park is by far one of the most beautiful places I have been. The hiking and waterfalls have us going back year after year. My 1st vacation to the highlands had me face to face with a moose …. a moment I will never forget!
I love Cavendish!
My favourite National Park is Pacific Rim National Park Reserve. I grew up in Tofino and went there on a regular basis.
My favourite historic site is Fort George National Historic Site. We took the the kids there last summer for Canada Day and it was a lot of fun. We can’t wait to go back.
Do you know what? I haven’t been to many… we really need to travel more within our own country. I’ve been to Keji though… so I’ll say there
I think that the Bruce Peninsula is my favourite, but we’ve got a historic site right in town here (HMCS Haida) that Hendrik would LOVE to visit more often!! (ps, glad that I signed on to facebook RIGHT when you posted the link!!
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