Top places to chase the sun in Canada

Serene summer spots to discover in Canada.

From Toronto’s cosmopolitan streets to the quaint suburbs of New Brunswick to the mountain peaks of the Canadian Rockies, Canada’s got no shortage of diverse attractions. Whether you’re a nature lover or a big city wanderer, we’ve hand-picked three destinations to give you a bit of everything for the perfect sunny break in Canada.

Read about all 100 places to chase the sun around the globe here.

82. The bike routes in Vancouver, British Columbia

Oh, I do like to be beside the seaside, which is why Vancouver is a dreamy summer destination. As well as a quintessentially Canadian selection of outdoor adventures and a lively bar and restaurant scene, the British Columbian city is home to the world’s longest uninterrupted waterfront path.

On foot or on wheels, the 28-kilometre Seaside Greenway is a calorie-killing way to take in some of Vancouver’s top attractions, including the North Shore Mountains and Granville Island, as well as that fresh summer air.

The Seaside Greenway bike path in Vancouver City, Canada — Vancouver city is home to the Seaside Greenway, the world’s longest uninterrupted waterfront path.

If you prefer your holiday exercise in bite-sized portions, a nine-kilometre stretch of the seawall doubles as a loop around Stanley Park. At 405 hectares, this urban green space is considerably larger than NYC’s famed Central Park and is a summer must, whether you care to cut a lap or not.

There are a further 27 kilometres of forest trails within the park, a pool and beaches, playgrounds and picnic areas, various cultural and historical monuments, and Vancouver’s largest aquarium.

By Kate Symon

83. Winnipeg, Manitoba

Most Canadians refer to Winnipeg as ‘Winterpeg’, due to those average minus-thirty Celsius days in winter. But in recent years the capital of Manitoba, located in the longitudinal centre of Canada, has been rebranded as a top spot in summer for its endless blue skies and 25°C summer days. Unlace those ice skates. Here are a few good reasons to visit Winnipeg in the summer.

Summertime hops and stops

Pop-up patios are a Peg thing in summer. A top way to tap into this scene is on a Winnipeg Trolley Ale Trail, which stops for hops at taprooms such as Nonsuch Brewing Co.

A barman pouring beer while standing in pub — Stops for hops at taprooms around Winnipeg.

Summer festivals

After a long winter’s hibernation, Peggers burst back into circulation to enjoy live music at festivals such as Folklorama and the TD Winnipeg International Jazz Festival.

Meet Winnie in Winnipeg

Did you know Winnie the Pooh was named after Winnipeg? Find the statue of Winnie the Bear in pretty Assiniboine Park, which skirts the city in greenery.

Assiniboine Park in Winnipeg, Canada — Winne the Pooh fan? Find the statue of Winnie the Bear in the lush greens of Assiniboine Park. (Image: Travel Manitoba)

Enjoy a culinary tour of The Forks

The Forks is so named because of its position where the Assiniboine River flows into the Red. While a Culinary Adventure Co. tour touches on the area’s rich history as a First Nations settlement and the epicentre of the fur trade, it also offers bite-sized stories about Winnipeg’s culinary heritage.

The Forks Winnipeg — The Forks is the perfect place to enjoy sunnier days in Winnipeg. (Image: Travel Manitoba)

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Explore the Exchange District

Stay at the Hotel Fairmont Winnipeg to gain easy access to the edgy Exchange District, where you will find locals perusing galleries and boutiques and spilling out of buzzy bars, breweries and restaurants.

The Exchange District in Winnipeg, Canada — The Exchange District in Winnipeg. (Image: Travel Manitoba)

84. Montréal, Quebec

My first night in Montréal coincided with the launch of the Montréal International Jazz Festival and a free outdoor show by Stevie Wonder. It was a sultry June evening charged with an atmosphere that set the tone for the following two months I’d spend here: where every week another street was cordoned off from cars for some festival or another, the whole city galvanised under the sun – the frozen depths of its famously long winters a distant memory again, for now. The cultural heart of Canada’s Québec province, spirited Montréal is renowned for this jam-packed calendar that plays out in every corner of the city all summer long.

Folklorama in Winnipeg, Canada — Embrace the liveliness of The Highland Games festival.

Other highlights include Mtl en Arts, which transforms Sainte-Catherine Street into a huge open-air art gallery; Just For Laughs, one of the world’s top comedy festivals; venerable music festival Osheaga; a Caribbean carnival, Carifiesta; a citywide circus takeover with Montréal Complétement Cirque; Montréal Pride Festival; and even a Highland Games.

Performers from the Montréal Complétement Cirque, an international festival for circus arts.

In between festivities, I read books by the pond in Parc La Fontaine, hunted out the famous bagels of Mile End, and sought out rooftops to survey it all from.

By Imogen Eveson

Next up, 10 incredible places in Latin America: 85-94 out of our 100 places to chase the sun around the globe.

Wellbeing means different things to different travellers. Here’s how to pick a hotel that gets it right for you.

The best wellness holidays aren’t necessarily spent wrapped in a spa robe. Sometimes they’re found around a dinner table in Cambodia, on a hiking trail in New Zealand or after finally beating jet lag on the other side of the world. The hotel you choose is what makes them happen.

1. Easy access to good food

meals from Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20 — Taste delicious meals at Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20.

One of the quickest ways to derail healthy habits on holiday is to spend half of it working out where to eat instead of digging into the culture around you. Thankfully, Novotel has done much of the hard work already, with chefs building menus that lean into the flavours, ingredients and traditions of each destination.

In Sihanoukville, Cambodia, Korkor soup – often dubbed ‘Cambodian ratatouille’ – sits alongside raw blue crab dressed with lime and chilli, best enjoyed with views across the Gulf of Thailand.

In the lovingly chaotic city of Bangkok, the presence of food cranks up the sociability. At Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20, you can settle in with mango sticky rice and stranger-turned-friends beside the pool at Sky on 20 rooftop bar, or bring them along to tackle river prawns and stir-fried crab with holy basil at the buzzing Crab Paradise Dinner Buffet.

Then Novotel Dubai Al Barsha welcomes you with a laidback twist on the level of indulgence the Middle Eastern city is best known for up on Deck Se7en. Looking towards Burj Al Arab, the rooftop lounge has everything from Mediterranean-style dishes like seabass ceviche to Italian prosecco sundowners.

At the other end of the scale, in the hills that surround the Novotel Bali Ubud Resort, calm comes from nature. At Siralada restaurant, Balinese traditions shape the menu while thunder rumbles over the surrounding jungle – proving the setting is as nourishing as the food itself.

While at Novotel Nha Trang, chef Kieu Thi My Hanh and her team showcase Vietnam’s knack for balancing freshness, texture and fragrant herbs. Pho remains a favourite, while seafood salad with pomelo and mango brings those flavours together in one bright dish.

It’s all an approach backed by partnerships with expert food creators such as Alfie Steiner, whose plant-forward recipes prove healthy food should never taste plain.

2. Better sleep options

Novotel Bali Ubud Resort room — Sleep deeply with Novotel.

There are few travel experiences more disappointing than arriving in a new country, determined to seize the day, only to fall asleep fully clothed by 3pm.

For Australian travellers, jet lag is often an unavoidable part of the journey. That’s one reason Novotel runs sleep-focused initiatives that help guests adjust quickly without compromising on health. We’re talking partnerships with Sydney-based sleep specialist Olivia Arezzolo, known for her advice on everything from better sleep habits to beating jet lag, alongside features like pillow menus, in-room yoga content and tailored sleep guidance.

The sooner you’re operating on local time, the sooner you can get back to more pressing matters – like deciding which spa treatment to book.

3. More ways to move

woman hiking around queenstown new zealand — Stay at Novotel Queenstown Lakeside and explore local hiking trails. (Credit: GettyI mages/ naruedom)

Every place in the world has its own way of getting you moving: whether that’s hiking up ice-bitten mountains before a sauna or gentle stretching by the pool before a facial. From fitness centres to spas, Novotel recognises that wellbeing rarely looks the same.

At Novotel Queenstown Lakeside, activity is inescapable. Here, hiking trails, ski fields, bungee jumps, and white-water rafting have made the region famous. The hotel’s location on the shores of Lake Wakatipu means less time spent organising yourself and more time out there experiencing them. To top it all off, you can book a private hot tub for the evening before heading back into the wilderness tomorrow.

Bali, of course, takes a softer approach. At Novotel Bali Ubud Resort or Novotel Bali Nusa Dua, movement is less about conquering a mountain and more about a dance class between the tropical gardens and lagoon pools. Afterwards, the spa takes over, with traditional treatments like a Lulur body scrub: a combination of rice, turmeric, sandalwood, ginger and jasmine that’ll soothe muscles already relaxed by the Balinese heat.

4. Better connections

Kids will love a stay at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh.

One of the best things about travel is that it gives your family stories you’ll be telling for years. Novotel helps create them with activities that bring everyone together, whether that’s trying something new, learning a local skill, or simply spending more time together.

Go for a distinctly Thai twist at Novotel Phuket Vintage Park, where many of the family activities draw on local culture. Kids can try everything from beginner Thai boxing and language lessons to umbrella painting and – a pastime beloved by children the world over – pool foam parties. Everyone is welcome to join in, whether that’s getting splashed, covered in paint, or simply watching their children discover a new side of Thailand during the dedicated Family & Kids Day.

A different adventure awaits at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh. Kids could be perfectly content with discos, drawing classes and new holiday friends, but the Red Sea has other ideas. Sitting on the edge of Naama Bay, days here might involve snorkelling colourful reefs, taking a boat trip to Ras Mohammed National Park or heading into the desert by quad bike or camel for a Bedouin-style dinner beneath the stars.

5. Location is everything

Surin Beach, Choeng Thale, Thalang District, Phuket, Thaiföld — Explore Phuket’s gorgeous beaches. (Credit: Bence Biczo)

Everyone’s idea of wellness looks a little different. With more than 600 hotels across 65 countries, Novotel gives guests the freedom to choose the destination that suits them best. Whether that’s a beachside escape in Phuket, an alpine expedition in Queenstown or a city break in Bangkok, there’s a good chance a Novotel isn’t far away.

All that’s left? Choosing your version of wellbeing.

Discover stays to inspire your everyday at novotel.accor.com.