Want to visit Europe but don’t want to deal with the trouble of purchasing a pricey plane ticket? No issue.
You can easily go to Italy, France, or England without ever leaving Canada’s True North by visiting one of the many little villages that exude European beauty.
These locations are ideal to visit in the summer and earn a spot on your bucket list because they have wineries, lavender fields, and secret swimming holes.
These eight little Canadian villages offer a taste of Europe this season. Your passport won’t be necessary, but make sure your camera roll is empty!
1. Tobermory
At the very extremity of the Bruce Peninsula in Ontario, there is a harbour community called Tobermory.
It would be simple to imagine yourself in a European beach village with shipwrecks, lighthouses from the 19th century, small stores, and restaurants offering up fresh fish that are present here.
The Grotto and Indian Head Cove, a cave and picturesque inlet with pure water found in Bruce Peninsula National Park are two particularly surreal places in Tobermory.
You won’t have any trouble believing that you’ve left Canada for the Mediterranean, thanks to the rocky cliffs, secret swimming holes, and sea caves that are similar to those in Greece.
2. Prince Edward County
In Ontario’s Prince Edward County, you can easily mistake yourself for being in Italy or France, thanks to the region’s wealth of lavender farms and wineries.
The county is actually a collection of charming little hamlets and villages. However, it is not a town in and of itself. Particularly in the hillier areas, there are several vineyards, lavender fields, and opportunities for outdoor dining.
You can get the impression of strolling through the fields of Tuscany or Provence in France when you visit one of the lavender farms.
3. Oliver
Speaking of Tuscany, the Okanagan Valley in British Columbia’s Oliver is the ideal location for a brief visit to the Italian region.
The quaint town, which has been dubbed the “wine capital of Canada,” is home to several picturesque wineries as well as hiking and cycling paths.
Visitors have referred to it as “Canadian Italy,” probably as a result of the region’s abundance of vineyards and restaurants as well as its resemblance to other sections of the country.
Visit Road 13 Vineyards, a vineyard with a regal castle-like structure that even has its own drawbridge and appears straight out of a fairy tale for a genuinely Italian experience.
4. Niagara-on-the-Lake
Just over 20 minutes from Niagara Falls is the hidden treasure of Niagara-on-the-Lake. While the falls are touristy and contemporary, Niagara-on-the-Lake has charming shops, horse-drawn carriages, and a slower pace that makes it nearly resemble an English village.
Due to the region’s number of wineries, you can have a comparable experience to wine tasting in France here.
5. Victoria
With tea houses, double-decker buses, horse-drawn carriages, and stores selling china and wool, British Columbia’s capital is distinctly British.
It makes perfect sense that you would feel like you were wandering in a British town rather than Canada, as Victoria is known as the most British city in Canada.
History aficionados and even followers of the royal family like visiting the city for its Victorian-era landmarks, architecture, legacy, and traditions.
As you watch the boats and eat some fresh seafood, a trip to the Victorian Harbour can make you think you’ve left Canada for Europe.
6. Stratford
In addition to having the same name as a European city, Stratford, Ontario, has a very English feel that will transport you to London, England.
The Stratford event, a theatre event formerly known as the Stratford Shakespearean Festival, is held every year in the city of Stratford, which is situated on the banks of the Avon River.
Shakespearean gardens may be found in this small village, giving visitors the impression that they are strolling through the English countryside. There are more than 60 different plant species in the garden, some of which are mentioned in plays by Shakespeare.
Additionally, you can explore the town’s galleries, museums, and even the Chocolate Trail.
7. Mont-Tremblant
Although Mont-Tremblant is more well-known as a skiing resort in the winter, the community is just as attractive in the summer.
The village’s brightly coloured structures give it a European or Scandinavian appearance rather than a Canadian one.
You can explore hiking and bike paths, ride a gondola for panoramic views of the Laurentians, or go shopping for handcrafted goods.
You can also travel through a forest on a lit-up night route from June to October.
8. Trinity
To experience Iceland, you don’t even have to leave Canada. A visit to Trinity, Newfoundland, can give you the impression that you’ve abandoned the True North in favour of a Nordic nation.
Apart from the fact that they are both islands, Newfoundland and Iceland have a number of characteristics, such as their landscapes, which feature glacial icefields, stunning highlands, and prehistoric rock formations.
Additionally, they have similar geographic features in common, like colourful homes and the opportunity to see the northern lights.
All of these things are possible in the lovely town of Trinity, along with exploring cafés, antique stores, picturesque cathedrals, and historical structures.
You can view puffins in Bonavista, which is about 40 minutes away; this species is also found in Nordic nations.
