FlightHub’s Most Popular Western Canadian Destinations

It’s no secret. Toronto is Canada’s largest and most business oriented city. This means it will routinely place near or at the top of most Canadian tourism and flight ranking lists. But what if we neglected Toronto from these lists and left Western Canada to fend for itself to see where its most popular destinations are? We decided to break down the numbers from a recent FlightHub review of holiday travel destinations to see where people fly in Western Canada according to FlightHub.

1. Vancouver, British Columbia

FlightHub’s top Western Canadian destination should come as no surprise as Vancouver is one of the largest cities in Canada and is surrounded on all sides by natural beauty. Whether it be the Pacific Ocean to the West, or the massive forests of the British Columbia Interior, British Columbia’s temperate weather also means they feel fewer ill effects of Winter weather. In addition to these environmental perks, Vancouver is a city that has that new car smell still hanging around from the 2010 Olympics. While Olympic construction was costly and has left the city with numerous financial burdens, it played a major part in rehabilitating the image and streets of Vancouver’s downtown core.

2. Calgary, Alberta

The cowboy capital of Canada, Calgary, Alberta is home to the Calgary Stampede. This ten day event, which takes place in July, is the largest draw to this Western Canadian city. According to statistics from the city, the event generates hundreds of millions of dollars in tourism income, and draws people from across the world to Calgary, Alberta.

3. Edmonton, Alberta

The city of champions, Edmonton, Alberta is the city where hockey legend Wayne Gretzky made his mark on the world, winning four Stanley Cups with the Edmonton Oilers. Immortalized outside the soon to be replaced Rexall Place, tourists can see a statue of The Great One hoisting the Stanley Cup. 

4. Winnipeg, Manitoba

Another big hockey town, Winnipeg is home to the Winnipeg Jets. The team made their return to The Peg in 2011 after being relocated in 1996 to Phoenix, Arizona. While the Jets did return to Winnipeg, Phoenix still maintains a team, now called the Arizona Coyotes, with the new Jets replacing the Atlanta Thrashers.

5. Victoria, British Columbia

Ranking in fifth on the FlightHub holiday destination list is the capital of British Columbia, Victoria. One of Canada’s warmest cities, Victoria is nestled on the Southern tip of Vancouver Island and is located functionally between Vancouver and Seattle, Washington. Daily ferry services exist between the city of Victoria and Seattle, making it very simple to travel to both cities by boat. Victoria, British Columbia also has a decorated maritime history. In 1942, a Canadian warship built in Victoria called the HMCS Quesnel played a vital role in rescuing the Fort Camosun, a British supply ship that was downed by Japanese torpedoes during World War II, rescuing 31 crew members.

Rounding out the top ten of the FlightHub holiday rankings were:

6. Kelowna, British Columbia

7. Regina, Saskatchewan

8. Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

9. Fort McMurray, Alberta

10. Yellowknife, Northwest Territories