Move over, Montreal. Too bad, Toronto. Catch ya later, Calgary. Canada’s friendliest cities and towns, at least according to Expedia.ca clients, are not the big boys; rather it’s smaller and more intimate places where a visitor is just a little more likely to experience a random of act friendliness or get an overall sense of feel-good energy.

And after a year in which vacations were few or far between, what better way to ease back into travelling, wonders Expedia, than for a traveller to choose a destination where they’re sure to receive a warm welcome or outstanding dinner recommendation, or be greeted with smiles and hellos (or at least smiling eyes over a mask)?

With this in mind, the online travel giant is helping narrow down the possibilities by ranking the friendliest Canadian towns and cities for 2021 as determined by Expedia traveller reviews (based on the highest mentions of “friendly, friendliest, amiable,” and other word associations and related linguistic connections collected from January 2019 to December 2020).

Here is the top 20 list of the “Top Friendliest Towns and Cities in Canada” (plus what to do there), according to Expedia users:

1. Radium Hot Springs, BC – A perfect spot to experience the great outdoors, with many trails in the area to explore.

2. Digby, NS – Grab a bite to eat at a local restaurant in this quintessential east coast town.

3. Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ont. – Renowned for its quaint character, the town in is chock full of inns, restaurants and wineries for a perfect weekend away, not to mention just a short hot from the famous Falls.

4. Baddeck, NS – An east coast escape on Cape Breton Island.

5. Drumheller, Alta. – The dinosaur capital of the world.

6. Saint John, NB – Soak in the picturesque views of the Bay of Fundy.

7. Gatineau, Que. – Take in the sites and landscape of this western Quebec city that neighbours Ottawa, and is close to many trails.

8. Thunder Bay, Ont. – Adventure and activities abound all year long.

9. Banff, Alta. – Explore Banff National Park through a guided walking tour.

10. Charlottetown, PEI – Stay in a quaint inn in PEI.

11. Whistler, BC – A great spot for biking.

12. Osoyoos, BC – A peaceful escape surrounded by nature and many local wineries.

13. La Malbaie, Que. – A whale watching haven in the stunning region of Charlevoix.

14. Nanaimo, BC – A place to take in and feel that fresh ocean air.

15. Mont-Tremblant, Que. – Stroll through the pedestrian village at the base of Mont Tremblant.

16. St. John’s, Nlfd. – Full of history and charm, and famous George Street.

17. Gananoque, Ont. – A jumping off point to experience the 1000 islands.

18. Canmore, Alta. – Stay in the mountains and take in the breathtaking views.

19. Stratford, Ont. – A relaxing escape for those looking for some creative inspiration and top-rate theatre.

20. Fernie, BC – Adventure centre in the Rockies.

Expedia notes that in addition to promising the friendliest experience, these outdoorsy and smaller cities and towns are right in line with Expedia’s future travel trends, where travellers indicated a desire to find domestic and provincial options that provide more room to spread out, once travel resumes again.