Summer time Journey in Canada 2025: Exploring Atlantic Canada with Youngsters

With summer time across the nook, many households are trying nearer to house for his or her subsequent journey and there’s no higher time to rediscover the fantastic thing about Canada. From coast to coast, the nation gives a various panorama of experiences good for household journey, whether or not you’re chasing waterfalls, exploring charming small cities, having fun with the good outside, or simply desirous to unwind at a resort.

On this multi-part sequence, let’s break it down by journeying throughout the nation, exploring family-friendly locations area by area, from the coastal charms of the East coast to the rugged fantastic thing about the West. I’ll share a few of the enjoyable experiences my household has loved, together with locations which might be nonetheless on our hit listing.

Let’s begin off with Atlantic Canada, the place when you love the good outside, there’s positively lots to see and discover.

Prince Edward Island

Prince Edward Island delights households with its iconic pink sand seashores and a contact of literary magic. At Inexperienced Gables Heritage Place in Cavendish, children can step into the world of Anne of Inexperienced Gables and convey the beloved story to life.

Of the quite a few seashores that dot the island, my high picks are:

• Cavendish Seashore. which gives good sandcastle-building with supervised swimming areas
• Basin Head Provincial Park, nicknamed “Singing Sands Seashore”, which options distinctive squeaking sand and a maritime museum
• Thunder Cove Seashore. which gives secluded pink cliffs and a well-known sandstone arch good for exploring throughout low tide.

Really useful Keep: Delta Resorts Prince Edward in downtown Charlottetown gives spacious, no-frills lodging with an indoor pool, all inside an hour’s drive of most of Prince Edward Island’s high sights.

Nightly charges this summer time vary from $300–400 (all costs in CAD) or 39,000–50,000 Marriott Bonvoy factors, which suggests you could possibly use a 35K Free Night time Award (with a factors top-up) that comes yearly with the Marriott Bonvoy® American Specific®* Card.

Paying on your Marriott keep together with your card will earn 5 Marriott Bonvoy factors per greenback spent, serving to you rack up rewards quicker on your subsequent redemption.

Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia

Cape Breton Island enchants guests with its breathtaking coastal views, greatest skilled alongside the scenic Cabot Path. Cape Breton Highlands Nationwide Park gives seashores, climbing trails, wildlife recognizing and spectacular views.

One family-friendly hike to not miss is the Skyline Path—simple, rewarding, and providing sweeping vistas.

For one thing completely different that celebrates Canadian heritage, head to the seasonal Alexander Graham Bell Nationwide Historic Website, the place children can get hands-on with interactive reveals and discover the world of invention.

On the south facet of the Cape Breton, go to the Fortress of Louisbourg the place historical past comes alive with costumed interpreters and demonstrations. 

Really useful Keep: Cape Breton Villas is a good trip rental property to discover the northern a part of the Cabot Path from. It’s proper near the coast and gives as much as 4-bedroom villas. Costs begin at simply over $300 per night time for a 2 bed room villa in the course of the summer time.

When you’ve got golfers within the household and are up for a splurge, the Cabot Cape Breton gives luxurious however expensive rooms and villas with gorgeous coastal views. I stayed right here a couple of years in the past on a {couples}’ golf journey and whereas I’m not a golfer myself, I’d return only for the setting.

Vacation Inn Sydney-Waterfront, positioned additional south, gives comfy lodging with an indoor pool and waterslide and quick access to downtown sights for below $200–300 per night time, or an affordable 26,000–40,000 IHG One Rewardsfactors per night time.

St. Andrews by-the-Sea, New Brunswick

Should you’re searching for a resort-style escape in a picturesque coastal city, St. Andrews by-the-Sea in New Brunswick is a improbable alternative. Certainly one of Jap Canada’s most charming small cities, it’s stuffed with boutique outlets, artwork galleries, and a laid-back seaside vibe.

On the town you’ll additionally discover the Kingsbrae Backyard, the place children can work together with alpacas whereas having fun with the floral shows. When the tide goes out, you possibly can even drive throughout the ocean ground to succeed in Minister’s Island, as soon as house to Canadian Pacific Railway President Sir William Van Horne.

For an up-close take a look at the area’s marine life, go to the Fundy Discovery Aquarium for hands-on reveals nice for teenagers. Older children and adults can be a part of one in every of their Huntsman Marine Experiences – land and boat day excursions led by skilled naturalists–for an immersive, enjoyable, and academic dive into the area’s sealife.

Should you’re already in New Brunswick, it’s properly price making the three.5-hour drive to Hopewell Rocks Provincial Park, the place you possibly can stroll on the ocean ground at low tide and marvel on the towering rock formations.

Really useful Keep: The Algonquin Resort St. Andrews by-the-Sea, Autograph Assortment is the place you’ll need to stick with your loved ones. This full-service resort has all of the facilities you’d need for a enjoyable, laid again household trip, with an indoor pool and waterslide, out of doors pool, and Playzone video games room.

Nightly charges this summer time vary from $300–500 per night time. Base room redemptions vary from 37,000–50,000 Marriott Bonvoy factors per night time, however sadly solely accommodate as much as two company.

Should you’re reserving a money price, remember to get in contact with our journey company, Prince Assortment, for a quote. This property participates in Marriott Luminous, and we’re capable of provide further perks comparable to complimentary breakfast, a $100 USD resort credit score, and extra, all at no further price to you.

Sable Island, Nova Scotia

Should you’re up for a splurge and a novel journey, Sable Island sits 300 km southeast of Halifax. This distant sandbar is known for sand dunes and wildlife. Entry requires chartered flights or boat excursions from Halifax with advance Parks Canada permits. 

Points of interest embody observing wild horses, beachcombing pristine shores, and photographing numerous chook populations and seal colonies. With no on-island lodging, households ought to base in Halifax. 

Though the resorts in Halifax are cheap, the island expertise doesn’t come low cost, with transfers costing at minimal $2,000 per individual, however it will likely be a memorable one. This premium tour gives a once-in-a-lifetime alternative to see one in every of Canada’s most protected ecosystem.

When you’re in Halifax, take a look at the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic. It’s an academic and fascinating cease for teenagers who love ships, tales, and hands-on discovery. They will discover actual boats, study pirates and the Titanic. Afterwards, seize lunch and let the children burn off some vitality on the harbourfront play space.

Really useful Keep: Muir, a Luxurious Assortment Lodge, Halifax  gives an expensive possibility alongside the harbour for ~$700 or 72,000–80,000 Bonvoy factors per night time for a room with two queen beds. This property can be part of Marriott STARS, a most popular accomplice program accessible via our in-house journey company, Prince Assortment.

For extra economical choices, there’s the brand new Moxy Halifax Downtown for below $300 or 25,000–33,000 Bonvoy factors per night time, or a full-service resort with a pool, contemplate the Halifax Marriott Harbourfront Lodge for ~$400 or 42,000–49,000 Bonvoy factors per night time. 

Fogo Island, Newfoundland

Fogo Island gives a particular expertise on Newfoundland’s northeast coast. This distant vacation spot options rugged magnificence, conventional fishing tradition, and world-class structure. 

Other than taking within the wonderful ocean views, summer time is a good time for climbing the various terrain, whale watching, puffin viewing, berry choosing, and presumably iceberg viewing when you’re fortunate.

The Marine Interpretation Centre additionally gives interactive reveals about native marine life whereas on the Picket Boat Museum children can study boat constructing.

Really useful Keep: The architecturally gorgeous Fogo Island Inn gives an ultra-luxury, all-inclusive expertise and welcomes youngsters aged 8 and older. Meals and native experiences like hikes, jam-making, foraging, wildlife watching, and extra, are all included.

Ebook this property via our in-house journey company, Prince Assortment, which might give you entry to unique perks to raise your keep.

Funds-conscious choices are additionally accessible for $200–300 an evening all through the island and will be booked via Airbnb (and bear in mind to e-book via British Airways’s platform to earn Avios on your keep).

Gros Morne Nationwide Park, Newfoundland

Gros Morne Nationwide Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Website in Newfoundland, isn’t only for hardcore hikers–it’s an unbelievable playground for households, too. With its dramatic fjords and views that rival these of New Zealand, quiet seashores, and simple trails, there’s one thing for teenagers of all ages to take pleasure in. 

The Discovery Centre options interactive reveals explaining the park’s distinctive geology in kid-friendly methods earlier than embarking on a climbing path. For a comparatively flat, simple hike, the place it seems such as you’re strolling on Mars, take a look at the beginner-friendly Tablelands path.

The Inexperienced Gardens path gives an extended trek that results in coastal cliffs, sea stacks, and grassy meadows. Lastly, for many who are up for a climb, take a look at the Lookout path for wonderful panoramic views. 

For a extra stress-free day, households can discover tidal swimming pools at Shallow Bay Seashore or take a ship tour of Western Brook Pond for a better view of the spectacular fjords, towering cliffs, and waterfalls. 

Really useful Keep: You’ll need to keep near the the Nationwide Park to reap the benefits of all it has to supply. The cities of Rocky Harbour, Norris Level, and Woody Level are 10–45 minutes away and will likely be your only option.

Sadly, they don’t have resort chains like Hilton, Marriott, or Vacation Inn. As a substitute, they provide a number of domestically owned mattress and breakfasts and boutique lodging that present a extra intimate and genuine expertise. Many of those will be booked via Airbnb. 

Utilizing Mounted-Worth Packages in Atlantic Canada

As you enterprise past the cities within the Maritimes, you may discover a scarcity of big-name resort chains. A good way to offset the price of boutique stays or Airbnbs is by utilizing bank cards that provide fixed-value rewards packages.

For instance, Scene+ factors earned via a Scotiabank Gold American Specific® Card will be redeemed in opposition to any journey purchases at a price of 100 Scene+ factors to a $1.

Alternatively, TD Rewards Factors earned via a TD First Class Journey® Visa Infinite* Card will also be redeemed for journey purchases. Each 200 factors is price $1 off journey purchases on Expedia for TD, which is one of the best redemption possibility for his or her program. 

Conclusion

If your loved ones loves the good outside, the Atlantic provinces provide loads of locations good for a summer time getaway. This submit highlighted just some, however hopefully it’s sparked your curiosity in exploring the East Coast for some household enjoyable this 12 months.

Staying inside Canada means your greenback goes additional—with out sacrificing the journey. Keep tuned for the subsequent submit the place we’ll discover the opposite Jap provinces, Ontario and Quebec.