The right amalgam of mountainous ranges, breathtaking views, incredible ski destinations, great lakes, gorgeous ski lodges and scenic winter beauty makes Canada one of the most celebrated countries in the world. While a rich blend of French-English culture is enough to appeal to people from different parts of the world to move to the country, the immensely beautiful countryside takes one and all on a thrilling outdoor adventure. Here, in this piece, we are talking about some best places to live in Canada for outdoor living.
Think of Canada and the images of beautiful landscapes, vast coastal shorelines, wild terrain and plenty of freshwater lakes will start conjuring up in your mind, right? The second-largest country in the world, Canada is where people have a lifestyle more connected to nature; it is where you can turn your dream of living a life in the lap of the outdoors into reality.
With endless beautiful outdoor spaces, the country leaves you spoilt for choice when it comes to finding a perfect location with ample natural beauty. Be it the west coast that lures you, the Maritimes you are in love with or closely everything in-between that appeals to your senses, Canada has a place for everyone from far and wide.
Besides, the country astonishes travelers as well as Canadians with its wonderful opportunities for outdoor activities such as skiing, hiking, kayaking, canoeing, running, golfing, swimming and more. In addition to this, various studies suggest that there are numerous benefits of living in a location surrounded by nature. So before proceeding with our discussion on the best Canadian places to live, let’s learn about these benefits:
Living amidst greens in some of Canada’s best cities helps in the following ways –
- Improves short term memory
- Relieves stress
- Reduces the chance of poor vision
- Decreases inflammation
- Restores mental energy
- Enhances your thinking power
- Increases anti-cancer proteins
- Enhances focus and concentration
- Improves immune system
- Decreases the risk of early death
Such benefits certainly encourage families to consider embracing living outdoors and adding years to their life. Here, we are discussing Best places to live in canada for the outdoors. So if you are planning to move to the country and start a new journey of life, learn about the places where you can buy or rent your dream home amidst nature’s delight.
Vancouver, British Columbia
Vancouver has always been renowned as a true paradise for outdoor lovers. One of the densest cities of Canada, it enjoys a filming location in the lap of mountains along with a flourishing art, theatre and music scene. One of the best cities for outdoors, this city thrills you with adventurous activities throughout the year. You can enjoy incredible sailing in the morning and breathtaking skiing in the afternoon.
Those who are less adventurous can spend mornings and evenings jogging or walking in Stanley Park. Besides, there are numerous golf courses everywhere that are ideal for beginners as well as champions. Mount Seymour, Grouse Mountain and Cypress Mountain are some of the best options for skiing and snowboarding in winter, just an hour away from the city. You can discover some of the best slopes in the world in Whistler Blackcomb, a 115-km drive from Vancouver.
Since the city serves you with several months of winter, there are plenty of adventures for the season to indulge in. If we talk about summer, Vancouver doesn’t stop luring you. With more than 30 kilometres of beaches, the city offers ample fun. Mountain biking, ziplining and hiking are other adventures this beautiful place offers across its abundance of trails.
Victoria, British Columbia
Sitting on gorgeous Vancouver Island, Victoria is undoubtedly one of the most picturesque cities in Canada with dramatic mountain and ocean vistas. Apart from the beautiful greenery, Victoria appeals with a stunning harbour, a rich British ancestry and splendid architecture drawing the attention of all sorts of visitors as well as residents.
There are countless opportunities for outdoor activities in the city ranging from cycling, hiking and camping to ziplining and more. Named after Queen Victoria, the city that lures people with its old-world charm and British feel and is also called “The Garden City” due to its wonderful collection of gardens including the famous Butchart Gardens, a 25-minute drive from downtown Victoria.
Divers are certain to make countless memories in the city since it has been designated as one of the best cold-water diving destinations. There is no end to thrill in the city; you can also explore an array of golf clubs, tennis courts, marinas, a horse racing track, a car racing track and more. Besides, the great educational standards and facilities make it an ideal location to live for families and amazing adventurous activities make it one of the best outdoor places.
Calgary, Alberta
Calgary is one of the cleanest, wealthiest and most liveable cities in Canada lying 1,048 meters above sea level. Beautifully tucked in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, the city makes an ideal destination for those who love the outdoors. Several beautiful routes scattered across 20,000 acres make this city a runner’s paradise where 115 marathons take place every year.
Canada Olympic Park in Calgary draws a lot of attention to adventure enthusiasts where one can delight themselves in incredible skiing, snowboarding, bobsledding and public skating opportunities. Mountain biking and ziplining are activities to enjoy during summer. Just an hour’s drive from Calgary is Banff that offers wonderful downhill skiing opportunities.
If you can go a little far, a five-hour drive away is Jasper that is also renowned for amazing skiing opportunities. Both these places have national parks where you can enjoy camping and hiking. Apart from this, if you are living in the city, you will enjoy magnificent sightseeing at breathtaking glaciers and icefields.
Toronto, Ontario
One of the most liveable cities in the world and the largest in Canada, Toronto offers a fine mix of an urban and relaxing lifestyle. With an endless collection of parks, golf courses, jogging trails and green spaces, the city conquers hearts from different parts of the world. Being one of the best cities in Canada, Toronto offers gorgeous public green spaces. Rouge Park and Don Valley Brick Works Park are the most stunning green oases in the city renowned all over the country. Toronto enjoys proximity to several breathtaking secluded islands that you can access via water taxi or ferry.
During winters, you can enjoy a beautiful blanket of snow and witness many ice skating rinks and snowboarders. The summers are hot and sunny in the city and treat you with plentiful activities including outdoor concerts, beach trips and festivals. Not just the natural wonders but the city is also considered one most liveable place based on other factors including culture, healthcare, education and environment.
There are amazing hiking and rock climbing opportunities for residents as well as tourists in the area of Niagara escarpment. Besides, you can enjoy water skiing and various other water sports in the Greater Toronto Areas as well as some nearby leisure locations such as Kawarthas and Muskoka.
Montreal, Quebec
Counted among the happiest locations to live in the world, Montreal is a beautiful city that appeals with its character and atmosphere. It is the second-largest city in Canada where Montrealers love indulging in diving in all kinds of weather.
The vibe in Montreal is a rich blend of true urban and lush countryside and one can enjoy several surprising and memorable outdoor adventures. Surfboarding on the St. Lawrence River is one amazing experience you cannot miss out on!
While eco-friendly gardening ensures a healthy lifestyle in the city, a non-profit organization named Soverdi has taken a green-based initiative of planting millions of trees that ultimately makes the city one of the most peaceful places to reside in. Many families are found here chilling on the beach at the Montreal Clock Tower and spending some leisure time at a spa at Bota Bota.
With a huge French influence, Montreal is renowned as a little European slice of Canada where there is some magic in the air in all seasons – spring, summer, fall and winter. Apart from this, Montreal is also popular for hosting the Montreal Outdoor and Travel festival that draws several adventure lovers from far and wide.
Summing it up
Since Canada is renowned for its most live-able atmosphere and high quality of life, there is no denying that it is home to some of the best green cities in the world that represent peaceful living. A vast collection of coastal shorelines, stunning landscapes, beautiful parks, and freshwater lakes makes it not just a tourist destination but also an ideal place to live with family.
If you are planning to move to the city and start a new life with your family, you have countless options of pretty locations to choose from. As we have discussed above some of the best outdoor places to live in Canada, we hope it would be a bit easy for you to choose a city as per your preferences and requirements.
Besides, you will find several other places in the country that ensure ideal outdoor living. We recommend you do thorough research and decide what suits you the best.
