By Expedia Team, on May 10, 2017

Places to Catch the Perfect Sunset in Canada

Real beauty can be as subtle as a smile from a stranger or warm light glinting off a dew drop. But there are those times when nature shouts its splendor from the mountain tops, daring you to not pay attention. One of the finest natural gifts we witness is magnificent tricks of light when the sun scatters rays across a low atmosphere, bursting in kaleidoscope colour before burrowing to bed.

Yes, we’re talking about sunsets, and Canada is no stranger to amazing shows of light. It’s high time to stop and admire the rose-hued heavens, so we’ve searched high and higher for the most spectacular sundown spots to be found. Here’s our list of the 10 best places to see a sunset in Canada (in no particular order).

Peggy’s Cove, Nova Scotia

What pairs better than gently sloping coastal paths and a sunset stroll? Throw a charming lighthouse into the mix, and you’ve got a view to write home about. Grab a window-side seat at Sou’Wester restaurant, and toast the sun in all its stages with a colourful tequila sunrise.

Vermilion Lakes, Banff, Alberta

With a name like Vermilion Lakes, you know the area is no stranger to frequent red-flecked reflections from strawberry skies. Reserve a watercraft at Banff Canoe Club to watch the sun’s siren song on the waters. When you dip your oar into the surrounding sunset-strewn surface, you’ll swear you’re sailing through the sky.

Algonquin Park, Ontario

Ontario when it sizzles is something to behold, and the sparkling rivers of Algonquin Park give a show worthy of the whole province. Pack a picnic and pick your vantage point for watching the one of the best sunsets in Canada. You’ll pinch yourself to see if emerald waters melting to molten gold can possibly be real, while the sun spreads across the land and sneaks below the horizon.

Fraser Valley, British Columbia

In Fraser Valley, fields of bright flowers unfold at the feet of mountains, and the land is awash in greens, pinks, and yellows. Visit this valley when it’s in full bloom at the Abbotsford Tulip Festival, and watch sky compete with earth in a colour-drenched battle that would make Gaia stand up and slow clap.

Brackley Beach, Prince Edward Island

Via Flickr/Martin Cathrae

If snaking sands as far as the eye can see are your cup of tea, dive right into Brackley Beach. As the sun begins to set, sink your toes into sea-softened silt, and watch as lines between earth, air, and water blend and blur to a marble of blue, green, and gold. Dine at Dunes Studio Gallery and Café, where only the bewitching garden views can match that sunset scene.

The Prairies, Saskatchewan

“Less is more” is not for everyone, so for those who like to live life large, dusk on the prairie is your destiny. You don’t fear the feeling of wide-open freedom, and you relish the severe extremes of flat-earthed exposure, so take a road trip across the plains to catch all the best sunsets in Saskatchewan. With no mountain skylines to hide behind, the setting sun flitting across feathery crops is yours until the very last gasp.

Niagara Falls, Ontario

Via Flickr/Nicholas Schooley

Niagara Falls has a reputation for romance the way they used to do it in the movies, so we won’t blame you if you feel transported to the silver screen. Technicolor tides of turquoise pour over the falls, and as the sun slinks low, the sky joins the cast of pigments. Watch the moon rise over the falls, or catch the best sunset in Niagara from Skylon Tower, where the 360-degree view is prettier than a picture.

Margaree Harbour, Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia

If music be the food of love, prepare to fall for Margaree, where the cultural heritage is steeped in song. Find yourself in the right place at the right time when you head to the harbour just before sundown. You’ll be treated to a symphony of colour splashed across passing clouds, a sight perfectly echoed on glassy waters.

English Bay, Vancouver, British Columbia

Via Flickr/Tim Gage

Vancouver is flush with scenic vantage points, but English Bay takes the beautifully frosted cake when it comes to sunset scenes. Whether you view from the lush milieu of Stanley Park or the supple sands of west-facing English Bay Beach, you’ll be treated to one of the most beautiful sunsets of your life.

Little Salmon Lake, Yukon Territory

Via Flickr/Murray Foubister

Watching the sunset is an art form when you do it in Yukon Territory. The play of light across snow-capped hills and iced-over lakes creates an otherworldly glow, the white canvas covered in violet, amber, and jade. Stay up past twilight, and catch the second act when aurora borealis paint the horizon in ribbons of electric neon.

Canada is home to some of the most beautiful natural wonders in the world, some permanent fixtures and others fleeting phenomena of colour and light. Carve out time to catch every spectacular Canadian sunset you can. You won’t be sorry.