From Vancouver to Montreal: 7 LGBTQ+ Family Vacations in Canada

Vancouver’s laid-back west-coast vibe is ideal for LGBTQ+ families. The live-and-let-live vibe extends from the Davie Street Village—home of Canada’s first-ever permanent rainbow crosswalk—right through to the colourful Kids Market on bustling Granville Island.

On every family’s bucket list should be a bike ride through Stanley Park. While you’re there, stop at Vancouver Aquarium to visit the famous hand-holding otters, and wrap up your day experiencing the sights and sounds of an authentic Izakaya restaurant.

The majesty of the Rockies is a must-see for any Canadian family, especially those with older kids. While the Banff and Lake Louise areas are best known as a winter ski destination, it’s just as stunning a trip in summer with lots of active adventures to be had. The feeling of community in the town of Banff is warm and inclusive, and it’s a great base from which to see The Rockies, whatever your comfort level with The Great Outdoors may be.

Explore the Columbia Icefield on an Ice Explorer tour, spot bears from a gondola high above Lake Louise, or take a soak in the famous Banff Hot Springs.

The biggest city in Canada is also home to the largest LGBTQ+ community, with an annual Pride celebration that draws visitors from far and wide. There’s something really special about taking your kids to such a vibrant celebration of diversity, and Family Pride gets bigger and better every year. Centred around the Church Street Junior Public School (right in the heart of the gay village), typical activities include the popular Fay and Fluffy’s Drag Queen Storytime, face-painting, crafts and musical performances.

While you’re in Toronto, take advantage of the many family-friendly activities on offer, including Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada—kids will be awestruck by the Dangerous Lagoon, where sharks swim over your heads—the Royal Ontario Museum (dinosaurs galore), and The Art Gallery of Ontario, which features a playroom and interactive activities for kids.

Whether it’s for swimming in the summer, hiking in fall or cross-country skiing in winter, the natural beauty of Muskoka is a Canadian treasure. It’s the perfect place to teach kids the value of preserving our treasured landscapes and get them away from their screens.

Start at Algonquin Park, where the visitor centre gives an overview of the area’s history. Don’t miss the Lookout Trail—a short hike to a panoramic vista —then rent a canoe from Algonquin Outfitters and paddle round to Ragged Falls for a great picnic spot.

Other family-friendly attractions in Muskoka include Santa’s Village (don’t be fooled by the name, it’s a fun theme park that’s open year-round) and the Muskoka Discovery Centre, which features interactive exhibits, historic boats and a kids zone.

A smaller, younger version of Niagara’s wine country, Prince Edward County is surprisingly kid-friendly and has a very inclusive vibe. Unlike the slightly stuffy atmosphere of Niagara-on-the-Lake, tasting rooms are generally more casual and relaxed.

Hinterland Wine Company has hip, communal seating and a gastropub menu; at the back, Algonquin chairs look out to a patch of grass where soccer nets and toy cars keep kids busy while parents sit and sip. Waupoos Winery has a petting zoo and a great kids menu at their restaurant, while Parsons Brewing has a fire pit and outdoor games.

Families will find many things to do in the area, too, with Sandbanks beach nearby, stellar ice cream at Slickers and mini-golf at Caddy Shack.

Show your kids where Canada’s LGBTQ-friendly policies are passed into law with a visit to the nation’s capital. Aside from free guided tours of Parliament, the Senate and the House of Commons, you’ll find plenty of things to do to keep the kids entertained—rent bikes and cycle along the Rideau Canal, visit the Children’s Museum at the Canadian Museum of History, see live bees buzz around a hive at the Canadian Museum of Nature or get an education on Canada’s military history at the Canadian War Museum.

Just 15 minutes’ drive from downtown is beautiful Gatineau Park—a 36-hectare conservation area that’s beautiful any time of year but famous for its fall colours. Take a picnic or stop at one of the restaurants in nearby Old Chelsea.

For a smallish city, Montreal really punches above its weight. There is a large LGBTQ+ community here, but the gay village is smaller and less intimidating than Toronto’s (but no less fun). Their August Pride celebration—billed as “the largest gathering of the Sexual and Gender Diversity communities in the Francophone world”—draws an international crowd.

The size of the city means it’s easy to go out with the kids by day and head out for a drink in the village by night (hello hotel babysitting). Kids will get a kick out of an Amphi Tour (“amphibious” buses that go on land and water), Voiles en Voiles (a fantastic all-ages aerial adventure), and the interactive exhibits at the Montreal Science Centre. Or get spooked as a family with a Ghost Walk through Old Montreal.