The last few months have really dragged by – except for summer. Blink and here we are midway through August. In less than two weeks, the September long weekend will be upon us in Canada and the U.S., and then poof! Summer will be over.

Travels with Baggage sometimes receives compensation and/or hosted travel and sample products related to blog posts. This story may include affiliate links for which we receive a small commission at no extra cost to consumers.
Table of Contents
September long weekend Canada
The September long weekend in Canada is arguably, one of the best long weekends of the year. The Victoria Day long weekend AKA May Long or May 2-4, is the unofficial start to summer, but is it really? May is a fickle month and doesn’t bring the warm weather we see at the end of summer.
September long weekend in Canada, however, offers the warmest water temperatures and a bounty of freshly picked produce from local farms. This, my friends, is the weekend to make plans and get out of dodge. I can’t be the only one salivating at the thought of getting out of my house. Trouble is, given all the COVID restrictions, where should we go?
Check out the road trip suggestions I shared recently with Global News Calgary:
Crowdsourced Road Trip
For me, the best travel advice comes from referrals. (And talented travel writers, natch:) Travelzoo recently polled their 1.5 million members and the No.1 summer travel plan on their minds this summer is Canadian road trips. There’s no time like the present to wring out as much pleasure as possible from these last few weeks of summer!

Travelzoo’s team of Deal Experts then went on to curate the top crowdsourced destinations for Canadians. Not only that, they’ve provided insider tips and jaw-dropping hotel deals, all conveniently found in one interactive map on the Travelzoo site.

It’s super easy. Simply click on this link, tell them the destination and they’ll find you the deal. (Thankfully Travelzoo’s booking policy is as flexible as possible to provide peace of mind.)

At the moment, I’m sticking to Alberta travel. On Travelzoo I found some great hotel deals for Calgary and Banff (from $69!). You can also find restaurant, spa and activity deals like golf and helicopter tours.
Why travel September long weekend?
Depending on where you’e going, some spots are seeing unprecedented, low hotel rates for peak summer season travel. September long weekend means peak season weather but this year we’re seeing shoulder season pricing (depending on where you’re going).
If you haven’t ventured out to a hotel yet, I’m finding the ones I’ve stayed in are indeed prioritizing guest safety, by updating their sanitation practices. They’re doing things like leaving rooms empty for a few days between guests to reduce risks, or having different staff handle clean linen vs soiled linen, and using different routes in the hotel to cart them to the laundry room. Don’t be afraid to reach out to your hotel to ask them what their practices are.

Covid-19 precautions
When planning any trip, be sure to check your local public health guidelines. Call ahead before booking attractions and experiences as they may be operating on adjusted schedules that are subject to change.
Stay safe, everyone.
Do you have plans for the September long weekend? I’d love to know what they are.