Traveling to Canada with children: Top 30 things to do and see in Canada with children + map

Welcome to a new post about Canada, this time a post where we will explain everything you need to know about traveling to Canada with children.

For us, being able to travel to Canada as a family has been a real gift. It has been, without a doubt, one of the best destinations we have chosen and experienced so far on our many family trips.

It must also be said that we are one of those enthusiastic families where there is no destination from which we do not take advantage, learning, excitement and joy.

Greece and Poland had always been among my children's favorite travel destinations, but since they visited the West Coast of the United States last year and Canada this year, North America is quickly becoming one of our top family travel destinations.

In this post, I'm going to try to explain why traveling to Canada with children is a great idea , and everything Canada has to offer as a family in 30 plans that have captivated us, both adults and especially the little ones, on our last trip.

 I hope you find it useful and, above all, that if you end up travelling to Canada, you enjoy it as much as we did.

AN IMPORTANT TIP: Don't travel to Canada without a good travel insurance, avoid big problems. It is one of the first requirements that they tell you on the Canadian government website along with the processing of the And so.
We recommend you the Iati Star We hired this insurance after a good comparison and study of the different ones on the market. It is the only one that exceeds one million euros of coverage. Without a doubt, it is the best for North America, where breaking a leg costs you €150.000, as happened to a friend of ours in the USA. Another positive thing is that Iati has an app for virtual visits.
I leave you here a link where you have a 5% off for any Iati travel insurance.

About us

Why visit Canada with children

Before continuing with this post, I want to explain the reasons why we have enjoyed Canada so much with our children aged 8 and 12.

If you're hesitant about traveling to Canada with children, it's probably because they're very young, right? After all these years of traveling with my kids, I always say the same thing: there's no place that isn't worth visiting with them, if it's the place we want to go. Because in the end, if you're happy, they'll be even happier . If they see you happy and motivated, they'll be happy too.

Canada, a country with many plans for children

The location doesn't matter; everything is adaptable, everything is designed for everyone . You might not do some things, but you'll do many others that you wouldn't do without them.

Canada is no exception. It has plans for all audiences, ages, physical conditions, and mindsets.

Whatever the case, Canada has a thousand options for things to do with children, whether cultural, nature-based, or leisure and adventure activities.

Nature, always a good plan with children

For us, the most important thing was nature , the family hikes, which you'll find for all distances and difficulty levels, suitable for children. It was quite an adventure, where you'll find lots of squirrels , especially, and some other animals . Don't worry too much about bears; it's not very common to encounter them on busy trails , which are the easy ones and suitable for children. Honestly, with all the noise the children make, no bear will usually come near you, haha. We only saw them on the road, and once during our entire trip in Canada and once in the United States.

Cultural and leisure activities in Canada with children 

After nature, museums and adventure activities were other big hits that we thoroughly enjoyed as a family. From canoeing and rafting to crossing suspension bridges, among many visits to open-air museums, all excellent with children.

Tips for traveling to Canada with children

In this second section, I want to try to help you with those tips for traveling to Canada that I didn't have and, on the contrary, I would have liked to know before going.

First of all, I'll leave you with the super complete post with 30 tips of all kinds. Then I've tried to summarize some of those 30 tips that apply more specifically to traveling with children, although as everything is relative because perhaps they are also tips that can help adults too, and vice versa, those that I haven't put here surely also apply to traveling with children. In short, read the 30 tips instead, where everything you want to know is.

Read our post with 30 tips for traveling to Canada

In our post about 30 tips for traveling to Canada, you'll find a bunch of advice I wish I'd had before going. But here I'll try to summarize some that are important and useful when traveling with children.

Bring them binoculars

Before we left, we bought two of these binoculars, which were incredibly useful for the whole family during our trip, thanks to their excellent quality and price. Our little ones were thrilled with them and were able to see animals up close. Packing them in our suitcases was a great decision.

Parks Canada Explorer Program

Parks Canada has an educational and entertaining children's program that is a must-do at any National Park or Historical Site you visit in Canada.

It's easy, ask at the National Park Visitor Center or at the entrance to museums or historic sites and they will give you a book. Once you have completed it, you must take it back to where you received it. And here's the big surprise: you will receive a very cool little gift: a hanging badge, which you can collect during the trip. The best souvenir of the trip you will have in years.

 Book fun and practical accommodations

Accommodation is always an important part of any trip. So, whenever possible, choose accommodations that are both practical and fun . This is a tip for traveling to Canada, but it will also be useful in many other places.

For practicality, especially if you're traveling as a family like we do, I always recommend apartments or bungalows in campsites, or motorhomes or campervans , which have kitchens and that's a big plus for saving money and spoiling the kids with meals.

TIP: If you want to do this road trip through Canada in a campervan like we did, we recommend renting one. We suggest doing so in Calgary or Vancouver with Roadsurfer , a company we would definitely use again. Roadsurfer gave us a $ 150 discount that you, as readers, can also take advantage of by applying the DISCOUNT CODE: KUCAVANAAMERICA

Spray Parks, a free plan that is a hit with the little ones

It depends on the area you visit. If you travel in the summer, you might encounter some very hot days, as we did in the Drumheller and Dinosaur Valley area of ​​Alberta Provincial Park. On those days, you'll discover the best way to enjoy the heat with kids in Canada: spray parks.

There are spray parks in almost every town and city, usually right next to the regular playground. It's a super fun water play area for kids. A free activity that they'll love!

 

 

Top 30 things to do and see in Canada with children

Having seen the initial tips for travelling to Canada with children, here are the Top 30 things to do with your little ones in Canada.

I should warn you beforehand that almost all of them are in the western part of Canada, which is the area we know best , so there may be more plans in the east that are not in this Top 30 and deserve to be.

Visit the Tyrell Museum: The World's Most Amazing Dinosaur Museum

Without a doubt, Drumheller calls itself the dinosaur capital of the world . Both Drumheller and the so-called Dinosaur Valley, which extends into Alberta's Dinosaur Provincial Park, are breathtaking landscapes.

A must-see place to visit in Canada with children, where the Tyrell Museum is one of the must-sees. 

Never before had we seen so many dinosaur skeletons in such a place. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, one of the most spectacular, where more than 400 dinosaur skeletons from over 40 species have been found .

Discover Fort Steele, an intact village from 1882 Canada

One of our favorite open-air museums in Canada was this one. An entire town, partly reconstructed and partly preserved from 1882. A space with actors and shows where you can discover the history of Canada and this old Canadian town.

Children will also find many farm animals here and can even ride in a horse-drawn carriage.

Go canoeing on the Lake Louise, Lake Morain or Emerald Lake

One of the star activities in Canada is embarking on a kayak or canoe trip on one of the thousands of lakes in Canada.

For us, doing it in one of its most beautiful emerald lakes was something we will remember for the rest of our lives.

Visit Boo Bear

There's a very special bear on Kicking Horse Mountain. A little grizzly bear cub , orphaned and rescued at this ski resort, now lives happily and safely in a spacious enclosure. With the utmost respect, you can visit and see him. Getting there involves a fun part for children: a chairlift ride!

Enter Canada's largest treehouse and an enchanted forest

The Enchanted Forest , not far from Revelstoke, is home to hundreds of impressive sculptures and wooden and tree houses recreated from the original fairy tales. But there's one very special one: Canada's largest tree house, with three impressive floors.

A place that children will love, large, very entertaining and beautiful.

Go shopping at a Walmart and be amazed by the big purchases and where there are even McDonalds in the supermarkets

In Canada, supermarkets are just like in the United States: everything is big . Giant cereal boxes, giant ketchup, etc… Everything is giant.

Crossing a suspension bridge like Indiana Jones

You can do it in Golden or Vancouver by paying, or in Drumheller for free , but the suspension bridges over rivers are beautiful, fun, and a must-do when visiting Canada with children.

Bathe in hot springs

Bathing in hot springs in Canada is possible, and in many places. In the Rocky Mountains region, we were able to do so in different locations such as Banff, Radium Hot Springs, and Fairmont Hot Springs , among others.

Discover the importance of the railway in Canada at the Revelstoke Railway Museum

For Canada, the railway is a union. In a country as large as Canada and with such difficult travel due to snow, ice and cold, it was a great achievement to achieve a railway that would unite the country from the Pacific to the Atlantic. 

In Revelstoke we found a really cool museum, where you can not only go inside old trains, learn about the history of the Pacific Railway , but also have fun even in a simulator.

Spotting wildlife, a plan for Canada with children that never fails

One thing that is always a hit with kids in Canada is wildlife spotting. And it's not difficult to do.

Just bring a good pair of binoculars, walk through nature, and enjoy. Squirrels of all kinds, deer, elk, moose, coyotes, porcupines, bison, a thousand colorful birds, bears… We were able to see all of this up close . Just remember, talking to scare the bears away, haha, it's better to see them from a distance or on the road, as is more common.

See desert in Canada: the Badlands

When we think of Canada, we think of mountains and lakes, but few people realize that Canada has desert. Perhaps not a desert with dunes as such, but the Badlands are semi-desert lands very similar to the Bardenas Reales in Spain, which amaze you with their shapes and canyons.

Visiting one of Alberta's old coal mine museums in Canada with kids

One plan we made that the whole family enjoyed was a visit to the Atlas Coal Mine National Historic Site.

This mine offered a guided tour with a little train and also inside the mine. The visit was great fun and full of learning!

Climb the Calgary Tower and look out over its glass floor

We adults got quite a fright looking out of the Calgary Tower on that glass floor. On the other hand, our little ones had a blast ! Funny how things work out! It was really cool going up and seeing that great city from up there.

Rafting on the Kicking Horse River

My children, in the top ten list they compiled during the trip, put this plan at number 1. The winning plan, the one they liked the most.

It doesn't surprise me because I loved it too! The rafting we did in Golden on the Kicking Horse River was fun, safe for the little ones, where they could swim in the river with their wetsuits, and finishing with a barbecue was the perfect ending.

Visit the museum of Banff National Park full of animals and with an Explorer booklet

My children enjoyed visiting this museum most in the Rocky Mountain National Parks. Probably because they got to see so many animals up close. Although, they were taxidermied animals (which made me feel more uneasy than they did).

Climb the tallest dinosaur in the world, in the Dinosaur Capital of the World

Another surefire plan for a trip to Canada with children: ride a super T Rex.

And if you don't want to climb, no problem, you can always admire it from below while playing in the spray park, a water park located in front of it. It's situated in Drumheller, the Dinosaur Capital, right across from the town's tourist office.

Enjoy a rodeo and its family atmosphere

This was a fantastic plan for the whole family, I won't deny it. Plus, it was a very fortunate impromptu outing. Calgary is the rodeo capital of the world, and all of Alberta enjoys rodeos constantly, so keep an eye out for the posters and don't hesitate: go to a rodeo!

We were able to enjoy it at Patricia's the first weekend of September. There are 3 days of rodeo, throughout the weekend and the performances are from 16pm until late at night. There is no need to book, you pay the entrance fee of 10 dollars per adult, children free, and enjoy. A show for the whole family!

Take a long but easy walk with a great reward like Lake Boom

Easy but slightly longer hikes that present a challenge and a significant goal are a guaranteed success for children accustomed to walking, like ours. This 10km round trip to Boom Lake in Banff National Park was the highlight of our children's hikes.

Visiting a canyon via walkways over the river, such as those in Johnston Canyon, is a must-see in Canada with children.

The walkways over rivers between steep walls are a real adventure for children and adults alike. One of our favorite routes was the one in Johnston Canyon . A must-see in Banff National Park and in Canada.

See glaciers from afar, never stepping on them in summer to be responsible with them

Canada is full of glaciers. Without a doubt, the best place to see them is on Canada's most beautiful scenic road: the Icefields Parkway . There, you can even get within a few meters of some, like the Athabasca Glacier. Something that will amaze the little ones.

But in summer, remember, we must be responsible and not contribute to the destruction of the glaciers. Stay away and don't step on them. They are disappearing fast enough without us, who are just passing through as tourists, accelerating the process even more.

Take a gondola ride up to a great viewing point like Sulphur

First of all, I must say that we didn't take the gondola to the top of Sulphur Mountain . My champions and their parents hiked up. The 12 km round trip and 800 meters of elevation gain made for a challenging route to reach the summit of Sulphur Mountain.

Although you may think it was a nightmare, I must tell you the absolute truth: it was the route that my children say was the best of our entire trip through the Rockies.

The effort just to get to the top was rewarding: lots of squirrels and mountain goats came to visit us and even the squirrels climbed on top of the children. That, added to the incredible views from the top, will make us always remember this route and summit.

Anyway, as I said, there is a cable car, called Gondola, which takes you up effortlessly and in a fun way too.

Make a barbecue and marshmallows

Last year, on our trip along the West Coast of the USA, my children enjoyed this plan very much. Almost every night it was the plan for dinner and evening. Maybe that is why my children were so eager to go to Canada.

The thing is that every day we had the chance, they never missed a day making a fire (which they had already learned to do on their own with flint), a barbecue, and for dessert marshmallows.

If you can, this is a great recommendation for a plan, you will never forget it and the stories you will tell that night will make the evening even more fun!

Eating in a restaurant with typical Canadian decor

A visit to one of those restaurants with deer decorations and red and black plaid blankets is a must . Even if they only serve pizzas and burgers and it's not exactly healthy, it's something you have to do sometime.

Visit the Calgary Heritage Museum

This museum is one of Canada's largest open-air museums of Canadian folklore . Filled with historic houses, performers, workshops, and activities, it's a great outing in Calgary with kids.

Swim in one of Canada's thousands of lakes

Canada has so many lakes that you'll find all kinds. Some are so dirty you wouldn't swim in them, others are so freezing you could get hypothermia, and of course, there are plenty of great ones for swimming. If you ask at the visitor centers, they'll help you find the best one. Many have beaches suitable for swimming, and we didn't see any where swimming was prohibited.

Eating pancakes with maple syrup, even at McDonalds you can get a Happy Meal with them

Going to Canada with kids and not eating pancakes with maple syrup would be an unforgivable crime. So much so that you'd steal every breakfast my kids had in Canada, which, of course, consisted of pancakes with maple syrup, haha. Walmart sells frozen ones that are super easy to make in a pan.

Go to Canada's most famous fast food restaurant: a Tim Hurtons

This is the most famous coffee chain in Canada, although it not only has coffee and pastries, it also has fast food.

The point is to immerse yourself in the local culture , and these cafes are part of Canadian culture.

By the way, a tip: try the Iced Capp , coffee with caramel ice cream and I don't know if there's anything else that made me addicted and I already miss it here in Spain, hehe.

Discover the National Parks Visitors Centers and their educational exhibits

In any of Canada's 48 National Parks, it's worth starting your visit at the Visitor Center. There, you'll not only find the best information and recommendations, but you can also get Explorer booklets for children to earn their badges and visit highly educational exhibits.

Take a photo in the typical red chairs of Parks Canada

A simple and easy plan, but one that's essential. You'll find them everywhere , don't worry.

Look for bear poop on your hikes: in July and August they have berries, they are easy to identify

This plan might surprise you, it might even make you laugh. To be honest, I didn't plan it or ever even think about doing it, hehe. But those Explorer books are like that; you learn so much about bears and animal poop that you end up becoming a poop explorer everywhere, hehe. The best part is that once you start observing, you can't stop finding them.

By the way, sorry about the photo, hehe, I had to give an example so you know what they look like before you look for them.

Have picnics in the thousand recreational areas that exist

A great way to save money and enjoy a family picnic is by having a nice outdoor meal. The best thing about Canada is that you'll find picnic tables just about anywhere you can imagine, so take advantage of eating outdoors—it couldn't be better.

Map of what to see in Canada with children

Below, I'm leaving you the map I made with these 30 places and many more interesting places to visit in Canada with children. I hope it's as useful to you as it was to us.

Conclusions about traveling to Canada with children 

I hope this post has been helpful and given you useful ideas for your upcoming family trip to Canada . That's always my goal when I write.

Remember that because of the love I put into writing for you, the best thing you can do is leave me a comment below . Those who know me know how much I appreciate it, and it always gives me the strength to keep writing after more than 7 years of blogging.

Have a nice trip, family!