For the past few weeks, North America has been hard to ignore. Match highlights dominate social feeds, host cities are making the nightly news and millions of football fans are following the action across Canada, the United States and Mexico. But once you stop looking at the stadiums, another story starts to unfold. Beyond the tournament is a continent built for road trips, neighbourhoods where every corner feels different and landscapes so varied that you can be standing beside turquoise lakes one week and wandering through a cactus-filled desert the next. If the World Cup has sparked your curiosity, here are a few places worth adding to the list.
Montréal
French is spoken as often as English, cafés spill onto cobbled streets and historic buildings sit comfortably alongside a thriving food scene. Spend the morning browsing Jean-Talon Market, climb Mount Royal for views across the city or simply wander Old Montréal without a plan. It's one of those places that's best discovered slowly.
Banff National Park
Everyone has seen the photos of Lake Louise and Moraine Lake, but seeing them in person is something else entirely. Early mornings are quiet, the air is crisp and the mountains seem to rise straight out of the water. Between wildlife sightings, scenic drives and hiking trails, it's easy to spend a week here without feeling the need to rush anywhere.
Oaxaca
Skip the beach for a few days and head inland. Oaxaca is known for colourful streets, busy markets and food that's worth travelling for on its own. Watch artisans at work, sample mole made from recipes handed down through generations and finish the day in a bustling plaza as musicians gather after sunset.
New Orleans
Few cities reward spontaneity quite like New Orleans. You might head out for dinner and find yourself following the sound of a brass band through the French Quarter or stumble across a tiny bar where the music is so good you forget what time it is. The city's biggest attraction isn't a landmark, but instead it's the atmosphere.
California's Highway 1
This isn't a drive to tick off quickly. Pull over at the lookouts, take the detour into small coastal towns and leave time for the unexpected. The stretch between Monterey and Big Sur is full of cliffs, sea lions basking on the rocks and cafés where the view competes with what's on your plate. Stop to admire the engineering marvel of Bixby Bridge, watch surfers carve through the waves at Santa Cruz or linger in Carmel-by-the-Sea, where art galleries, boutique shops and tree-lined streets invite you to slow down.
Yukon
While many visitors stick to Canada's larger cities, the Yukon offers a completely different side of the country. Visit in autumn or winter and you might find yourself watching the northern lights dance across an ink-black sky, with little more than snow-covered forests and mountain peaks surrounding you. In summer, daylight stretches well into the night, giving you more time to hike through untouched wilderness, paddle along crystal-clear rivers or spot wildlife such as moose, caribou and bears.
If the World Cup has inspired you to see more of North America, contact your local Travellers Choice agent
