Discover Canada

This Is Canada

Canada is too polite to say so, but its got the goods: a trio of cultured cities in Montral, Toronto and Vancouver; an epic amount of terrain to play on outside the urban areas; and a welcoming, progressive vibe throughout.

The globes second-biggest country has an endless variety of landscapes. Spiky mountains, glinting glaciers, spectral forests theyre all here, spread across six times zones. Wave-bashed beaches, too. With the Pacific, Arctic and Atlantic oceans on three sides, Canada has a coastline that would reach halfway to the moon, if stretched out. Its the backdrop for plenty of ah-inspiring moments and for a big provincial menagerie. Thats big as in polar bears, grizzly bears, whales and everyones favorite, shrub-nibblin moose.

Canada is a land of action. Whether its snowboarding Whistlers mountains, surfing Nova Scotias swell or walking on Banffs glaciers, outfitters will help you gear up for it. Gentler adventures abound, too, such as strolling along Vancouvers Stanley Park seawall, swimming off Prince Edward Islands pink-sand beaches, or ice skating Ottawas Rideau Canal. Before you know it, youll be zipping up the fleece and heading outdoors.

Canada is a local food smorgasbord. If you grazed from east to west across the country, youd fill your plate like this: lobster with a dab of melted butter in the Maritime provinces, poutine (golden fries soaked in gravy and cheese curds) in Qubec and wild salmon and velvety scallops in British Columbia. Tastemakers may not tout Canadian food the way they do with, say, Italian or French fare. So lets just call the distinctive seafood, piquant cheeses and off-the-vine fruits and veggies our little secret. Ditto for the bold reds and crisp whites the countrys vine-striped valleys grow.

Canada parties all year long. Okanagans icewine festival in January, Qubec Citys winter carnival in February, Whistlers ski and snowboard fest in April, Montrals jazz fest in June, Torontos film fest in September and Niagaras winter festival in December all rock the calendar.

The turquoise waters of Moraine Lake (), Banff National Park
DAVID TOMLINSON

Canadas Top Experiences

Banff National Park

Holy Mother Nature! Banff ( ) is the beautiful, buxom rock star of Canadas national parks. Its impossible to describe without resorting to shameless clichs, so lets get them out of the way: placid, turquoise-tinted lakes; dagger-shaped peaks; bright, jumbled wildflower meadows; and glistening glaciers. While paddling and skiing earn raves, hiking is Banffs tour de force, especially around Lake Louise. Alpine-style teahouses pop up along the trails, so exertion is rewarded with sweet treats (and ethereal, in-the-cloud views).

PHILIP & KAREN SMITH

Old Town, Qubec

Qubecs capital is over 400 years old, and its stone walls, glinting cathedral spires and jazz-playing corner cafes suffuse it with romance, melancholy and intrigue on par with any European city. Soak it up by walking the Old Towns labyrinth of lanes ( ) and get lost amid the street performers and cozy inns, stopping every so often for a caf au lait, flaky pastry or plate of poutine (fries smothered in cheese curds and gravy).

Le Chteau Frontenac
OLIVIER CIRENDINI

North Americas finest French-influenced cuisine feeds a city with a Bacchanalian love for eating out.