Canada’s best known destinations get plenty of attention, but smaller communities can deliver just as much scenery, history, food, and character. Condé Nast Traveler has highlighted places including Waterton, Canmore, Gimli, Elora, Saint Andrews, and Lunenburg among Canada’s most charming small towns. Many of the places that follow pair walkable centers with easy access to lakes, mountains, coastlines, or historic sites. For travelers willing to build a road trip around smaller dots on the map, the payoff can be substantial.

Your parents chose to book a trip near your vacation, but that does not automatically turn the two trips into one shared itinerary. A boundary is a limit on how much you participate in a relationship or activity, according to the American Psychological Association. You can be happy to see your parents without handing over every morning, afternoon, and dinner of your vacation. The first step is recognizing that proximity does not create an obligation to spend every day together.

A European vacation can deliver extraordinary architecture, memorable meals, and experiences that feel completely different from life at home. Yet even enthusiastic American travelers occasionally find themselves longing for familiar comforts that Europe simply can't offer.

Visiting Canada can come with some unexpected sticker shock. From restaurant meals and alcohol to airfare, groceries, gas, and phone plans, here are the everyday expenses that often surprise American travelers north of the border.

Florida is no longer the only winter escape for Canadian snowbirds. Discover the U.S. states gaining attention for sunshine, value, beaches, and relaxed living.