Things to do in Canada, Canada: The Best Specialty Museums

February 16, 2022 Darwin Bolte

World class skiing, decadent European style cuisine, ornamental cathedrals, peaceful island life…Canada is a patchwork of thriving cities and majestic wilderness. Montreal beckons travelers with its French charm and booming cultural landscape. In Toronto, the Art Gallery of Ontario is a vision of Frank Gehry architecture and national artistic treasures. The gleaming mountain ranges of Banff set a stunning backdrop for an exploration of the Canadian Rockies.
Restaurants in Canada

1. Royal Tyrrell Museum

1500 North Dinosaur Trail Midland Provincial Park, Drumheller, Alberta T0J 0Y0 Canada +1 403-823-7707 [email protected] http://www.tyrrellmuseum.com
Excellent
81%
Good
17%
Satisfactory
2%
Poor
1%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 3,016 reviews

Royal Tyrrell Museum

Set in the rugged Alberta badlands, the Royal Tyrrell Museum of Palaeontology displays one of the world's largest collections of dinosaurs. With ever-changing exhibits and self-guided experiences year-round, there is always something new to discover.

Reviewed By AnjanManda - Hyderabad, India

The museum is home to some of the most remarkable prehistoric specimens ever unearthed.uncover your inner archaeologist as you look for fossils and learn about prehistoric creatures that roamed the grasslands and hills.You will be amazed at the enormous scale of creatures on display.The learning lounge gives introduction to dinosaurs taking journey through the time.There are many interactive exhibits and detailed boards.There are series of chronological galleries covering 3.9 billion year historic life on earth.You need minimum half day to go through the galleries.It is an amazing effort preserving the exhibits.

2. Osoyoos Desert Model Railroad

11611 115th St, Osoyoos, British Columbia V0H 1V5 Canada +1 250-495-6842 [email protected] http://www.osoyoosrailroad.com/
Excellent
87%
Good
12%
Satisfactory
1%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 637 reviews

Osoyoos Desert Model Railroad

OPEN YEAR ROUND Monday to Saturday. A world Class Miniature Wonderland Experience. 4000 sq ft. of family fun with up to 45 computer controlled trains traveling on 2 km (1 1/4 miles) of tracks weaving through mountains and towns. Discover the 20000 + hand-painted little people and animals in scale 1:87 (HO) placed in humorous and funny situations and scenes. You'll be impressed with the devotion to details and the charm and humor of the presentation. Watch with delight, the unique operational car system running through towns, stopping for gas and traffic lights. So much more than just Trains. When driving from downtown Osoyoos, take Hwy 3 towards Vancouver (about 3 km.) Turn left at the SECOND entrance into the Buena Vista Industrial Park onto 115th Street. Look for the yellow warehouse with the big signs out front.

Reviewed By myersb2017

What a great place for all ages as this is an amazing creation that you need many visits to take it all in as there is so much detail

3. Glenbow Museum

130 9 Ave SE, Calgary, Alberta T2G 0P3 Canada +1 403-268-4100 [email protected] http://www.glenbow.org
Excellent
58%
Good
33%
Satisfactory
6%
Poor
1%
Terrible
2%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 868 reviews

Glenbow Museum

At Glenbow, history buffs, art lovers and pop culture fanatics can all find something inspiring. Explore fascinating historical galleries and exhibitions of art and culture from around the world. We are conveniently located in downtown Calgary on Stephen Avenue Mall, just steps from the Calgary Tower and one block away from the C-Train LRT line.

Reviewed By stevetN3509KX - Faversham, United Kingdom

Spent around 5 hours in the museum, it’s vast (especially level 3) and covers a wide variety of subjects including local history, art, First Nation and international exhibits. The museum is spread across 3 floors and there are many exhibits so be prepared for a long visit if you want to see everything. Shop is well appointed and there are coffee shops and restaurants close by. There is also a school class room on site which was nice to see as the children were clearly enjoying their work. Learnt a heap of stuff about Canada that I didn’t know before and it supplemented the knowledge we’d got from the national heritage museum which we’d visited the day before. If you have the time, then it’s well worth a visit.

4. Maritime Museum of the Atlantic

1675 Lower Water St, Halifax, Nova Scotia B3J 1S3 Canada +1 902-424-7491 [email protected] http://maritimemuseum.novascotia.ca/
Excellent
54%
Good
36%
Satisfactory
9%
Poor
1%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 3,164 reviews

Maritime Museum of the Atlantic

Immerse yourself in the rich marine history depicted by this museum's vast collection from binnacles and buoys to anchors and armaments.

Reviewed By B1698RKmichaelh - Burke, United States

This museum has some of the most beautiful ship models, sailboats of unique designs from the Maritime region and artifacts of the wrecks so abundant on the shoreline of Nova Scotia. And to add to this is actual artifacts from the Titanic! Including an actual deck chair. Great displays and fund for the whole family

380 Sussex Dr, Ottawa, Ontario K1N 9N4 Canada +1 613-990-1985 [email protected] http://www.gallery.ca/en/index.php
Excellent
63%
Good
29%
Satisfactory
6%
Poor
1%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 3,055 reviews

National Gallery of Canada

The National Gallery of Canada is committed to offering a welcoming and safe place for our visitors, employees and volunteers. To that end, in response to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, we have CLOSED the Gallery and cancelled all events and activities until further notice. Founded in 1880, the National Gallery of Canada (Musee des beaux-arts du Canada) holds in trust a collection of European and Canadian paintings, sculptures, prints, drawings and photos.

Reviewed By whereverman - Hong Kong, China

A national treasure and my favourite spot in Ottawa. The gallery has a wonderful collection of Canadian and Modern Art. The building itself is a work of art with enormous glass ceilings and sunny courtyards between exhibits.

6. Royal Ontario Museum

100 Queen's Park, Toronto, Ontario M5S 2C6 Canada +1 416-586-8000 [email protected] http://www.rom.on.ca
Excellent
59%
Good
31%
Satisfactory
8%
Poor
1%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 8,278 reviews

Royal Ontario Museum

Opened in 1914, the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) showcases art, culture, and nature from around the globe and across the ages. One of North America's most renowned cultural institutions, Canada's largest museum is home to a world-class collection of more than six million objects and specimens, featured in 40 gallery and exhibition spaces. As the country’s preeminent field research institute and an international leader in new and original findings in biodiversity, palaeontology, earth sciences, the visual arts, material culture and archaeology, the ROM plays a vital role in advancing our global understanding of the artistic, cultural and natural world.

Reviewed By ElTouristo61 - New York City, United States

The ROM, Canada’s largest museum, is an impressive collection of art, culture, nature and history. Plan on spending at least half a day as there are so many exhibits. The special exhibit on Jodhpur included 4 centuries of royal art, paintings, decorative art, and jewelry—an amazing journey through some of India’s cultural history. Well worth the few extra dollars for access. Equally impressive are the European and Asian sections. There is plenty for the whole family to do but keep in mind if you enter with a city pass you’ll have to pay a few extra dollars for the special exhibits.

7. Hockey Hall of Fame

Brookfield Place - Concourse Level 30 Yonge Street, Toronto, Ontario M5E 1X8 Canada +1 416-360-7765 [email protected] http://www.hhof.com
Excellent
59%
Good
31%
Satisfactory
8%
Poor
1%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 4,054 reviews

Hockey Hall of Fame

Honor the achievements of some of the greatest stars in hockey at this shrine to Canada's national sport.

Reviewed By dave4559

Recommend a stop here if you are a hockey fan, make sure you have some time to see everything, lot to see and do, son was able to shoot pucks, lots of history and the trophy room was incredible.

8. Fisheries Museum of the Atlantic

68 Bluenose Drive, Lunenburg, Nova Scotia B0J 2C0 Canada +1 902-634-4794 [email protected] http://fisheriesmuseum.novascotia.ca
Excellent
57%
Good
33%
Satisfactory
8%
Poor
1%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 902 reviews

Fisheries Museum of the Atlantic

2020 Guided Tour Experience In order to keep our visitors and staff safe during the Covid-19 pandemic, we have adapted the museum experience we offer this season. We are offering a guided tour of the first floor. The small group sizes allow for easy physical distancing and the wearing of a non-medical face mask is strongly recommended while on site. This high value experience gives the opportunity to discover how our ocean connects to our maritime identity. Small groups sizes allow for the benefit of a 1 to 5 staff to visitor ratio, and our staff are wow makers! Our ocean is a pillar of Nova Scotia’s natural and cultural heritage. We identify with our ocean but what are we doing to protect it? This tour will touch on some ocean preservation initiatives plus more! To book your tour: Call 902-930- FISH (3474)

Reviewed By cliffl973

My wife and I visited in late September. We expected to breeze through in maybe half an hour. Actually spent a couple of hours, and it was educational and informative and very entertaining. They have the best collections of shipbuilding tools I've seen, and a wonderful old birchbark canoe—just two of the many highlights of our visit. And make sure to view the cod-cleaning video by Rosie Tanner (I bough a DVD copy at the well-stocked gift shop for a friend who fancies himself an expert fish cleaner). Lisa, the interpretive guide at the aquarium, was personable, enthusiastic, and a font of knowledge. My only suggestion for the acquarium might be that they provide a nook or crevice for the Wolf Fish to retire to when he's feeling shy. On our two-week driving tour of Western Nova Scotia, this was certainly one of the most enjoyable experiences.

9. Burnaby Village Museum

6501 Deer Lake Ave, Burnaby, British Columbia V5G 3T6 Canada +1 604-297-4565 [email protected] http://www.burnabyvillagemuseum.ca
Excellent
60%
Good
35%
Satisfactory
5%
Poor
1%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 555 reviews

Burnaby Village Museum

Where History Comes to Life - Stroll down the streets of our 1920s community. Period costumed townsfolk welcome visitors and give demonstrations in the homes, businesses and shops. Visitors can feel the heat of the fire as the blacksmith works at the forge, hear the rhythm of the platen press at the Burnaby Post, smell freshly ground coffee in the General Store, be a 1920s student in a one-room schoolhouse, watch the tinsmith cut, crimp & curl flat sheets of tin into useful household items. Everyone is welcome to take a ride on the 1912 CW Parker Carousel, explore the restored 1912 Interurban Tram, and enjoy a treat in the Ice Cream Parlour. The Village is open seasonally (Spring Break in March, Summer Season- early May to Labour Day, and Heritage Christmas-late November to early January) and year-round for pre-booked groups and programs.

Reviewed By Guide607881

Love to ride the old-fashioned merry-go-round at Christmas, and wander the Village in the Summer...Several years ago we booked the church for my daughter's wedding! It was perfect!

10. The Canadian Canoe Museum

910 Monaghan Rd, Peterborough, Ontario K9J 5K4 Canada +1 705-748-9153 [email protected] http://www.canoemuseum.ca
Excellent
75%
Good
22%
Satisfactory
3%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 408 reviews

The Canadian Canoe Museum

The Canadian Canoe Museum stewards the world's largest collection of canoes, kayaks and paddled watercraft. More than 600 in number, the watercraft and their stories of national and international significance, have a pivotal role to play in our collective future.

Reviewed By 121bw - Perth, Canada

Love this museum, the historic kayaks and canoes from across the North and across the indigenous tribes, plus the history of exploration of Canada. Beautiful recreational canoes and the volunteers can tell you fascinating stories of how the museum was given some of their artifacts. This museum is unique and well worth a visit!

ThingsTodoPost © 2018 - 2024 All rights reserved.