In the eastern part of Canada, the Saint Lawrence River flows into the Gulf of Saint Lawrence . The Gulf of Saint Lawrence is the world's largest estuary , containing the island of Newfoundland . South of the Gulf, the northernmost tip of the Appalachian Mountains poke their heads out of the sea, forming the province of Nova Scotia. Between Nova Scotia and New Brunswick lies the Bay of Fundy—where the tides rise and fall up to five times as far as average ocean tides.
Little hills tumble far across the country, sweeping south of the great Hudson Bay. West of Ontario they smooth out into the broad, flat Canadian Prairie provinces of Manitoba and Saskatchewan. Finally, the tall and jagged Canadian Rockies, dotted with enormous glaciers, break the landscape. On the other side, British Columbia nestles next to the sea with its own diverse ecosystems ranging from rainforest to fjord.
As one moves north towards the arctic, the vegetation changes from coniferous forest, to tundra, to the barrens of the far north. The “third coast” is ringed with a vast archipelago that contains some of the world's biggest islands .
On the coasts, average highs are usually in the low 20s °C (70s °F). Inland, the average summer temperature ranges from 25 to 30 °C (75 to 85 °F). Canadian winters are legendary for their severity. The exceptions are on the coasts and particularly British Columbia, which enjoys a temperate climate with a mild, rainy winter.
Recreation
Boating
If there were an official boat of Canada, it would be the canoe! As said by Canadian writer Pierre Berton, a Canadian is someone who knows how to make love in a canoe.
In Ontario alone, there are 250,000 lakes and 35,000 km of waterways. The most popular canoe route in Ontario is the 190 km Rideau Canal, a fairly easy ride from Kingston to Ottawa. No end of fascinating water routes can be found in British Columbia as well. The Yukon River system-- especially the South McMillan River east of Pelly Crossing--is a profound treat. Canadian waters also offer nearly limitless opportunities to kayak, motorboat, and jet ski.
Fishing
Many tourists come to Canada for the express purpose of fishing, and opportunities for excellent fishing abound in every province. Some of the specialties include Arctic char in the Northwest Territories, Pacific salmon in British Columbia, and trawling for lobster and scallops in the Maritimes.
Hiking
Canada has some of the best hiking in the world. With over 30 national parks and a huge number of provincial parks, one can find excellent hiking backpacking and camping opportunities in any province. Some of the best-known parks in Canada are Banff, Jasper, and Kootenay, all of them in the Rockies, although some of the smaller ones such as Glacier are well worth a visit. Some of the other particularly great parks are Strathcona Provincial Park on Vancouver Island, Riding Mountain National Park in Manitoba, and Yamaska National Park in Quebec. If you are truly adventurous, there is no experience in North America that can match hiking the principal trail of Baffin Island, which lies over an ice shield that never melts.
Skiing
The skiing in Canada is superb. There are resorts all across the country. The most spectacular ones are, of course, in the Rockies. Banff-Lake Louise has one of the longest ski seasons in North America stretching from late November to mid-May. But even in the eastern part of the country there are terrific ski opportunities, such as in the Gatineau Hills, outside of Ottawa. There are over 300 ski runs in the Laurentian Mountains, just an hour from Montréal. There are even a few fun hills to conquer in the Maritimes.
Competitive Sports
The official national sports of Canada are ice hockey in the winter and lacrosse in the summer. Canada's six largest metropolitan areas – Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, Ottawa, Calgary, and Edmonton – all have National Hockey League (NHL) teams. There are more Canadian hockey players in the league than from all other countries combined. After hockey, other popular spectator sports are curling and Canadian football . Golf , baseball , skiing , soccer , volleyball , and basketball are all popular sports in Canada. Canada will host the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver and Whistler , British Columbia .
Cuisine
Canadian cuisine varies greatly across the span of the country . The coastal areas specialize in seafood—mussels, lobster, scallops, and haddock on the east coast, and salmon on the west. The western provinces are infused by the German , Ukrainian , Polish , and Scandinavian cuisines brought by the many immigrant groups to the area. Cuisine in the Arctic region and the Canadian Territories is based on wild game and Inuit and First Nations cooking methods. At the cutting edge of Canadian cuisine is the fusion of modern culinary methods and uniquely Canadian ingredients, such as fiddlehead ferns, saskatoon berries, wild blueberries , bison , salmon , caribou, wild rice , maple products and locally produced wine , and cheeses , such as Dragon's Breath cheese from Nova Scotia and Oka cheese from Quebec.
Other Canadian specialties worth trying include a variety of wild mushrooms , peameal bacon (otherwise known as Canadian bacon), haddock and chips (especially in Newfoundland), Montreal smoked meat , Habitant yellow pea soup , Montreal-style bagels , dulse (a form of edible seaweed popular in the Maritimes), flipper pie (made from seal flippers, this is a Newfoundland specialty at Easter), and poutine (french fries with gravy and cheese curds).
British Columbia
British Columbia may be the most popular province for outdoor recreation in Canada. With seven national parks, a large network of provincial parks, and nearly five million hectares of protected land, British Columbia offers nearly limitless opportunities for hiking, camping, rock climbing, hunting, fishing canoeing, kayaking, water rafting, horseback riding, and just about any other sport you can imagine.
Johnstone Strait off the east coast of Vancouver Island is home to a group of roughly 200 orcas, the largest resident pod of killer whales in the world. There is no better place to see the beautiful creatures. Visitors can go whale watching on a tour boat or individually and quietly by sea kayak. Minke, humpback, and gray whales, white sided dolphins, porpoises, harbour seals, and sea lions are all among the animals one will find here.
If you are a long distance hiker you may wish to consider the Chilkoot trail, which runs 53 km in northern British Columbia. This trail follows the path of prospectors en route to the Yukon during the 1898 gold rush. The most popular long-distance trail in Canada is probably the West Coast Trail on Vancouver Island. Although demanding, this gorgeous trail runs for 80 kilometers along the edge of the Pacific Rim National Park and is well worth every step.
Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve encompasses a group of 1,884 islands off the coast of British Columbia. The islands' unusual and abundant plant and animal species have earned Gwaii Haanas the nickname “Galapagos of the North”. Species here are often different from those on the mainland, and some have evolved into unique subspecies. The black bear of Gwaii Haanas, for instance, is much larger than the mainland bear. The ocean surrounding these unique and beautiful islands teem with salmon, herring, halibut, rockfish, mussels, crab, starfish, sea urchin, and octopus.
Vancouver
Vancouver is as sophisticated and interesting a city as you could care to find. Known worldwide for its dim sum restaurants, avant garde arts community, and boutique marijuanas, Vancouver has a little something for everyone. Commercial Drive is the bohemian part of town. Main Street is an up and coming artsy part of the city.
With over 1,000 acres of evergreen forest, formal gardens, hiking trails, and kids' activities, Stanley Park is the third largest public park in North America. Perched at the northwest corner of the central downtown, the park fills a bulb-shaped peninsula that juts out the ocean. The park's summit, Prospect Point, is at its northern edge and has majestic views of the inlet, North Vancouver, and the Lions Gate Bridge. Looking straight down from the point, you'll see the swarms of walkers, bikers, and in-line skaters along the five-and-a-half-mile seawall path that rims the perimeter.
Vancouver celebrates many unusual festivals. On April 20 th , large crowds congregate at the Vancouver Art Gallery to celebrate the date by smoking marijuana. This holiday reflects the British Columbia's contemporary attitude towards cannabis that has earned it the nickname “Vansterdam”. Another popular festival is the annual Vancouver Zombie Walk, during which anyone who cares to participate may dress as the living dead and shuffle droolingly along the city streets with hundreds of other zombies.
Alberta
Located in the heart of the Alberta Badlands, roughly 2 hours east of Calgary, Dinosaur Provincial Park contains some of the world's most important fossil discoveries from the Mesozoic era. The Badlands feature dramatic erosion formations like canyons and gullies, and glacial erratic such as freestanding boulders. You won't want to miss the Museum of Paleontology, where you can see many examples of the kinds of dinosaurs that lived on this wild terrain so long ago.
Tourists to Alberta enjoy the Alberta Prairie Railway excursions, which offer a ride on one of the few working steam trains in the world.
Summer brings many festivals to Alberta. Both Calgary and Edmonton host enormous music festivals. In fact, Edmonton prides itself on being the Festival city. Many visitors to Alberta enjoy shopping at the West Edmonton Mall. The West Edmonton Mall is the largest shopping mall in North America, with over 800 stores and services. The mall encompasses over 123 acres of land. Major attractions include the theme park Galaxyland, sea life caverns, The Ice Palace, and the World Water Park.
The most popular tourist destination in Alberta is Banff National Park. In addition to the outdoor recreations opportunities offered by the park, few hotels in the world can rival the scenery of its primary hotel, Château Lake Louise. On the shores of the strikingly turquoise Lake Louise, the Château stands atop a huge glacial moraine and is surrounded by severe snowcapped mountains. Tourists come to hike and boat in the summer, and to ski the areas 4200 acres of mountain powder in the winter.
Calgary
A million people visit Calgary for the world-famous stampede, which is a celebration of Canada's version of the wild West. The stampede is the biggest rodeo festival in Canada. Calgary also hosts a Caribbean Festival every summer, called Carifest.
Manitoba
Vast Manitoba proudly offers Folkarama, the largest multicultural festival in the world. Other notable attractions of Manitoba include the Winnipeg fringe Theatre Festival, held every July. The world's largest Coca-Cola can is in Manitoba, as well as the annual Apple Festival of Manitoba, held every year on the last weekend of August.
Winnipeg is balanced between the American frontier to the south and the Canadian Shield to the north. Visitors to Winnipeg enjoy the Manitoba Museum of Man and Nature. Its flourishing performing arts scene and the many wonderful ethnic restaurants characterize Winnipeg as the immigrant gateway to the West that it has long been. Located directly south of the enormous Lake Winnipeg, Winnipeg is an ideal resting stage for the serious fisherman.
Churchill, on the shore of Hudson Bay, is a popular tourist destination in northern Manitoba. There are two good ways to reach Churchill; by excursion flight from Winnipeg, or if you have the time to be leisurely about it, by train 36 hours north from Winnipeg. The Churchill area of features polar bears, caribou, and an incredible assortment of migratory birds.
Saskatchewan
Prince Albert National Park, located 200 kilometres north of Saskatoon, perches on the southern edge of Canada's great boreal forest. A 3875 square kilometre park, it is a transition transition zone between the parkland and the northern forest. The park features many stunning natural wonders, including a free-ranging herd of plains bison and the only fully protected white pelican nesting colony in Canada. This area is perfect for star-gazing.
Ontario
For 100 km on either side of Toronto is a chain of towns on the edge of Lake Ontario that comprises the most populous area of Canada. The most popular of these towns for visitors is Niagara, with its beautiful and impressive Niagara Falls. The falls are called the honeymoon capital of the world. There is nothing quite like the 300 meter wide waterfall. It simply has to be seen to be comprehended. Many of the other towns in this area such as Stratford, home to an enormous Shakespeare Festival in the summer, are worth a visit.
Northern Ontario stretches from the north shores of Lake Huron and superior to the architect for Hudson Bay. Visitors may enjoy a supply train journey known as the Polar Bear Express. The train runs from late June to early September, and goes as far north as anyone can easily go in Ontario. It's a beautiful 300 km trip across the tundra. The train occasionally stops to pick up trappers, fishers, hunters, and local residents. It's still fur-trapping country up here, so don't be surprised if you end up sitting next to a pile of pelts.
Ottawa
Ottawa is a beautiful, well-planned, green city. It has such a clean and wholesome appeal that it can be easy to forget it is the political capital of the country. Ottawa also has the distinction of being the Western world's coldest capital city. With a population of three quarters of a million people, Ottawa features parks, gardens, bicycle and jogging paths, six national museums, the national arts center, and a downtown farm. This is all in addition to a four kilometre wide greenbelt and the Rideau Canal, which is a popular skating spot in winter.
Toronto
The main airport in Toronto, Lester Pearson international, is about 25 km northwest of the city center. Express bus service outside the main terminal takes 40 minutes to reach the downtown core.
Toronto is Canada's biggest city with 5,113,149 people. It is also an incredibly ethnically diverse city--officially the most multicultural city in the world, according to the United Nations .
Want some great Indian, Malaysian, or Hmong cuisine? Whether you're a gourmet or just looking for good eats, you can find almost any style of international cuisine in Toronto's 5,000-plus restaurants .
Visitors to Toronto can rub elbows with celebrities at the Toronto International Film Festival, or be part of the excitement at the Grand Prix of Toronto. The Royal Ontario museum is a great place to explore an Egyptian mummy, visit a bat cave, or marvel at international geological finds. The Hockey Hall of Fame and Museum is a must for any sports fan.
The shopper will find designer couture on fashionable Bloor Street, and funkier looks on Queen Street West. Every style under the sun finds its place at the Toronto Eaton Centre in the middle of downtown.
The CN Tower in downtown Toronto is the world's tallest freestanding tower at 553 m. The tower is almost twice as tall as the Eiffel Tower in Paris. In 1995, it was declared one of the seven wonders of the world by the American Society of Civil Engineers. There is no view quite like the one from the top of this amazing structure. A ride in the glass-fronted elevators takes only 58 seconds to travel 342 meters (1,136 feet).
Quebec
Québec has a unique, distinct culture. It is distinct from the rest of Canada, the rest of North America, and even from France. Several times in the history of this interesting province Québec has threatened to secede from Canada and become its own country. In recent years, this possibility has abated as young Québecois grow up bilingual and increasing numbers of Canadian youth in other parts of the country also learn French.
All of rural Québec is beautiful, but the Gaspe peninsula deserves special mention. There is no expedition quite like a leisurely drive up and down the coasts of the St. Lawrence River as it flows out to the sea. The river is dotted with picturesque little Francophone towns. While it is no problem to find English speakers to help you in Montréal and Québec City, on the Gaspé you may need your guidebook to help you communicate. This area is fantastic for seafood, hiking, and water sports. Several of the small cliff towns overlooking the opening to the ocean specialize in hand gliding during the summer months.
Montréal
Geographically, Montréal is Canada's second largest city. It is as close to Europe as it is to Vancouver. Its North American skyline of glass and concrete rises above the churches and monuments in a complex medley of styles -- not unlike the people of Montréal. In the historic quarter of Vieux Montreal on the banks of this St. Lawrence, one can walk on cobblestone streets eat fresh pain au chocolat, listen to the patois of nasalized French, and enter a different world all together. With its excellent metro system and underground tunnels, Montréal is an easy city to visit without a car. Dining options range from classical French to outstanding Vietnamese and Ethiopian to the rappie pie and poutine that characterize Québec.
Ville de Québec
Québec City (Ville de Quebec) looks as if it were lifted out of medieval Europe . Like many other eastern Canadian cities, Québec City features a gorgeous waterfront and historic district. The food of Québec City is particularly rich, in both history and taste. There are many restaurants featuring classical French cuisine ranging from the formal to the casual croque monsieur at a sidewalk café. Québec is the only remaining fortified city in North America , a fact that has earned the city its designation as the UNESCO world heritage site. Half of the buildings in the historic district were built before 1850, and some of the architecture dates back to the days of new France. No visit to Québec is complete without a visit to the Château Frontenac. Opened in 1893 by the Canadian Pacific railway, this hotel is one of the most photographed buildings in North America .
New Brunswick
St. John New Brunswick has a rich history as a major shipbuilding center. Today visitors come to see St. John to watch the reversal of the Fundy tide. At low tide the river flows normally, but when the tide comes in the river flows in reverse. It takes a couple hours to watch the whole process, but it is well worth your patience to watch a river flow both ways.
Rural New Brunswick is home to several young wineries. Along with blueberries and Christmas trees, the region is excellent for growing grapes—particularly for ice wine. In addition to the pastoral delights of mainland New Brunswick , the province features several interesting islands that can be reached by car ferry. They include Campobello Island, former summer home of Franklin Delano Roosevelt , Deer Island , home of the largest tidal pool in the Western Hemisphere, Miscou Island with its fiery-red peat bogs, and Jourimain Island , home to a unique bird sanctuary.
Prince Edward Island
Prince Edward Island is an idyllic spot to golf, visit the home of Anne of Green Gables, or simply enjoy the gently rolling hills and warm beaches. The capital of Prince Edward Island is Charlottetown , a tree lined city on the south coast of the island. Prince Edward Island has many vacation rental cottages and bed and breakfasts worth visiting. Many people who live in other parts of Canada come to Prince Edward Island to visit the dunes and red sandstone cliffs of Prince Edward Island National Park for a relaxing week or two on the beach next to Gulfstream warmed waters.
Confederation Bridge , which links Prince Edward Island to the mainland, has its own slogan: “The longest bridge. The shortest route.” The 12.9 kilometre (8 mile) long bridge is the longest bridge over ice-covered waters in the world. It follows the same path of the first submarine telegraph cable in North America , laid in 1851. Since the building of Confederation Bridge in 1997, most visitors have elected to take the ferry in one direction and the bridge in the other, in order to make the most of the experience.
Nova Scotia
Latin for “New Scotland”, Nova Scotia was claimed as part of the kingdom of Scotland by King James I of England ((James VI of Scotland ) in 1621. Cape Breton Highlands National Park is the largest protected wilderness in Nova Scotia . The mountains, valleys, forests, beaches, waterfalls and rocky coastline of Cape Breton Highlands national Park creates a panoramic backdrop for viewing moose, black bears and bald eagles. At the Celtic Lodge resort on the east side of the park is Highlands Links, An 18 hole golf course rated as one of the top courses in the world and the best public course in Canada.
Halifax
The city of Halifax is set on a steep promontory beside one of the world's deepest harbours. With a population of nearly a half-million people, Halifax is the largest city in the Maritimes. The city was first developed by the British in 1749, to counter the French fortress of Louisberg on Cape Breton Island . For several decades, Halifax was primarily a military city. Today, Halifax is a university town with a concentration of arts, music, and shopping that make it a wonderful vacation destination. Any visitor to Halifax should visit the Citadel National Historic Park , which sits on a hill overlooking the city and the harbor below. The clock tower of the citadel is a tribute to military commander Edward, Duke of Kent sent by the Queen in 1794. He insisted that the tower have a clock on each of its four faces, so no soldier would ever have an excuse will be late.
One of the most beautiful towns in Nova Scotia is the fishing village of Lunenburg . Established in 1753 by the “foreign Protestants” (i.e., Germans immigrants) Lunenburg is renowned for its shipbuilding history, distinctive architecture, and colourful charm. The Fisheries Museum of the Atlantic is worth a visit; a cruise on the Bluenose II (replica of the Bluenose, a Lunenburg-built ship that was the fastest schooner in the world in its day) is a must.
Nunavut
Baffin Island, Nunavit, is the largest island in Canada and the fifth largest island in the world. Visitors to Baffin Island can experience the midnight sun, round-the-clock daylight from the May to the end of June. Visitors to Iqaluit may choose between the Nunatta Sunakkutaangit Museum , which houses a large collection of Inuit art, or several area parks and polar bear viewing areas. For the truly adventurous, Iqaluit is an ideal base camp for a sled dog trip.
Newfoundland and Labrador
Newfoundland has been described as a monstrous mass of rock and gravel, like a strange thing from the bottom of the deep lifted up suddenly into sunshine. Most of the province of Newfoundland and Labrador consists of tiny fishing villages on the coast and a wilderness interior. Tourists most often visit Gros Morne National Park or the capital city of St. John's .
The city of St. John's has a cosmopolitan feel, thanks to the many large ships from around the world that can be found in the harbour. Known for its strong tradition of local music, fiercely independent people, and absolutely perfect fish and chips, St. John's is a unique and refreshing vacation spot.
L'anse Aux Meadows has been inhabited for 6000 years. 1000 years ago, Viking Leif Ericsson wintered here with his crew. Today, visitors can experience a re-created Viking colony in the first known European settlement in North America .
The eastern and northern coasts of Newfoundland and Labrador are the best places in the northern hemisphere to observe icebergs. The best time to view icebergs is from April to July. Visitors can take iceberg watching journeys from the town of Twillingate , Newfoundland or St. Anthony , Newfoundland . The average weight of an iceberg found in this area is between 100,000 and 200,000 tons--but they can weigh up to several million tons and tower 20 stories or more above the water line.
Yukon
The Dempster Highway connects the Klondike Highway in the Yukon Territory to Inuvik , Northwest Territories on the Mackenzie River delta . During the winter months, the highway extends another 194 km (121 mi ) to Tuktoyaktuk , on the northern coast, using frozen portions of the river delta as an ice road . The highway crosses the Peel and Mackenzie rivers using a combination of seasonal ferry service and ice bridges . The Dempster Highway is the northernmost Highway on the continent, and the only one to cross the Arctic Circle . Although technically a highway, most of this 460 Mile Rd is only paved with groomed gravel. There is no better road on which to cross the continental divide, or to view caribou, musk oxen, Arctic wolves, and the rare gyrfalcon.
Northwest Territories
The Cirque of the Unclimbables in Northwest Territories is a daunting collection of 2000 foot vertical cliffs, accessible only by water or air. In an area of towering peaks, the Cirque is a rock climber's delight with its 2500 foot continuous crack system and 22 pitches. Lotus Flower Tower is one of the most famous of the 50 classic climbs of North America .
Nahanni National Park Reserve, Northwest Territories , is the first UNESCO World Heritage Site to receive its status based on its importance as a natural heritage site. This park features, Virginia falls, a waterfall twice as high as Niagara Falls with more stunning engines love with this area is popular with canoeists; a day's paddle up the Nahanni river guarantees a whitewater adventure featuring class two and three rapids.
Montreal
Montreal the historic French Canadian city.
Vancouver
One western coast of Canada.
Whistler
A major ski resort close to Vancouver, Canada.
