Canada, our polite friend to the north, is the second largest country on Earth with four very distinct seasons, eh? Spring is wonderful, summers are hot, fall brings multicolored leaves, and winter is extremely cold. Canada has a fascinating mix of indigenous peoples, initial French and English descendants, and 20% born outside of Canada. Explore its majestic peaks, blue lakes, and wandering moose.

ADVENTURES

Ice Walk on Athabasca Glacier

Take a giant snow coach to Athabasca Glacier for a walk and a sip

Ice Skating the Rideau Canal

In Ottawa, a frosty escapade on the world’s largest skating rink

Indoor Go Karting Near Ottawa

For those with a need for speed, visit Top Karting in Gatineau

MUST SEES: OTTAWA

Parliament Hill

Parliament Hill rises on a bluff south of the Ottawa River and west of the Rideau Canal. Take a free guided tour of Canada’s Gothic Revival parliamentary buildings. There’s even a running trail down by the river.

Winterlude

Winterlude is a winter festival that takes place in the first two weeks of February. At Confederation Park, check out the chainsaw-wielding ice sculpture carvers by the ice lounge.

Tulip Festival

Visit the Tulip Festival in May. The festival displays over one million tulips, with 300,000 next to Rideau Canal. The Netherlands have been sending tulip bulbs to Canada to honor those who served and for sheltering the royal family.

Rideau Canal

Next to ByWard Market, inspect the Rideau Canal locks. When the weather is nice, people take boats through the canal. During winter, ice skate 4.8 miles to Dow’s Lake and stop at stands for hot chocolate.

Aerial Park

Camp Fortune is in the hills of Gatineau Park. The aerial park is an obstacle course high in the trees. Balance on tightropes, walk the plank, sway on a monkey bridge, swing on a Tarzan rope, and crawl through tunnels. Cap off the adventure by ziplining from tree to tree.

MUST SEES: QUEBEC CITY

Quebec City

In 1608, Champlain founded one of the oldest European settlements in North America. It’s the only fortified city on the continent north of Mexico. The grand Château Frontenac rests atop Cap Diamant in upper town. Lower town is next to the St. Lawrence River.

MUST SEES: THOUSAND ISLANDS

Thousand Islands

The archipelago of 1,864 islands overlaps the Canada–US border in St. Lawrence River. Cruise past rock outcroppings to large islands with lighthouses and historic castles. Only islands with one square foot of land and two trees are in the archipelago count.

MUST SEES: VANCOUVER

Capilano

The Capilano Suspension Bridge spans 450 feet from totem poles to a rainforest. Have fun crossing the wobbly bridge, but have no fear as it can support a 747 jet. The Cliffwalk is a cantilever clinging to a granite cliff.

Butchart Gardens

Reserve a 1.5-hour ferry ride to Victoria. Butchart Gardens is a floral masterpiece on 55 acres. Fifty full-time gardeners tend the 900 varieties in the sunken garden, Japanese garden, and fountains of the blooming oasis.

Gastown

Vancouver’s original historic settlement is now a hip district with good restaurants and cool shops. The Gastown Clock anchors the brick buildings and cobblestone streets and whistles every 15 minutes.

MUST SEES: BANFF

Lake Louise

Paddle the emerald waters of Lake Louise in Banff National Park in a canoe. Or just sit by the giant window at the Fairmont Chateau and peer at the gorgeous blue lake. It’s the starting point to visit Banff’s rocky mountains and glacial lakes.

Moraine Lake

Dreamy Moraine Lake is a spectacular turquoise gem in the Valley of the Ten Peaks. The glacier deposits a moraine (rocky debris & sediments) in the lake. The deep blue color is due to refraction of light off the rock sediment from the moraine.

Peyto Lake

Thank rock flour for creating the magical turquoise color. Rock flour is glacial silt suspended through water. The glacier grinds the rock beneath heavy ice. When light hits the sediments, it produces stunning combos of blue and green.

MUST SEES: JASPER

Athabasca Glacier

At the Columbia Icefield in Jasper National Park, ride a giant bus with fat tires on the Athabasca Glacier. Hop off, walk next to crevasses, and drink 10,000-year-old water.

Athabasca Falls

Athabasca Falls is on the upper Athabasca River in Jasper. The force of the river has carved a short gorge beneath the cascade. With hard quartzite on top and soft limestone below, the river created potholes at the bottom of the slot canyon.

MUST SEES: TORONTO

Casa Loma

Sir Henry Pallett made a fortune bringing electricity to Toronto. He built a Gothic Revival castle on a hill with secret passageways and turrets. The mansion is setting of many films, such as “X-Men” and “Scott Pilgrim vs. the World.”

CN Tower

Ride a high-speed elevator to the 1,136-foot observation deck in 58 seconds. From the former world’s tallest freestanding structure, enjoy stunning views. If you dare, step out on the glass floor. If you have what it takes, try the thrilling EdgeWalk.

Niagara Falls

Niagara has the highest flow rate of any waterfall in North America with a vertical drop of 160+ feet. Horseshoe Falls straddles the Canada–US border. Take the Maid the Mist through the splash zone. You can also walk to the Cave of the Winds behind Bridal Veil Falls on the NY side.

MUST SEES: MONTREAL

Île Ste-Hélène

At Saint Helen’s Island in the Saint Lawrence River, explore the Montreal Biosphere. Buckminster Fuller designed the geodesic dome for Expo 67. His inventive design gave the structure super strength with a 250-foot diameter.

FOOD

Poutine

Poutine consists of crispy fries, squeaky cheese curds, and savory brown gravy. Quebec’s beloved snack has spread across Canada and beyond. Now you can even have it with lobster.

BeaverTail

A BeaverTail is a fried dough pastry with an oblong shape. Popular toppings include whipped cream, Nutella, and sugar and cinnamon.

Sugar Shack

When winter ends in Quebec, you visit a sugar shack to enjoy traditional Québécois cuisine in a rustic log cabin. The hearty feast includes baked beans, eggs, ham and sausages soaked in maple syrup, meat pie, and more maple syrup.

Lobster Tower

Toronto’s Fishman Lobster Clubhouse is a Hong Kong-style seafood restaurant that doesn’t mess around. They bring a mountain of lobster fried in garlic and scallions. This is an experience you don’t want to miss.

YKO

In Ottawa, YKO serves up some wonderful Ivorian chicken grilled over fragrant wood charcoal. African spices and chilies flavor the tender and juicy meat. Sides include seasoned rice, soft cabbage leaves, and golden sweet plantains.

HK BBQ Master

Vancouver’s suburb of Richmond has over 50% of residents with Chinese ancestry. So, it’s no surprise there’s a line before they open for their legendary Chinese BBQ. They are famous for succulent char siu, crispy roast duck, and flavorful soy sauce chicken.

Blueberry Pie

There’s something magical about the blueberries in BC. They are deep purple, fat, juicy, and bursting with flavor. Berries and cream are a natural pairing. The pies are so good that my nephew, who normally hates blueberries, helped crush one of them.

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