North America

Our trips in North America, country by country

We traveled to all three countries in the region, in different seasons and with several travel styles: here’s a rundown of what we discovered in North America over the years.

Where to go in North America by season?

If there’s just one thing to remember: September and October are the two best months for Canada and the United States, with Indian summer in Quebec and American parks that are still accessible and less crowded. For the rest of the year, each country has its own calendar: December to mid-March for Canadian winter, mid-May to June for the American West, November to April for Mexico. The country-by-country breakdown follows.

The recommendations you’re about to read are based on our own travel experience, climate data for each country (Environment and Climate Change Canada, National Weather Service USA, Servicio Meteorológico Nacional), and feedback from our friends and family and our Instagram community. Since climate change is increasingly affecting how regular seasons are, treat our tips as general trends to help you plan your trip.

When to go to Canada and Quebec

We were lucky enough to live in Montreal in 2018: eight months from January to August for Marie, and four months together from May to August. Having been through most of Quebec’s seasons, here are our tips for choosing the best time depending on what kind of trip you’re planning.

• Winter (December to mid-March): if you’re not afraid of the deep cold and sub-zero temperatures (down to -30°C), this is the ideal time to enjoy the snowy atmosphere of Quebec or Ontario, and the perfect season to try must-do activities like dog sledding, ice fishing, skating or sledding.
• Spring-summer (late May to September): in Quebec, winter lasts a long time and the spring transition is very short compared to Europe. We’d recommend planning a trip from the end of May onward for milder temperatures. Watch out for the temperature contrasts: summer can be very hot and humid in Montreal, while regions like Gaspésie have a cooler, more temperate climate.
• Fall (September and October): even though we haven’t stayed there during this period ourselves, we know these two months are the best season to admire the fall colors and enjoy pleasant temperatures before the cold returns.

Vancouver and the west coast (British Columbia): we also explored Vancouver, one of the biggest cities in western Canada. During our stay in March, we had exceptional weather: sunshine, huge blue skies and not a drop of rain! That said, the climate there is very oceanic: to stack the odds in your favor, the best time remains summer (June to September). It’s the driest season, ideal for enjoying mild temperatures.

When to go to the United States by region

We’ve been to the United States several times, in different states and in different seasons, and here’s what we thought.

East Coast (New York and Boston)

• Winter (December): December is still a great month to go if you want to experience the magical holiday atmosphere, since the cities are all decked out for the occasion. Keep in mind that temperatures drop below freezing in winter on the East Coast and the sea wind is bitterly cold. January and February are known as cheaper months, with better rates on hotels, for example.
• Spring (May to mid-June) and fall (September and October): these two seasons are ideal for enjoying pleasant weather and pretty colors in the parks.

West Coast (California, Arizona, Utah, Nevada)

We had the trip of a lifetime out in the American West in September 2024, during which we traveled through four states: California, Arizona, Utah and Nevada. For us, it’s one of the best months of the year to plan this legendary road trip: here’s why.

• Spring (mid-May and June) and Indian summer (September to early October): these are the ideal times for a road trip out west in the US, since temperatures are pleasant both in coastal cities like Los Angeles and San Francisco and in the national parks. The high-altitude roads, especially those in Yosemite in California, are open during this period. September struck us as perfect on every front: minimal crowds since it’s outside school holidays and during back-to-school season, with enough warmth left to stretch out summer. Watch out for the weather phenomenon known as “June Gloom” in Los Angeles, a thick fog that blankets the city in June, especially in the morning.
• Winter (November to March): this season lets you enjoy lower rates and fewer crowds, and it’s a great time to visit Las Vegas and the surrounding deserts like Death Valley. On the other hand, it’s not recommended to plan a road trip through the high-altitude American parks (Grand Canyon, Bryce Canyon, Zion, Yosemite, etc.) since the roads are closed due to snow.

When to go to Mexico and the Yucatán

We spent about ten days in Mexico in the Quintana Roo and Yucatán region, over the end-of-year holidays. We can only speak personally about late December. Unlike in the United States and Canada, in Mexico, and especially in the Yucatán region, people think in terms of “dry season” and “rainy season.”

• Dry season (November to April): the dry season runs from early winter through spring, with heat and less humid air, so you can visit the region’s archaeological sites without sweltering.