Canada Beyond the Bucket List
18/05/2026
Holidays to Canada has a habit of surprising people.
Everyone arrives expecting the postcard moments, turquoise lakes, dramatic mountains, maple syrup poured over everything, and those absolutely deliver. But the real magic? It’s hidden in the places that don’t always make the front cover.
And it has been tried and tested by Emma, from our Swindon Regent Street Branch, and has found that there is “more than meets the eye” feeling, as she journeyed around the Great North.
Canada: The Side Nobody Talks About Enough
There’s a version of Canada you already know. Towering peaks in Banff. Toronto glittering after dark. Niagara Falls is doing what Niagara Falls does best, showing off. But beyond the bucket-list giants lies another Canada entirely. Slower. Wilder. More surprising.
The kind of place where you can kayak across an ocean floor in the morning, sip local wine by sunset and end the day eating seafood so fresh it barely needs introducing. Because Canada isn’t just one trip. It’s hundreds of tiny moments stitched across provinces, coastlines and mountain roads, and the best ones are usually the least expected.
The East Coast that Steals the Show
In New Brunswick, forests seem to stretch endlessly, wrapping around winding roads, fishing towns and dramatic coastal trails. Around 80% of the province is covered by forest, which means road trips here feel cinematic, windows down, playlists on, nowhere to rush to.
And while people often picture Canada as icy-cold year-round, the coastline here tells a different story. At La Dune de Bouctouche, the sea is famously warm, surprisingly so for somewhere north of the Carolinas, with sweeping sandy beaches that feel worlds away from the rugged image many travellers expect.
Halifax? Cool without trying too hard, Nova Scotia’s capital balances laid-back coastal charm with a genuinely exciting food scene. The waterfront buzzes from morning to night, lined with seafood spots, bars, and rows of deckchairs facing the harbour, designed for relaxing. Even the accommodations feel part of the experience, with Halifax’s Moxy Downtown bringing a younger, social energy to the city.
Canada’s Unexpected Wine Country
Mention wine regions and most people think Tuscany, Napa or the South of France. Canada rarely enters the conversation, which feels like a mistake.
Tucked into New Brunswick’s rolling countryside, Magnetic Hill Winery feels intimate and quietly brilliant. Family-run and deeply passionate about what they produce, it’s the sort of place where long dinners stretch late into the evening, glasses are constantly refilled, and nobody checks the time. But it’s not just New Brunswick. British Columbia’s Okanagan Valley has become one of North America’s most exciting wine regions, known for crisp whites, silky pinots and vineyard terraces overlooking sun-drenched lakes.
The Tides That Change Everything
At Hopewell Rocks Provincial Park, the landscape works on its own schedule. Twice a day, the Bay of Fundy tides completely transform the coastline. When the tide is low, visitors descend staircases onto the ocean floor, weaving between towering rock formations carved over thousands of years. Hours later, those same pathways disappear beneath rising water.
And if standing on the ocean floor isn’t enough, kayaking through the caves and rock tunnels as the tides shift feels even more surreal. It’s dramatic and adventurous, the kind of experience Canada does exceptionally well.
Emma's Top Three Things You Probably Won't Expect When Travelling Around Canada:
The weather changes constantly
Especially on the East Coast, where locals joke that you can experience four seasons in one single day. They’re rarely exaggerating either, so packing light layers and a waterproof is always the smartest way to travel.
Distances are vast across Canada
Canada looks enormous on a map, but once you begin travelling through it, the scale feels even greater. That’s exactly why road trips work beautifully here, with every journey becoming part of the adventure.
Culture shapes so much
Some of the most memorable moments come from connecting with local communities and traditions. Experiences like the Elsipogtog Mi'kmaq Cultural Centre reveal a deeper side beyond the scenery alone.
Canada Rewards Curiosity
The best version of Canada happens when you go slightly off-script. When you stop at roadside seafood shacks that weren’t on the itinerary. When you pull over because the coastline suddenly looks unreal. When a hidden winery becomes the highlight of the trip, you thought it would be all about mountains.
So if Emma's trip has made you fall in love with idea of a Canada holiday, why not see where you could end up in the Big North, or pop into your local branch and speak to one of out experts.