Plan a sensational summer of fun across Canada

Take advantage of this country’s exciting attractions

By Ilona Biro

This summer, Toronto writer Cynthia Macdonald knows exactly where her family is headed — Prince Edward Island — and what they want to do — rent a cottage. “Once I talk to a few friends who can tell me where on the island we should stay, I’ll be ready to book,” she says.

When she knows where she’s staying, Macdonald can go online to plan what attractions and events her family will visit while on vacation.

It’s always easier when you know where you’re going, but if your plans are still up in the air, start at the Canadian Tourism Commission. Click on Festivals and Events, and you’ll find all the highlights organized by theme (such as theatre, music and art).

Attend at least one special summer event

Canada has a variety of attractions and festivals that happen regularly each year across the country. Consult some of this year’s highlights listed below. And don’t forget to check out local provincial tourism sites for more great events.

Get literary in Newfoundland
Visit the Winterset in Summer Literary Festival to get your literature fix this summer. Take in daily readings, discover new authors and attend book launches in mid-August.

Get into the music vibe in Winnipeg
For several decades, the Winnipeg Folk Festival has been entertaining music-lovers with one of the most eclectic lineups in the country. The festival has featured Grammy award-winners such as Solomon Burke, alt-country rockers such as the Sadies, Neko Case and long-time folk fixture Bruce Cockburn. An onsite children’s festival keeps little toes tapping as well, making this festival a favourite with families.

Go north for sensational scenery
If you crave a northern adventure, head to the Yukon and drive the Dempster Highway, the only year-round highway in Canada that crosses the Arctic Circle. From Dawson City to Inuvik, the highway is a 671-kilometre ride of a lifetime. It passes through the Ogilvie and Richardson Mountain ranges, valleys, vast tundra and the mighty Mackenzie River Delta.

Stampede into other summer events
Remember the tried and true. Annual events such as the Calgary Stampede, the Collingwood Elvis Festival and the Charlottetown Festival bring visitors from around the world and make Canada one of the most diverse travel destinations in the world. Aren’t you glad you live here?

Provincial and territorial tourism sites

Plan holidays as a family

Before you make any hard-and-fast decisions, be sure to consult the kids, advises family travel expert Kate Pocock of Toronto. “No matter where you’re going or how young your kids are, they need to be involved to ensure a successful family vacation.”

Pocock draws up a survey and sits her kids down with popcorn or treats — anything to make the process fun, she says — and lets her kids choose from a limited list of things they can do and see on the trip. Once you’re on the road, Pocock suggests letting everyone take turns choosing which activities the family will do together.

Car trips require extra planning and extra packing. When her kids were younger — between the ages of four and 11 — Pocock used to create an art bin, a science bin and a toy bin. Each child would get a bin for 20 minutes before switching. “With three kids, those bins would get my husband and I at least an hour of peace on the road,” she jokes.

Pack comfort items

Comfort items help too, especially when the going gets rough. Pocock would have the kids pack some of their favourite toys, and she would make sure to bring a set of plastic dishes along. They could have inexpensive meals in their room and make the kids feel at home.

Pocock swears by portable music players, which allow kids to enjoy their music on long rides or whenever they need to tune out for a bit. For those long, dreaded waits in restaurants, Pocock packs a set of markers for impromptu colouring sessions. “It takes a lot of planning,” she says, “but once you’re on holiday you’ll be glad you did it.”

Find rooms, rental cars and unbiased reviews

Once you know where you’re going, enter all your stops into Streets & Trips and print a map that shows your best route. Download directions from MapQuest.ca or Bing Maps, or order a current map from the provincial web site. Booking accommodations is simple, too. For quaint B&Bs, look to BBCanada.com. For larger hotels, motels and resorts, check with hotels.ca and compare rates with Hotel Search Engine.

If you’d like to book everything in one place, a travel site such as Expedia.ca or Travelocity.ca is the ticket. And for candid reviews of a hotel or holiday spot you’re considering, consult TripAdvisor, where travellers post their reviews of the hotels, resorts and destinations they’ve recently visited.