• Flight Centre Home
  • Blog Home
  • Destinations
    • Africa
    • Asia
    • Canada & USA
    • Europe & UK
    • Mexico & Caribbean
    • Oceania
  • Interests
    • Beach
    • Cuisine
    • Luxury
    • Wellness
    • Adventure
    • Off The Beaten Path
  • Travel Styles
    • Couples Travel
    • Solo Travel
    • Family Travel
    • Group Travel
    • Business Travel
    • Cruises
    • Tours
  • Book A Trip
    • Flights
    • Vacations
    • Better Beach
    • Destinations
    • Cruises
    • Tours
    • Deals
    • Groups
    • Business

Flight Centre Travel Blog

Banner
  • Flight Centre Home
  • Blog Home
  • Destinations
    • Africa
    • Asia
    • Canada & USA
    • Europe & UK
    • Mexico & Caribbean
    • Oceania
  • Interests
    • Beach
    • Cuisine
    • Luxury
    • Wellness
    • Adventure
    • Off The Beaten Path
  • Travel Styles
    • Couples Travel
    • Solo Travel
    • Family Travel
    • Group Travel
    • Business Travel
    • Cruises
    • Tours
  • Book A Trip
    • Flights
    • Vacations
    • Better Beach
    • Destinations
    • Cruises
    • Tours
    • Deals
    • Groups
    • Business
Canada & USADestinations

Last-Minute Summer Getaways, No Passport Required

by Emese Graham August 6, 2020
written by Emese Graham August 6, 2020
two people drive down open highway in convertible

Don’t let summer slip away without one last hurrah. Discover our favourite Canadian getaways worth road-tripping to before things cool down. From wine country weekends to backcountry breaks, it’s easy to love where you live when there’s so much to explore just around the corner.

1. Muskoka & Algonquin Park

green canoe floating on misty lake in muskoka

Drive from Toronto: 2.5 hours

Drive from Ottawa: 4.5 hours

Anyone can add a little cottage country magic to their summer, even if you don’t have a vacation home of your own. Our Travel Experts have plenty of cozy stays up their sleeves, from simple cabins to luxury resorts with all the fixings.

Fancy a splash of adventure to complete your lazy days? Try a motorized canoe tour, guided paddling trip, riverside biking circuit, or a sightseeing steamship cruise.

PLAN A TRIP
Back to top

2. Sunshine Coast

boats cross water at sunshine coast

Drive + Ferry from Vancouver: 2 hours

Drive + Ferry from Victoria: 6 hours

Almost every destination professes to have “something for everybody”, but the Sunshine Coast really walks the walk. Scuba diving, distillery tours, and boutique shopping aren’t the half of it. You can even rent a boat and head to Savary Island to enjoy some white sand beaches! Take it all in with a last-minute weekend stay in Madeira Park.

BOOK TODAY
Back to top

3. Banff & Rocky Mountains

bright red kayaks on dock in banff national park

A journey to one of the most beautiful places in all of Canada deserves a special kind of trip. Consider relying on the original horsepower and turning your Banff road trip to an equestrian getaway!

You can get up close and personal with postcard-perfect gems like Lake Louise, Moraine Lake, and all the beautiful nooks and crannies of the Canadian Rockies.

BOOK NOW
Back to top

4. South Pender Island

small islet with mountains in background in pender island

Drive + Ferry from Vancouver: 3 hours

Drive + Ferry from Victoria: 2.5 hours

A mild Mediterranean climate and a network of inviting parks and trails welcome you to the Pender Islands. Watch the boats floating by while you soak in the hot tub or work up a sweat exploring Gulf Islands National Park – it’s your vacation, do as you please.

Intrepid travellers can even get the small island perspective on road tripping by trying out Pender Island’s car stop program, a locally-run chain of hitchhiking stops.

SEE TRIP PACKAGE

5. Rideau River

bridge over rideau canal

Drive from Toronto: 4.5 hours

Drive from Montreal: 2.5 hours

Canada’s capital always makes for a delightful trip. Restaurants-on-wheels, flourishing gardens, and heaps of museums (many of which are opening their doors in August) are ready for exploring!

“Been there, done that?” Not so fast. Why not trade in your wheels for a houseboat? You can book a private floating hotel that takes you from Smiths Falls to photogenic townships all the way up the Rideau.

BOOK TODAY

 6. Okanagan Valley

vineyard beside lake okanagan during sunset

Drive from Vancouver: 4.5 hours

Drive from Calgary: 7 hours

First of all, no drinking and driving. That’s what guided wine tours are for! Explore beautiful British Columbia wine country from Osoyoos to Kelowna to Lake Okanagan one tasting tour at a time.

Try pairing your picturesque getaway with a tasty dinner cruise across the lake, a relaxing dip in some hot springs, or a sunny round of golf.

SEE VACATIONS

7. Churchill River

view from canoe on churchill river saskatchewan at dusk

Drive from Saskatoon: 4 hours

Drive from Edmonton: 8 hours

While some of us are in dire need of a break, others are overdue for a healthy challenge; for that, there’s outdoor adventuring. Head to La Ronge, Saskatchewan to meet a team of professional outfitters who will guide you through Churchill River’s secrets.

Whitewater rapids, easy paddling stretches, and plenty of time for swimming, hiking, and portaging will fill out your epic camping trip.

BOOK TODAY

 

Staying close to home doesn’t have to be ordinary. Explore our top Canada vacation deals or dream up your next Canadian getaway with our Travel Experts today!

AlbertaBanffBritish Columbiacanadachurchill rivermuskokaOkanaganOntarioOttawaSaskatchewansouth pender islandsunshine coastToronto
previous post
Top 5 Vacation Spots Open to Canadians
next post
Want a Free Night in a Great Resort? Talk to an Expert

You may also like

5+ Sparkling New Resorts Opening in Mexico This...

January 6, 2021

5 Best Places to Stay in the Dominican...

December 16, 2020

What My Recent Riviera Maya Vacation was Really...

December 14, 2020

6 Dreamy Luxury Vacations to Add to Your...

December 11, 2020

How to Plan the Perfect Montego Bay Vacation

December 2, 2020

Cheap Flights in Canada You Can Book for...

November 25, 2020

5 Brilliant Travel Destinations Inspired by The Queen’s...

November 16, 2020

These Black-Owned Hotels are like Heaven on Earth

November 3, 2020

See, Taste, Tour: 9 Best Things to Do...

October 29, 2020

Travel in Your Own Bubble with These Small...

October 22, 2020

Popular Posts

  • 1

    Top 5 Vacation Spots Open to Canadians

    July 30, 2020
  • 2

    5 Signs You Need to Stop What You’re Doing and Call a Travel Agent

    January 5, 2021
  • 3

    What My Recent Riviera Maya Vacation was Really Like

    December 14, 2020
  • 4

    6 Dreamy Luxury Vacations to Add to Your Travel Wish List

    December 11, 2020
  • 5

    Travel in Your Own Bubble with These Small Group Tours

    October 22, 2020
  • 6

    Weddings & Reunion Trips: What a Difference an Expert Makes!

    September 8, 2020
  • 7

    Top 5 Places in Ontario to See Fall Colours

    September 23, 2014
  • 8

    A Message from Flight Centre Travel Group

    March 16, 2020
  • 9

    6 Québec Winter Carnaval Activities you Cannot Miss

    March 4, 2016
  • 10

    What Travellers Should Know About COVID-19

    March 5, 2020

Follow Us on Twitter

Tweets by @FlightCentreCa
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Youtube

© Flight Centre Travel Group (Canada) Inc


Back To Top