General

Canada’s top boat-accessible destinations for families

With the Kia Telluride’s impressive, 291-horsepower engine and 5,000-pound towing capacity, you can take the family boat along for every outdoor adventure this summer. After all, why be restricted to land excursions when you can explore Canada’s open waters, too?

From whale watching in the Northumberland Strait to traversing the historic Rideau Canal Waterway, the opportunities are endless. Some of the most scenic spots in the country are simply better experienced from the water, and getting your watercraft there has never been easier.

Point Pelee, Ontario

At Canada’s southernmost point, you can explore the unique marshes and natural forests of Point Pelee National Park. There are soft sand beaches, spots for fishing and diving, rare wildlife and hundreds of species of birds visible from the water—the park offers some of the best birdwatching in North America. Nearby Scudder Marina has docks for vessels up to 65 feet, and all the essential amenities you might need for your excursion.

Rideau Canal, Ontario

From Victoria Day to Thanksgiving, you can experience this popular UNESCO World Heritage Site from a new perspective, traversing its 202 km length via watercraft. Connecting Kingston to Ottawa, a journey through the popular canal will take you through 45 locks and 24 lockstations, passing a number of interesting national historic sites along the way. End your journey at our nation’s capital, and you can spend an educational day exploring the Parliament buildings and museums in Ottawa.

Northumberland Strait, Maritimes 

You can visit New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island on the same boat trip, and the sights and sunsets around the strait are simply unbeatable. There’s whale watching, great fishing wharves, and the opportunity for the family to swim and beachcomb at some of the country’s warmest salt water beaches. In the summertime, lively waterfront festivals and exciting boat-racing events abound in the area.

Desolation Sound, British Columbia

The majestic fjords, shallow inlets, secluded coves, and warm waters of Desolation Sound makes it one of British Columbia’s best boating spots. Desolation Sound Marine Park features 6,350 acres of shoreline and water, and you can find world-class swimming, scuba diving, saltwater, and freshwater fishing in the clean, beautiful Salish Sea. There are provisioning points at Refuge Cove, Powell River, and Lund, and picturesque anchorage spots are plentiful in the Sound.

Lake Minnewanka, Alberta

See the Canadian Rockies from a fresh vantage point at Banff National Park’s Lake Minnewanka. This stunning glacial lake allows limited use of boats with gas and electric motors, and there is a public unloading ramp and parking area available. Anglers will enjoy fishing for Lake Trout, Rocky Mountain Whitefish, and Lake Whitefish, and scuba diving is another popular activity at the lake. Still, the top attractions are the grand mountain vistas and an opportunity to spot iconic Canadian wildlife such as elk, deer, bighorn sheep, and moose.

Muskoka Lakes, Ontario

One of the top boating destinations in Ontario, the Muskoka Lakes offer a scenic, family-friendly outdoor experience. Muskoka’s clear waters and beautiful shores are easily navigable, and there are lots of small islands, channels, and inlets to cruise outside of the big three lakes: Muskoka, Rosseau, and Joseph. The area’s great waterfront restaurants and cute boutiques make for pleasurable stops, and there’s even an inflatable waterpark that’s open to the public.  

 

Hitting the open road for an adventure with your family this summer? Visit Tales from the Modern Family, our roadmap to reconnecting families through authentic weekend experiences, brought to you by the all-new Kia Telluride.