The Great Canadian Fall Bucket List

Maple-appreciation season is here! It’s time for colourful foliage, cozy sweaters, apple cider and autumn getaways. Fall in Canada gives you the best of both summer and winter activities—with fewer crowds. Across the country, there are a myriad of pursuits and places to experience, from leaf-peeping larches in Banff to wine tasting during grape harvest in Niagara. Tourist hot spots are less crowded, and there’s a small-town coziness with activities like apple picking, festivals and beautiful autumn leaves to enjoy. Not to mention that hotels and flights are also more affordable. 

Here is Travelzoo’s Great Canadian Fall Bucket List, our compilation of must-do autumnal activities, and where to stay while you enjoy them.

Go forest bathing in Nova Scotia

Immerse yourself in the beautiful fall foliage of the Acadian Forest. A morning of forest bathing is sure to relax and reinvigorate, and Travelzoo members can enjoy two-night stays at the renowned Trout Point Lodge, the perfect home base for experiencing the Tobeatic Wilderness.

Cozy up with an afternoon tea

Afternoon tea is a quintessential experience all year round, but as the leaves start to turn, it’s even more special. When temperatures drop, cozying up with a hot pot of tea, warm scones and cookies is appreciated across the country. Travelzoo members can enjoy afternoon or Scottish high tea at the Pendray Inn and Tea House at Huntingdon Hotel in Victoria, or an elevated interpretation at the W Hotel in Toronto.

Storm watch in Tofino

Experience the power of the Pacific in Tofino during storm-watching season. From late fall through winter, the moody skies, crashing waves and beautiful rainforests of Vancouver Island are something to behold, and Tofino has a front-row view. Travelzoo members can save up to 47% on fall escapes at the Hotel Zed Tofino. 

Celebrate Oktoberfest

The Oktoberfest celebrations in Kitchener-Waterloo are the biggest outside Germany itself, meaning there’s lots of lederhosen, beer and pretzels. But there are also parties across the country with temporary “festhallen” (beer halls) cropping up everywhere from St. John's to Grand Prairie.

Cruise the 1000 Islands 

Gliding through the Islands in the fall is like cruising through a painting with bright colours. You’ll sail past historic lighthouses, castles and see wildlife aboard 1000 Islands & Seaway Cruises’ Jewels of the St. Lawrence cruise. 

Experience a harvest season wine tasting

Harvest season is something to be experienced in Canada’s most beloved wine regions. In Niagara, you can enjoy stays with breakfast and wine tastings, while in the Okanagan, lines of grape vines turn crimson with the Rockies providing a breathtaking backdrop. Enjoy dinner for two at a family-owned estate in the heart of B.C. wine country. 

Soak in the hot springs in the Yukon

Fall marks the beginning of the northern lights season, making it the perfect time to experience the North. The Nordic hot pools and springs at Takhini Hot Springs resort offer a cozy viewing of the Aurora Borealis, and Travelzoo members can save on three-night stays for four through November. 

Sip a ramen flight in Vancouver 

It’s soup season across the country, and there is no better way to experience Vancouver’s famous “Ramen Row” than at ZUBU Downtown. Travelzoo members get to enjoy a four-course dinner for two through December, ramen flights included. 

Get into spooky season

Halloween festivities in October mean candy, costumes and haunted walks. From the ghost tour at Halifax Citadel to wandering through Old Strathcona in Edmonton, there are spooky walking tours across the country. In Toronto, there are two walks to choose from: The Haunted Walk – the Campus Secrets and Spectres, or the Hidden Toronto Tour. Travelzoo members save 25% on either tour through Halloween. 

Experience larch season in Banff

From mid-September to early October, the larch trees in the Rockies turn a brilliant yellow colour when they lose their green needles for winter. Staying in and around Banff National Park during fall means the larch season is at its peak. This all-suite Canmore hotel offers Travelzoo members 30% off two-night stays into March. 

Go apple picking 

Apple abundance across the country makes apple picking a must-do bucket list activity in fall. You-picks across Canada welcome the family tradition, along with cider houses and all-purpose farms. You’ll have fun whether you’re picking McIntoshes in Nova Scotia’s Annapolis Valley or B.C.’s own Ambrosias in the Fraser Valley.  

Canoe in Algonquin 

Leaf-peeping is on a whole new level from the water. Soak up those fall views in Algonquin Provincial Park with these guided canoe trips, and experience the fall foliage like the Group of Seven would have wanted you to.

Hike the crisp trails of Cape Breton

Driving the Cabot Trail is iconic in October, especially during the Celtic Colours Festival, when the fall foliage is complemented by autumnal activities. Draped in red, orange and gold, hiking through the trails of Cape Breton is equally as breathtaking. Use this Ingonish Beach resort as your home base; Travelzoo members can enjoy two-night stays with a bountiful breakfast basket.   

Leaf-peep in the Laurentians

In the fall, the Laurentians’ rolling hills are blanketed in colour, perfect for leaf-peeping, especially from the gondola in Mont-Tremblant. Plus, cozy villages within a short drive from Montreal are perfect for a getaway. Stays at this hotel are 35% off for Travelzoo members into December. 

Retreat and relax in Muskoka

Muskoka in the fall is the epitome of cozy season. Snuggle by the fire of a rustic cabin, enjoy a colourful stroll through the woods and relish in the sparse crowds. These secluded cottages on Ahmic Lake make for a great fall getaway, and Travelzoo members save 33% on two- or three-night stays this fall.

Cheer on your favourite team

Football season is in full swing by fall, so grab those team-coloured threads and start cheering. Travelzoo members can save on tickets to BC Lions games through October. Torontonians can cheer on the Marlies as hockey season hits the ice in October, and Travelzoo members save up to 40% on tickets. 

Enjoy a spa day at the world’s largest log cabin

For nearly 100 years, the Fairmont Le Château Montebello has been welcoming guests to its giant log cabin hotel in Quebec. Spend a day relaxing at their no-phones spa with views of the gorgeous Quebec forests. Travelzoo members save on spa days that include bubbly and a lunch credit or make it a full-fledged getaway with stays at the famed hotel through October. 

Savour Second Harvest 

Travelzoo has teamed up with Second Harvest to present dining experiences at some of Toronto’s top restaurants, so you can dine out and help support the fight against hunger and food waste.  

Stay at a Fall Harvest hotel 

Peruse Travelzoo’s curated collection of fall getaways to some of our favourite spots for immersing yourself in the warmth and charm of autumn. From luxury domes in Charlevoix to hotels right in Whistler Village, there’s plenty to discover.