Canadian travel trends shift toward September shoulder season

Canadian travel trends are shifting toward the shoulder season, with September seeing a significant increase in activity. Data from HomeExchange indicates that September home exchanges among Canadian members rose 44.2 percent year-over-year, reaching 2,633 exchanges compared to 1,827 the previous year. Additionally, the average length of stays in September has increased by 8.2 percent, now exceeding five nights.

Travelers are increasingly drawn to the fall months due to gentler temperatures, fewer crowds, and more flexibility in scheduling. This shift allows for experiences such as visiting national parks during peak autumn colors or observing increased whale activity in marine parks. For example, the Saguenay-St. Lawrence Marine Park sees a spike in humpback, fin, and blue whale sightings during September and October as species congregate to build fat reserves.