If you’re looking to soak up the summer sun, look no further than Canada’s own “backyard”. Join us as we take you from coast to coast exploring our country’s sights and sounds. Starting off our Great Canadian Road Trip series, we’re sharing the country’s most “insta-worthy” places. 

Make sure your trip turns out as good as your photos. Before hitting the road, do a quick check-up of your vehicle and be sure your car insurance is up-to-date.

Now, lets see what Canada has to offer:

Atlantic Canada is home to a number of small provinces each with their own hidden gems.

Bay of Fundy: The Bay of Fundy in Nova Scotia provides a great opportunity to explore the natural beauty of the east. Tides rise and fall in this area, bringing 160 billion tons of seawater into the bay twice per day. During low tide, you can grab an awesome picture at Hopewell Rocks but keep an eye on the sea level unless you want to go for a swim!

Confederation Bridge: Connecting New Brunswick to Prince Edward Island (P.E.I.), this Bridge spans 13km long. Known as a Canadian engineering landmark, it makes for a great drive and photo op as you pass over the Northumberland Strait. Once in P.E.I., enjoy shopping the Charlottetown boutiques (great for starting your road trip souvenir collection).

Cabot Trail:  A road trip is as much about the destination as it is about the drive. While the Cabot Trail isn’t exactly a destination, it makes for a beautiful seaside drive with great opportunities for photos along the edge of the east coast, especially at Peggy’s Cove.

Road Trip Tip: Nova Scotia, P.E.I., New Brunswick and Ontario all use a “no-fault” insurance claim system which works differently than other provinces. Learn more about what “no-fault” means before you begin your travels.

Quebec

A province of historic landscapes and a proud francophone culture, Quebec offers a Europe-like experience right here at home.

Quebec City: Bring history to your feed by visiting one of the oldest and only “walled” cities in North America.  Quebecis perfect for history buffs and architecture lovers alike. Explore Old Quebec with a walk through the “Quartier Petit Champlain” and capture an awesome picture of Le Château Frontenac.

Road Trip Tip: Contrary to popular belief, Quebec allows for right turns at red lights. Be cautious in Montreal, however, since “red light rights” are still against the law.

Travelling a couple hours West from Montreal brings you into Ontario. Ontario is truly “Yours to Discover” with its wide variety of sights and sounds.

Downtown Toronto: You’ll want to park the car for a visit to downtown Toronto since exploring the city is a more fulfilling experience by foot. You can travel to new heights at the CN Tower, catch a baseball game at the Rogers Centre or get artsy at the Art Gallery of Ontario. The city has something for everyone.

Did you know? Your postal code affects your Toronto car insurance rate.

Niagara Falls: The Niagara Falls is one of the wonders of the natural world. Besides this rushing flow of water, the city offers many attractions ranging from casinos, waterparks and a great nightlife. Tip: Capture the falls at night when multi-coloured spotlights bring it to life.

Road Trip Tip: Distracted driving laws exist across all 10 provinces and 2 territories, so when the perfect picture opportunity appears, make sure you pull over.

Ah, the wild west. The expansive landscape and long straight roads create the perfect recipe for a stunning drive.

Winnipeg: Although it’s not the largest or oldest city in Canada, Winnipeg is considered to be the “gateway to the west”. The 30-block exchange district creates a great opportunity to capture 20th century architecture for the ‘gram and enjoy trendy shops at the same time.

Calgary: Visit downtown Calgary and catch a great view of the city from 525 feet in the air at the Calgary Tower. For an (almost) authentic cowboy experience, plan your visit around the Calgary Stampede in early July.

Banff National Park: As you travel from Alberta to British Columbia, take advantage of the photo opportunity the change in landscape from grasslands to rugged mountains presents. Visiting Banff National Park is the best way to capture the beauty of this region. The lush forests, bright blue lakes and twisty roads make Banff a definite place to visit.

Athabasca Glacier (Columbia Ice Field): Bundle up as you head further north from Banff to Jasper where you can take a tour to the toe of the Athabasca Glacier and capture a breathtaking view of the landscape while you’re at it.

Road Trip Tip: While long straight roads create a temptation for speed, be aware that speed cameras exist in Calgary and Edmonton, and the maximum speed limit on most of the highways in the West is 110km/h. 

With the ability to go from “sea to sky” in the same day, beautiful British Columbia has something for everyone.

Capilano Suspension Bridge Park: We hope you don’t have a fear of heights! Visit the Capilano Suspension Bridge and trek the tree tops of North Vancouver to experience great sights and heights.

Sea-to-Sky Gondola: Have your head in the clouds as you take a gondola ride up to stunning lookout points. You won’t want to miss the photo op that that Chief Overlook viewing platform provides above Squamish, B.C.

Vancouver: Enjoy the metropolitan area of Vancouver with its mix of cityscape and natural features. Stanley Park borders downtown Vancouver and offers a wide variety of attractions that embrace the natural landscape including a walkable “seawall”, a park train and trendy restaurants.

Road Trip Tip: Checking in to local news and weather stations can help you prepare for the road ahead. If you’re visiting the Rockies you’ll want to make sure you have the right tires for getting over mountain passes safely.

What are you waiting for? Call your friends, grab a map and carve your own perfect road trip.