Five budget destinations for family travel across Canada

Travelling on the cheap can be a challenge—and when you add kids and relatives into the mix, that only gets more complicated.

But seeing the best of what Canada has to offer doesn’t have to mean blowing the budget. This list of affordable family travel destinations will satisfy your family’s road-trip bucket list and your wallet.

The most important thing on your travel to-do list—aside from packing extra Goldfish crackers—should be finding a reliable, budget-friendly place to stay.

Luckily, Travelodge by Wyndham has you covered, with more than 100 hotel locations across Canada ready to serve as your base camp for adventure. Travellers can take advantage of the Wyndham Rewards loyalty program, allowing guests to earn points for free nights, gift cards or Aeroplan miles.

Here’s where to head for some family-friendly (and budget-friendly) adventures across Canada:

Waterton National Park & Crowsnest Pass, Alberta

Get a double dose of Rocky Mountains views. Located an hour’s drive apart, these scenic Alberta locales offer plenty of outdoor adventure. Waterton National Park offers hiking (including the kid-friendly Red Rock Canyon) and camping; if you’re lucky enough to visit in spring, the “Wildflower Capital of Canada” will likely be in full bloom. Must-do activities in Crowsnest Pass include hiking, fishing, and of course, visiting the World’s Largest Piggy Bank. For your convenience, Travelodge by Wyndham’s Pincher Creek, Blairmore and Lethbridge hotels are just a short jaunt away.

Niagara Falls, Ontario

Sure, Niagara may come with its share of tourist-town prices, but those glorious falls, the honorary eighth wonder of the world, still don’t cost a cent to view. When you’re done basking in the view, you can day-trip to Niagara-On-The-Lake or check out other nifty local attractions like the Floral Clock, and if your fam is the outdoorsy type, the Niagara Recreation Trail, Crystal Beach and Dufferin Islands Park are all nearby. And with four Travelodge locations in the area—Niagara Falls At the Falls, Thriftlodge at the Falls, Niagara Falls Lundy’s Lane and Niagara Falls Fallsview—a cozy retreat is never far away.

Kamloops, British Columbia

A mix of nature and history makes Kamloops a solid road-trip destination with the family. Stop in at Riverside Park for a beach visit, a picnic, or a run through the splash pond, then swing by BC Wildlife Park and meet nearly 200 different animal species (for well under $20 a person). There’s plenty of opportunity to explore nature—sandstone canyons, desert, forest—but the Kenna Cartwright Tower Trail is a kid-friendly walk with impressive views. Whichever way you head, the Kamloops City Centre and Kamloops Mountview Travelodge by Wyndham hotels will be waiting after a long day.

Halifax & The Bay Of Fundy Area, Nova Scotia

You’ll have a heck of a mari-time in Nova Scotia’s capital. The Halifax Public Gardens, the Citadel Historic Site, and the HMCS Sackville (Canada’s oldest warship) are all stimulating, inexpensive activities; science-minded kids will particularly dig the recently-rebuilt Discovery Centre. Head to the bay to visit the Reversing Falls, swim with salmon (in September), take beachcombing walks and do some stunning stargazing—then head back to Travelodge by Wyndham hotels in Bridgewater, Moncton, Miramichi, Saint John or New Glasgow and decompress.

Ottawa, Ontario

As you might expect, Canada’s national capital has plenty of cultural programming, with the Canadian Children’s Museum, Canadian Aviation and Space Museum and Canadian Museum Of Nature likely to be at the top of any kid’s list. Take a stroll—or ice skate—along the Rideau Canal, or pass by Parliament (and, if you’re visiting in the spring, the surrounding ocean of tulips). Once the day is done, head back to Travelodge by Wyndham Ottawa East or Travelodge by Wyndham Ottawa West for a rest.

Find your basecamp for adventure. Discover Travelodge By Wyndham’s hotels today.

This article is written by or on behalf of the sponsoring client and does not necessarily reflect the views of Castanet.