Explore Canada in 2021: New Attractions From Coast to Coast + Cool New Hotels

February 6, 2021 Jim Byers

The 100^th anniversary of Canada’s most famous ship in Nova Scotia. The 125^th anniversary of the Klondike Gold Rush. New adventures in the British Columbia Rockies. And a Rolling Stones exhibit in Southern Ontario.

The way things are shaping up with vaccines and the COVID-19 virus. 2021 could well be another year when Canadians focus on what’s happening close to home. Here’s a look at a few options in various parts of the country.

BRITISH COLUMBIA

Out in B.C., the Rocky Mountain Adventure Park wrapped up all major phase-one construction for 2020. It’s a new, 100-acre tourist attraction and family adventure park surrounding the Hospital Creek canyon immediately east of Golden. Early this spring, the finishing touches will be completed before opening in May of 2021. The focal point of the adventure park are two incredibly scenic twin suspension bridges strung atop the Hospital Creek canyon. The twin suspension bridges take the number one and number two spots for highest suspension bridges in Canada and possibly North America, at 130m/426ft and 80m/262ft high respectively. Additionally notable, the length of the bridges makes them place fourth and fifth place in Canada at 154m/504ft 140m/455ft respectively. Another attraction that will draw the adrenaline seeker is the large double-seat canyon swing. This two-person system will pendulum you and a partner 350ft through the heart of Hospital Creek Canyon. Canyon swing builder, Aerial Parks Safety & Consultation of Whistler, BC hopes it to be the biggest in Canada. More year-round attractions are in the planning stages.

Bella Coola Heli Sports has partnered with eco-tourism operator Maple Leaf Adventures on a once-in-a-lifetime adventure across British Columbia (BC)’s soaring mountains, majestic ocean and picturesque fjords. The most exclusive and luxurious yacht-based heliski experience available in North America, the Soar and Explore package is currently accepting bookings for 7-night stays during March 2021.The Soar and Explore package includes return flights between Vancouver and Bella Coola; eight ski days; 20 hours of flight time; private, single-occupancy cabins for seven nights; all meals and drinks, including alcohol; daily massage treatments; two professional ski guides; and all amenities onboard the MV Cascadia. The package starts at $319,000 (CAD) and will be offered for four weeks starting March 2021. To learn more, or to book.

Minutes from Vancouver Airport but far from your typical airport hotel, Versante is Richmond BC’s only luxury boutique hotel and is set to open this spring.Evoking the excitement of a Chinese night market, the lobby dazzles with vibrant colours and iconic furnishings, including a handcrafted chinoiserie rug by Andy Dixon, a charcoal sculpture by Marie Khouri and a custom pink reception pod. The design hotel’s luxurious guestrooms and suites come in five bold designs to choose from, each evoking a distinct personality. Additional features include floor-to-ceiling windows, spacious spa bathrooms with freestanding soaker tubs and exterior view windows, and all the latest comforts and technology.

Also on the books for a 2021 opening is the Malahat Skywalk, an accessible 600m treetop walk through beautiful arbutus forest leading to a spectacular gentle spiral ramp that takes you up 32m to a sightseeing lookout offering views of Finlayson Arm, Saanich Peninsula, Mount Baker and the distant Coast Mountains. https://malahatskywalk.com/

In Revelstoke, BC, the newest addition to the Basecamp Resorts family, Basecamp Revelstoke, boasts boutique accommodations overlooking the Columbia River, a short walk from the buzzy downtown. Designed for families, adventure seekers and powder junkies alike, the hotel is surrounded by a bounty of natural splendors, enhanced by modern amenities like cruiser bikes that guests can borrow for free and a sustainable design that effectively reduces environmental impact. After a long day of shredding on the mountain, guests can lounge on their basecamp patio and barbecue with a glass of wine, then head to the rooftop hot tub to stargaze and watch the mountains, dreaming about the next day’s adventure. The hotel is scheduled to open on December 3.

Situated along Homfray Channel in the temperate rainforest of BC’s Desolation Sound, Klahoose Wilderness Resort – newly acquired by the Klahoose First Nation – will open in May 2021. The 6,100-square-foot cedar timber structure features four spacious rooms in the main lodge, and three private one- and two-bedroom chalets, collectively accommodating up to 26 people. The intimate lodgings, operating between mid-May and mid-October, promises a cultural getaway for travelers eager to explore new horizons in a safe environment. Resort hosts include local Indigenous guides who lead cultural programming and wilderness experiences ranging from grizzly bear viewing in Toba Inlet to boat excursions visiting Klahoose’s cultural centre on Cortes Island. Three- and four-night all-inclusive packages are available.

Spirit Bear Lodge in the Great Bear Rainforest will be open to Canadians only in 2021 https://www.spiritbear.com/

The gorgeous Squamish Lil’wat Cultural Centre is hosting a solo-artist exhibition, Sqātsza7 Tmicw – Father Land, celebrating the lifetime achievements of a multi-disciplinary artist Seattle based Ed Archie NoiseCat, whose father was Lil’wat; this is NoiseCat’s first exhibit on his father’s traditional territory and it runs until February 28, 2021. In conjunction with a broad scope of his work on display, NoiseCat will be mentoring Qawam Redmond Andrews (Lil’wat Nation) as they work together on a twenty foot cedar pole.

YUKON

It was August, 1896, when Nova Scotia prospector Robert Henderson pointed a crew of soon-to-be legends in the direction of Rabbit Creek, a few kilometres east of present-day Dawson City. Those who first followed up on Henderson’s lead included Shaaw Tláa (Kate Carmack), Keish (Skookum Jim Mason) and Káa Goox (Dawson Charlie) of the Carcross/Tagish First Nation, along with Kate’s husband, George Carmack.

Turning over one particularly glittering rock on what’s known today as Bonanza Creek, there it was. Gold. And not just a nugget. But great wedges of it, laying thick between the cracks of the creek rocks like golden sandwiches. They’d done it. They’d found the rich deposit of gold others had been seeking for over 20 years. They likely knew in that moment their fortunes were made. What they couldn’t have known was that their discovery would launch one of the greatest gold rushes in history.

Today, colourful frontier buildings line old-time boardwalks in Dawson City, a little town that was once known as ‘The Paris of the North’. Saloons, can-can girls and a vintage sternwheeler intertwine the present with 1898 Klondike Gold Rush days when some 50,000 gold-seekers stampeded north.  It’s a wonderful part of Canada.

NOVA SCOTIA

Cape Smokey, on the south side of Cape Breton Island near the fabled Celtic Lodge, this summer will open Atlantic Canada’s first and only eight-person gondola. The gondola will run year-round and features a 320-meter vertical ride that takes four minutes. They’re also adding what they call North America’s first treewalk. “Soaring 30 meters above the top of the mountain, North America’s first and only Treewalk will allow you to explore Cape Breton nature, learn about the history of the Mi’kmaq people, and take in views of the Atlantic Ocean. The Ingonish Treewalk is delicately incorporated into the landscape, offering education, entertainment, and adventure accessible to all.”

The Queen’s Marque is a new downtown Halifax development that will be a combination of office space, residences, retail shops and restaurants … and the brand new Muir Hotel. Opening in the summer, The Muir Hotel will be a 5-star property on the waterfront with 110 hotel rooms with custom-designed furniture, a signature tartan throw on every bed, elevated and refined regional dining, a spa and wellness centre, cold plunge and hydrotherapy pools, a halotherapy salt room, a speakeasy and private guest-only art gallery and so much more.

The Bluenose – 100th Anniversary Celebrations: A plethora of events are being planned to mark the centennial of the launch of Canada’s most famous tallship, The Bluenose. Kicking off with a special birthday event in Lunenburg in March, activities will run throughout the year with a highlight being a celebration festival planned for August as well as 100 days of harbour tours with each sail telling a themed story relating the history of The Bluenose. The Fisheries Museum of the Atlantic will also expand and revise its Bluenose exhibit to mark the celebration. Other events being planned for the commemoration include night markets, dory and schooner races and a parade of sail.

George’s Island National Historic Site: The newest addition to Nova Scotia’s National Historic Sites family, Georges Island is located in the heart of Halifax harbour, the place the Mi’kmaq called Kjipuktuk or “The Great Harbour.” Discover how this small island and its fortifications played a large role as a prison, as an internment camp for Acadians, in the development of Nova Scotia and in the overall defence of Canada. Georges Island is one of five national historic sites in Halifax which are known collectively as the Halifax Defence Complex.

ONTARIO

The biggest tourism news for 2021 in Ottawa is the launch of Interzip Rogers, the world’s first interprovincial zipline. This double-line zipline will soar 1,400 feet from Ontario to Québec, 120 feet above the Ottawa River with great views of Parliament Hill and downtown Ottawa and Gatineau. The attraction will open in spring 2021 (exact date is still to be announced but advanced tickets are currently on sale).  

Another big milestone falls on August 28, 2021, which marks the 50^th anniversary of the We Demand protest on Parliament Hill. This historic protest was the first of its kind in Canada for gay rights and is commemorated with a mural on the corner of Bank and Gilmour Streets in downtown Ottawa. We’re still waiting for details on how Ottawa’s Capital Pride festival will commemorate the event.

You’ll be hearing a lot about Rembrandt in Ottawa in spring 2021. The Canadian Tulip Festival sold special “Rembrandt tulip” bulbs (coloured purple/pink/white) in fall 2020 and thousands are due to bloom in May 2021. On May 14, the day the tulip festival starts (it runs till May 24), the National Gallery of Canada will launch its blockbuster summer exhibition called Rembrandt in Amsterdam: Creativity and Competition, which runs until September 6, 2021.

On July 1st, 2021, Niagara Parks will launch a new landmark attraction just south of the Horseshoe Falls in Niagara Falls. By day, visitors can explore the preserved interior of the historic power station, transformed with new exhibits and guest amenities, while each night, an immersive sound & light experience brings the building to life through state-of-the-art projection mapping technology.  The first major power plant on the Canadian side of Niagara Falls, the Canadian Niagara Power Station was completed in 1905 to produce hydroelectricity by leveraging the power of the Niagara River. Beyond its stunning architectural features and landscape design, the power station was one of the first in the world to undertake a major tunnel project, with water entering through the forebay and dropping 180 feet before being expelled into a 2,000 foot tunnel that emptied into the lower Niagara River, right at the base of the Horseshoe Falls.

THE MUSEUM in Kitchener is set to open the Rolling Stones “Stones Unzipped” show from the end of November until February of 2022. This marks the only Canadian stop for the exhibit. With hundreds of unique artefacts and memorabilia forming a multimedia exhibition, including some on loan from the Stones’ private collection, UNZIPPED offers a comprehensive and engaging multimedia experience that gives fans an immersive look behind the curtain at the world’s greatest rock band. While you’re there, stop in at the newly restored Walper Hotel for a great meal, or a fine place to spend the night.

In March 2021, Burlington, Ontario will likewise debut its first Marriott Autograph Collection hotel, Pearle Hotel & Spa. Situated along the waterfront, halfway along the Toronto/Niagara corridor, the pristine retreat marries luxury and lifestyle, with an emphasis on memorable occasions. Inspired by the founder’s beloved grandmother, Pearle, the hotel embodies the spirit of hospitality, with design work inspired by charming local lake houses infused with modern elegance. Five event spaces boast a beautiful backdrop of Lake Ontario, while the onsite spa offers a haven of wellness anchored by a traditional Hammam sauna. Signature restaurant Isabelle, overlooking the water, serves farm-driven cuisine harvested from the hotel’s own Earth to Table Farm.

Drake Hotel Properties has unveiled the stylish Artist Loft, a first-of-its-kind apartment situated next to The Drake Hotel’s flagship location in downtown Toronto. Originally designed as a home base for artists playing Drake Underground and to house The Drake’s Artist-in-Residence, the 800-square-foot space is also on offer for groups of up to eight people eager to stay and play in the same space as emerging artists from around the world. The loft adds a 20th room to The Drake Hotel, named one of Canada’s top city hotels by Travel + Leisure, in advance of an upcoming 32-room expansion slated to debut in 2021.

The former Marriott Bloor Yorkville hotel is being a top-to-bottom makeover and should open this spring as Toronto’s first W Hotel, a brand known for a youthful vibe and cheeky, fun design elements.

Canada’s first Ace Hotel, another engaging, trendy boutique property that has several ultra-cool properties around North America, should open this year in downtown Toronto (near Spadina and Richmond). Designed in partnership with acclaimed architects Shim-Sutcliffe, Ace Hotel Toronto is inspired by the multicultural amalgam of the city in our very first Canadian outpost.

QUEBEC

The 200th anniversary of the start of construction of the Lachine Canal. In 1821, the government authorized the construction of the Lachine Canal. The group behind the project is made up of Montreal merchants who are keen to expand trade networks along the St. Lawrence River bypassing the Lachine Rapids. Built largely by Irish workers, the canal facilitated navigation between Montreal and the Great Lakes, which allowed Montreal to become one of the main trade hubs in North America.

Club Med Charlevoix opens later this year with an unparalleled waterfront panorama in a preserved natural landscape, ideal for an amazing ski-in ski-out experience and full roster of activities, both inside and outside. Designed with packages, services and accommodations for families, couples, singles, friends and Meetings & Events groups, the 4-Trident resort features 302 rooms including an Exclusive Collection space with 25 suites. It’s slated to open Dec. 3 of this year.

200 years of McGill University. McGill is a public research university in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Founded in 1821 by royal charter granted by King George IV, the university bears the name of James McGill, a Scottish merchant whose bequest in 1813 formed the university’s precursor, University of McGill College (or simply, McGill College); the name was officially changed to McGill University in 1885.

In spring 2021, Marriott will unveil the Humaniti Hotel Montreal, an Autograph Collection hotel, in Montreal. The province’s first Marriott Autograph Collection hotel, the destination property boasts bold architecture and free-flowing interiors designed to evoke human emotion. The hotel features a spectacular rooftop pool; 193 rooms, including 15 suites and one presidential suite; and signature dining experience h3 Restaurant, Terrace and Lounge, where guests and locals can dine on locally sourced fare and innovative cocktails. 

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