4 Hidden Gem Travel Destinations in Canada
May 28, 2025 // Emily Wallace // FW Travel
A few of the things Canada is known for are its stunning scenery, rich history, and diverse culture. As a result, there are many popular travel destinations all over the country. While popular destinations are exciting to explore, hidden gems allow for fewer crowds, a more authentic experience, and helps to support local businesses. This list showcases four hidden gems all over Canada that you could visit for your next trip!
Fernie, British Columbia
Fernie is a historic town founded in 1898 in British Columbia, surrounded by the Canadian Rocky Mountains. Its small-town charm creates an authentic experience not meant for the “mass tourist”. Activities include riverside experiences like fishing and kayaking, hundreds of trails, a golf course, parks, and skiing. Downtown Fernie has access to boutiques, restaurants, craft breweries, and a creative art scene with local artists and artisans. Just outside of Fernie is Island Lake Lodge, which is described as a tranquil mountain retreat with incredible scenery, luxury accommodations, and dining.
For more information: https://tourismfernie.com/
Waterton Lakes National Park, Alberta
Waterton Lakes National Park is located in Alberta and was the 4th Canadian national park. It spans a total of 505 square kilometres and is home to a plethora of indoor and outdoor activities. Wildlife watching, hiking, biking, kayaking, golfing, horseback riding, snowshoeing, and ice skating are just some of the many more athletic options. For a more relaxed experience, the park has shops, luxury hotels, beaches and camping. Waterton Lakes National Park is also home to the Prince of Wales hotel, a historic building built in 1927. The hotel provides experiences like high tea and sessions where staff tell stories about Waterton, including some ghost stories!
For more information: https://parks.canada.ca/pn-np/ab/waterton
Flowerpot Island, Ontario
Flowerpot Island is located in Ontario and is a part of Fathom Five National Marine Park. The experience of this trip begins even before stepping onto the island, as the only way to access it is through boat! You start by boarding in Tobermory, where you can choose between taking a glass-bottom boat, or an open air jet boat. Blue Heron Cruises offers different boat tours including a shipwreck tour or sunset watching. If you choose to travel onto the island you can take a hike and see the famous rock pillars or sea stacks called “flowerpots”. You can also see historic light stations and an antique clif cave. If you wish to stay overnight, you have the option of staying at one of six campsites or an old light-keepers residence.
For more information: https://flowerpotislandcruises.ca
Parc Omega, Quebec
Parc Omega is a safari park located in Quebec where you can participate in a day trip or immerse yourself in an overnight stay! The day trip includes a 12km driving path where you can experience Canadian wildlife in their natural habitat, like wolfs, deer, bears and more! Within the park there is also the OmegaBon restaurant, cabins and huts with activities, and a wolf observatory. If you're looking to stay overnight, there are multiple different accommodations available. The chalet with wolves is an immersive experience where the chalet is located in a forest where wolves can come right up to the glass. The panoramic chalet is located within the mountains providing a luxury experience with stunning views of both the mountains and deer. The habitats-pods and the ready-to-camp campgrounds are both smaller living spaces but fully immerse you into nature and surround you with the sounds of wildlife.
For more information: https://www.parcomega.ca/planifier-votre-visite/