🍁Joyful, Wholesome, Quietly Magical: Canada Edition, Volume 1
A Very Canadian Collection of Things That Spark Joy
When I asked Threads what Canadian people, places, or things brought them joy… the responses poured in like a warm breeze off a lake. From roadside bakeries to northern lights, each reply reminded me that even in a chaotic world, small moments of goodness are everywhere.
This is Part 1 of a two-part series celebrating the joyful, wholesome, quietly magical parts of Canada, shared by real people from coast to coast🍁
🌄 Nature & Scenery
→ Canoeing on a Quiet Lake – shared by @mmchisholm
Gliding across the lake in a canoe, the gentle sound of loons, the scent of sun-warmed pine, and the stillness of the water. It doesn’t get more Canadian than this. Pure peace. Which brings us to…
→ Ontario’s Provincial Parks – shared by @lorimeeboerart
Whether it’s Algonquin’s misty mornings or a spontaneous road trip to a hidden gem, our provincial parks are pure soul balm.
🏞️⛺🌅 🛶Explore the Provincial Parks near you with a Canada Strong Pass! Enjoy free or discounted admissions as you make Canada your travel destination.
→ Small Moments in Muskoka – shared by @farid.hassani7117
A lakeside coffee at sunrise. Friendly hellos from strangers on a forest trail. Fresh butter tarts from a family-run bakery. It’s the small, quiet joys that feel most like home.
→ Lake Huron Northern Lights & Sunsets – shared by @maryellen1802
Watching the northern lights dance above Lake Huron is pure magic.
→ The Rocky Mountains – shared by @edithzuidhofknoop
Hiking through the Rockies offers breathtaking views, wildlife, flowers, and a deep sense of awe, and by @yecatsk7 Where her soul is most at peace 💜
→ Anupaya Cabin Co. – shared by @supersugarbug
This is the place to unplug, soak in the beauty of the Canadian landscape, and reconnect with what really matters. Stillness, simplicity, and soul.
» anupayacabinco.com
→ Rice Lake, North Vancouver, BC – shared by @my_boy_kipling
A tranquil walk around Rice Lake in the Seymour Demonstration Forest is the perfect reset button.
🏘️ Towns & Walks
→ Bonavista, Newfoundland – shared by @yvonnepevie
Ocean to your left, puffins near the lighthouse, and the warmest small-town welcome in Bonavista.
→ Mont Tremblant, QC – shared by @mommygearest
Her family calls it their Happy Place, and it’s easy to see why. With its postcard-perfect pedestrian village and more activities than you could tackle in a whole season, she says Mont Tremblant is pure core-memory material. » Things to do in Mont Tremblant
→ Westboro, Ottawa – shared by @60andsassy
Daily walks in this Ottawa neighbourhood are filled with smiles, greetings, and genuine community warmth. And as someone who used to live there, I agree.
→ Peacekeepers Way to CBS, NL – shared by @tracyryantoo
The drive from Peacekeepers Way into Conception Bay South never gets old. With lupins lining the highway, sea birds calling, and the chance of spotting whales, it's pure Newfoundland magic.
☕ Cafés & Foodie Joys
→ Dog Eared Café, Paris, ON – shared by @erinobrwn
A cozy bookstore and café with great coffee and lovely staff, a dream combo in Paris, Ontario. » Dog Eared Café on Instagram
→ French Bakery in Pointe-Claire Village, QC – shared by @mdclgyselinck
French pastries and coffee under a parasol in a charming village? Yes, please.
→ Evan’s Gluten-Free Clams, Dartmouth, NS – shared by @mme42ns
Evan’s gluten-free deep fried clams are a must-try if you’re in Dartmouth, right by the ferry terminal. » evansfreshseafoods.com
→ Berry Picking at Local Farms – shared by @melindapizziol
Fresh strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries picked straight from the fields. A visit to a local farm is summer sweetness at its best, and an experience that tastes like childhood and sunshine.
→ Abbey’s Bakehouse, Minett (Muskoka) – shared by @_paulaburden
Muskoka always feels good, but Abbey’s Bakehouse by the lake? Chef’s kiss.
» abbeysbakehouse.com
❤️ Community & Culture
→ Citizenship Ceremonies – shared by @thatetcgirl
There’s something quietly powerful about seeing new Canadians take their oath. Joy, pride, and community in one room.
→ Mark Carney – shared by @jocelyn.mccord.7
Measured, consistent, respectful, smart, agile, and funny. Jocelyn says he’s the sole reason she has hope for the future. Through his leadership, he’s already introduced us to a part of the world that feels good, kind, and decent.
→ Canadian Canoe Museum, Peterborough, ON – shared by @lorimeeboerart
A national treasure that celebrates Canadian canoeing history in the heart of Peterborough. » canoemuseum.ca
→ Down-to-Earth Friendliness + Ketchup Chips – shared by @ckilfoilcanada
We’re not flashy, we’re friendly. It’s the homespun, humble warmth that feels deeply Canadian. That, and a bag of ketchup chips. Nothing tries too hard, and that’s exactly the point.
→ Rural Roads, Chip Wagons & Fall Fairs – shared by @smartass_in_canada
Flower and veggie stands. Mennonites selling maple syrup beside wagons. Chip trucks in the middle of nowhere. Fall fairs, quirky restaurants like The Flying Chestnut Kitchen in Flesherton, and forest trails where you just might spot a fox. It’s the kind of wholesome, weird, and wonderful that only rural Canada can deliver.
Next Week
There were so many wonderful responses full of charm, beauty, and heart, that I couldn’t fit them all in one post.
Volume 2 drops next Friday with even more cafés, cozy corners, quiet joys, and unexpected gems. If you haven’t shared yet, it’s not too late, just reply to this thread.
Truly, thank you to everyone who contributed. This little series is powered by your joy ~ and it’s just so quintessentially Canadian 🍁
xo
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