If you love a pacific coast city break… swap Seattle for Vancouver.
Looking for a place with a mild climate that is surrounded by mountains and the ocean, with easy access to the Great Outdoors and the chance to go whale watching from the city? Seattle offers these but Vancouver, where Orcas and humpback whales pass through from May to October, ticks all the same boxes. Seattle is known as the birthplace of the American coffee scene, while Vancouver’s coffee culture is also strong, driven by its multicultural population.
If you love road trips…swap Route 66 for the Trans-Canada Highway.
Marking its centenary in 2026, America’s Mother Road is going to be a hectic highway so consider Canada’s longest national road, the provincial highway system that travels through all 10 of the country’s provinces, extending east-west from Victoria, B.C. to St. John’s, Newfoundland. Car ferries link both Newfoundland and Vancouver Island to the mainland.
If you love cowboy culture…swap Texas for Alberta.
Home to the world-famous Calgary Stampede, Alberta’s cowboy culture was born from its 19th-century cattle-ranching roots. Visitors with a hankering for the Old West can saddle up for ranch stays, a strong country music scene and horse riding along The Cowboy Trail in the foothills of the Rocky mountains.
If you love farm to table dining… swap Portland for Montréal.
The Oregon city is known for prioritising locally sourced ingredients, organically grown produce and sustainable, ethical dining – as is Montréal, which is now something of a Mecca for foodies committed to eating responsibly. From the urban farms and “buvettes” (neighbourhood cafés) of Montréal, you’ll find regional seasonal cuisine that (literally) won’t cost the earth.
If you love bears and wolves…swap Alaska for the Yukon.
The breathtaking wilderness of the Yukon is more than a match for Alaska’s national parks. Tour operators in Whitehorse offer a range of eco-friendly excursions to watch grizzly and black bears, as well as wolves and lynx. Paddle the mighty Yukon River and you’ll likely see eagles, ospreys and beavers along its banks.
If you love jazz and blues…swap New Orleans for Montréal.
The jazz and blues scene is thriving in the bars and music venues of Montréal, where you’ll find cool and casual speakeasies showcasing rising stars and world-class auditoriums hosting international big-name acts. Montréal has a rich Jazz heritage: its most famous “son” of the genre is the legendary Oscar Peterson, with a downtown plaza dedicated to him.
If you love autumn colours…swap New England for Québec.
Québec is a great choice to experience the dazzling colours of a North American fall without the crowds. Popular areas to view the foliage include national parks like Mont-Tremblant and cities such as Montréal and Québec City, which have numerous urban parks and nearby scenic spots.
If you love theatre breaks…swap New York for Toronto.
“Off Broadway” has a whole new meaning for those wanting a North American theatre break. Toronto has both grand theatres, where visitors can catch major touring shows, and intimate venues for independent plays. The city’s Theatre District is a major hub, with venues such as the Princess of Wales and Royal Alexandra Theatre.
If you love Indigenous experiences…swap New Mexico for Ontario.
Southwest USA is home to numerous federally recognised pueblos, nations and tribes that welcome visitors, but Indigenous culture in Ontario is equally diverse, with distinct languages and distinct artistic traditions (primarily Algonquian and Iroquoian). For example, Manitoulin Island is home to several First Nations communities which host tours, pow wows and festivals throughout the year.
If you love city markets…swap Philadelphia’s Reading Street Terminal for Vancouver’s Granville Island Public Market.
Philadelphia’s famous indoor market provides fresh produce and lunchtime snacks to locals and visitors alike – and Granville Island, with its 50 unique vendors, does the same but from a more aesthetically pleasing location that boasts waterfront and coastal views.
If you love a ball game…swap the New York Yankees for the Toronto Blue Jays.
Every trip to North America should include a baseball match and in Canada the team to watch is the Toronto Blue Jays, who reached the sport’s World Series in October 2025. See them play at the Rogers Centre.
If you love the Great Lakes…swap Lake Michigan for Lake Superior.
The world’s largest freshwater lake, Superior stretches across the USA and Canada and offers exciting outdoor adventures along its Canadian shores. Stargaze in Lake Superior Provincial Park, hike the Casque Isle Trail or camp at Sleeping Giant Provincial Park, amidst some of the most incredible landscapes in North America.
If you love whale watching…swap New England for Atlantic Canada.
Ishmael, the lead character in Moby Dick, joined the whaling ship Pequod in Nantucket, Massachusetts, but the nutrient-rich coastal waters around Canada’s maritime provinces also yield opportunities to get out on the water to observe the giant leviathans. The Bay of Fundy is another prime whale-watching spot, due to its high tides that churn up plankton and krill.
If you love Creole culture…swap Southern Louisiana for New Brunswick.
The Canadian Maritimes were home to one of the first European colonies in North America, French settlers or “Acadians” who arrived in the 17th and 18th centuries. With their own history, culture and dialect, the Acadians of New Brunswick speak “Chiac” or “Brayon”. Visitors can celebrate all things Arcadian at the annual Festival Acadien in Caraquet, New Brunswick, in August.
If you love giant icons…swap the Grand Canyon for the Rocky Mountains.
he grandeur of America’s Grand Canyon is rivalled by the soaring snow-capped peaks of Canada’s Rocky Mountains, a monumental chain that runs for around 1,000 miles southeastward from the northern tip of B.C. Explore on foot or by bike in summer, and strap on skis or snowshoes in winter.
If you love dreamy beaches…swap Alabama for Prince Edward Island.
Think the pristine white-sand beaches of the Gulf Shores can’t be beaten? Then visit Prince Edward Island’s central and north shores. Cavendish Beach is a popular long stretch of white-gold sand within PEI National Park, known for its connection to L.M. Montgomery’s Anne of Green Gables.
If you love LGBTQ+ neighbourhoods… swap San Francisco for Vancouver.
“San Fran” may have a long history of LGBTQ+ influence and activism but Vancouver’s Davie Village is home to gay-friendly bars, clubs, restaurants and shops. In the city’s West End, south-west of the downtown core, it’s an area of pink bus stops, rainbow banners, gay businesses, gay-friendly events and over 30 Travel Alternatives Group (TAG) hotels. Each August, the city hosts one of Canada’s best Prides.
If you love Highland Games…swap North Carolina for Nova Scotia.
Pipes, kilts and Celtic songs come out in force at Grandfather Mountain, which hosts one of North America’s largest Highland Games, but when Scottish settlers began arriving in Atlantic Canada in the 18th century they bought with them a similar set of traditions. Today, the annual Antigonish Festival has become a highlight of Nova Scotia’s events calendar. The weekend gathering includes ceilidhs, a kilted golf tournament and games from the Highlands such as the caber toss and tug of war.
If you love wine country…swap Napa, California, for the Okanagan valley, B.C.
California’s Napa Valley has done a grand job of marketing itself as America’s King of the Vines but there’s no better way to while away a sunny afternoon than in a stylish vineyard in the beautiful Okanagan Valley, home to more than 200 wineries, cellar-door tastings and a farm-to-table culinary scene.
If you love scenic drives…swap the California coast for Cape Breton Island.
Rivalling the twisting coastal views of the Pacific Coast Highway, the Cabot Trail is a 185-mile scenic highway which offers a scenic way to explore Nova Scotia’s famous island. From the rugged northern shore to Cape Breton Highlands National Park and the Gulf of St. Lawrence, the trail offers breathtaking views at every turn.
