Skip the States: 11 Canadian Trips That Rival Popular U.S. Destinations

There’s nothing wrong with a classic trip to the U.S. The States have their icons—New York, Vegas, Yellowstone—and for years, it’s been the go-to for many Canadians. But in 2025, a lot of us are starting to look closer to home.

As someone who was born in Canada and has spent over 35 years travelling, road tripping, and slowly exploring this massive country, I’ve learned two things:

• You don’t need to cross the border for jaw-dropping landscapes, exciting cities, or once-in-a-lifetime experiences.
• Most people seriously underestimate just how good Canada can be.

With the exchange rate still stacked against us, long security lines, rising airfare, and a growing “support local” mindset, more Canadians are trading U.S. getaways for unforgettable trips within Canada—and honestly, they’re not missing a thing.

Below are 11 Canada travel alternatives to U.S. destinations—with added charm, beauty, and homegrown character.

Why Canadians Are Staying Local in 2025

There’s a clear shift happening in how Canadians are travelling this year—and it’s not just a vibe. The data backs it up.

A February 2025 Leger survey found that nearly half of Canadians (48%) say they’re less likely to travel to the U.S. this year, and only 10% said they’re more likely to go. Instead, Canadians are hitting the road, booking closer-to-home getaways, and rediscovering just how much our own country has to offer.

Here’s what’s behind the trend:

• Domestic travel is booming: Airbnb reports that Canadian searches for domestic stays are up nearly 20% year-over-year.
• Road trips are the go-to: 61% of Canadians skipping the U.S. in 2025 plan to explore Canada instead—many of them within their own provinces.
• Airfare and border friction are turn-offs: Flights to U.S. cities have dropped sharply, with trans-border flight bookings down 70% this summer. Airlines have cut over 320,000 seats on Canada–U.S. routes.
• Political tensions are turning people off: With trade disputes, border delays, and rhetoric heating up, many Canadians say they feel more comfortable—and more welcome—staying home.

Meanwhile, Adventure Canada reports that 71% of their guests this year are Canadian, and that number is expected to rise in 2026. “It’s inspiring to see more Canadians eager to experience the breathtaking landscapes, rich history, and incredible people that make our country so unique,” said CEO Cedar Swan.

So if you’re looking at your usual U.S. trip this year and feeling “meh” about it—you’re not alone. 2025 is the year Canadians are choosing to stay, explore, and invest in local adventures.

Let’s get into it — here are 11 Canadian destinations that rival their U.S. counterparts.

1. Las Vegas → Niagara Falls, Ontario

Over-the-top fun without the desert dehydration.

If you’re craving neon lights, high energy, and a bit of chaos, Niagara Falls delivers with Canadian flair. It’s tacky in the best way possible—wax museums, haunted houses, casinos—but it also happens to sit next to one of the most powerful waterfalls on Earth.

One of my mom’s bucket list items is visiting Niagara Falls. I went in her stead several years ago during a summer day trip from London, Ontario. The humidity during summer is no joke!

According to Forbes Travel Guide, “Niagara Falls attracts over 13 million visitors a year, making it one of Canada’s most popular destinations.” And yes, you can zipline toward the falls.

If it’s your first time visiting Canada, this guide to what travellers need to know covers things like currency, weather, tipping, and more.

Why here?
You’re already comparing a U.S. classic to a Canadian version. It’s a natural moment for someone to pause and think, “Wait, what’s different about traveling in Canada?” This gives them that answer without breaking the flow or tacking it onto the intro.

Planning Tips:

• Best time to visit: May to October
• Fly into: Land in Toronto, grab a rental car, and hit the QEW west—Niagara’s only 90 minutes away.
• Top things to do: Hornblower boat tour, fireworks over the falls, Clifton Hill, Skylon Tower
• Perfect for you if: You want spectacle with a side of spray and don’t take travel too seriously.

2. Yellowstone → Banff or Jasper, Alberta

Wildlife, mountains, and lakes that look photoshopped.

The Canadian Rockies give you all the natural drama of Yellowstone—plus glacier-fed lakes, world-class hiking, and bears that politely ignore you.

Yellowstone is wild, but Banff is polished wilderness—where the bears ignore you, and the coffee’s still good. Jasper is quieter and more rugged. Between them: the Icefields Parkway, aka Canada’s most scenic drive.

And it’s getting busier: Banff saw over 4.3 million visitors in 2024, its busiest year on record. With 2025 off to a booming start, many Canadians are skipping long-haul flights and choosing to explore these parks instead.

Planning Notes:

• Best time to visit: June–September
• Fly into: Calgary or Edmonton
• Don’t miss: Lake Louise, Maligne Lake, Icefields Parkway
• Perfect for you if… you’re into mountains, fresh air, and scenic drives that make you pull over every 10 minutes.

Related Posts:
– The Top 10 Beaches in Alberta That You Need to Visit
– Exploring Banff National Park
– Driving to Calgary from Vancouver Best Road Trip Routes

3. Alaska → Yukon Territory

Wilderness without the cruise ships, and northern lights almost all to yourself.

The Yukon gives you all the awe of Alaska—just without the crowds and cruise terminals. Towering peaks, wide open skies, quiet highways, and remote towns full of stories. I road-tripped it solo and felt like I was in a nature documentary half the time.

In 2025, it’s not just adventurers heading north—more Canadians are adding Yukon to their bucket list, thanks to the surge in domestic travel. Adventure Canada reported 71% of its 2025 guests are Canadian, and many are exploring Yukon and Northwest Territories for the first time.

Planning Notes:

• Best time to visit: June–September (or Feb–March for Northern Lights)
• Fly into: Whitehorse
• Don’t miss: Dawson City, Tombstone Mountains, Kluane National Park
• Perfect for you if… you want remote, rugged beauty and a story no one else in your group chat is telling.

4. Napa Valley → Okanagan Valley, BC

Wine, sunshine, and award-winning vineyards you didn’t know were world-class.

Think Napa’s got the monopoly on great wine? The Okanagan Valley and Niagara-on-the-Lake have been racking up international awards, with gold medals from the International Wine & Spirits Competition.

And it’s not just about wine—it’s the whole lifestyle: lakeside tastings, slow afternoons on sun-drenched patios, and boutique wineries you’ll brag about discovering early. Bookings in wine country are up in 2025, especially among Canadians choosing “luxury without the airfare.”

Planning Notes:

• Best time: May–October
• Fly into: Kelowna or Hamilton (for Niagara)
• Don’t miss: Naramata Bench, Icewine tastings, vineyard picnics
• Perfect for you if… you want slow, sunny days and local Chardonnay instead of California crowds.

Related post: Is Kelowna Worth Visiting? Here’s Why It’s One of BC’s Best Destinations

5. Grand Canyon → Drumheller & Alberta’s Badlands

Fossils, canyons, and alien landscapes with a prehistoric twist.

Drumheller is like walking on Mars—if Mars had a world-class dinosaur museum. The hoodoos, dusty trails, and rich fossil beds give it the kind of rugged charm that rivals the American Southwest.

Drumheller may not have a canyon 277 miles long, but it does have life-size dino skeletons, which is cooler anyway.

The Royal Tyrrell Museum is internationally renowned, and with 2025’s increase in regional road trips, Drumheller is gaining new popularity among travellers staying in-province.

Planning Notes:

• Best time: May–October
• Fly into: Calgary
• Don’t miss: Hoodoo Trail, Royal Tyrrell Museum, Horseshoe Canyon
• Perfect for you if… you love surreal scenery and Jurassic Park vibes without border waits.

Related post: Why the Drumheller Royal Tyrrell Museum is a Must-Visit Spot in Alberta

6. Arizona/New Mexico → BC’s Gold Rush Trail

History, dry canyons, and frontier towns—with more pine trees and fewer passport checks.

I spent six days driving BC’s Gold Rush Trail solo, and it was the perfect blend of wild scenery and living history. From the Fraser Canyon to Barkerville, this route tells a different kind of story—one rooted in Indigenous trade, colonial expansion, and gold fever.

Planning Notes:

• Best time: May–September
• Start in: Vancouver
• Don’t miss: Yale Historic Site, Clinton, Barkerville, Cariboo Mountains
• Perfect for you if… you like a bit of history with your highway and scenery that changes every 100km.

7. Maine Coast → Nova Scotia or PEI

Sea breezes, lighthouses, and lobster rolls without the U.S. border.

Nova Scotia and PEI feel like the Canadian version of coastal New England—but with fewer crowds and better oysters. Whether you’re driving the Cabot Trail or walking red-sand beaches on PEI, the vibe is relaxed, salty, and impossibly charming.

And 2025 is a great time to go: Atlantic Canada’s whale-watching industry is booming, with Newfoundland hosting the world’s largest humpback population—around 10,000 whales a season.

Planning Notes:

• Best time: June–September
• Fly into: Halifax or Charlottetown
• Don’t miss: Peggy’s Cove, Green Gables, Cabot Trail, Witless Bay
• Perfect for you if… you want your trip to smell like salt air and your suitcase to come home smelling like lavender and lobster butter.

8. Lake Tahoe → Muskoka or the Laurentians

Cottagecore vibes, fall colours, and loons calling at dusk.

Canada’s lake districts are the definition of slow travel. Muskoka (in Ontario) and the Laurentians (in Quebec) are top summer destinations—and now, they’re increasingly booked by Canadians who might have otherwise flown south.

You don’t need to deal with airports or international insurance to enjoy swimming, stargazing, and woodsy wine nights.

Planning Notes:

• Best time: June–October
• Fly into: Toronto or Montreal
• Don’t miss: Fall colour drives, dockside mornings, boutique resorts
• Perfect for you if… you want something simple, beautiful, and deeply Canadian.

9. Florida Beaches → Tofino or the Gulf Islands, BC

Salt air, soft sand, and soul—not sunscreen overload.

Tofino’s beaches are wild and cinematic. They don’t need palm trees—they’ve got driftwood, sea stacks, and forest-backed sand that feels sacred. For something gentler, BC’s Gulf Islands like Salt Spring Island or Galiano Island offer calm waters and artsy charm (don’t miss Salt Spring Island’s Saturday Market).

And as cross-border bookings drop sharply in 2025—with a 70% fall-off in Canada-to-U.S. flights this summer—destinations like these are soaking up the interest.

Planning Notes:

• Best time: May–September
• Fly into: Vancouver (then ferry + drive or fly to Tofino)
• Don’t miss: Long Beach, island kayaking, forest hikes, and surfing lessons
• Perfect for you if… you want quiet beaches, deep breaths, and salt in your hair—not in your margarita.

10. Seattle → Vancouver

Coffee, coastal views, and a skyline backed by snow-capped peaks.

Vancouver is everything you love about Seattle—plus mountains, Japanese food on every corner, and bike rides that make you forget you’re in a city. It’s casual, cosmopolitan, and perfectly placed between sea and slope.

Planning Notes:

• Best time: May–October
• Fly into: Vancouver
• Don’t miss: Stanley Park Seawall, Grouse Mountain gondola, Capilano Suspension Bridge Park in North Vancouver
• Perfect for you if… you want city culture + rainforest vibes in one weekend.

Related Posts:
– Things to Do in Vancouver in Summer to Enjoy the Weather
– 10 Best Rainy Season Activities for Fall in Vancouver
– Vancouver in Winter: What to Expect, How to Prepare, and Best Things to Do
– 21 Best Vancouver in Spring Activities and Break Ideas

11. New York City → Toronto or Montréal

Urban buzz, big culture, and night-outs with poutine instead of pretzels.

Toronto and Montréal are having a moment in 2025. With more Canadians skipping U.S. city breaks, and Americans looking north for something fresh, these cities are offering everything from European-style markets and indie art scenes to global eats and late-night festivals.

Montréal is widely considered Canada’s nightlife capital, while Toronto’s diversity and neighbourhood charm make it endlessly explorable.

Planning Notes:

• Best time: May–October
• Fly into: Toronto Pearson or Montreal-Trudeau
• Don’t miss: Kensington Market, Old Port, Distillery District, Plateau Mont-Royal
• Perfect for you if… you want the buzz of NYC with the bonus of butter tarts and more affordable boutique hotels.

Planning Your Canadian Getaway in 2025

If you’re thinking about swapping your usual U.S. trip for something closer to home, the good news is: you’ve got options. The kind that don’t require currency conversion, customs lines, or an “I swear I packed travel insurance” moment at the airport.

Here are a few tips to make it easy:

Book early—especially for summer travel.
Canada’s most popular spots (Banff, Tofino, Niagara) are already seeing record interest for 2025. If you’ve got your eye on a cabin, cottage, or boutique hotel, don’t wait too long to lock it in.

Think regionally.
You don’t need to fly across the country to find something epic. Many of these destinations—like Drumheller, the Gold Rush Trail, or the Laurentians—can be done as long weekend road trips from major cities.

Pack for microclimates.
Yes, it’s summer—but Canada’s geography is wild. A single trip could mean rainforest rain, prairie wind, and alpine sunburn. Layers will be your best friend.

Travel midweek if you can.
Avoid peak crowds (and sometimes save hundreds) by arriving midweek, especially in July and August. Ferries, flights, and hotel prices are all friendlier Tuesday–Thursday.

Don’t try to “do it all.”
One of the best parts of staying in Canada is knowing you can always come back. Pick one or two places that speak to you—and give yourself the time to actually enjoy them.

Written by a Canadian travel writer with 35+ years of road trip obsession and an embarrassing number of Provincial Park maps.

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