8 Unforgettable Canadian natural wonders you can fly to directly from Ottawa

There has never been a better time to plan your next travel experience in Canada. As interest in domestic travel continues to grow, more Canadians are choosing to explore across the country without the complexity of longer trips or international planning. 

In fact, 88 per cent of CAA Members are planning to travel within Canada this year, with many venturing beyond Ontario. And with direct flights from the capital opening the door to destinations across the country, Canada’s most striking natural wonders are closer than you think.  

Here are eight of Canada’s most remarkable natural wonders you can fly to from Ottawa with Air Canada, each offering a trip worth taking. 

Cabot Trail, Nova Scotia 

Along Canada’s East Coast, you’ll find a coastline shaped by powerful tides and open ocean views that seem to stretch on forever.  

From there, the Cabot Trail winds along the northern edge of Cape Breton Island, tracing cliffs, forests and sweeping views of the Atlantic. The 298-kilometre route passes through Cape Breton Highlands National Park, with sweeping views of cliffs, forests and the Atlantic along the way. 

In the warmer months, you can stop for a hike through forested trails or out to a lookout, and if you’re lucky, you might be able to spot whales just offshore. 

Cathedral Grove, British Columbia 

It doesn’t take long in Cathedral Grove to notice the scale, the air cools, the noise fades, and the trees tower overhead in every direction.  

Some of the oldest and tallest in Canada rise overhead, their massive trunks and twisting roots creating a landscape that feels both ancient and alive. Sunlight filters through the canopy, some trees reaching nearly 80 metres, while easy, well-marked trails make it simple to explore.  

Follow the Big Tree Trail to see the grove at its most impressive, including one of its largest trees, a Douglas fir with a nine-metre circumference. Keep an eye out as you wander, as woodpeckers echo through the trees, and deer or elk may move quietly through the forest. 

The Northern Lights, Manitoba 

If seeing the Northern Lights is on your bucket list, Manitoba is one of the best places in the country to experience them. 

While the aurora borealis is best viewed during the darker months from late fall to early spring, the province offers wide-open skies and vast northern scenery year-round. When conditions are right, ribbons of green, violet and pink shimmer across the night sky in one of nature’s most mesmerizing displays.  

Viewing conditions can vary, so it is worth planning ahead to catch the lights when they are most visible. 

Saguenay Fjord, Quebec  

Tucked between towering cliffs and winding waterways, this is where Québec’s landscape feels at its most striking. 

Less than two-and-a-half hours from Québec City, the Saguenay Fjord stretches 146 miles through Parc national du Fjord-du-Saguenay and is the only fjord in North America inhabited on both sides, with charming villages lining its steep, forested shores.  

Carved by glaciers thousands of years ago, the region feels both vast and intimate, where you can kayak along calm waters, spot beluga whales or take in sweeping views from cliffside lookouts. It offers big scenery, fewer crowds, and a peaceful escape that feels far removed from everyday life. 

The Rocky Mountains, Alberta 

Head into the Rockies in Alberta, and the terrain quickly transforms from wide-open plains to soaring mountain ranges. 

As Canada’s first national park, Banff remains one of its most iconic destinations. Ancient icefields spill over mountaintops, while elk, bighorn sheep and grizzly bears move through the valleys. 

Visitors can wander along the shores of Lake Louise, take in sweeping views from the Banff Gondola or venture onto the Columbia Icefield. Then continue along the Icefields Parkway, otherwise known as Alberta’s Highway 93, one of the country’s most scenic drives. The route runs between Jasper and Lake Louise, passing more than 100 ancient glaciers, waterfalls, mountain views, and bright blue lakes surrounded by forests. 

Niagara Falls, Ontario  

Located in the heart of the Niagara Region, this iconic landmark remains one of Canada's most enduring natural wonders, drawing visitors year-round to its mist-filled viewpoints and surrounding parkland.  

Beyond the falls themselves, the area offers more to explore, with parks, gardens, and trails that are perfect for a walk in nature. Nearby attractions include the Botanical Gardens, home to a wide variety of butterflies and seasonal blooms, adding to the region’s natural appeal. Still, it’s the roar, the mist, and the sheer power of the water that make the experience unforgettable. 

Your Canadian adventure starts here  

Whether you are chasing waterfalls, hiking mountain trails, exploring vibrant cities or simply looking for a change of scenery, Canada offers it all, starting right from Ottawa. 

Explore Canada anywhere Air Canada flies within the country, courtesy of CAA Travel, with Rogers helping power your adventure with must-have travel tech.   

Your Canadian escape includes two economy-class tickets with Air Canada, the all-new Samsung Galaxy S26 phone, a $1,000 Marriott Bonvoy gift card, a $500 Ultimate Dining gift and travel-tech essentials. 

To enter, you must be a CAA Member. Log in to your My Account and click “Enter” in the My Offers section. Learn more at Enter the Oh Canada contest.  

Conditions apply. The trip must be booked within one year of the draw date.