Where you lay your head during your Canadian vacation is about much more than the size of the bed or plumpness of the pillows. These seven lodgings, from Newfoundland to British Columbia, help visitors find authentic culture and inspiring adventures.
Fogo Island Inn, Newfoundland
Best for: Community connections
Canadian visionary Zita Cobb opened this architectural stunner on Fogo Island off the northeast coast of Newfoundland in 2013, as a way to provide cultural and economic support to the tiny fishing community. Storytelling quilts from an all-women’s cooperative accent the walls; the North Atlantic cod served at the on-site restaurant is fished sustainably from local shores and processed at the on-island fishery. Executive Chef Tim Charles understands that the popularity of any given fish dish can literally impact the livelihood of almost everyone on island. Ensuring guests understand that impact is a large part of the Inn’s mission, he says: “We honor that first.”
Good to know: The Inn connects guests with community hosts. Mostly seniors, these fiercely loyal islanders take guests on tours that reveal their day-to-day lives on the remote island.
Wander the Resort, Ontario
Best for: Water therapy
This Scandi-inspired, 10-cabin collection sits on the shores of West Lake, in Prince Edward County, a farming community about two hours east of Toronto favored by chefs and winemakers. “Many of us have core memories rooted in summer camp and family camping trips,” says owner Shannon Hunter, who developed the property with family, friendship, and relaxation in mind. “The crackle of a campfire, the smell of cedar, the sound of wind in the trees, board games by candlelight…we have taken these snapshots and woven them seamlessly into a luxury experience.” Opening this summer, Wander’s new 10,000-square-foot spa—which includes a collection of pools, sauna and steam rooms, and beach-side napping tents—is bound to elevate your last “camping” experience.
Good to know: Head to the nearby towns of Picton and Wellington for homemade ice cream, craft cider, and award-winning wines.
Klahoose Wilderness Resort, British Columbia
In Desolation Sound, British Columbia, Klahoose Wilderness Resort offers all-inclusive, immersive Indigenous cultural experiences along with wildlife viewing, kayaking, and grizzly-bear expeditions.
Off-grid cedar cabins at the Indigenous-owned Klahoose Wilderness Resort overlook the waters of Desolation Sound.
Photograph by Destination Canada
Best for: Indigenous culture
This all-inclusive eco resort in Desolation Sound, about 95 miles north of Vancouver, is only accessible by seaplane or boat. Wildlife experts lead guests on boat expeditions and trips out to viewing towers to safely watch whales or bears. And in the evening, First Nations ambassadors engage visitors in activities such as cedar weaving, sweetgrass braiding, and smudging ceremonies, cultural traditions that predate Canada’s nationhood.
Good to know: The resort is owned entirely by the Klahoose First Nation, and money spent here supports preservation and protection of the land and its people.
Chelsea Hotel, Toronto
Best for: Family-friendly fun
At this heart-of-downtown hotel, a 130-foot waterslide, retro gaming arcade, and pair of resident bunnies are guaranteed kid magnets. “You won’t find offerings in any other hotel as you do at Chelsea,” says pool attendant Valerie Montinat-Descomme, who notes that there’s an entire “family fun zone” dedicated to kids’ and teens’ activities. (Think ping pong tournaments, movies, arts and crafts, and bingo.) Continue playing off-site with discounts at more than 20 family-friendly city attractions, including Little Canada, the Ontario Science Centre, and Ripley’s Aquarium; just show your room key.
Good to know: Chelsea’s Closing the GAP (Guest Accessibility Package) program provides a more comfortable stay to guests with disabilities, with helpful information on everything from accessible washroom locations to braille menus and off-site transportation services.
Fairmont Queen Elizabeth, Montreal
Best for: Celebrity sightings
Steps from popular Montreal shopping street Rue Sainte-Catherine and Quebec cultural landmarks like the Notre-Dame Basilica, the Queen Elizabeth is where John Lennon and Yoko Ono wrote “Give Peace a Chance” from a suite bed in 1969. “One of our bellmen takes a lot of pride [in] telling the ‘Bed-In’ history to guests, and even sometimes plays a Beatles song [on] a guitar for them,” says marketing director Michele Guzzo. High-profile guests continue to be drawn to this iconic property. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has taken to announcing election wins here too.
Good to know: The hotel works with Giant Steps—a professional training school for people with autism—to help make inclusive hires and to train hotel staff to be better prepared to welcome guests and colleagues on the autism spectrum.
Glacier View Lodge, Alberta
Near Glacier View Lodge, the Columbia Icefield Skywalk offers majestic views of Jasper National Park and Alberta’s Rocky Mountain glaciers.
Photograph by Onfokus, Getty Images
Best For: Natural wonders
This secluded property lies between two national parks in the Canadian Rockies, not far from the Columbia Icefield, the largest icefield in the region. Floor-to-ceiling windows in the lobby offer riveting views of the Athabasca Glacier, one of six glaciers fed by the Icefield. Guests can board an all-terrain Ice Explorer for the chance to see (and learn about) the environmental effects that have led to the glaciers’ retreat as a result of climate change. “It’s one of those experiences that leaves a lasting impact,” says Jacob Wilson, a dispatcher for the Ice Explorers. “No one is going to forget the first time that they went on a glacier.”
Good to know: Nearby, the Columbia Icefield Skywalk is a glass walkway suspended 918 feet above the dramatic Sunwapta Valley.
Muir Hotel, Halifax
Best for: Harbor views
In Nova Scotia, the newest hotel on Halifax Harbor celebrates the city’s shipbuilding traditions, right down to the materials. Muntz Copper metal on the building’s facade and the ballast stones of an outdoor walkway tie the hotel to the ships that once brought immigrants and goods to the city. Head to the rooftop patio to the guest-only speakeasy BKS for sunset cocktails and people-watching. Nightly turndown includes a bedside QR code offering a curated Halifax soundtrack that includes ocean sounds echoing the waves just past your window. Outside, a 2.5-mile boardwalk winds through Queens Marque, an upscale development that has more than doubled the waterfront’s public space.
(Follow the chowder trail in Nova Scotia.)
Good to know: Nearby, the Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21 tells the stories of the generations of people who made their way to Canada from around the world. An estimated 43 percent of Canadians came though Nova Scotia, and they included orphans fleeing Nazi Germany and recent Ukrainian war refugees.
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