From relaxed, weekend getaways to month-long holidays, family camping trips are the ultimate way to forge lasting memories with the kids. We’ve found some of the most family-friendly campsites throughout Canada that will let you disconnect from the day-to-day stresses and reconnect as a family. Pack your bags, a family adventure awaits.
Kawartha Highlands, Ontario
Just two and a half hours from Toronto, Kawartha Highlands is for the avid camping family. Sparse and off the grid, it’s an area home to innumerable outdoor adventures. Spend the days teaching the kids how to fish or merrily canoe the backcountry of the mirror-like lakes – though don’t forget to bring along the binoculars, as this area is rich with wildlife that includes, Common Loons, Great Blue Herons and Ospreys. In the evening, gather around the campfire for late-night stories under a star-speckled night sky. After a few days of reconnecting with nature, whisk the family away to Balsam Lake Boutique Motel, where its range of restorative amenities will have you ready to return to everyday life.
Finger Lake Wilderness Resort, British Columbia
Spot wildlife around one of the pristine lakes
If you and the family love the outdoors, but are among the 17% of Canadian travellers who prefer cabins and chalets as their desired accommodation according to recent Booking.com findings, then ‘camping’ in the comforts of a rustic, log cabin at Finger Lake Wilderness Resort is for you. This site has all the amenities a family needs, including an on-site convenience store that sells fuel and perhaps more importantly, ice cream. And the nature’s not bad either. Take a gentle hike to Greer Creek Falls, a seven-metre waterfall framed by lichen-covered rock walls. If you’re adventurous enough, take a dip into the chilly spring waters. On a still day, you can even spot moose, lynx or mule deer drinking along the shore of the pristine lakes. This camping site is open year round making it an ideal getaway for when you and your family need a break.
Camping De La Rivière Nicolet, Quebec
In the heart of the Appalachian Mountains, Camping De La Rivière Nicolet is a countryside camping site that families migrate to every year. There are camping sites with and without service available so if you prefer to spend your family holiday in a little extra comfort, stay at le Georgesville, where a fridge and espresso machine will be waiting for you when you wake up.
During the day, grab a tube and race down the rushing river. By night, huddle around the open campfire and toast marshmallows with neighbouring families. And don’t forget to pack the bikes; this campsite is burrowed among lush farmland, so you and the kids can go in search of roadside shops selling fresh, local produce and you may even get the chance to pat one of the farm animals along the way.
Rocky Mountains, Alberta
Located in the heart of the Rocky Mountains, Mt. Kidd RV is close enough to the city of Calgary for a quick family getaway but remote enough to feel that you’ve left it far behind. Pitch a tent or park the RV and savour the surrounding snow-capped Rocky Mountains, turquoise lagoons and dense forest nearby. Although you’re out in the wild, you’ll still find everything you need when camping with kids, including drinking water, flushing toilets, picnic tables, laundry facilities, mobile service and fire pits. If you’re feeling adventurous, try your hand at catching your dinner, as the surrounding lakes are teeming with trout, Kokanee salmon and northern pike. On your way home, treat the family to a night at Canalta Rocky Mountain House, home to an indoor water slide and a jacuzzi.
Whale Cove Campground, Nova Scotia
For panoramic views overlooking St. Mary’s Bay, you can either choose to pitch a tent, park your caravan or book a room at the Whale Cove Inn. This is one creative camping site fitting for any family – fire pits mounted to old lawn mowers allow you to set up your camp how you like it. And in the evening, food trucks visit so you can feast on margarita pizzas, poutine (Canada’s famous fries topped with gravy and cheese) or fresh lobster.
The surrounding tranquil nature will also revitalise and refresh you, as well as providing ample activities for the kids. Just a short walk away, you will find the gravity-defying Balancing Rock, which boldly balances on the edge of a cliff. And there’s also a whale-watching ferry nearby, where you can spend the day spotting fin, humpback, minke and the northern right whales.
