The Great White North : Canada (Travel Guide)

Awe-inspiring scenery, vibrant cities and a welcoming atmosphere all make Canada a popular tourist destination. As the largest country in North America, Canada is a vast land encompassing majestic mountains, spectacular coastlines, virgin forests, spacious prairies and Arctic tundra. While much of the nation is of British and French descent, Canada is home to a mosaic of multicultural communities.

The second largest country in the world, Canada has no shortage of beautiful landscapes and unique sites for travelers to explore. From coast to coast to coast, the country is home to vibrant and culturally rich cities, along with incredible natural wonders. In Western Canada, the Rocky Mountains and cities of Vancouver, Victoria, and Calgary dominate most itineraries. In Central Canada, Niagara Falls, Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal, and Quebec City, are some of the most popular possibilities. For those who venture out to Canada's Maritime Provinces in the east, the beauty of Gros Morne National Park, along with the cities of Halifax and St. John'sprovide their own unique character. Off the beaten path, but equally impressive is Canada's North, with an opportunity to see polar bears in the wild and explore the remote beauty of places like Nahanni National Park and the cities of Whitehorse and Yellowknife.

Top Places to Visit in Canada

1. Vancouver

Situated between the Coast Mountains and the Pacific Ocean in British Columbia, Vancouver is favored for its majestic landscapes that present a natural playground where tourists can swim in the ocean, rollerblade through scenic parks and snow ski in the mountains all in one day. The third largest metropolitan area in the country, Vancouver is one of the most poplar places to visit in Canada. Vancouver’s star attraction is Stanley Park which covers a huge area of woodlands, gardens and green spaces. Some of the city’s other top sites include Granville Island’s remarkable food market and Chinatown’s vibrant array of shops.

2. Banff National Park and the Rocky Mountains

Banff National Park lies in the heart of the majestic Rocky Mountains in the province of Alberta and showcases some of Canada's most beautiful scenery. Turquoise green lakes, snow-capped peaks, and glaciers are all easily accessible in this stunning park. The jewel of the park is the Lake Louise, where green waters reflect the surrounding mountains and visitors can stroll easily around the shores. The Icefields Parkway that runs from Lake Louise to Jasper is an unforgettable drive and another must see in Banff. At the south end of the park is the lovely little town of Banff, providing all kinds of accommodation, shopping, and dining options.

In winter Banff is also a major winter sports area and home to Lake Louise Ski Resort and Sunshine Village, two of Canada's most prominent ski destinations.

3. Toronto

The capital of Ontario, Toronto is the most populated city in Canada as well as one of the largest cities in North America. With a large number of ethnic districts like Chinatown, Little India and Little Italy, Toronto is also one of the world’s most culturally diverse cities. The city’s main tourist draws range from impressive landmarks such as the iconic CN Tower and the fairy tale castle of Casa Loma. Additionally, the Toronto Islands are a popular destination with beaches and outdoor activities.

4. The Canadian

Travelers looking for a relaxing way to cross Canada may want to consider the train, in this case, the Canadian. Connecting Toronto and Vancouver, this is one of the world’s more famous train rides, traveling through the lakes of northern Ontario, the prairie provinces and the Canadian Rockies including Jasper National Park, to end at the cosmopolitan city of Vancouver. It takes 3 days to cover the 4,466 kilometers (2,775 miles) connecting the two cities. Via Rail recently spent $22 million modernizing the train.

5. Old Quebec

Old Quebec, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is spread across the Upper and Lower Town of Quebec and contains the city's most historic buildings. The Lower Town, along the St. Lawrence River, is the site of the original settlement and home to the outstanding Château Frontenac, as well as numerous other treasures. The Upper Town rests on 100 meter-high cliffs and is home to the Citadel, the Plains of Abraham, Place d'Armes, and the Parque Historique de l'Artillerie. This area is one of Canada's most popular historical areas and is well developed for tourism. In addition to the historical sites, visitors will also find artists displaying their works on Rue du Trésor, interesting museums including the Musée de la Civilisation, and all kinds of shops and restaurants.

6. Niagara Falls

Straddling the US-Canadian border, Niagara Falls is within reach of Toronto - and well worth it. The three falls combined, the Horseshoe Falls, the American Falls and the Bridal Veil Falls, form the highest flow rate of any waterfall in the world (around 2,400 m3 per second). Once you've seen the Falls (take a Maid of the Mist tour), explore the theme park-esque town that lives off the natural wonder's tourist appeal.

7. Montreal

The second largest city in Canada after Toronto, Montreal is the cultural and financial capital of the Quebec province. Boasting the largest French-speaking community outside of Paris, France, Montreal is a bustling metropolis comprised of a downtown district, a historic quarter, entertainment district and several distinctive neighborhoods. Montreal’s main sights include downtown skyscrapers like the Olympic Tower, the historic buildings of Old Montreal and several family attractions like theme and water parks.

8. Ottawa's Parliament House

Ottawa's Parliament Hill stands high above the Ottawa River and is graced by the Neo-Gothic style Parliament buildings built in the last half of the 19th century. The most prominent feature is the Peace Tower that divides the House of Commons and the Senate on either side. In front of the Parliament buildings is the Centennial Flame, lit in 1966 to commemorate the centenary of the Canadian Confederation, and behind the buildings is a sculpture garden. In the summer, the Changing of the Guard takes place on the front lawn of the Houses of Parliament, weather permitting. Below Parliament Hill, a lovely walk runs alongside the Ottawa River.

9. whistler

One of North America's largest and most popular ski resorts hosted the Winter Olympics in 2010 and boasts some 8,000 acres of pistes and 1,610m of vertical. Its ski area across two mountains - Whistler and Blackcomb - enjoys a long season from November to May and an impressive and reliable average snowfall.

10. Bay of Fundy

The Bay of Fundy, located in Eastern Canada in between New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, is known for its amazing tides. The variation between high and low is the largest in the world, measuring up to a maximum of 19 meters (10 fathoms). While there are many ways to appreciate this natural wonder, some of the most popular locations and sights along the Bay of Fundy are the cliffs and rock formations at Hopewell Cape, Fundy National Park, the Fundy Trail Parkway, and Grand Manan Island.

Some interesting facts about Canada       

1. Canada spans 9 984 670 sq km and comprises 6 time zones.

2. Canada is home to the longest street in the world. Yonge Street in Ontario starts at Lake Ontario, and runs north through Ontario to the Minnesota border, a distance of almost 2,000 km.

3. While we’re talking ‘longest’, here’s another record: Canada has the world's longest coastline at 202,080 km.

4. A bear cub named Winnipeg was exported from Canada to the London Zoo in 1915. A little boy named Christopher Robin Milne loved to visit Winnipeg, or Winnie for short. His love for the bear cub inspired the stories written by his father, A.A. Milne, about Winnie-the-Pooh.

5. The Canadian motto, A Mari Usque ad Mare, means "From sea to sea."

6. Toronto’s Rogers Centre, formerly known as the SkyDome, is home to the largest Sony big screen in the world, measuring 10 m x 33.6 m.

7. The Blackberry Smartphone was developed in Ontario, at Research In Motion's Waterloo offices.

8. The Big Nickel in Sudbury, Ontario is the world's largest coin. It is a huge reproduction of a 1951 Canadian nickel and measures nine meters in diameter.

9. Canada has twice been invaded by the USA, first in 1775 and again in 1812.

10. Actor Leslie Nielsen is Canadian. His brother, Erik, was the Deputy Prime Minister of Canada for two years, from 1984 to 1986.

11. Canada holds the record for the most gold medals ever won at the Winter Olympics, taking 14 Golds at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics.

12. Sandy Gardiner, a journalist with the Ottawa Journal in the 60s, coined the term 'Beatlemania' while he was writing a story about the Beatles.

13. Canada was named through a misunderstanding. When Jaques Cartier, a French explorer, came to the new world, he met with local Natives who invited them to their 'kanata' (the word for ‘village’). The party mistakenly thought the name of the country was "Kanata" or Canada.

14. The Mounted Police was formed in 1873, with nine officers. In 1920, the group merged with the Dominion Police to become the famous Royal Canadian Mounted Police, which today has close to 30 000 members.

15. Canada is home to approximately 55,000 different species of insects.

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