Top 5 beach destinations in Canada | canada vacation rentals

Canada – a land best known for its stunning landscapes, not stunning beaches! Although most North American beachgoers tend to head for more southern locales such as southern California or Florida when looking for a dream vacation, the Canadian beach holiday market is starting to gain steam. Check out these five fantastic vacation spots and start planning your next getaway now!

1. Brackley Beach, Prince Edward Island

In case you’ve never heard of it, Prince Edward Island is a small Canadian province located not too far from the northern tip of Maine. Although much of this small community’s economy is supported by the local farming industry, Brackley Beach has been a popular vacation spot for Canadians and Americans alike since the 19th century. The town not only features what most coastal towns offer – canoe hire, stunning cliffs, etc. – but is also home to fantastic deep sea fishing opportunities. If you’re looking for a holiday hot spot a little off the beaten track, Brackley Beach may be perfect as your next vacation destination!

2. Grand Beach, Manitoba

Grand Beach is located on the shores of Lake Winnipeg in Manitoba, and is home to around three kilometres of pristine white sand beaches. Not only does Grand Beach receive a great deal of sunshine during the summer months, it is also backed by sand dunes, some rising up to twelve metres above the beach sand. One negative of this location is its relative remoteness – if you are not driving (prepared to be faced with over an hour’s drive from Winnipeg if you are), catching a bus to these relaxing waters can be a little difficult.

3. Sauble Beach, Ontario

If you’re looking for somewhere with a bit more beach than just a few kilometres, check out Sauble Beach in Ontario. Home to over 11 kilometres of beach, the waters of Lake Huron at this point are warm and shallow due to a lake anomaly, making this destination perfect for those with younger children. However, Sauble Beach can get fairly busy during the summer, with some counts placing the summertime population on some days at fifty times the year-round residency level.

4. Qualicum Beach, British Columbia

For those closer to the Pacific Ocean than the Atlantic, Qualicum Beach in British Columbia is a great holiday spot, despite being located over three hours’ drive from Vancouver. Featuring one of the warmest temperatures in all of Canada, this destination is perfect for those who want to enjoy what amounts to nearly Florida level temperatures without making a hike down the continent! During winter, the area can get quite cold, so a visit during the colder months is not recommended.

5. Devonshire Beach, Alberta

Avid fishers will love Devonshire Beach in Alberta. Featuring seven kilometres of sandy beaches situated on the shores of Lesser Slave Lake, this destination isn’t too far from Edmonton and is home to an annual fishing competition, the winner of which walking away with $50,000. The lake features clean water too, meaning that you have a decreased chance of getting sick from swimming!

Top 5 weekend getaway destinations in the US

Sometimes the pressures of the working week can become too much, and a couple of days at home or out with friends feel like they won’t be enough to relieve this stress. Taking a quick weekend getaway after five days at work can feel like bliss – and the best thing is that you won’t have to use up any vacation time to go on one! Check out this list of the top five weekend getaway destinations to give you some ideas.

1. Long Island, New York

Long Island offers something for everyone, and is a great destination for those living in the greater New York Metropolitan Area. Featuring all sorts of attractions, from historical whaling ports to pristine beaches, Long Island really does have something to suit all tastes! Special events are also happening on Long Island all the time – races are the most popular, with what is being raced varying from horses to cars.

2. Bimini, Bahamas

OK, this one isn’t exactly in the continental United States, but being located just 50 miles from Miami makes it close enough! The Bimini Islands are a group of islands located north of the main islands of the Bahamas, and the residents of the islands offer an unparalleled level of hospitality, generosity and friendliness. The islands are famed for their beaches, but also offer something for beach going tourists of all persuasions – whether you like secluded beaches or developed areas, the Bimini Islands most likely have a beach for you.

3. Galveston, Texas

Although Galveston, Texas, was once dubbed the Southwest’s version of New York’s Wall Street, today’s reality is quite different to the town’s heyday of the early 20th century. If you’re a history buff, you’ll love Galveston. What remains of the Victorian-era buildings in Galveston provides historical tourists with hours of exploration, and those who are interested in civic planning will enjoy discovering how the town recovered in the aftermath of a devastating hurricane in 1900.

4. Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee

If you’ve got a car and a driver, this weekend getaway destination could be a perfect next vacation for you. Despite being close to a few major towns and cities, the views of pristine landscapes in this national park are second to none, and experiencing the ‘smoke’ that gave the Mountains their name will be something you will never forget. Although this perpetual smoke is really nothing more than fog created as a result of cooling air from the nearby Gulf of Mexico.

5. Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin
Here’s another one for the history buffs – Sturgeon Bay not only offers countless natural attractions through its pristine beaches and limestone shores but also antiques and collectables shops as far as the eye can see! Sturgeon Bay also features two maritime museums, a reminder of the area’s past as a fishing and shipbuilding community. Perhaps the biggest drawcard for photographers and artists is the stunning views that have become iconic of the area – something not to be missed!

North America’s Top 5 Vacation Spots

A great getaway can be just the thing to relieve the pressure of nagging bosses, a backlog of work and possibly even a difficult family life! However, some destinations achieve this better than others. Check out this list of North America’s top five vacation spots, and start booking your next holiday now!

1. Lake Mead National Recreation Area, Arizona

In case you haven’t heard of it, Lake Mead National Recreation Area (abbreviated as Lake Mead NRA) is a popular tourist destination featuring two large man-made lakes, located on the border between Nevada and Arizona. Lake Mead NRA is home to the better-known Hoover Dam. Combined, the reservoirs and the Dam attract nearly eight million visitors a year. Despite being located in the middle of a desert, Lake Mead is a fantastic holiday destination if you’re interested in water recreation – there’s something for everyone, including fishing, boating and swimming1

2. SeaWorld, Florida

This is the vacation spot that needs no introduction! Featuring everything about marine life theme parks holidaymakers have come to know and love, SeaWorld is a fantastic destination for anyone, no matter whether they be parents with young children, older couples or even single adults!

3. Hawaii

Hawaii is so jam-packed with fantastic vacation destinations that there wouldn’t be enough room to list them all here! If it’s beaches you are looking for, check out Waikiki Beach on the island of Oahu. This beach is also a great place to relax even if you are not into sunbathing, as the area offers a picturesque view of Diamond Head, one of Hawaii’s many volcanoes. Once beachgoers have had their fill of the sun, Hawaii’s many cultural attractions offer hours of entertainment.

4. Grand Canyon, Arizona

Arizona is full of great natural tourist destinations, and just one of countless others is the Grand Canyon, world famous for its splendid views. Avoid the Grand Canyon if you’re afraid of heights though, as at this destination, there are nothing but heights to gawk at! The Grand Canyon combines both the old and the new – although the features of the canyon itself are thought to have started to take shape over 17 million years ago, and have provided countless visitors with fantastic views since then, a new ‘Skywalk’, opened in 2007, juts out into the canyon and features a glass bottom. Taking a walk on the Skywalk is definitely not recommended for those prone to severe vertigo!

5. The Boardwalk, Atlantic City, New Jersey

If you’ve ever played Monopoly, you have more than likely landed on the Boardwalk property, known for its high Monopoly money prices and wide range of casinos! If you are over the age of 21, Atlantic City might be the perfect destination for your next vacation. A Mecca for those who love the fast-paced world of gaming, Atlantic City not only features a great range of casinos, but also a variety of shops and hotels. So, if you’ve got the money, Atlantic City could be ideal for you!