How to Save Money at These Iconic Canadian Vacation Destinations

What do you consider the all-time-greatest Canadian vacation destination?

Whether you’re planning on going to one of the iconic locales below, a different set of landmarks, or just researching a future trip, you’ll probably appreciate saving some money along the way.

With that in mind, check out our guide to seeing the great sites of this vast nation, with a little cash left over (if only to be spent on a few un-planned souvenirs)…

The icon: Historic Lunenburg, Nova Scotia
The draw: Bluenose II (Canada’s Victorian-era Millennium Falcon) the replica of the record-breaking cargo schooner gained worldwide fame by winning a slew of international races in the 1920s. Crowned fastest in the world, she was later immortalized on the ten-cent-coin. The historic port that houses Bluenose II (yes, you can sail on her) is a UNESCO World Heritage site. A multi-day drive along the province’s Cabot Trail continues this historic odyssey into our Maritime past.
The deal: Accommodation discounts in Nova Scotia http://www.tripadvisor.com/SmartDeals-g182187-Lunenburg_Nova_Scotia-Hotel-Deals.html
More deals: Accommodation deals in Lunenburg http://travel.yahoo.com/p-ts_offers-5087147-pt-2-tsc-0-zok-1-dest-Lunenburg%252C%2520Canada

The icon: Gros Morne and the land of the Vikings, Newfoundland
The draw: Like nothing else in Canada, the green-peaked waterfall-strewn national parkland of Gros Morne is like a cross between Ireland and Jurassic Park (niftily-enough, around the Jurassic era, technically, Newfoundland was Ireland, or at least plate tectonics smushed the two land-masses together.) Lanse Aux Meadows, the UNESCO World Heritage site where Europeans first set foot in the New World 1,000 years ago (500 years before Columbus) a few hundred km to the north, is one of the great Canadian vacation adventures you might not have gone on yet.
The deal: Updates on airline seat sales to Newfoundland http://www.facebook.com/pages/St-Johns-Newfoundland-Flight-Deals-Travel-Specials/292305611831
More deals: Discount accommodation http://www.tripadvisor.com/SmartDeals-g154962-Newfoundland_and_Labrador-Hotel-Deals.html

The icon: Toronto during festival season, Ontario
The draw: Too many to list, but Caribana, the Toronto Jazz Festival and the Canadian National Exhibition are tops, albeit just the tip of the iceberg. Time your lunch trip to the CN Tower just right during the CNE air show, and you could top-off your entrée with a sonic boom, courtesy of an F-14 Tomcat (pictured above, as captured from the CN Tower’s 360 Restaurant during the CNE) Just look down!
The deal: Early bird special pricing for CNE admission and events http://www.theex.com/gettickets.php?menu=03:01
More deals: Toronto tourism packages and other deals http://www.seetorontonow.com/camp/hotdeals.aspx

The icon: Riding Mountain National Park, Manitoba’s second largest settlement, Manitoba
The draw: According to Parks Canada staff, Riding Mountain’s http://www.pc.gc.ca/pn-np/mb/riding/index.aspx population swells in summer to become the second largest population in the province (after Winnipeg.) Its prime camping locales and sandy beaches have recently seen a new eco-tourism feature added after being designated a dark sky preserve. The pristine skies above the park are now a protected stargazing sanctuary, yet another reason to visit Manitoba’s wilderness playground.
The deal: Save even more on camping costs with group rates http://www.gov.mb.ca/conservation/parks/camping/group.html
More deals: Offers, deals, and travel packages within Manitoba http://www.travelmanitoba.com/OffersAndPackages/All/

The icon: The National Capital
The draw: Parliament Buildings, national museums, Winterlude in winter, tulip festival in spring. A trip to the National Capitol region is a tick off the to-do list of everyone who lives in this land. If you only have time to park a few blocks south and walk up to the eternal flame burning in front of the Peace Tower, or walk through the centre block, it’s still worth the trip. If you have more time, many days can be spent in Canada’s greatest concentration of museums, art galleries, historical tours, and national heritage sites. If that’s not your cup of tea, the region also recently welcomed Canada’s biggest water park.
The deal: Special offers for spring and summer http://www.ottawatourism.ca/en/visitors/ottawa-getaways-and-special-offers
More deals: Deals on Ottawa area inns and Bed & Breakfasts http://www.tripadvisor.com/SmartDeals-g155004-Ottawa_Ontario-Hotel-Deals.html

The icon: The Arctic, Yukon Territory
The draw: Whitehorse (population 22,898), Dawson City (pop. 1,327), and the (long but worthwhile) day trip from Dawson to the Arctic Circle. Continue on from the historic gold rush town of Dawson – home of Robert Service’s cabin – to the settlement of Eagle Plains (which is actually a motel/restaurant/gas station, pop. 12-18) to within a few minutes of the only place in North America where you can drive to the Arctic Circle. Northward (when the ferry is running) are the Arctic Ocean cities of Inuvik (pop. 3,484) and Tuktoyaktuk (pop. 870) both actually in the Northwest Territories.
The deal: Summer vacation packages in the Yukon http://travelyukon.com/vacationtourpackages/summervacationpackages/
More deals: Guides and travel packages for Northwest Territories http://www.spectacularnwt.com/nwtt/order-guides

The icon: Treasures of Ontario’s Muskoka region
The draw: Algonquin Park, countless picturesque lakes bordered by white pines, spruce, and hemlock – one of the famed painting locales of the Group of Seven. Accessible to cottagers, renters, hotel guests, and paddlers. The area is a canoeist’s haven and one of Ontario’s must-sees for locals, out-of-provincers, and international tourists alike.
The deal: Multi-day savings packages http://www.discovermuskoka.ca/packages.php?r_ro=0
More deals: Algonquin Park/Haliburton area tourism specials http://www.haliburton-tourism.com/specials.shtml

The icon: Niagara Falls, Ontario
The draw: The Falls and close-up ways to see them (Maid of the Mist – there are actually seven – and the caverns behind the Falls), Clifton Hill tourist area of midway rides, wax museums/fun houses, restaurants, and night entertainment, fast action and some of the world’s biggest musical acts at Fallsview Casino and nearby Casino Niagara. Not-to-be missed during the day, local winery tours, more family-oriented fun at Marineland, and the cuisine and culture of the Shaw theatre festival at Niagara-on-the-Lake.
The deal: Hotel deals http://www.niagarafallstourism.com/hoteldeals.html
More deals: More deals and sales of note http://www.tripadvisor.com/SmartDeals-g154998-Niagara_Falls_Ontario-Hotel-Deals.html

The icon: Vancouver and the post-Olympic experience, British Columbia
The draw: The region between Vancouver and nearby Whistler is now forever etched in the history books, thanks to a transformative few weeks for our national identity. What the constant Sarah McLachlan/Michael J. Fox commercials don’t’ (yet) tout is that a trip to this region is a trip through Canada’s recent sporting history – allowing visitors to ski on the same hills where Canada first won Olympic gold on Canadian soil, where Canadian athletes in-fact won more gold medals than any other country at any other Winter Games, and where average Joes could run alongside Wayne Gretzky in a pickup truck, carrying a light that had crossed the nation (several times) and that light’s final resting place on the nearby harbourfront.
The deal: BC tourism special offers http://www.hellobc.com/en-CA/SpecialOffers/British-Columbia.htm
More deals: Half price music and theatre tickets in Vancouver http://www.ticketstonight.ca/ticketstonight/

The icon: The northern Prairies, Saskatchewan
The draw: Wanuskewin, buffalo jump, and the great “Canadian” (a term to be used respectfully but sparingly in this context) First Nations adventure. Forget about Regina and Moose Jaw to the south, Canada’s great undiscovered urban treasure is Saskatoon – the so-called city of bridges. To the northeast, you’ll find Wanuskewin Heritage Park, one of Western Canada’s most interesting museums. Hugging the banks of the South Saskatchewan River, the attraction is also home to a giant medicine wheel, a buffalo jump (where ancient locals herded bison over a cliff for [sustainable] consumption, and one of Canada’s only authentic First Nations restaurants along a major tourist route. Menu items include wild rice salad (with dried fruit and nuts), bannock (fried bred) pizza, and local duck, rabbit or bison dishes.
The deal: Saskatoon-area travel packages http://www.tourismsaskatoon.com/travel-packages/
More deals: Saskatchewan travel deals http://www.sasktourism.com/whats-happening/vacation-and-getaway-packages

The icon: Green Gables and Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island
The draw: Out-famed only by the Northern Lights themselves, the story of Anne of Green Gables is what a lot of foreigners think of when the subject of Canada comes up. The historic house that the Lucy Montgomery novels were based in was recently re-restored after a tragic fire, and ranks up with Thunder Bay’s Terry Fox memorial as one of the truly great Canadian “places” to visit. While in the area, be sure to take in beautiful Charlottetown and the nifty red soil of the area beaches.
The deal: PEI vacation packages http://www.tourismpei.com/pei-package-offers
More deals: Tourism deals in Charlottetown http://www.walkandseacharlottetown.com/tours-and-packages/

The icon: Old Quebec City, Quebec
The draw: The closest thing in Canada to being in Europe is also one of the coolest places to stay in a hotel or go dining in the entire country. Easily the most romantic city in the nation, home to the historic Plains of Abraham, the impressive Notre Dame de Quebec (one of the oldest churches in North America), and the 250-foot-high Montmorency Falls.
The deal: Quebec City summer tourism specials http://www.quebecregion.com/en/packages?a=vis
More deals: Reduced-rate accommodation deals in the province of Quebec http://www.bonjourquebec.com/ca-en/aubaines0.html

The icon: The Canadian Rockies - Banff to Mt Robson, Alberta/British Columbia
The draw: There are lots of mountains just an hour west of Calgary or a few hours west of Edmonton - more than enough to impress anyone who’s never been. But take one look at Mount Robson (in the nearby BC provincial park of the same name) and you’ll feel like you’ve never really seen a mountain before. The wind-swept summit isn’t the tallest mountain in Canada (Mount Logan in the Yukon takes that prize, though it doesn’t tower as impressively above its surrounding terrain) but at close to half the height of Everest, this iconic Canadian peak is definitely worth a lunch stop and a lot of pictures. Other attractions in the area include the towns of Banff, Jasper, and Radium/Invermere for their shopping, skiing, natural hot springs, and history, as well as the Columbia Icefield and the Burgess Shale, one of the world’s most important fossil finds.
The deal: Special offers, Banff and Lake Louise (see lower left area of site) http://www.banfflakelouise.com/
More deals: Special offers in Jasper, Alberta (one of the less-expensive Rocky Mountain tourist towns) http://www.jaspercanadianrockies.com/u/specialoffers.phtml

Any locations we forgot that you think should be on this list? Looking for other deals in a different locale? Or found some of your own? Drop us a line below…

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