Whistler Mountain from Blackcomb. All photography is ours.
Home/Destinations/Canada
Canada with Kids
If you’re planning Canada with kids, our answer is Whistler in ski season. We spent a spring break at Whistler Blackcomb, stayed ski-in ski-out right in the village, and it was a blast. It was one of our best ski trips yet, and the planning was easier than we expected.
If you’re not into snow skiing, there’s plenty more in Canada to explore. Carrick and Andrew have paddled the Canadian border for a week in the Boundary Waters with their Scout troop, crossing into Quetico at Prairie Portage. The Rockies, Quebec, and the Maritimes are all on our list, and every one of them is a short flight from the middle of the country.
Destination guide · Updated November 2026 · Last visited June 2023
Best months
Feb–Mar for snow, July–Sept for summer
Fly into
YVR · YYC · YYZ · YUL
How long
5 ski days, 10 for the Rockies
Getting around
Shuttle to Whistler, rental car everywhere else
Book ahead
Ski-in ski-out hotels · Banff and Lake Louise lodging · Rocky Mountaineer
Whistler shows up on every list of the best ski resorts for families, and after a spring break there we agree. Being able to book lodging right next to the Whistler gondola is perfect, and having the ski concierge fit the kids’ rentals in the hotel and hang everything up to dry each night removes a lot of friction of skiing with young kids.
In June 2023 Carrick and Andrew launched canoes from the Northern Tier High Adventure Scout Base with their local troop and paddled the Boundary Waters for a week, zigzagging the US and Canadian border and crossing at the Prairie Portage Ranger Station a few times. They made camp at a different site every night, and had the trip of a lifetime. Even if you’re not a Scout, there are plenty of outfitters to help you out with your own canoe adventure.
Whichever part of Canada you choose to explore, you won’t be disappointed.
Your Canada guide
Enjoy exploring Canada with kids!
Keep scrolling for the essentials, three trip itineraries, and where to stay.
Essential Canada
Why we love Canada
We think you’ll love it too.
Canada is where we’d send a family that wants a big mountain ski week with none of the logistics headaches. We absolutely loved our stay in Whistler, from the short walk to the gondola to the busy little village at the base of the mountains. For something more laid back, take a train ride through the Rockies or go kayaking on Lake Louise in the summer. Whistler Blackcomb and the Boundary Waters crossing are the ones we’ve done ourselves, but there’s plenty more of Canada on our list. Scroll down for our favorites, and let us know yours!
Skiing Whistler Blackcomb Guide
Whistler Blackcomb is the largest ski resort in North America, and it doesn’t matter what your age or skill level, Whistler has you covered. There’s terrain for every kind of skier, and the village sits right at the base of the lifts. Kids will love riding the Peak 2 Peak Gondola between the two mountains, especially if you catch one of the glass-bottomed cabins!
Where to stay in Whistler Guide
There are lots of great ski-in, ski-out hotels in Whistler, and our lodging guide walks you through the best ones for families. We stayed at the Westin Resort and Spa and loved it. The ski concierge took care of our rentals, the rooms have full kitchens, and the gondola is only steps away.
Whistler Village Guide
Whistler Village is pedestrian only, so the kids can wander without worrying about traffic. You’ll find plenty of places to eat, a grocery store to stock up the room, and the lifts right at the end of the walk. It’s the kind of home base that makes a ski week with kids so much easier.
The Boundary Waters and Quetico AftT Visit
Carrick and Andrew spent a week paddling the Boundary Waters with their Scout troop, launching from the Northern Tier High Adventure Base. They zigzagged along the US-Canada border, crossed into Quetico at the Prairie Portage ranger station, and camped at a primitive site each night. Plan on long days of paddling and carrying canoes between lakes, so this one is best for older kids and teens.
And the rest we’d cross the border for
Family ski deals at Whistler Guide
When we skied Whistler, kids under 12 could ski, stay, and rent gear free with each adult, and it saved us several hundred dollars. Even though we booked our hotel on points, the Westin reached out to make sure we got the deal. That offer has changed since our trip. Today, kids under 5 ski free, and Canadian and Washington State kids in kindergarten through fifth grade can get five free days through the Epic SchoolKids program. Call your hotel’s activities desk or check with Whistler Blackcomb to find the best family deal for your dates.
Vancouver
Vancouver is the closest big airport to Whistler, and it’s a great city to explore for a couple of days on its own. Families can bike the seawall around Stanley Park, visit the Vancouver Aquarium, and snack their way through the Granville Island Public Market. We haven’t explored it beyond the airport yet, but it’s high on our list.
Banff and Lake Louise
Banff and Lake Louise are the heart of the Canadian Rockies, with bright turquoise lakes and incredible mountain views. Ride the Banff Gondola to the top of Sulphur Mountain, or plan a winter trip and ski three resorts on one lift ticket. This is the Canada trip at the top of our list.
Jasper and the Icefields Parkway
The Icefields Parkway runs north from Lake Louise to Jasper and is one of the most scenic drives anywhere. Along the way, you can step out onto the Athabasca Glacier on a guided tour at the Columbia Icefield. Pair it with Banff for an amazing summer road trip of a week or more.
Quebec City
Quebec City feels like a trip to Europe without crossing the ocean. Kids will love walking the walls of the old city and seeing the Château Frontenac towering over the St. Lawrence River. Visit in winter for the Quebec Winter Carnival, with ice sculptures, snow slides, and its famous snowman mascot, Bonhomme.
Montreal
Montreal is a fun city for families who love to eat, with famous bagels, poutine, and the cobblestone streets of Old Montreal. It’s an easy long weekend from the Northeast and pairs perfectly with Quebec City, about three hours away.
Toronto and Niagara Falls
Toronto has the CN Tower and Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada right next to each other downtown. Niagara Falls is about 90 minutes away, and the Canadian side has the best view of Horseshoe Falls. A boat ride into the mist is a must!
The Sea to Sky Highway AftT Visit
The Sea to Sky Highway runs from Vancouver to Whistler along the coast, and it’s a beautiful drive. If you’re driving instead of taking the shuttle, stop at Shannon Falls and ride the Sea to Sky Gondola in Squamish for incredible views over Howe Sound.
Browse
Find your next adventure in Canada
Tell us what you’re planning and we’ll match it up with some great trip ideas.
-
The Best Whistler Lodging for Families (Updated!)
Whistler, Canada is an amazing place to take your family for an unforgettable ski vacation. In addition to the world-class skiing…
-
Planning a Great Ski Trip to Whistler with Kids
Every year, Whistler Blackcomb seems to be on everyone’s list as one of the best ski resorts for families. Whistler…
Routes
Three Canada trip itineraries
It’s one country and three very different trips. Choose a Whistler ski week, a canoe trip across the border, or the Rockies in summer. See all the best stops on a map.
Start
Vancouver
Fly into YVR and take the shuttle or drive the Sea to Sky Highway two hours north. Our Whistler guide covers the planning.
Home base
Whistler Village
Plan four or five ski days from a ski-in ski-out hotel. Our lodging guide sorts the options.
Add on
A day off the hill
Go tubing, ride the Peak 2 Peak gondola, or take a rest day in the village.
Start
Northern Tier, Ely, Minnesota
The Scout base on Moose Lake outfits crews with canoes, food, and an interpreter. Launch and paddle north. If you’re not a Scout, that’s not a problem. There are many outfitters that can help you plan the perfect trip and take care of everything for you.
Then head to
Prairie Portage
The ranger station where you clear into Canada by canoe. Quetico Provincial Park is on the other side, with a permit and a passport.
Finish
Back through the Boundary Waters
A week of lakes, portages, and primitive campsites, then paddle back to base. Don’t forget your fishing pole. Paddling Quetico requires special permits.
Start
Calgary to Banff
Fly into YYC and drive ninety minutes. Spend three nights for the Banff gondola, Johnston Canyon, and Lake Louise. We haven’t done this one yet.
Then head to
The Icefields Parkway
Drive to Jasper and stop to walk on the Athabasca Glacier. Book lodging in Jasper months out.
Finish
Jasper
See Maligne Lake, the Jasper SkyTram, and dark skies. Drive back to Calgary or fly out of Edmonton.
When to go
Time your visits with the weather and the region
We went to Whistler over spring break in March and the snow was deep. Carrick and Andrew paddled the Boundary Waters in June, which is bug season, so pack accordingly. Ski season runs November to April with the best mix of snow and sun in February and March. The Rockies and the east are summer and early fall trips.
Swipe the chart sideways to see the full year.
February – March
Deep snow and longer days at Whistler, and spring break timing that works for most schools. Book early, because everyone else has the same idea.
April – June
Spring skiing runs at Whistler into May, and then it’s the shoulder season everywhere. The Rockies lakes are still frozen into June.
July – September
It’s summer in the Rockies and on the coast. You’ll find turquoise lakes, hiking, and Whistler’s bike park. Crowds peak in Banff.
October – January
Quebec has fall color in October, and then early season snow arrives. Christmas week at Whistler is beautiful and the busiest week of the year.
Where to stay
Pick a good base to start your Canada adventure
Stay close to the lifts in ski season and close to the lakes in summer. Here’s where we’d stay for each.
Ski trips
Whistler Village
We stayed at the Westin on points and would again. It’s right next to the gondola, with a ski concierge that handles rentals and storage, and kitchenettes big enough for breakfast and lunch. Sixteen properties in Whistler offer ski-in ski-out access.
- Our Whistler lodging guide
- The Westin for points and the ski concierge
- Book the moment spring break dates are set
Rockies trips
Banff and Canmore
Pick Banff for walking to dinner and the gondola, or Canmore for half the price twenty minutes away. In-park lodges at Lake Louise book a year out.
- Banff for the full experience
- Canmore to save money
- Lake Louise for one splurge night
City trips
Quebec City
Stay inside the walls of Old Quebec if you can. The Château Frontenac is the splurge, and there are smaller hotels on every cobbled street around it.
- Inside the walls for walking
- Château Frontenac for the splurge
- Chain hotels near the train station for points
Good to know
Questions families ask us about Canada
Canada at a glance
The practical stuff families ask us before they book.
Language: English and French
Population: About 41 million
Capital: Ottawa
Currency: Canadian dollar (CAD)
Power outlet: Types A and B, 120 V, same as home
Time difference: Same as home, zone by zone
Entry for US passports: Passport only, no visa or eTA
Driving: On the right, speeds in km/h
Emergency number: 911
Tipping: 15 to 20 percent, same as the US
Yes, it is. Ski school is at the base of the village, kids under 5 ski free (family deals change year to year), and there’s plenty of green and blue terrain on both mountains. We’ve skied the Rockies and Japan too, and Whistler’s ski-in ski-out setup made the logistics easy. Our guide explains the package.
It’s two hours north on the Sea to Sky Highway. Shuttle buses run from the airport straight to the village, and if you stay ski-in ski-out you don’t need a car once you’re there. Rent one only if you want to stop in Squamish on the way.
With kids, it’s worth it. You’re not lugging skis, the concierge stores and dries everything overnight, and the gondola is steps from the lobby. It turned our mornings from a chore into a stroll. We booked the Westin on points, which took the sting out of the rate. Our lodging guide lists all sixteen ski-in ski-out options.
Yes, for everyone including kids, whether you fly or drive. US citizens don’t need a visa or an eTA. Bring a letter of consent if one parent is traveling alone with the kids, because border agents can ask.
Lift tickets and lodging at Whistler cost as much as any US resort. The exchange rate helps, though. When we went, the kids ski free deal saved us several hundred dollars, and the village grocery store saved us more. That deal has changed since, but kids under 5 still ski free. Points cover the hotel if you plan ahead.
The day you know your dates. Whistler at spring break is prime season and the ski-in ski-out hotels go first. Carrick starts planning the next trip on the drive home from the last one, and that’s only a slight exaggeration.
Map
Essential Canada, mapped
Keep exploring
Where to go next
Japan with Kids
Japan was our other ski trip abroad, with empty runs, snow monkeys, and Tokyo. It’s the trip where we discovered green curry and gyozas.
Idaho with Kids
Sun Valley in winter was our Idaho ski week. Some of the most stunning national parks in the country are also nearby.
Colorado with Kids
Family ski trips to Winter Park and Purgatory, incredible national parks, and some of the pretties drives in the US.
