Canada is a country filled with amazing diversity and beauty. From mountains to prairies, urban explosion to rural farm lands, castles and cathedrals to lighthouses and green gables. Our history is rich with the stories of the peoples who live here – from sea to sea to sea.
But, it’s also huge! Canada is the 2nd largest country in the world and, for most people, the opportunity to visit all around is almost impossible.
As a child, summer meant cramming into the family station wagon with a trailer hitched to the back. Off we would go exploring Canada and the US. It’s an experience that I look back on now with fondness, although I know I didn’t fully appreciate it at the time. Unfortunately, it’s not likely something I can experience with my own children, as the cost of travel and the rhythm of our lives is much different than my family growing up.
Realizing that, I decided that I wanted to make a virtual version of the experience of learning all about what Canada has to offer – and The Canadian Adventure: A Virtual Trip Across Canada was born. It’s the chance to discover Canada from the comfort of home.
![A map of Canada and a Canada flag suitcase with text that reads "The Canadian Adventure: A Virtual Trip Across Canada."](https://thecanadianhomeschooler.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Virtual-Trip-Across-Canada-683x1024.jpg)
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Canadian Iconic Tourist Spots
What are the top tourist spots in Canada? How many can you think of?
There are many popular places that people want to visit when they are travelling across Canada, like these:
- Niagara Falls in Ontario
- Chateau Frontenac in Quebec
- Lake Louise / Banff in Alberta
- Green Gables in PEI
- L’Anse Aux Meadows in Newfoundland
- Calgary Stampede in Alberta
- Stanley Park in British Columbia
- CN Tower in Ontario
- Hopewell Rocks in New Brunswick
- West Edmonton Mall in Alberta
- Parliament Hill in Ontario
- Capilano Suspension Bridge in British Columbia
Nearly 200,000 people visit Green Gables every year. That’s a lot of house guests!
When doing this virtual adventure, I wanted to make sure that we included these popular attractions, because they are important. Some of these are just for fun, some are cultural experiences, some are breathtaking natural features, and others are historical. So of course we need to experience them.
But how?
We do this through videos, websites, dropping ourselves down onto Google Maps and wandering around, and photos. We get right into the experience as much as possible so that it feels as close to being there as we can get it.
Canada’s Hidden Gems
But there’s so much more to Canada than the big features. Every province and territory has unique experiences, features, and things to see – so we need to make sure that we take a look at them too.
Did you know that Canada has a large sand desert? It’s true. It’s called the Athabasca Sand Dunes in Saskatchewan and it’s nearly 100 km long!
Here are some other fun things to discover while travelling around:
- An igloo church
- A magnetic hill
- A lake monster
- Several oversized statues (like a massive lobster and a big nickel!)
- Forts, Outposts, and Citadels
Canada’s natural elements are incredibly important too. Have you ever heard that we have:
- An iceberg highway?
- A mountain that fell apart?
- Sand that sings? (Well, it more makes a weird squeaking sound than singing, at least to my ears!)
- A 1000 year old tree that is over 66 meters (215+ feet) tall?
- A group of mountains named after Norse gods?
- Dinosaur bones?
The coolest part about doing a virtual trip across Canada is that you can actually see places that you might not get to if you were actually travelling, because we aren’t restricted by time, money, or accessibility. In fact, we can even travel to some locations that are only available to few visitors a year due to their location, elements, or preservation. It’s pretty amazing, honestly.
Taste the Canadian Culture – Food Tasting Adventure
No trip anywhere is complete without trying local foods and The Canadian Adventure offers that opportunity as well. Admittedly, you have to make it yourself, but it’s still tasty!
In many ways, it’s a chance to learn more about what each province or territory farms or hunts and then how they use those resources to create something tasty!
![Blueberry Grunt with Whipped Cream](https://thecanadianhomeschooler.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Blueberry-Grunt-750x750.jpg)
Guess what? It’s not all maple syrup recipes, either. No matter what the stereotype of Canadian food is like! We get to try all kinds of things – and maybe even taste something we wouldn’t have before. Wherever possible, there are videos to explain more about why that food is made from that province / territory so there’s a link back to the cultural reasons.
I mean, it makes sense to try seafood if you are in the Maritimes but not so much when you are in the prairies, right?
Canadian Geography is Connected with Canadian History
The Canadian Adventure isn’t a history program (that’s My Canadian Time Capsule), but it would be hard to travel across the country without history being involved. Evidence of the people who have lived here before us is everywhere – from the fur trading forts to the citadels, model villages from different times, and the ways that different events impacted our country.
In this virtual trip across Canada, you will get to see:
- What life was like living as a lighthouse keeper
- What cause the Halifax Explosion in 1917
- Where Vikings lived when they arrived in North America
- Various re-enactments and historical museums
Don’t Forget about Canadian Arts!
Taking some time to add in a short lessons about different Canadian artists is important too. Especially since we have some amazingly creative (and talented!) creators all across the country.
Then, trying out art styles, techniques, and media to match with our own creative spin.
![Still life painting attempts - one featuring bananas, the other with an apple and flowers.](https://thecanadianhomeschooler.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Still-Life-Art-Project-750x629.jpg)
Plus, there’s music everywhere – and although the program doesn’t explicitly cover specific musicians, it does have different iconic musical recordings included. Great Big Sea, anyone?
How to Make a Virtual Trip Across Canada Memory Book
When you go on a journey, you want to record it! There are lots of ways to do that.
Option 1: Use a scrapbook.
Print out pictures from the tourism websites from each province / territories that showcase the things that you found the most interesting then glue them into your scrapbook. Write a journal entry about the province and what you learned along the way.
![travel journals](https://thecanadianhomeschooler.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/TravelJournals-750x629.jpg)
Option 2: Use a Canada Themed Activity Book.
Curriculum creator, Thinking Tree, has put together a Canada-themed workbook with lots of fill in the blank questions and worksheets. Each province gets several pages. There’s room for general information, mapping, biographies, official symbols, recipes, movie reviews about a movie which takes place in that province, and interesting places. It’s a helpful addition to the program if you want something ready made.
Option 3: Print a Travel Journal.
The travel journal is included with The Canadian Adventure. It’s super simple – with a place to write down 3 top things about each province / territory with space to draw pictures or make a collage of memories. Use it alone or in conjunction with one of the other options.
Other Things to Add to the Canadian Adventure
As with all learning, it’s always fun to add extras to whatever you are doing. For example, finding a great book to go along with the program. There are actually a few recommendations included, such as Wow Canada or Hey Canada, depending on what version of the trip you take.
Plus, why not add some more hands-on elements?
Some provinces / territories have crafts, projects, worksheets, and more included, but you can also try doing things like building a puzzle of Canada, using maps to practice mapping skills, and playing geography games.
![A completed map of Canada puzzle](https://thecanadianhomeschooler.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/CanadaMapPuzzle-750x750.jpg)
Common Questions About This Virtual Trip Across Canada
What Age is The Canadian Adventure For?
I’m not great at setting intentional age ranges for my resources because I feel like it can be used by all ages, with adaptations. I’ve used this program with kids all the way from grade 1 through high school. I think the sweet spot would probably be grades 2-6, if I was forced to pick a range.
How Long Does it Take?
Again, this is a hard question to answer. It will depend on your family plans and how deep you go. You can probably complete most of a province in a week if you wanted to, but realistically, you would probably want to take around 2 weeks to fully enjoy the experience.
I have had people tell me they spent a month in each province / territory, adding extras that I hadn’t included to make it even more in depth.
It’s really up to you!
Do We Have to Do Everything?
Absolutely not. You can pick and choose whatever you want within the program. You can skip things that aren’t a good fit. You can add more if it’s not enough. It’s your homeschool! I just compiled the resources for you. You decide how or if you want to use them.
The ultimate goal of this program is to give your family an opportunity to learn more about the country we live in, discover both the amazing natural and man-made sights, and create memories while doing it.
Want a peek into some different places around Canada? Check out these posts from homeschooling families all over the country:
Rebecca – Virtual Field Trip in the Thompson Okanagan
Want to go on a virtual field trip through BC with your kids? Come and explore beautiful British Columbia along with my family. We will take you on a virtual field trip through the Thompson/Okanagan region
Alexandra – Prince Edward Island: A Virtual Trip for Families & Homeschoolers
I am very excited to write about our gentle island and to share with you our favourite places. It was difficult to choose only a few places to write about!
Katie – Five Nature Based Places to Visit in Central Ontario
Ontario offers so many opportunities to experience nature up close and hands on. It would be impossible to list them all so my children and I have come up with a list of five of our favourite outdoor field trips located in central Ontario. Theses are all places we have visited for day trips, some are only open seasonally so always double-check days and hours of operation.
Bonnie – A Virtual Field around Vancouver Island
Let’s start our virtual field trip near Beacon Hill Park, at Mile 0 of the TransCanada Highway. Every time I see this sign, I want to go on a road trip. Before we take off, however, take a few hours to admire the view of the ocean (and watch a cruise ship or container ship go by), play in the park, and watch the goats run at the petting farm. Now let’s hit the road.
Annette – A Virtual Trip Through Ontario
Ontario is a land of pine forests, woodland spaces, big cities and small towns. We are filled with a variety of things to experience.
Lisa – A Virtual Field Trip
Welcome to Quebec; where I happen to be living for the moment… where ever you go; overall Quebec is very family friendly and there is lots to see and do 🙂
Andrea – Alberta: More Than Just the Calgary Stampede
There isn’t one province that you cannot just “ohhhh and ahhhh” over what it has to offer… I was born and raised here in Alberta, and in all honesty, there are places here that I have yet to see with my family.
Lee – Roadschooling through the Yukon
The Yukon tourism tagline is “Larger than Life” and it certainly lives up to that. While not very populous in terms of humans, it is full of breath taking scenery, abundant wildlife and living stories of the Klondike Gold Rush. We firmly believe that coming to the Yukon (summer or winter) is a must do for all Canadians! With summer just around the corner we thought we’d start to plant some seeds out there…
Kimberly – A Virtual Field Trip Through Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is a beautiful province, well worth visiting! We fell in love with Cape Breton Island in particular, the moment the plane landed (we moved here from Ontario eight years ago). Join me and my family for a virtual field trip, with breathtaking views and fun activities for all!
Joelle – Toronto – A Homeschooler’s Trove for Field Trip Ideas
We started homeschooling shortly after moving {to Canada}, and field Trips have always been part of our yearly activities, whether with a homeschooling group, or with the family.
Amber – Welcome to Our Neck of the Woods. A Tour of SSM Ontario Attractions.
This far North in Ontario it can feel pretty isolating with only the Trans Canada Highway connecting us to the rest of the world. If one is to scratch the surface though you can find all sorts of interesting sites to see and keep you occupied. Some that you may find on a site like Trip Advisor and some that you may miss if you don’t know they exist.
This blog post was originally posted in March 2015, and has been rewritten and published in February 2024.
![Cover of the book "The Rough Guide to Canada."](https://thecanadianhomeschooler.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/image-667x1024.png)
Wondering where the great places to visit are across Canada? Use this amazing travel guide from Rough Guides. The Rough Guide to Canada. Inside is filled with full-colour photos, maps, and detailed information. Covering where to go, what to see, where to sleep, and what activities to join in on from coast to coast, it’s every Canadian traveller’s handbook. What trip would be complete without some amazing field trips?
Written by a homeschooling mom, The Ultimate Guide to Field Trips in Canada ebook covers locations all over the country to stop and check out. From well-known tourist places to lesser known sites like factory tours, both in-person and virtual locations. A handy guide to what’s next door or what’s on the other side of the country.
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I would love for my family to win this contest, we love exploring Canada! 🙂
Anywhere in ON!! I live in Newfoundland!
Would love to visit Newfoundland.
The link to Canadian Homeschooler on facebook is not working.
Oh dear. Thanks for letting me know ! I’ll go fix it now. 🙂 (And I’d love to see NFLD too!)
i want to visit the East coast of Canada especially PEI and newfoundland
We are planning a trip this summer to PEI. This would be an awesome resource to have to take with us!
I would like to explore the east coast
I would love to take our family to PEI. Especially visit the area for Anne of Green Gables inspiration
This is a great Blog Post, I cannot wait to tour all of Canada. Right now I’d love to go to Newfoundland.
We would love to visit Newfoundland. We have heard how beautiful it is and it is the only Atlantic province we haven’t tackled yet!
I would love to go to Nova Scotia.
I would love to go to Weyburn,Sask
how exciting! what a great package and opportunity. Our family is planning a mmove across canada to the east coast, so this comes at such a great time!
Our girls are still only aged 4 and 5 but we are already planning our trip across Canada, my family is all in Ont, so we totally want to make it a huge trip. This would be great for planning and dreaming.
I would love to visit both the West Coast and the East Coast of Canada. Preferably in the warmer months as I don’t like snow/cold and there would be a ton of it down east if this year is anything to go by
I would love to visit newfoundland, haven’t been since I was 4 years old :/
I would love to go to Montreal for all it’s history.
I’d love to go to Newfoundland!
I have never been to the maritimes before and I think its beautiful. I would love to visit some day 🙂
I would take my family to Newfoundland to explore my husband’s heritage 🙂
I’d love to go to Tofino in BC.
I would love to go canoeing in the Yukon! I also am hoping to get to Newfoundland one day.
I would love to visit Niagara Fall. It’s always been a dream of mine!
Vancouver
If I could go anywhere in Canada I would visit the Maritimes
I would love to visit all the sites of interest …..
I would love to visit the east coast
I live in Ontario. I would love to visit Victoria B.C.
I’d go to Banff.
I would probably visit the Thompson Okanagan and Vancouver Island (because of family), but there is so much I haven;t seen of Canada.
I love this site. I would love to visit Niagra Falls.
I would go to Newfoundland (we’ve had to cancel our visit for the past two summers, tear) and/or The Northwest Territories (or anywhere up there). Both of these items are on my bucket list and quite honestly, they’re the only things on my bucket list. Must get them checked off!
Besos, Sarah
Journeys of The Zoo
yes! I’ve only missed out on seeing NFLD and the territories myself. I would love to go to either!
Would love to visit Québéc again and the Maritimes.
I would love to take the family to British Columbia
Would love to travel right across Canada,but I have never been to the East Coast and would love to go with our family1
Would love to visit Yukon…
I’d love to visit PEI…or anywhere on the ocean.
I’d love to visit Toronto!
We would love to visit BC!
Banff National Park is the place I’m most looking forward to visiting when we do our cross country trip this summer.
I started a FB page for families (mostly homeschooling families) to plan their cross-Canada trips. There is SO much information out there!! We, ourselves, are travelling across Canada this summer. I would love to win this contest, not only for my family’s sake, but to share with the families on FB, as well! We try to give good guide ideas, passes and bundles, books that we’ve found helpful — your bundle give away is EVERYTHING we need!
Oh! Cool group! 🙂 Make sure they enter today because it ends tonight!!