American travelers appear to be heading north this fall, with searches for Canadian destinations climbing sharply compared with last year. Whistler, British Columbia, is up 40 percent, according to Expedia’s Fall Travel Outlook , while Banff, Alberta, rose 20 percent and Nova Scotia 15 percent.

The surge reflects a broader trend: shoulder-season travel that blends affordability, fewer crowds, and cultural experiences timed to the fall calendar. Expedia data shows that the cheapest window for flights to Canada falls between September 22 and October 3, when fares can drop more than 20 percent below average.

However, the numbers only tell part of the story. There’s a reason people are excited about fall in Canada.

On a visit to Banff in late September 2021, I recall standing on the shore

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