Town-sizing is one of the latest movements in the travel community, encouraging travelers to opt out of the typical big cities or popular tourist destinations in favor of smaller towns and lesser-known destination alternatives.
While travelers visiting Canada tend to stick around the bigger cities—Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver tend to be the easy choice—there are hundreds of towns across the country that offer a more lrelaxed holiday without sacrificing getting to know local Canadian culture.
The following Canadian towns offer a more local experience than their big city neighbors, are more affordable, and allow travelers to get to know the destination at a slower and more relaxed pace.
Souris, Prince Edward Island
The entirety of Prince Edward Island feels like a small town—but get out of Charlottetown and adventure further east for even friendlier locals and delicious seafood. Souris—on the eastern tip of the island—boasts quiet “singing sand” beaches, historic lighthouses, and plenty of fresh seafood shacks and “lobster supper clubs” that are way less crowded than neighboring Charlottetown.
Sydney, Nova Scotia
Travelers tend to stick to capital of Halifax when visiting Nova Scotia or the Cabot Trail when traveling to the Cape Breton Island, but the city of Sydney is a great midway point between metropolitan and small town Canadian hospitality. Attractions include cheeky draws like the world’s largest fiddle but the town also boasts incredible seafood restaurants and patios right on the water.
Sherbrooke, Quebec
About an hour and a half outside of Montreal, the town of Sherbrooke is a much more relaxed and laidback destination for travelers looking to get a taste Quebec culture outside of the bustle of the big cities. Sherbrooke is easily walkable with microbreweries, art museums and galleries, and vintage shops sprinkling the downtown core, and, of course, excellent poutine that rivals Montreal and Quebec City.
Kingston, Ontario
Straddling the Cataraqui and the St. Lawrence River, Kingston is a highly underrated town in Ontario that offers both stunning water views and a lively arts and culture scene. Known as the “Limestone City,” Kingston is also home to plenty of 19th century architecture and heritage buildings. The town is easily accessible by Via Rail train, about three hours from Montreal or two and a half hours from Toronto.
Canmore, Alberta
Banff and Jasper get all the glory when it comes to mountain towns in Alberta—but neighboring Canmore offers the same great views, world-class hiking, skiing, and biking, and a more close-knit local scene focused on sustainability and community. Less touristy (and more affordable) than its tourist hotspot neighbors, Canmore is just a twenty minute drive from Banff and an hour from Calgary.