How to make the most of Canada’s weak dollar

Traveling outside the country doesn’t have to cost a small fortune — especially when paying a visit to our neighbor to the north.

Thanks to an exceedingly favorable exchange rate — 1 Canadian dollar currently costs only 75 U.S. cents — visits across the border are now 30 percent cheaper than they were just three years ago.

So grab your passport and some greenbacks to check out these must-visit (and more affordable) 2016 events.

Quebec City Summer Festival

Attracting more than 1 million attendees last year, this 11-day music festival launches its 49th season on July 7. More than 250 events and 1,000 artists are expected, including an opening day joint performance by Sting and Peter Gabriel. And on July 16, during the festival’s closing weekend, the Red Hot Chili Peppers will perform. The musicians will take to the Bell Stage, located on the historic Plains of Abraham battlefield park overlooking the St. Lawrence River. An 11-day pass costs $90 CDN/$67 USD — compared with over $399 for a three-day pass to Coachella.

Drake Devonshire

Located two hours east of Toronto in winery-rich Prince Edward County, this 11-room, two-suite lakeside inn is an offshoot of Toronto’s hip Drake Hotel — and a perfect alternative to an upstate New York getaway. Housed in a restored 19th-century foundry building, the property’s design aesthetic is rustic Canadiana, with an eclectic mix of vintage and custom furnishings and artwork by regional talents (rates from $249 CDN/$187 USD). And the restaurant, helmed by chef Matt DeMille, serves delicious farm- and lake-to-table fare.

The Berlin

Highly acclaimed Toronto chef Jonathan Gushue opened this two-story, 114-seat restaurant in a beautiful historic building in December about 65 miles from his home base. Berlin pays homage to the area’s German-Mennonite heritage, with an upscale “modern European” menu — largely prepared over a live-fire grill roaring in the back — inspired by German, Austrian, Polish and Hungarian dishes. Think long winter leeks with bacon and frisee salad, and grilled pickerel with apricot puree, charred cabbage, buttermilk and potato sauce (entrees from $21 CDN/$16 USD).

Hotel X Toronto

Slated to open in September in time for the Toronto International Film Festival, this five-star 30-story, 404-room property dubs itself an “urban resort.” The only hotel located on the historic Exhibition Place grounds, the $200 million-plus property will feature a fitness center, indoor squash and tennis courts, an indoor golf simulator and two pools. And the four rooftop lounge areas on the hotel’s top three floors will offer stunning panoramic views of Lake Ontario and Toronto’s skyline. Rates aren’t yet available.

Rione XI restaurant

This 41-seat restaurant, which opened in Toronto in December, serves dishes inspired by Rome’s historic Jewish quarter. Rione XI — named after Rome’s 11th district, Sant’Angelo, where the neighborhood lies — features classic trattoria fare with Jewish twists. The carbonara, for example, is made with bresaola instead of pancetta. Other must-haves include the Cornish hen and the carciofi alla giudia (pan-fried artichokes braised in white wine and lemon). Walls are also adorned with murals of the Great Synagogue of Rome, Sant’Angelo’s coat of arms and a map of the Jewish Quarter (entrees from $16 CDN/$12 USD).

Roots

Iconic Canadian apparel and leather retailer Roots does have five stores in the U.S. — including a NoLita location — but savings are to be had by purchasing identical items at one of its 109 locations across Canada (including flagships in Vancouver, Toronto and Montreal). Most items are the same dollar amount in each country, so the savings are substantial. For example, the bestselling leather Midtown Flat Tribe handbag is $198 in both countries, but buy it in Canada, and that’s about $148 USD — savings of $50.

Honda Celebration of Lights

Go West! Head to Vancouver this summer for the 26th annual Honda Celebration of Light, a spectacular musical fireworks competition held over three days: July 23, 27, and 30. The world’s longest-running offshore fireworks competition, it features three companies representing their respective home countries performing a mesmerizing 25-minute fireworks display set to accompanying music (VIP viewing lounge tickets $149 CAD/$112 USD).

Calgary Stampede

Yee-haw! Yes, there are cowboys outside of Texas — and in Canada. So grab your white Stetson — a symbol of the Calgary Stampede — and join 1 million Wild West-loving folks at the 10-day festival. Kicking off July 8, it includes, the iconic rodeo, of course, as well bareback bull riding, livestock shows, chuck wagon races and a concert series featuring Lady Antebellum (rodeo tickets from $33-$284 CDN/$25-$215 USD). Tip: for a sightseeing add-on, hop on the Trans-Canada Highway and head to the Rockies, about an hour west of Calgary.

Niagara Falls

A visit to the Canadian side of Niagara Falls makes perfect sense now because of the exchange rate, coupled with the fact that the Canadian side is far more atmospheric. There are better panoramic views, which — unlike the U.S. side — encompasses both countries’ falls. The area also has a more robust array of shopping, dining and casinos. Casino Niagara and Niagara Fallsview Casino Resort, in particular, are far more thrilling than anything stateside.