15 Canadian Tourist Traps That Are Total Letdowns

15. Hopewell Rocks (NB): Crowds, Crumbling Shoreline, and Clock-Watching

Hopewell Rocks makes for stunning photos—but in person, the experience can feel like a ticking-clock attraction wrapped in crowd control. Because access is strictly tied to the tides, your visit becomes a carefully orchestrated shuffle through walkways with signage reminding you when to leave. The shoreline is often crumbling or muddy, and with erosion concerns, some paths may be blocked off altogether. Add the throngs of visitors jostling for the same five photo angles, and the magic quickly drains out. For a more organic coastal encounter, drive to Cape Enrage for raw, panoramic views and a lighthouse still working against the wind. Or visit Joggins Fossil Cliffs where geological wonder meets quiet introspection. The tide still comes in, but you’ll be watching it from a place of presence—not pressure.

You don’t need a selfie at a landmark to prove you’ve traveled well. Often, it’s the moments off-script—watching the fog roll in from a quiet dock, sharing a meal in a town no one’s posting about—that linger the longest. Tourist traps thrive on repetition, but real travel thrives on discovery. Trust your instincts, take the side roads, and seek out the version of Canada that isn’t curated for the crowd. It’s wilder. It’s quieter. And it’s waiting!