Visiting Canada with kids
As the second largest country in the world, perhaps it’s not too shameful that I haven’t come close to exploring all of Canada. In fact, a short break in Toronto (which I loved) has been the extent of it – so far.
I’d love to discover more of the French-speaking provinces, maybe a magical winter trip to Quebec, plus another city break over in Vancouver. And find some bears… I know there’s a lot of Canada without bears (Toronto for starters) but the chance to spot them in the wild would be incredible.
It’s the perfect country to explore with kids of any age too. All the facilities you’d want for babies and toddlers, more adventure with older kids, and everything from city to country plus some dinosaurs thrown in. Here are my three ways to see Canada with kids.
Canada self-drive holiday with kids
With all those wide open spaces, Canada is the perfect place to get behind the wheel and explore. It’s easy to build your itinerary to your family – whether that means lots of stops for little ones or heading off the beaten track.
Canada holiday specialists can arrange self-drive tours too if you’re not sure where to start. Imagine driving through the spectacular Canadian Rockies, passing mountain scenery and the incredible bluey-green Lake Louise.
They’re even home to those bears I mentioned – although they tend to steer clear of humans – and you can try wolf watching too.
On a Banff to Jasper road trip, you’ll drive the Icefields Parkway, one of the best road names ever, which passes glaciers and waterfalls.
Or enjoy a gentler landscape with vineyards and valleys around Vancouver before some city life to finish the trip.
For more tips on planning a road trip with kids, including some great road trip activities for kids, check out my other posts
Canada with kids: Motorhome holiday
If the wild is calling, swap your car for a motorhome – the freedom to explore as the mood takes you and Canada’s gorgeous scenery to wake up to every morning.
If you want to keep flying time down, Ontario is one of the closest provinces to the UK and has some of the country’s biggest attractions. There’s Niagara Falls, for starters, plus the city of Toronto just two hours away with its multicultural neighbourhoods, laid-back islands and beach.
It’s also home to the museums and galleries of capital Ottawa, and a string of national parks. The wilderness and lakeside campsites of Algonquin Provincial Park are only a couple of hours from the cities too.
Canada small group tour with kids
If you’re packing in as much as possible, or travelling solo with kids (as I often) do, escorted small group tours can be a great option. Kids get ready-made new friends and someone else takes responsibility for a lot of the practicalities.
Make the most of that fact by squeezing in a mini break to New York first, both the Big Apple and the stunning Finger Lakes in upstate New York, before crossing the border into Canada.
In less than a week, you can marvel at Niagara, explore Toronto and Montreal and discover Canada’s scenery. Kids will love curling up in a sleeping bag every night as you camp around too.
Main image courtesy Canadian Tourism Commission, all other images courtesy Depositphotos
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I’d love to take the kids on a tour of Canada, it’s such an amazing place.
Definitely – so much to see there.
Your photos are lovely! Never been to Canada, but it’s one of those countries I’d love to visit and explore too. Would love to go camping in the wilds, but scared of bears 😉
I definitely think I prefer bears at a safe distance! And thank you but they’re not my images sadly – hopefully one day I’ll get out there to take my own photos.
This looks amazing – a few of my friends have just returned from Canada, and they have said that they would love to take their kids if they have any one day! H x
It does sound perfect for families, I think.
I would love to take Monkey to Canada. We have family in Toronto and I spent many summers in Ontario. I think the motorhome holiday would be just so much fun!
Oh perfect – you can do both in one trip. I shall have to remember if and when I do go to Ontario.
Oh my goodness your photos are fantastic! My parents have been to Canada and I loved looking at their photos and hearing all about it. A place that I would definitely love to visit in a few years time x
It’s a fantastic country isn’t it – and I wish I could take credit for the photos, but sadly not. Another good reason to go and take plenty.
I would love to go to Canada, from the stunning mix of landscapes to the warm community Canada is the place to be. I heard it is great for the kids too especially those who are into sports.
The scenery is just stunning – and I think it would be great if you’ve got outdoorsy/sporty kids especially.
I’ve been several times in Canada and loved it a lot. Even in winter time when the kids could slide down the waterfall as it was frozen. Where else is that possible #CityTripping
Now that would be incredible!
i love the photos.. Canada really looks amazing.. maybe a bit too far to travel for me with a little one but maybe in a few years …
Maybe so – it’s about 7-7 1/2h to the east coast cities, so about the same as New York.
I would love to go to Canada, it’s one of the only places I really want to go. But the OH isn’t that keen even though he’s got family friends over there from years ago.
Oh that’s a shame – there’s so much to do there, I hope you can persuade him. Or time for a solo trip?
Canada is totally my bucket list place. I’ve wanted to go for years and years (I really want to go on a train through the Rockies……)
That would be amazing too – the views would be incredible, and probably a good one with older kids too.
i’d love to travel to Canada, my friend is originally from there and she goes back regularly for visits always jealous when i see her pictures and status updates on social media. looks like a stunning place to see. x
Ah she can give you some great tips too if you go.
I’d so love to go to Canada, with a train trip through the Rockies being on my personal bucket list!
Great post, great tips and great photos which make me want to visit RIGHT NOW!!
Anna x
A few people have mentioned a train trip through the Rockies – that would be an amazing way to see the scenery, I think. And thanks! I always aim to give people itchy feet 🙂
We had a taster of this a few years ago when we camped in the Rockies and spent some time on Vancouver Island. Would love to return. Thanks for the ideas.
Oh that sounds very fun – and Vancouver Island looks gorgeous too.