Free and low-cost leisure activities in Canada

Hello Priscilla,
Canada is, in general, an expensive place to live.  However, depending on where you live, there are lots of free or very inexpensive things to do.

When I lived in Vancouver year ago, I thoroughly enjoyed taking a walk along the seawall in Stanley Park.There are many places to sit and enjoy the beauty while eating a homemade, “bag” lunch.  Granville Island is a wonderful place to explore - art galleries, very unique products and services that you wouldn't see elsewhere, and there are usually buskers to entertain you, as well.

When I lived in London, Ontario, I frequently took “day trips” to surrounding villages and towns, each with a unique culture or attraction.  For example, the village of Sparta is known for the internationally known, local artist, Peter Robson who has his own gallery in the village. I also really enjoyed St. Jacobs, a town with a strict Mennonite Village - there are museums related to Mennonite history and you can still see the Mennonites driving a horse and buggy down the street.  The town also has an amazing artisan culture - all of the high quality wares are housed in a silo, which is very quaint.  In this region of Ontario, there are some lovely beaches (for Canada!), as well.

Now, I live in Alberta.  The free events usually revolve around the great outdoors - hiking, snow shoeing, cross-country skiing, skating, and a few of the summer festivals are free.  Notably, Kanansikis Lodge is an amazing place.  You can bring a picnic and enjoy it by the huge fireplace, or you can buy lunch.  They offer free skating (pond or rink), cross-country skiing, and snow shoeing, as well. For those that don't have their own equipment, they offer rentals.  The views at this lodge are breathtaking!

Canada is a big place, so there will always be the expense of transportation. However, if you bring your own lunch, the cost can be minimal.  Secondly, many people buy their sports equipment used on kijiji or in stores that specialize in used equipment - the equipment is often in “new” condition.  So...there are certainly ways to keep the costs down.

If you're visiting Canada, be sure and take home lots of photos...and great memories.

Warm regards,
Christal Reed