Ready to find the best beach cities in Canada? We’ve got you covered! From Nova Scotia to British Columbia, we’re going coast-to-coast and sharing our picks for the best beaches in Canada. Whether you’re looking for beach to move to or one for your vacation, we have it all here for you! And if you want to know how close each of these amazing beaches are from major cities like Toronto or Vancouver, we’ve got that too. Continue reading to see our full list of the best beach cities in Canada!
Lawrencetown Beach, Nova Scotia
Even though this beach is in Canada, people will travel here to surf year-round. Lawrencetown Beach boasts some of the best waves in all of North America! It’s not uncommon for people to move here just so they can surf these waters nearly anytime they want. Here you’ll find several boardwalks, places to eat, washrooms, and seasonal guards on duty. Lawrencetown Beach would be a great place to live full-time or own a vacation home as it’s only about 30-35 minutes from homes in Halifax and Dartmouth, keeping your commute short while experiencing all a Canadian beach town has to offer!
Grand Bend, Ontario
Located on Lake Huron, Grand Bend’s pride and joys are its crystal blue beaches and stunning sunsets. In fact, Grand Bend Beach was ranked by National Geographic as having one of the prettiest sunsets in the world! The people of Grand Bend take pride in their land and water, earning this beach a Blue Flag Status for top-notch water quality and safety criteria! Main Street in Downtown Grand Bend houses several restaurants and shops to serve the residents and visitors of the beach. People travel from all over North America to visit and even own a vacation home here, and return here year after year because it’s so beautiful! Grand Bend is about an hour northwest of London, ON and just over an hour and a half from Kitchener real estate.
Wasaga Beach, Ontario
Located on the shores of the Georgian Bay, Wasaga Beach is one of Canada’s most-popular beaches with an estimated 2 million people visiting each summer! Don’t worry about crowds, there’s plenty of room as Wasaga is Canada’s longest freshwater beach! In fact, the entire Wasaga Beach Provincial Park totals 168 hectares (415 acres). The Nottawasaga River runs parallel to the coast. Between the river and the beach, there are ample activities for people of all ages to enjoy! Canoe or kayak down the scenic river, hike or bike on the nature trails, or go ATVing through the forest. If that’s not enough, there’s also a budding arts community with live theatre and intimate dining. Wasaga Beach is about 35 minutes from homes in Barrie and about an hour and 45 minutes from Toronto, making this town a perfect place to go for a weekend getaway!
Invermere, British Columbia
Hugged by the Rocky Mountains in the interior of British Columbia, and resting on the banks of the Windermere Lake, Invermere isn’t your typical beach town, but it’s a popular destination spot for summer vacations on land and water! Since Invermere is protected by the Rocky Mountains, it provides warmer weather conditions, leaving you to make the most of summer and enjoy your time outdoors. The lakes, hot springs, and farmers’ markets are just a few of the highlights – not to mention the world-class hiking and biking trails and ziplining. Since Invermere is surrounded by mountains, there’s plenty to experience in the winter too, with two ski resorts, and the Whiteway around Windermere Lake! Though Invermere is nearly 6 hours from Edmonton, AB and just over 3 hours from Calgary, AB, many people from these bustling cities have a second home here because they can’t get enough of this town!
Pointe Du Chêne, New Brunswick
Known for the warmest saltwater in Canada, the Pointe Du Chêne is home to Parlee Beach. Though Pointe Du Chene is on the east coast of Canada and experiences harsh winters, this beach is warm in the summer with its shallow waters and close proximity to the Gulf Stream that originates in Florida. Parlee Beach Provincial Park provides plenty of activities for visitors to stay busy all day long. There are campgrounds and hotels nearby, so it’s easy to make a weekend out of it. And if you want to explore the area further, there are plenty of hiking trails and quaint towns to check out. Shediac is also close by with all the necessities you’d need. Pointe Du Chene is only about 20 minutes away from Moncton, making Parlee Beach a perfect afternoon or quick weekend trip to unwind!
Manitou Beach, Saskatchewan
Though Saskatchewan is an inland province, it has over 100,000 lakes! Manitou Beach is located on the shores of Little Manitou Lake and is known for its calm, welcoming vibes. It is the perfect place to escape from the stresses of life and float for hours in the lake, which is dubbed the Dead Sea of Canada for its high salinity. With this beach’s peaceful atmosphere, you can tour art galleries, bask in the salty water at a mineral spa, play mini-golf, go shopping, dancing, or top off the night at the drive-in movies! Manitou Beach is only about an hour and a half away from homes in Saskatoon, making it ideal for weekend trips!
The Beaches, Ontario
Though technically a neighbourhood of Toronto, The Beaches is still a place worth mentioning. If you simply can’t get enough of the water, but need to stay close to the big city, looking at homes for sale in The Beaches might be a good idea as this area gives you the best of both worlds! With its iconic Boardwalk, lovely waterfront views, and charming Queen Street shops and restaurants, The Beaches is the perfect spot to call home or to spend the weekend. With everything close by, you don’t have to travel far to run errands or work as the Toronto centre is only about a 25-minute drive from The Beaches. Even better, this wonderful neighborhood isn’t even one of the most expensive in Toronto!
