For fun on the water, the floating water park is sure to impress, as well as bumper boats and Sea-Doo rentals. Younger kids love spending the day on the protected sandy beach and waterfront playground found at the lake’s edge – the perfect spot for a picnic on a warm day. 2. Northern Lights Wolf Centre, British Columbia This lesser-known sojourn across the unheralded wilds of central British Columbia is little frequented by the international set. The exception is those on organized day trips from Jasper, who'll join the train for the first three hours as far as McBride in British Columbia. Having a car makes it super easy to jump from town to town, visit national parks, and stop at interesting places, which you just can’t do on any other form of transport. Take in the dramatic highlands and rugged coasts of Nova Scotia’s Cape Breton Island – considered one of the most beautiful islands in the world – from its famed Cabot Trail. The 299km (186-mile) loop spans an eight-hour, non-stop drive, but hiking or cycling a smaller section allows for a more leisurely pace. Cape Breton Highlands National Park is where you’ll find the greatest selection of hiking trails, with the Skyline, Fishing Cove and Acadian trails being the most popular. Seeing the northern lights is always an awe-inspiring experience. While the celestial spectacle can be spotted as far south as Banff, the most epic display is undoubtedly found in the “Great White North.” On clear nights between mid-August to mid-April, you can catch the light show all over the Yukon, with the most optimal viewing found outside the capital city of Whitehorse.

Québec's capital is more than 400 years old, and its ancient stone walls, glinting spired cathedrals and jazz-filled corner cafes suffuse it with atmosphere, romance, melancholy, eccentricity and intrigue on par with any European city. The best way to soak it all up is to walk the old town's labyrinth of lanes and get lost amid the street performers and cozy inns, stopping every so often for a café au lait and flaky pastry.

Day and monthly transit passes are available in most of the major metropolitan areas, and in cities like Toronto and Vancouver kids 12 and under ride for free. Save money on local attractions

Planning tip: Bring a tent and binoculars. You can camp right on the smooth sandy beach, and the “bins” will enhance your appreciation of the resident wildlife including eagles and ospreys. 2. Stanhope Beach, Prince Edward Island As the freeze prevails, the Canadians put on plenty of winter festivals to keep warm. The Family Day weekend (third weekend in February) can see a mass rush to the ski slopes. From its origin near the junction of Hwy 540 and Bidwell Rd, around 25km (15.5 miles) southwest of Little Current, this beautiful trail on the Niagara Escarpment leads to the highest point on Manitoulin Island. Known for its famous waterfalls that go by the same name, the Canadian city of Niagara Falls has much more to offer than riveting views of rushing rapids. Seasoned hikers can challenge themselves on the Long Range Traverse, a 34km (21-mile) trail that provides the most epic views of the Western Brook Pond Fjord from its near-vertical mountaintops soaring 610m (2000ft) into the sky. 11. Savor the wine and design in Prince Edward CountyWhen The Canadian debuted in 1955, the flagship train was a prime example of post-war railway style. Stainless steel carriages outfitted with art-deco furnishings, 360-degree observatory domes and spacious sleeping cars were The Canadian's calling card. Except for a few sporadic refurbishments, little has changed in the years since. Planning tip: A short drive or shuttle ride north, you’ll find a calmer pace in Niagara-on-the-Lake, where horse-drawn carriages shuttle visitors between world-class wineries and local shops set in colonial buildings. 19. Skate Ottawa’s Rideau Canal Extending northeast from Pointe Old Harry into the wetlands of the 1690-acre (684-hectare) East Point National Wildlife Reserve, Grande Échouerie invites hours of uninterrupted meditation amid tufted dunes frequented by horned grebe and piping plover. With 48 national parks to explore, comprising marine and coastal reserves, old growth forests, and massive mountain ranges, there’s plenty to see and do from coast, to coast, to coast.