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This Is What Canadian Summers Are For

Here's the thing about Canadian summers — they're shorter than you think and better than you remember. Before you know it, it's September, and you're making the same list for next year. So consider this your nudge. Five incredible outdoor experiences, all bookable, all worth doing before the leaves turn.

Via Ferrata 

Climbing a mountain sounds intimidating until you realize you don't need to be a climber to do it. Via ferrata routes are fixed with cables and rungs — all you need is a guide, a harness, and a willingness to look down. This is the one that makes for a genuinely unbelievable story.

Here are just a few options to consider…

• Via Ferrata in Whistler, BC

• Via Ferrata Mount Norquay, Banff, AB

• Via Ferrata in Mont-Tremblant, Quebec

• Via Ferrata in Nordegg, Alberta

White Water Rafting 

Canada has some of the best river runs on the planet, and most of them are fully guided, fully safe, and fully worth it. Whether you want a mellow float or something that soaks you to the bone, there's a river for that. Summer is peak season — don't wait.

These are just some of our favourites…

• Kicking Horse River Rafting - Golden, BC

• Rafting in Canada’s Waterfall Capital - Clearwater, BC

• Ottawa River Rafting - Foresters Falls, ON

• Rafting the Lachine Rapids - Montreal, QC

Gondola & Chairlift Sightseeing 

You don't have to hike to the top to earn the view. Gondolas and scenic chairlifts across Canada are doing the heavy lifting all summer — just show up, ride up, and take it all in. Some of the best mountain and ocean views in the world are literally a button press away.

Some of the best rides to consider include:

• Whistler Peak 2 Peak Gondola - Whistler, BC

• Banff Gondola - Banff, AB

• Lake Louise Sightseeing Gondola - Lake Louise, AB

• Sea to Sky Gondola - Squamish, BC

• Jasper SkyTram - Jasper, AB

• Mont Tremblant Gondola - Quebec

• Cape Smokey Gondola - Cape Breton, NS

Kayaking & Paddling 

There is no better way to see Canada than from the water. Kayaking and paddleboarding tours run everywhere from glassy mountain lakes to rugged coastal inlets — guided options mean zero experience needed. Show up, paddle out, feel immediately smug about your summer.

Here are some favourites…

• Sea Kayaking Tofino - Tofino, BC

• Kayaking Thousand Islands - Kingston, ON

• Paddleboarding Emerald Lake - Field, BC

Tip: If you want to become a really good whitewater canoer or kayaker, check out the Great Canadian Canoe Road Trip we did in Ontario!

Ziplining 

Fast, loud, and over way too quickly — ziplining is the gateway drug of adventure tourism, and we mean that as a compliment. Almost every mountain town in Canada has a zipline operation, and most of them are genuinely world-class. Book it as a warm-up or make it the whole plan.

Here are some popular options…

• Ziplining Whistler - Whistler, BC

• Zipling in Montreal - Quebec

• Ziplining Mont-Tremblant - Quebec

• Zipline to the Falls - Niagara Falls, ON

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Where It All Began: Via Ferrata in the Dolomites, Italy

Before via ferrata became a bucket list adventure activity, it was a military necessity. During World War I, Italian and Austro-Hungarian soldiers needed to move troops and supplies through the jagged, near-vertical terrain of the Dolomites — so they did something remarkable. They bolted iron cables, rungs, and ladders directly into the rock face, essentially building highways through the mountains.

A century later, those same routes are still there. Restored, expanded, and now open to anyone with a harness and a head for heights.

The Dolomites in northeastern Italy are widely considered the birthplace and world capital of via ferrata, with hundreds of routes ranging from beginner-friendly to genuinely terrifying. The scenery is unlike anything else in Europe — dramatic limestone spires, sweeping alpine meadows, and villages that look like they were painted rather than built.

If via ferrata is on your radar after reading this week's issue, the Dolomites are where you go to do it properly.

📍 Where to base yourself: Cortina d'Ampezzo or Canazei are both excellent starting points with easy access to multiple routes and no shortage of good food at the end of a long day on the rock.

Watch

Alberta has some great Via Ferrata experiences, with two of them located in David Thompson Country. Since we had already experienced the easier one, we signed up for the advanced route, and it did not disappoint…

Beaver Bites

• National Parks Are Free This Summer: The Canada Strong Pass is back, offering free admission to all national parks, historic sites, and marine conservation areas from June 19 to September 7, 2026. No registration, no physical pass — you just show up. It also includes a 25% discount on camping and overnight stays.
  
  

• Canada Is Getting 10 New National Parks: The federal government's "A Force of Nature" strategy includes a $3.8 billion investment to protect 30% of Canadian lands and waters by 2030, which includes the creation of 10 new national parks.
  
  

• Grouse Mountain Just Got a New Gravity Coaster: Grouse Mountain's brand new Gravity Coaster officially opened May 20, sending riders through twists and turns along a 1,434-metre track with views of Metro Vancouver. The ride reaches speeds up to 45 km/h and returns riders to the mountaintop without ever having to exit the cart.
  
  

• A Yukon Icon Is Gone Dawson City's Westminster Hotel — known affectionately as "The Pit" — was destroyed by fire on the morning of May 17, just months after the bar had survived a devastating flood. The pink, gold-rush-era hotel, dating back to 1898, had long been a beloved gathering spot for the community. A heartbreaking loss for one of Canada's most storied towns.
  
  

• Marriott Is Rewarding You for Getting Outside: Starting May 13, Marriott Bonvoy launched an outdoor rewards program where guests earn points for tracking outdoor activities like hiking, paddling, biking, and more through Outside's premium mapping apps. Introductory offers run until August 11.

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