A good friend on the west coast is embarking on a cross-country tour this summer.
Whether or not he takes the gentle nudge we gave him remains to be seen. Chronicling that tour and sharing the vastness and beauty each province offers seemed a great idea.
It’s a challenge we would like to extend to our readers too, as they plan outings this summer. Share what makes Canada great and showcase why we should be proud as a united country. Each region has its natural wonders and spot in Canadian history.
Newfoundland for example, along with rugged terrain and moose sightings on the outskirts of its largest city, is home to Cape Spear, the most easterly point in Canada. In season, ice bergs float within eyesight and a chartered tour to watch whales includes a stop to see puffins by the thousands.
Prince Edward Island with its red soil and oceanic views is home to Confederation, that defining moment in 1867 when Canada became a reality. There are two choices to get to PEI – crossing by ferry or driving across the world’s longest bridge (over ice-covered water).
Nova Scotia is home to Peggy’s Cove and the Halifax docks where countless immigrant families entered into this country. From rugged countryside to manicured golf courses, tourists can stop for fresh seafood at local diners or more adventurous travelers can buy fresh lobster and crab at roadside stops. The catch that day, from traps lowered into the water under the watchful eye of a black Lab and attentive fisher, is as fresh as people will find.
New Brunswick to the west, with its vast tracts of forests and farms, has a few natural wonders, including the Bay of Fundy, reversing waterfalls and the warmest saltwater beaches in Canada.
The nightlife in the Maritimes with the fiddle and live music makes for a good time.
Quebec, la belle province, offers a European feel in North America. From the small streets in old Quebec City, to the metropolitan nature of Montreal, visitors can feel, taste and smell the culture in Quebec. Far from just being the home of poutine, French cuisine feeds the senses. Visitors will also witness the subtle differences in architecture between French and English influence.
Ontario, while home to our readers, offers many tourism opportunities as well. Cruising the St. Lawrence, white water rafting near Ottawa, touring the Parliament district, breakfast at the Byward Market, or spending a day in Niagara Falls – there are many possible day trips. Toronto, home to the Jays, Leafs, Toronto FC and Raptors and many other venues, are within an easy walk or quick transit ride.
What won’t be quick is the trek to northern Ontario. After watching one of the best sunsets in the world off the shores of Lake Huron, it will take at least a day to get to Manitoba. A ferry ride to Manitoulin Island (the largest lake island in the word), a jog through Thunder Bay, location of the Terry Fox memorial, or taking a sideroad to a secret fishing hole, all take time. The enormity of this province and country is quite incredible.
Manitoba, the beginning of the prairie provinces and start of the west, features lakes, forests and agriculture. Winnipeg, dubbed the gateway to the west, is also where the heart of the forks meet. The Red and Assiniboine rivers intersect there.
Saskatchewan, a globally renowned producer of potash, uranium and farm commodities, is bounded by grasslands in the south and the Canadian shield in its north.
Alberta, home to the Stampede in Calgary, Banff Park and Lake Louise, is blessed one of Canada’s most resource-rich provinces. It is the final stop on the prairies as tourists pass the Rockies onto Canada’s west coast.
British Columbia, another feat of nature with its immense ecological beauty, natural resources, access to the Pacific Ocean and less harsh climate, make it an ideal spot to visit or live. Vancouver, the province’s capital city, features Stanley Park amongst others, where incredibly thick trees and fauna thrive in the climate. The islands too, offer their charm.
While clearly not exhaustive, those are a few tips on the tourism opportunities here at home. The Territories and far north add to the overwhelming fact that Canada is the second largest country in the world.
From our own personal experience, the natural beauty that exists is fortified by the very people who inhabit each corner of this country.
Different geography, different cultures, different languages – it is all of these and much more that represents what it means to be Canadians. Indeed, respect and willingness to share the abundance we are blessed with in this country, are what keep us strong and free.
Embrace Canada this summer and share the wealth.
We’d like to hear from you.
