BudgetTravel

From the continent that brought you Yellowstone and Yosemite: Astounding scenery! Glaciers you can climb! Swarms of wild butterflies!

We do not exaggerate. The National Parks of Canada are among the top touristic destinations in the world. And thanks to a good exchange rate, they also remain a highly affordable vacation for American travelers. Today, we're counting down our picks for the best of the best.

Pacific Rim National Park Reserve, British Columbia

Vancouver Island's west coast is already Canada's top surfing destination. Add a 46-mile trail through old-growth temperate rain forest, a hundred islands for wilderness kayakers, and 20,000 migrating gray whales each spring, and it's no wonder the 93-mile strip of seashore is so popular that reservations are required to visit certain parts.

Inland, it's a temperate rain forest, which means it gets around 120 inches of rain a year. (So pack the rubber stuff!) And don't hike the trails without a buddy--wild cougars are frequently observed in parts of the park.

When to go: Late June to early September for the finest weather, but March and April for the whale migration.

Wildlife: Killer whales cruise offshore, eagles soar over the Broken Islands, sea lions and seals play in the surf. Bear-watching boats depart from the towns of Tofino and Ucluelet for about $50 a run. (All prices in this article are in U.S. dollars.)

Where to stay: The waterfront Whaler's Point Guesthouse in Tofino, a town that's becoming well known for its galleries. Simple private doubles $57, 250/725-3443, tofinohostel.com/.

Don't miss: Dipping your toes into tidal pools or exploring the rain forest with the park's free interpretive walks and trails. Nuu-chah-nulth Trail, for one, focuses on the history of the First Nations, the preferred term for Canada's indigenous people. For details, make a stop at the park's recently revamped Wickaninnish Centre at Long Beach.

Kids: Teenage girls can learn to ride the waves at Surf Sister's five-day summer camps ($375) and two-day programs ($148). Lessons for anyone 12 and up are $57. 877/724-7873, surfsister.com/.

Planning: 250/726-7721; Tourism British Columbia, 800/435-5622, hellobc.com/.

Waterton Lakes National Park, Alberta