The Blonde Abroad

Popular travel and lifestyle blog featuring travel tips, fashion, food and photography from around the world. Follow Kiersten on her adventures!

Destination

Canada Travel Guide

Canada is one of those countries that continuously finds itself on “top 10” destination lists. Whether it’s for the country’s incredible natural beauty, delicious food, mountain resorts, unique culture, or unbeatable road trips—Canada has it all!

And, Canada is home to 16 UNESCO World Heritage Sites! It also has the longest ski season in the world, polar bears, the Northern Lights, and poutine (fries covered in squeaky cheese and gravy! *drool*).

On my first trip to the Great White North, I snowboarded the snowy mountains of Whistler and have since ticked off bucket list-worthy destinations like Banff National Park, Montreal, Mont Tremblant, and Vancouver.

Destinations

Highlight

Best Time To Visit

Canada is a huge country, and the climate and weather will differ depending on the region you visit!

Generally, the best time to visit is during the fall months of August and September—the weather has cooled down a bit, but it’s still comfortable for outdoor activities. Plus, the summer crowds have left, prices have dropped, and the foliage is starting to change color.

Winter usually spans from October to March, though sometimes it can last up until April. During winter, Vancouver gets very little snow, while Montreal is typically freezing cold!

The best times to visit Banff National Park are June to August, for summer and outdoor activities, and December to March, for prime ski conditions.

What To Expect

Language: The two official languages of Canada are English and French, with over 80% of Canadians speaking English.

Currency: The Canadian currency is the Canadian Dollar (CAD).

Credit Cards & ATMs: You can often get by using your card to pay for purchases in Canada. ATMs are also readily available everywhere you go if you do need to withdraw cash.

Plugs: The plugs in Canada are type B (the same as the US). The standard voltage is 110-120 V, and the standard frequency is 60Hz. For foreign travelers, I recommend buying a universal adapter (make sure it has surge protection) and using a converter for hairdryers and hot tools.

Safety: Canada is a very safe country to visit, and there’s hardly any violent crime committed. I consider it one of the top destinations for solo female travelers!

TRAVEL TIPS FROM OUR COMMUNITY

Steph + Kaitlin Lez See the World
Our Experience as a Lesbian Couple

Canada is our home country and we love recommending it as an LGBTQ+ friendly travel destination! All the major cities have thriving gayborhoods and amazing annual Pride events – our favorites are Vancouver, Toronto, and Montreal. Canada has some of the best LGBTQ+ laws in the world and acceptance rates across the entire country are very high. We always feel safe traveling in Canada as a lesbian couple!

Travel Guides

Bucket List experiences

1

Banff

Banff National Park
2

Banff

Canoe on Lake Moraine
3

Banff

Visit Lake Louise
4

Whistler

Snowboard in Whistler
5

Whistler

Go Dog Sledding
6

Foodie Experience

Eat Poutine
7

Montreal

Visit Montreal
8

Ontario

See Niagara Falls

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Kenya looks like this too 🏝️🇰🇪
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
We spent a week in Diani Beach (just an hour flight from Nairobi) staying at @almahali.villas, and it ended up being one of those trips I’ll always remember. This was a mommy + me getaway, and I genuinely didn’t expect it to be this kid-friendly—so easy, so relaxed, and just fun.

We had a private villa with a chef (game changer), got around by tuk tuk, and spent our days between the beach and some of the cutest beachfront restaurants—some even have playgrounds and kids programs on weekends (@galu_ecolodge_madafoos was a favorite).

The little moments made it: fresh coconuts from beach vendors, a dhow boat ride that led us to dolphins, Maasai warriors hand-beading the boys’ friendship bracelets, the warmest ocean I’ve ever felt, and the craziest vervet monkeys you’ll ever meet.

And the best part—getting to experience it all with my friend @tailsofamermaid, who lives in Nairobi and knows all of the best parts of Diani. She showed us all her favorite spots, and it made the trip feel so local and special!
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
#dianibeachkenya #diani #dianibeach #kenya #familytravel

130 3
Open post by theblondeabroad with ID 18029767580663424
Kenya looks like this too 🏝️🇰🇪 ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• We spent a week in Diani Beach (just an hour flight from Nairobi) staying at @almahali.villas, and it ended up being one of those trips I’ll always remember. This was a mommy + me getaway, and I genuinely didn’t expect it to be this kid-friendly—so easy, so relaxed, and just fun. We had a private villa with a chef (game changer), got around by tuk tuk, and spent our days between the beach and some of the cutest beachfront restaurants—some even have playgrounds and kids programs on weekends (@galu_ecolodge_madafoos was a favorite). The little moments made it: fresh coconuts from beach vendors, a dhow boat ride that led us to dolphins, Maasai warriors hand-beading the boys’ friendship bracelets, the warmest ocean I’ve ever felt, and the craziest vervet monkeys you’ll ever meet. And the best part—getting to experience it all with my friend @tailsofamermaid, who lives in Nairobi and knows all of the best parts of Diani. She showed us all her favorite spots, and it made the trip feel so local and special! ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• #dianibeachkenya #diani #dianibeach #kenya #familytravel

Packing smarter > Packing more ✈️

This garment duffel has been such a game changer for short trips—keeps clothes wrinkle-free, has a separate space for shoes, and still fits all the essentials.

I’ve been pairing it with the packing cubes and checked luggage from @OneQuince, and everything just works together—luxury quality, without the luxury price tag.

Comment SHOP below to receive a DM with the link to this post on my LTK ⬇ https://liketk.it/6amYb

@onequince @shop.ltk #liketkit #QuincePartner
#travelessentials #packingtips #luggage

Song: I’m That Girl by Phury _ from. Melody the Superstar

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Open post by theblondeabroad with ID 18588507736001531
Packing smarter > Packing more ✈️ This garment duffel has been such a game changer for short trips—keeps clothes wrinkle-free, has a separate space for shoes, and still fits all the essentials. I’ve been pairing it with the packing cubes and checked luggage from @OneQuince, and everything just works together—luxury quality, without the luxury price tag. Comment SHOP below to receive a DM with the link to this post on my LTK ⬇ https://liketk.it/6amYb @onequince @shop.ltk #liketkit #QuincePartner #travelessentials #packingtips #luggage Song: I’m That Girl by Phury _ from. Melody the Superstar

Meeting rescued baby elephants at @sheldricktrust has been on my bucket list for years… and it exceeded every expectation! 🐘
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
We booked a private visit, which is $1,500 for a group of up to 10 people (2026 pricing), and fully donation-based — directly supporting the rescue and rehabilitation of orphaned elephants.

There are only two private slots per day, so this is something you need to book well in advance.

It’s absolutely a splurge, but for such an intimate, once-in-a-lifetime experience (and knowing it supports conservation) felt incredibly worth it!

If that’s not in budget, they also offer daily public visiting hours (around $20 per person), which are still really special.

NOTE: You’ll also need to pay the Nairobi National Park entrance fee for any visit.

It pairs perfectly with a safari drive in the park, since you’re already there. It’s such an easy and meaningful add-on to any Nairobi itinerary.

This is one of the most special (and ethical) wildlife experiences you can have in Kenya 🤍
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
#kenyatravel #nairobikenya #africasafari #ethicaltravel #bucketlisttravel

569 46
Open post by theblondeabroad with ID 18075675671194480
Meeting rescued baby elephants at @sheldricktrust has been on my bucket list for years… and it exceeded every expectation! 🐘 •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• We booked a private visit, which is $1,500 for a group of up to 10 people (2026 pricing), and fully donation-based — directly supporting the rescue and rehabilitation of orphaned elephants. There are only two private slots per day, so this is something you need to book well in advance. It’s absolutely a splurge, but for such an intimate, once-in-a-lifetime experience (and knowing it supports conservation) felt incredibly worth it! If that’s not in budget, they also offer daily public visiting hours (around $20 per person), which are still really special. NOTE: You’ll also need to pay the Nairobi National Park entrance fee for any visit. It pairs perfectly with a safari drive in the park, since you’re already there. It’s such an easy and meaningful add-on to any Nairobi itinerary. This is one of the most special (and ethical) wildlife experiences you can have in Kenya 🤍 •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• #kenyatravel #nairobikenya #africasafari #ethicaltravel #bucketlisttravel

The Okavango Delta is one of those places that truly lives up to the hype… and then somehow exceeds it. 🦒🇧🇼
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
A lush, water-filled oasis in the middle of the Kalahari, where the seasons quite literally shape the entire experience.

Floodwaters arrive months after the rains fall in Angola, transforming the landscape into a maze of channels, islands, and wildlife-rich plains.

We stayed at @aksanctuary Sanctuary Chief’s Camp on Chief’s Island — known as the predator capital of Botswana. Because it’s one of the only areas of permanent dry land, animals naturally gather here… which means some of the most incredible game viewing you can experience.

What makes this place so special is the contrast. Early mornings tracking predators on game drives, and afternoons drifting through quiet waterways in a mokoro, surrounded by birds, reeds, and the kind of stillness you rarely find anymore.

And the timing completely changes the experience.
✨ Dry season (May–October): peak flood levels + unbelievable wildlife concentrations
🌿 Green season (November–April): lush landscapes, baby animals, fewer crowds

No matter when you go, it’s one of the most unique safari destinations in the world, and one that feels wild, untouched, and unforgettable.
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
#OkavangoDelta #BotswanaSafari #LuxurySafari #AfricanWildlife #SafariExperience

558 19
Open post by theblondeabroad with ID 18103021357746846
The Okavango Delta is one of those places that truly lives up to the hype… and then somehow exceeds it. 🦒🇧🇼 ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• A lush, water-filled oasis in the middle of the Kalahari, where the seasons quite literally shape the entire experience. Floodwaters arrive months after the rains fall in Angola, transforming the landscape into a maze of channels, islands, and wildlife-rich plains. We stayed at @aksanctuary Sanctuary Chief’s Camp on Chief’s Island — known as the predator capital of Botswana. Because it’s one of the only areas of permanent dry land, animals naturally gather here… which means some of the most incredible game viewing you can experience. What makes this place so special is the contrast. Early mornings tracking predators on game drives, and afternoons drifting through quiet waterways in a mokoro, surrounded by birds, reeds, and the kind of stillness you rarely find anymore. And the timing completely changes the experience. ✨ Dry season (May–October): peak flood levels + unbelievable wildlife concentrations 🌿 Green season (November–April): lush landscapes, baby animals, fewer crowds No matter when you go, it’s one of the most unique safari destinations in the world, and one that feels wild, untouched, and unforgettable. ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• #OkavangoDelta #BotswanaSafari #LuxurySafari #AfricanWildlife #SafariExperience