Taking a long-term trip to Canada sure does sound like a great idea. By doing so, you will have enough time to explore Canada and see all the beauty that people talk so much about. Therefore, with this in mind, how can there be any downsides to going on a long-term trip to Canada?

Well, as it turns out, there are a couple of things that you need to be aware of if you are to seriously consider this trip. So, to help you out, we are going to point out the major pros and cons of a journey to Canada.

The pros of taking a long-term trip to Canada

To start off, we are going to take look at the pros of taking a long-term trip to Canada. So, let’s say that you have enough time and money to go on a long-term trip. Is Canada really the right choice? After all, if you can afford a long-term trip to Canada, you can pretty much go anywhere. And the winters in Canada can be quite cold, while summers are harsh and humid. So, why go there? Well, Canada has certain attributes to it that make it one of the best road trip destinations, at least in our book.

Experiencing Canada’s nature

A quick Google search is all you need to know how beautiful nature in Canada can be. From jaw-dropping landscapes that seem to go on for endless miles to beautiful animals like moose, Canadian lynxes, Bighorn sheep, and beavers that roam nature in Canada. Truly, if you are a nature lover, Canada is the place to go.

The benefit of you going on a long-term trip to Canada is that you’ll have enough time to properly experience Canada’s nature. And, if you are smart, you will you can organize your trip so that you witness at least a couple of nature’s jewels. Among our favorite spots are:

• Cabot Trail, Nova Scotia
• Crooked Trees, Saskatchewan
• Dinosaur Provincial Park, Alberta
• Gros Morne National Park, Newfoundland & Labrador
• Haida Gwaii, British Columbia (formerly known as Queen Charlottes Islands).
• Hopewell Rocks, New Brunswick
• Moraine Lake, Alberta
• Mingan Archipelago, Quebec
• Nahanni National Park Reserve, Northwest Territories
• Niagara Falls, Ontario

These are just some of the countless nature spots that you can enjoy in Canada. And we needn’t even mention places like Athabasca, Alberta (near Edmonton), and Lake Superior, Ontario (near Thunder Bay) where you can get a terrific view of the Northern Lights. So, we advise you to plan your trip carefully before you head out. And, if you really want to feel the Canadian outdoors, you will include a long-distance hike into your long-term trip.

Exploring Canada

Once you start researching your trip you will find out how big Canada actually is. With over 9.985 million km², it is the second-largest country in the world. So, it stands to reason that there is a lot to explore. Even if you ignore the beautiful wilderness, you can still explore cities like Toronto, Ottawa, and Montreal that are filled with culture and history. So, if you opt for a more city-oriented long-term trip to Canada, you will still have a ton of things to look into.

You can marvel at this country’s history, from the rich culture of people that have settled Canada, to years of strife and cultural development from before Canada was founded in 1867. And, if you are in the mood for it, you’ll be able to meet some of the many colorful people of Canada and hear from them how their ancestors helped shape it. The only way that you’ll have enough time to explore and experience it all is by going on a long-term trip.

Another side of exploring Canada is discovering its lifestyle. Places like Toronto and Montreal are on par with the largest cities in the world when it comes to cuisine, cultural events, and job opportunities. Meanwhile, places like Nelson, British Columbia are quaint and much closer to nature. So, there is a place for everyone.

In fact, if you spend enough time exploring Canada, we wouldn’t be surprised if you decide to move there. If you do decide to relocate, hire experienced movers (like Discount Moving & Storage Ottawa) to make a big move seem small.

You already know the language (most likely)

While Canada is officially bilingual, most of its residents speak English. Therefore, if you are able to understand this article, you should have little trouble navigating your way through Canada.

The exception to this are places like Quebec and New Brunswick, but 90% of French Canadians live in Quebec. Therefore, you will have a hard time navigating only if you stay there and don’t speak French. Apart from that, finding your way around Canada will be a relative breeze.

A multi-cultural landscape

Talking of Quebec, another reason to make a long term visit to Canada is to explore the country’s many identities. From remote Newfoundland, once an independent province, to the French character of Quebec, the Inuit heartlands of Nunavut or the dynamic cities of Vancouver and Toronto. With this country being so huge, it really does deserve a longer visit.

And with so many experiences waiting for you, you’ll probably wish you had longer, no matter how long your stay.

The cons of taking a long-term trip to Canada

The only cons that we feel are worth mentioning about taking a long-term trip to Canada are the cost of doing so and the weather. Depending on where you are in Canada, the weather can be quite harsh. Places like Winnipeg, Manitoba, and Regina, Saskatchewan can be incredibly cold during winter with average temperatures at -18°C (-1°F) and temperatures even dropping as low as -45°C (-49F) for weeks at a time. Therefore, spending a long trip there can be difficult for people who are used to milder weather.

Some places in Canada can be expensive

The other con of taking a long-term trip to Canada relates to the costs of staying there. It can be hard to properly describe how expensive Canada is, since spending time in Toronto is going to cost you much more than living in Sherbrooke, Quebec.

But, the fact that people usually rank Canada among the top 20 most expensive countries for tourists should give you reason enough to at least carefully budget your trip. You may try to earn money while on your trip, but this can often be difficult.