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Sunset over calm water with dark pebble beach in foreground, dramatic storm clouds lit by golden and orange light breaking through grey sky

Places to Visit in Canada — From National Parks to Hidden Gems

Lakes, mountains, small towns, and roadside stops we found along the way. Each one with practical details to help you decide if it's worth the drive.

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Lions Gate Bridge spanning across Burrard Inlet with North Shore mountains in the background under clear blue sky

Stanley Park Seawall by Bike: Rentals, Route and How Long It Takes

We rented a tandem two blocks from Stanley Park and rode the seawall around it — about three hours of waterfront, the bridge and stops wherever we felt like it.
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Marine mammal pool at a zoo or aquarium with a blue tent structure, viewing platforms, and visitors watching a performer in the water, surrounded by forested landscape and mountains

Vancouver Aquarium: Tickets, Timed Entry and What to Expect

Canada's largest aquarium sits right inside Stanley Park. It was busy, it took us about two hours — and the best surprise was that half the life here is outdoors.
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Pond surrounded by mature trees and shrubs with lily pads covering the water surface and autumn foliage in the background

VanDusen Botanical Garden, Vancouver: Tickets, Hours and What to See

Two hours of paths, lawns and gardens in the middle of Vancouver — and, tucked away inside, a small apiary of two beehives we didn't expect to find.
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Oak Hammock Marsh Wildlife Management Area sign at night, located in Manitoba, Canada, with a circular emblem featuring three geese in flight against a blue sky

Stargazing at Oak Hammock Marsh: How Dark Is It Really?

We wanted one quiet evening under the stars, and every search pointed to the same place as the closest option to Winnipeg. It's better than the city — but it isn't the dark sky we were hoping for.
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Expansive badlands landscape with layered rock formations, eroded valleys, scattered vegetation, and clear blue sky

Royal Tyrrell Museum, Drumheller: Tickets, Timing and Going with a Dog

We missed it on our Banff trip and made a point of stopping on the way back from BC. Two hours, the best dinosaur museum either of us has seen, and a dachshund who had to take turns with us.
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