Canada

The world’s second-largest country Canada is a melting pot of untouched nature, diverse culture, indigenous people and historical heritage. It is also one of the world’s richest countries. With a terrain made up of mountains, glaciers, rainforests, lakes and wildlife dotted national parks, this vast country is a playground for outdoor buffs and offers an endless array of activities. Canada’s world-class cities with a top-notch art scene, excellent food and friendly and polite people will amaze you at every level.

Canada’s capital Ottawa is known for its grand architecture, and the Parliament Hill exhibits some of its best examples.The city also houses a few great museums like the National Gallery of Canada. The historical Rideau Canal – built in 1832, is a UNESCO world heritage site and one of the most popular outdoor attractions in the city. Ottawa is the capital but Toronto is the largest and most popular city in Canada. Located in Ontario province, the city’s skyscraper-filled skyline is dominated by the iconic CN Tower. A truly cosmopolitan city, Toronto is known for its great food and eateries, lovely beaches and vibrant nightlife. Apart from that, you will find excellent museums, art galleries, outdoor markets, and green spaces for a pleasant stroll in the city. Vancouver – located in British Columbia, is a bustling port city in Canada’s west coast. Since this is one of the favourite locations of Hollywood filmmakers, you have probably seen the city countless times on the big screen. Vancouver is a diverse city, and this can be seen in its population, food and culture. Stanley Park – located in downtown Vancouver, is a 405-hectare urban park and a major attraction in the city. French-speaking Quebec province houses not one, but two major cities – Montreal and Quebec city. Montreal is a modern city with a great cultural importance and hosts numerous festival celebrations throughout the year – the Montreal International Jazz Festival being the most notable event. Exploring Old Montreal and cycling along the Lachine Canal is the best way to experience the charm of Montreal. Other highlights include the 19th-century Notre-Dame Basilica and excellent museums like Musee des Beaux-Arts de Montréal. On the other hand, Quebec City is known for its colonial architecture and historical importance. Famed as North America’s oldest French-speaking city, Quebec’s UNESCO world heritage listed Old City is located at its heart. With cobblestone streets and centuries old houses and churches, the Old City is nothing short of a living museum. The historic Château Frontenac hotel is one of the most recognized buildings in the Old City. Apart from the Old City, some of Quebec’s other important sites are Battlefields Park, Musée de la Civilisation – a world-class museum that showcases a rich collection of the history and its civilization and La Citadelle de Québec – a UNESCO world heritage listed fortress that dates back to the 19th-century. Calgary in the province of Alberta is another cosmopolitan city in Canada, which is known for its annual rodeo festival – Calgary Stampede. The city is a skyscraper jungle and is the centre of Canada’s oil industry.

It is a known fact that Canada lures visitors with its other-worldly natural beauty and with 46 national parks, it is not hard to understand why. Canada’s top two national parks – Banff and Jasper, are located in the province of Alberta. The UNESCO world heritage listed Banff is Canada’s oldest national park and one of the most accessible. A pristine wilderness with rich wildlife, the park’s numerous picture-perfect lakes – including Lake Louise, Lake Minnewanka, Moraine Lake, Peyto Lake and Vermilion Lakes – are ringed by jaw-dropping alpine landscapes. This is without doubt the most Instagram-worthy destination in Canada. Jasper National Park, on the other hand, is known for its rugged terrain dotted with wildlife, lakes, glaciers and mountain peaks and offers some excellent outdoor activities like hiking, camping and skiing. Driving the stunning Icefields Parkway – a 230km long mountain road running through the heart of both these parks – is a great way to witness striking views of Jasper. Located in British Columbia, Yoho National Park might not be as popular as Banff or Jasper, but this is one of Canada’s most beautiful parks. Picturesque lakes like Emerald Lake and Lake O’Hara and striking waterfalls like Takakkaw and Wapta Falls help Yoho live up to its reputation. Algonquin Provincial Park in Ontario is another stunner. With pine forests, thousands of lakes and rivers, this park is home to wild animals like bears and moose and offers great hiking opportunities. Apart from the national and provincial parks, Canada is also home to one of the world’s most celebrated waterfalls – Niagara Falls. Though the country shares it with the USA, you can get a mesmerizing view of the falls from either side. Its namesake town is very popular with newlyweds and it is the perfect place to base yourself for exploring the grandeur of the cascading falls.

Excellent nature and world-class cities are what Canada does the best. From its wildlife packed national parks to snow capped mountains and lakes, you can spend weeks exploring its majestic beauty and still not get bored. Canada shares a border with the United States of America, and even a short trip to Canada is enough to understand what makes it stand apart.