Experience the best beaches in Canada on a vacation

Home to countless lakes and an endless shoreline, Canada offers a variety of beautiful beaches for a lovely beach vacation. Each beach has something different to offer, from wildlife encounters and water sports to pristine sands and warm seas to quiet lakeside beaches with playgrounds and parks. Families with children have a lot to choose from for laid-back beaches with lifeguard patrol and amenities, while romantic couples can enjoy sunsets over windswept coasts and adventures can indulge in thrilling water sports. No matter what you’re looking for, take a look at the best beaches in Canada to plan your trip and enjoy a memorable seaside retreat.

Best beaches in Halifax for family fun

Nova Scotia’s beaches are diverse and offer incredible rugged scenery of dramatic cliffs and fine, white sand. Carters Beach is known for its turquoise waters and quiet, secluded atmosphere with few amenities nearby, while White Point Beach is a popular spot for sunbathing, surfing, swimming and family fun. If you have the kids, Hirtle’s Beach is a great place for them to swim in shallow wading areas and small ponds. For a more traditional seaside resort experience, you can visit Queensland Beach to relax on soft, pearl-white sand and swim in sparkling blue waters.

Best beaches in Muskoka for relaxation by the lake

Home to Georgian Bay and numerous lakes, Muskoka is the ideal spot for a lake trip. You’ll have many beaches to choose from, such as Christian Beach on Beausoleil Island in Georgian Islands National Park and Hanna Park Beach in Muskoka Lakes. Kirby’s Beach is one of the most family-friendly spots in all of Muskoka, offering soft sand, quiet waters, picnic areas, a playground, and facilities. You’ll also find a lot of great beaches in Muskoka Beach Park.

Best beaches in New Brunswick for children’s activities

Boasting hot summers and long, sunny days, New Brunswick is a popular destination for beach fun. The beaches in New Brunswick offer many unique experiences, such as discovering marine life in tidal pools at Indian Point Beach and kayaking and canoeing in Anchorage Beach. For a family day out, visit Jardine Municipal Park to play with the kids and the dog on the sand. Jardine Municipal Park is well equipped for beach visitors and offers concessions, showers, washrooms, picnic areas, and a children’s playground. If you want something more secluded, Murray Beach is a favourite of couples looking for sunbathing and romantic sunsets.

Best beaches in Lake Erie for fossicking

Located in Ontario, Lake Erie is one of the largest of the Great Lakes in North America. The long shoreline has plenty of relaxing beaches with shallow, warm waters and plenty of nearby attractions like breweries, wineries, and outdoor fun. Some of the best beaches in Lake Erie include Port Dover, a quaint beach area with restaurants and boutiques nearby, and Rock Point Provincial Park, a sandy beach with a rugged ledge filled with fossils and shells. Long Point is another beautiful beach area that’s protected as a biosphere reserve. If you want an array of experiences during your beach trip, Port Burwell offers a provincial park, hiking trails, a marine museum, historic lighthouses, and water sports tours, all within reach of the beach.

Best beaches in Lake Huron for playgrounds by the water

Lake Huron is a popular destination for a summer beach trip in Ontario. The beaches on the lake are diverse and give you a chance to experience the best of summer by the water, from building sandcastles to canoeing to sunbathing. Providence Bay Beach has a laid-back atmosphere and fine, soft sand that’s ideal for families. You’ll also find a beachfront playground nearby and a boardwalk for shoreline scenery. Killbear Provincial Park offers gently sloping sand beaches with calm waters on the Parry Sound and numerous offshore islands for paddling and kayaking excursions. If you’re looking for more activities, Sturgeon Bay has opportunities for canoeing, kayaking, paddle boarding, and other water sports.

Best beaches on Lake Simcoe for family amenities

Located in Ontario, Lake Simcoe is a quiet inland lake with beaches on most of its shoreline, giving you plenty of opportunities for a beach trip. The lake has crystal-clear waters for swimming and water sports, as well as soft, golden sand and spots with warm, shallow waters for children to swim. Centennial Beach is a popular destination for families with children, thanks to its picnic areas and children’s playground, but you can enjoy water sports like paddle boarding and kayaking.