Summary

The article discusses the author's favorite cities in Canada, focusing on Vancouver, Montreal, and Ottawa, and highlights the unique attractions and European feel of these cities.

Abstract

In the second part of a series on favorite Canadian cities, the author extols the virtues of Vancouver, Montreal, and Ottawa. Vancouver is praised for its stunning parks, including Stanley Park with its diverse activities and views, and Queen Elizabeth Park as a less crowded alternative to Butchart Gardens. Montreal is celebrated for its European charm, historic buildings in Vieux-Montreal, and the grandeur of the Notre-Dame Basilica. Ottawa, often considered underrated, is noted for its British architecture, parliamentary tour, and the Canadian Museum of History. The author encourages readers to share their own favorite Canadian cities and suggests further reading on inspiring global stories.

Opinions

Vancouver's parks, particularly Stanley Park, are highlighted as exceptional, offering a mix of urban and natural experiences.
Queen Elizabeth Park in Vancouver is recommended for its conservatory, quarry garden, and as a free, less crowded alternative to Butchart Gardens.
Montreal is described as having a European flair, with the author particularly taken by the old city's architecture and the French language's prevalence.
The Notre-Dame Basilica in Montreal is considered overwhelmingly ornate and remains the grandest cathedral the author has seen.
Ottawa is deemed an underrated city despite being the capital, with notable British-style architecture and cultural sites like the parliament and the Canadian Museum of History.
The author expresses a personal connection to these cities, inviting readers to engage by sharing their own Canadian city preferences.
There is an endorsement for further exploration of global stories through recommended readings on Medium.

My Favorite Cities in Canada, Part 2

Another couple from Quebec and British Columbia, plus adding Ontario into the mix…

As I said in part one of this article, Quebec City and Victoria are probably my top two favorite Canadian cities (if you missed it, you can read it here). But you may be wondering about the bigger cities — after all, Quebec City is only the eighth biggest city in Canada, and Victoria is twelfth with a population of only 363,222 (source). Well, don’t worry, because I’m getting to some of the biggest cities today.

Vancouver

Vancouver has a lot of things going for it (the housing prices not being one of them). It has wonderful museums, restaurants, shops, markets, and an aquarium. However, I’m mainly going to be focusing on the parks, because they were what stood out to me the most when I visited.

First of all, there’s Stanley Park, which absolutely blew me away. For one thing, it’s huge, and along with that comes an incredible diversity of things to see and do. It also has one of the best views of Vancouver’s skyline (photo above).

I would recommend starting off by walking or biking the seawall, which follows the perimeter of the park, and takes you past the Lions Gate Bridge, totem poles, and several beautiful beaches. Afterwards, you can venture into the interior of the park for some forest hiking. For those with children, I believe there’s a miniature train that goes through the park as well.

Another fantastic park in Vancouver is Queen Elizabeth Park. Not only is it the highest point in the city, it also has a conservatory and beautiful quarry garden. Personally, I think it’s a good alternative to Vancouver Island’s Butchart Gardens, especially if you’re looking for something less crowded and best of all, free!

Montreal

Oh Montreal, how do I love thee? Let me count the ways… Okay, but seriously, Montreal is a fantastic city. Like Quebec City, it feels extremely European, both in terms of architecture and language. And while it certainly isn’t necessary to learn French to go there — nearly everyone there is bilingual — you will hear a lot of French around you.

I absolutely loved wandering around Vieux-Montreal (old Montreal) and admiring the historic buildings. In particular, Rue St-Paul — the oldest street in the city— is a great place to explore and get a bite to eat.

Arguably the most spectacular sight in Montreal is the Notre-Dame Basilica, which quite possibly remains the grandest cathedral I’ve ever seen to this day. Although my picture doesn’t really do it justice (I didn’t have a very good camera at that point), I remember it being so ornate that it was actually a bit overwhelming.

Ottawa

I found Ottawa to be a very underrated city. And yes, I know in some ways it may seem strange to say that Canada’s capital city is an “underrated” destination, but bizarrely very few of my friends have ever been there. Vancouver and Montreal are the more popular destinations — and as stated above, both are fantastic — but Ottawa has a lot to offer too. It’s one of the most British cities you’ll find outside of the UK in terms of architecture, and has great markets and museums as well.

I highly recommend touring parliament while you’re there — you can even go up to the top of the Peace Tower, which looks a little bit like Big Ben. I also really enjoyed spending a few hours at the Canadian Museum of History, which is just across the river in Gatineau.

Well, that brings me to the end of my favorite Canadian cities! If you have a favorite city that I didn’t mention, let me know in the comments — I’m always looking for an excuse to go back…

Looking for more Globetrotters stories?

Check out this lovely and inspiring story about the first black wine farm owner in Franschhoek by The Escape Artist:

The Man Who Proved that Anything is Possible!

You know those kinds of stories that bring a tear to your eye because they’re so incredibly inspiring and beautiful?

medium.com

I also loved Anne Bonfert’s story about regrowth after wildfires in the Czech Republic:

When Life Begins in the Valley of Destruction

Hiking where wildfires once were raging

medium.com

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