Explore Canada

Every year from early April to late October, the chance of fire increases in certain regions across Canada. It’s something that officials monitor and prepare for. But not all fires are dangerous, and that’s why it’s important to stay informed when planning your next trip. Here are our top tips for a safe fire season: - Stay up to date with the latest fire information leading up to and during your trip. - Follow the link in our bio for helpful fire information and advisories from each province and territory. - Respect any campfire bans that may be in place in the area you are visiting. - Do not travel in evacuation zones. - Strong winds can bring smoke from faraway fires into communities and is unsafe to breathe for an extended period of time. If smoke becomes heavy, limit your time outside. - Do not fly drones near forest fires. It increases the risk of fire fighting aircraft collision. The majority of fires occur in wilderness areas and are a natural part of a forest’s life and even contribute to a healthy ecosystem, regenerating the next stage of forest life! Fire managers keep track of these fires to determine which have the potential to become a threat to humans and where to focus firefighter efforts to manage them. Other fires will naturally extinguish or slow down after rainfall. In the future, fires are expected to continue as Canada is warming much faster than the rest of the world, providing ideal conditions for more frequent and longer wildfires.

Step into a dreamy field of lupin flowers 💜 No need to pinch yourself, these flowers return every spring and dot the east coast of Canada everywhere from roadsides to fields to home gardens.   📷: @_kaitpendleton 📍: @destinationnb   #ExploreNB   [Video description: A foggy field of purple and pink lupin flowers sway in the wind.]

One of the best things about island life? Beaches in every direction 🏖️ Whether you're seeking a sun-kissed nap, a playful splash in the crystal-clear waters, or an opportunity to channel your inner architect with a sandcastle masterpiece, there's an unforgettable beach calling your name. 🌞🏰 📷: @justsayantan 📍: @tourismpei #ExplorePEI [Image description: An aerial view of a beach and red clay coastline. Crystal clear water washes up onto the sandy beach.]

This is what 2,832 tonnes of flowing water per second looks like! Now that you know that, would you believe us if we told you that just before midnight on March 29, 1848, the water of Niagara Falls stopped flowing? Thanks to millions of tons of ice in nearby Lake Erie.   To prevent this from happening again and to maintain the flow of the Falls for Hydro purposes, each year a nearly 3km (1.8 mile) ice boom is installed at the mouth of Niagara Falls at Fort Erie.   The falls did stop one other time in 1969. Let us know in the comments if you know the reason! Niagara Falls is a drone no-fly zone. This video was captured by private chartered helicopter with a professional SLR camera and lenses to achieve a zoomed in look.   🎥: @marketaschphotography 📍 : @niagarafallstourismcanada, @visit_niagara, @ontariotravel   #VisitNiagara #ExploreNiagara #DiscoverON   [Video description: Several aerial shots show blue water gushing down Niagara Falls, a crescent shaped waterfall located on the border between the province of Ontario, Canada and New York State, USA.]

Today is National Indigenous Peoples Day. 🪶 If you look up the word ‘Indigenous’, you’ll find it has many synonyms, including ‘original.’ Many lay claim to being the ‘original.’ When someone makes that claim – to have been the first at something – we feel like we have something in common. We say to ourselves: this is a person who cares about roots. Someone who wants to know where things genuinely begin. We value those things too. In fact, with over 14,000 years of knowledge and 1,700 unique Indigenous experiences across Canada, we offer the most authentic and diverse experiences. And we know, smile in hand, we’ve been at it longer than anyone else. We Indigenous People, on this our home and native land. So when we decided to define who we are and what we represent, we dug deeply into our own story, what defines us and makes our experiences truly special. Or, more succinctly: The Original Original. 🔥 #DestinationIndigenous | #ExploreCanada | #TheOriginalOriginal | #NIPD2023 | #NIPDCanada | #NIPD @DestinationIndigenous | @IndigenousTourismBC | @Indigenoustourismnb | @indigenous.tourism.alberta | @indigenousoturismontario | @indigenoustoursimnwt | @indigenoustourismmb | @autochtoneqc | @indigenoustourismnl | @indigenoustourismpei | @explorecanada

@bobby meets Banff! Clearly Banff doesn’t need a makeover but we’re glad @bobby could add some sparkle to this magical place! ✨😘   🎥: @bobby 📍: @banff_lakelouise, @travelalberta   #MyBanff #BobbysBanff #ExploreAlberta

Not all Grizzly bears dig for clams, but the ones who make their home in Khutzeymateen/K’tzim-a-deen Grizzly Sanctuary do!   “Blondie digging for clams! Grizzly bears have an incredible sense of smell and are strong diggers with their massive shoulder muscles and long claws. We watched Blondie use her nose to sniff out clams below the sand and so delicately use her powerful paws to access the morsel between the shells. The intertidal zone provides a feast of clams, mussels, barnacles, and other sources of protein for coastal bears.   In other areas on the coast, grizzlies don’t dig for clams. It’s a learned behaviour that not all bears acquire. Blondie taught her cubs Scout and Summer who we saw do a lot of clam digging as well. This is Blondie. She’s an adult female grizzly bear who lives in and around the Khutzeymateen Grizzly Bear Sanctuary located on the North Coast of BC in the territory of the Gits’iis Tribe, Tsimshian First Nations. In 1994 the Khutzeymateen was established as Canada’s first and only grizzly bear sanctuary - created specifically to protect grizzly bears and their habitats. The area is home to one of the highest concentrations of grizzly bears in North America. It’s estimated that 60 grizzly bears utilize the ~450 sq km area encompassing rich grizzly bear habitats including numerous estuaries, intertidal areas, and salmon bearing streams. It’s through decades of protection and respectful bear-viewing that we are able to have these close, intimate encounters with bears like Blondie as they just go about their day in our presence. As non-threatening and predictable observers, we get to watch bears being bears, almost as if we are not even there. Experience thanks to @khutzlodge @thewildlifecollective_” -caption by @_ta_green 🎥 + ✏️: @ta_green 📍: Khutzeymateen/K’tzim-a-deen Grizzly Sanctuary, @travelnorthernbc, @hellobc   #TravelNorthernBC #ExploreBC   [Video description: A Grizzly bear digs for clams on a rocky beach. She uses her long claws to find and break apart clams, which she then licks and eats.]

Soar among the giants in Kluane National Park Reserve 🛩️🏔️   One of Canada’s largest national parks, there’s only one way to appreciate its majestic scale and diverse landscapes: take to the sky 🌌   Several local companies offer flightseeing tours that take visitors deep into the park’s interior. Hop aboard a prop plane or helicopter for a high-altitude view of the Icefield Ranges, home to Canada’s highest peaks and largest icefields.   📷: @stephpommexplora 📍: @travelyukon, @parks.canada   #ExploreYukon #ParksCanada   [Video description: Looking out the window of a small prop-plane, a landscape view of snow covered mountains and icefields. Text on screen reads: POV: you went on a scenic flight above the world’s largest non-polar icefield.]

We celebrate pride all year long in Canada, but in the summer we really crank it up a notch with community festivals! Check out this calendar of upcoming pride festivals across the country:   @stjohnspride, July 9 - 23 @fiertefrederictonpride, July 14 - 23 @halifaxpride, July 20 - 30 @yellowknifepride, July 24 - 30 @vancouverpride, July 28 - Aug 6 @fiertemontreal, August 2 - 12 @calgarypride, Aug 26 - Sep 4, 2023   But there are so many more! Comment below with the pride celebrations in Canada you’ll be attending 👇   🎥: @kristhine.guerrero 📍: @pridewinnipeg, @tourismwinnipeg, @travelmanitoba   #Pride #CanadaPride   [Video description: Text on screed reads “Winnipeg Pride 2023”. Scenes from the Winnipeg Pride Festival parade. Many people walk down a closed street, dancing and celebrating Pride.]

Nourished Lands | Ep. 5: The Bannock Brotherhood We join Paul Natrall, known locally as ‘Mr Bannock’ as he takes us through his home territory, the Squamish Nation. We explore the significance of community leadership and the importance of sourcing local ingredients in the creation of his world famous food truck. Watch the full episode ➡️ LINK IN BIO #DestinationIndigenous | #ExploreCanada | #TheOriginalOriginal | @indigenousculinary

The most adorable self-care routine goes to…   📷: @no_visuals_ 📍: @newfoundlandlabrador   #ExploreNL   [Video description: A puffin sits on a rock pruning their feathers and scratching their head with their back foot. Ocean waves crash onto the rocks in the background.]

This is Saskatchewan! ✨ The Great Sandhills is one of Canada’s largest set of active sand dunes, and is protected within the Great Sandhills Ecological Reserve. Ascend the towering dunes spanning an impressive 1,900 square kilometers (1180 square miles) and be amazed by the ever-changing landscape that dances before your eyes. These dunes are in constant motion, creating a new vista every day! When you’re ready to take a break from the dunes, the Town of Leader awaits, offering a welcoming base for your adventures. Discover a vibrant community with art galleries, museums and antique shops to explore. 🎨🏛️🛍️ 📷: @herry.with.an.e 📍: @tourismsask #ExploreSask [Image description: An aerial view of a person walking across a large sand dune. A sun sits just above the horizon.]