Teagan Gunter has a warning for travellers planning Canada: don’t make the classic mistake of trying to do it all at once. The Escape Beyond travel advisor and Destination Canada Radical Ambassador knows Canada is too vast, too seasonal, too culturally rich and too wildly varied to be squeezed into a single “best of” itinerary. Here, Teagan explains why the real magic of Canada is in seeing it as a destination to return to, province by province, season by season, story by story.
There are some destinations you visit once, tick off the highlights and feel satisfied. Canada, in my opinion, is not one of them. It is a place that quietly humbles you.
Many travellers arrive thinking they’ll see Canada in a single trip, only to realise the country stretches across six time zones, with endless captivating landscapes, distinct cultures and experiences so varied they can feel like entirely different destinations.
One trip quickly becomes the beginning of a lifelong love affair.
A country of contrasts
Where else can you spend one holiday kayaking alongside glaciers or watching the Northern Lights dance across the sky, then another sipping wine in rolling vineyards? In Canada, every province and territory has its own personality.
On the West Coast, Vancouver blends rainforests, mountains, ocean and cosmopolitan energy in a way few cities can. Venture further into British Columbia and you’ll find alpine lakes, dramatic wildlife encounters, luxury wilderness lodges and road trips through the towering peaks of the Rockies.
Then there’s Alberta, home to iconic landscapes like Banff National Park and Lake Louise, where turquoise lakes and snow-dusted mountains look almost too perfect to be real.
Yet on the opposite side of the country, Québec feels worlds away. Cobblestone streets, French-inspired cuisine and centuries-old architecture in Québec City create a distinctly European atmosphere without ever leaving North America.
The seasons completely change the experience
One of the reasons Canada is impossible to do, or conquer, in one trip is that it transforms dramatically with the seasons.
Summer is made for hiking, wildlife spotting, lakeside retreats and epic rail journeys. Autumn brings fiery foliage across eastern Canada and crisp mountain air in the west. Winter turns the country into a snow-covered playground filled with skiing, frozen lakes, dog sledding and cosy mountain towns. Then spring arrives with blooming landscapes, cherry blossoms, bear sightings and fewer crowds.
A summer trip through the Rockies and a winter escape to Whistler feel like two entirely different holidays, and both are equally unforgettable.
The scale is hard to comprehend
Canada is the second-largest country in the world, and that scale changes how you travel. Distances are vast, landscapes feel untouched and there’s always another hidden corner waiting beyond the horizon.
One trip may cover the Rockies. Another might focus on Canada’s rugged coastlines and incredible food trails. The next could be an Arctic expedition, or a rail journey across the country aboard VIA Rail.
The reality is simple: Canada isn’t designed to be rushed.
More than a destination
What keeps travellers returning to Canada isn’t just the scenery, although that certainly helps.
It’s the feeling the country leaves you with. The warmth of the people. The sense of space and freedom. The balance between adventure and comfort. The moments that make you stop, breathe and realise you’ve barely scratched the surface.
Canada is bigger than one trip because it offers more than one experience. It’s not a destination you conquer in a single visit. It’s one you keep discovering, season after season, journey after journey.
Could you be one of the next Radical Ambassadors?
If Teagan’s Field Notes have you rethinking what one Canada trip can really cover, this is your chance to experience it for yourself. Destination Canada is seeking eight Australian travel advisors to become its new Radical Ambassadors, with the program returning for a third year in partnership with Air Canada and Globus.
This time, the epic famil with purpose heads east, taking the next cohort on a nine-day journey from Toronto to Montreal in October 2026. Think historic cities, famous landmarks, local communities, cultural connection and the kind of Canada stories that go far beyond the guidebook.
Applications are now open for advisors ready to share, sell and champion Canada in a whole new way. Are you in?
