St. John’s, Newfoundland - Signal Hill

Signal Hill is the setting of the first Trans-Atlantic radio transmission sent by Guglielmo Marconi on December 12, 1901. It’s located about 3 km from St. John’s, where the Trans-Canada Highway begins.

Photo Credit: Parks Canada

Bay of Fundy & Annapolis Valley, Nova Scotia - Fort Anne National Historic Site

Before it became Fort Anne, this was traditionally a fishing spot for the Mi’kmaq. Now it’s considered Canada’s first Historic Site, administered in 1917. Annapolis Royal, situated in Fort Anne, also boasts Canada’s oldest English graveyard. Candlelight Graveyard Tours are offered from June to October.

Photo Credit: C. Reardon

Cavendish, Prince Edward Island - Green Gables

You cannot go through PEI, without going to Cavendish, the home of Green Gables. This famous setting is set in the Prince Edward Island National Park and pays homage to the ultimate Canadian heroine, Anne Shirley of Anne of Green Gables.

Photo Credit: Tourism PEI

Florenceville-Bristol, New Brunswick - Potato World Museum  

Located at the French Fry Capital of the World, Potato World is just off the Trans-Canada Highway and boasts 2 acres of displays, antique machinery, and a potato variety garden.   Check out their Harvest Cafe where they offer some awesome gourmet fries!

Photo Credit: Potato World

Old Montreal, Québec - Basilique Notre-Dame de Montréal

The Basilique Notre-Dame in Montreal overwhelms all your senses with its colour, history, and beauty. The construction of the present day Basilica was completed in 1829, making this the oldest example of Gothic Revival religious architecture in Canada. Its location in Old Montreal lets you sample some coffee from their many independent coffee houses like Cafe Myriade, Tommy Cafe + Apero, or Xavier Artisan.

Photo Credit: @redbeardhikes on Instagram

Barrie, Ontario - The Spirit Catcher

With beautiful Lake Simcoe as its centrepiece, most of Barrie’s must-see landmarks are on the waterfront. The Spirit Catcher sculpture is the most recognizable. Designed by Ron Baird for the 1986 EXPO in Vancouver, the Spirit Catcher represents the Aboriginal People of Canada, and was inspired by the Aboriginal myth of the Thunderbird.

Photo Credit: @sweetfeet333 on Instagram

Brandon, Manitoba - “Wheat City”

The Trans-Canada Highway splits in “Wheat City”, Brandon’s nickname due to its rich and vigorous farming community. The main southern route takes you through Regina, Calgary, and Vancouver, while the northern route takes you through Saskatoon, Edmonton, and Prince Rupert.

Photo Credit: Travel Manitoba

Saskatoon, Saskatchewan - Wanuskewin Heritage Park

This National Historic Site interprets over 6,000 years of Northern Plains Indigenous peoples’ culture. The park contains walking trails, an art gallery, and offers guided tours of its archaeological dig site, as well as a tipi raising and traditional dance performances.   

Photo Credit: Wanuskewin Heritage Park

Lake Louise, Alberta - Lake Louise

Located in Banff National Park, there’s no shortage of activities at Lake Louise. You can bike, hike, swim, raft, kayak, and more! You’ll build up quite an appetite, so make sure you try out the local grub at Cabin Cafe, Lake Agnes Tea House, or Laggan’s Mountain Bakeries & Delicatessen.

Photo Credit: Traveller Made

Revelstoke, British Columbia - The Enchanted Forest

There’s no better way to entertain the kidlets than to immerse them in a forest filled with storybook characters in an enchanting setting. The trail showcases over 350 folk art figurines, a castle, dungeons, a giant cedar stump house, and the tallest treehouse in BC measuring 50 feet high! It’s set in one of the province’s old growth forests in the Monashee Mountains, right by the Trans-Canada highway.

Photo Credit: Enchanted Forest BC

Dawson City, Yukon - “Paris of the North”

Dawson City is known as the “Paris of the North”. Here you get to experience the Klondike Gold Rush through theatrical performances, museums, and a little gambling at the Diamond Tooth Gerties.

Photo Credit: @takkiwrites on Instagram

Yellowknife, Northwest Territories - Old Town Yellowknife

A real gem to visit is the Wildcat Cafe. Located in Old Town, this restaurant is a log cabin and serves rustic foods like northern fish and game meats. Great Slave Lake is another treasure. The city is built on its shore, and it’s the second largest lake in the NWT, and is the deepest lake in North America!

Photo Credit: Spectacular NWT

Iqaluit, Nunavut -  Iqaluit

Pretty much cold all year long, Nunavut is a great stop for those who want to go ice-fishing, whale watching, dog-sledding, or touring the Floe Edge. If you arrive here  in late June or early July, you can enjoy 24 hours of sunlight!

Photo Credit: Alianait

Remember to stock up on Lynx to make sure your roadtrip now, and years from now, is smooth and trouble-free. Mountains and lakes, skyscrapers and lighthouses, flat plains of gold and rocky shores -- Oh, Canada indeed!