The Trans-Canada Highway is an incredibly important road. It's one of the only roads connecting Canada's east and west coasts, so it's kind of the perfect Canadian road trip... and, since it connects some of the bigger cities and most of the country's provinces, if you're traveling by road for a longer distance, you'll probably end up on it at some point. The half of the highway running through the western provinces is a pretty epic drive. It crosses through the domineering Canadian Rockies, a portion involves a ferry ride, and there are vast stretches through the wilderness. There are also loads of gorgeous parks, including Banff National Park, awesome cities, and, of course, there's plenty of roadside fun to go around. Here's our guide from Victoria B.C. across half of the country to Winnipeg!
918 West Fletcher Avenue, Chicago, Illinois, United States
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Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States
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247 Chicago Avenue South, Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States
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Grand Forks, North Dakota, United States
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Provincial Road 75, Emerson, Manitoba
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Winnipeg, Canada
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288 Portage Avenue, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
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Winnipeg at last! The Western portion of the Trans-Canada Highway ends right about here. The Assiniboine Park Zoo, in Winnipeg's Assiniboine Park, is a world-renowned attraction. The Journey to Churchill area is one of the most comprehensive exhibitions of northern animals in the world. Snowy owls, Arctic fox, caribou, wolves, muskoxen, and, of course, polar bears, are all here to tell the story of the icy tundra and rocky coasts of the north. Get a bit further away from Canada at the Australian Walkabout, where you can see kangaroos and emu, or observe the tigers in the Animals of Asia section. There are tons more sections in the zoo to explore as well, and even more to see and do in the rest of Assiniboine Park. Spend a few hours or even a full day checking it all out!
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Learn the complete and lesser-known story of the more than 200,000 Canadian Gunners who have served Canada in war and peace since 1855 in the Royal Canadian Artillery. The Royal Canadian Artillery Museum houses a lot of history, including one of the largest collections of Canadian made military vehicles in the world and hundreds of rifles, pistols, and artillery. Learn all about 19th-century cannon, quick firing Howitzers, tanks, and neat vintage small arms. If guns aren't your scene, check out the archives, which has a great collection of WWI posters, vintage photos from various wars, and snapshots of basic training back in the day. It's a great way to gain a new appreciation for the Canadian Forces.
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Speaking of cars, a visit to the Manitoba Antique Automobile Museum is a great next stop on your road trip. Car buffs and the casually curious alike will find something to love here. From turn-of-the-century touring cars and hot rods to trucks and tractors, the display of cars is quite comprehensive and will impress the most discerning gearheads. We're talking more than 100 cars in display dating back to 1908, when the automobile was in its infancy, along with pioneer farming equipment.
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Make a quick detour north to his the Motherwell Homestead, a National Historic Site. You'll learn about the life of early 20th century pioneers through one of Saskatchewan's most fascinating figures, W.R. Motherwell. He was passionate about scientific farming, and his dedication to his craft eventually earned him the title of Minister of Agriculture. Whether you're touring the property on a wagon ride, churning your own ice cream and making your own butter, lending a helping hand to the staff as they work the fields and care for the animals, or learning Victorian games you'll love this brief taste of the quaint pioneer life. And the best part is that once you've had your fill of homesteading, you can hop right back into the modern convenience of your car!
Regina, Canada
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Built in 1891, the grand Government House has played an important role in Saskatchewan's history as the official residence of the Lieutenant Governor of the Northwest Territories. Though it served several uses throughout the course of its life, today it serves as a museum and the official Office of the Lieutenant Governor. The parts you can tour have been restored to appear as they might have appeared between 1898-1910, during the tenure of Lieutenant Governor Amédée Forget. The authentic Edwardian gardens are also not to be missed; in fact, if you so choose, simply stroll through the garden paths outside free of charge!
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As you continue through the prairies, get a taste for what the landscape looked like as early pioneer settlers travelled here with a stop at Buffalo Pound Provincial Park. Here, you'll find a herd of plains bison in a hillside paddock, a tribute to the creatures that once filled the plains. Buffalo Pound Lake is an ancient glacial lake with two sandy public beaches, which are a real treat for families, road-weary travellers looking to relax, or anyone looking for a bit of lakeshore fun. The park also has its own pool and mini-golf course as well. You can camp here, fish the trout in Buffalo pond, and spy wildlife on the boardwalk through Nicolle Flats Marsh as well.
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You should visit Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park, even if only for the fact that it's Canada's first and only interprovincial park. It sits on the southern Alberta-Saskatchewan boundary and is divided into two sections: a west block and a center block. Interestingly enough, the park's Cypress Hills plateau and prairie are home to 14 species of beautiful orchids, check out the views from Head of the Mountain Viewpoint, visit the Fort Walsh National Historic Site (where you can learn about Mounties and Canada's bootlegging history during America's Prohibition), or enjoy watersports on one of the many lakes; you can even rent kayaks, canoes, bicycles, and stand up paddle boards.
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If the World's Largest Paddle didn't do it for you, maybe the World's Tallest Teepee will! Also known as the Saamis Tepee, it was built for the Calgary Olympics in 1988. It's made of steel and concrete and is 215 feet tall (think about that; that's as tall as a 20 story building!). It's also 160 feet wide. The 10 rings around the masts are story-boards that tell stories from Canada's past. The name "Saamis" tepee comes from the fact that it now sits atop the Saamis archaeological site, one of the most important on the Northern Plains. Years ago, it was a buffalo camp and meat processing site, and today, experts believe that over 83 million artifacts are buried at the site.
Winter will always be a slightly more challenging time to visit Canada, especially if you're planning on taking on the Rockies. Bring chains and extra supplies in the off-chance things get really snowy if you're driving the road in the colder months. Spring and early summer in the badlands and prairies are a green and beautiful time to visit, and fall brings mild weather that's ideal for road-tripping. Ultimately, though, this is a fairly major route through Canada and will almost always be in good condition for a drive.
