Did you know that every province in Canada is home to its own unique bucket list experience?
Canada has such a wide variety of things to see and there are always new things to experience! If you can’t travel outside Canada right now, why not stay and experience your own backyard?
Canada is a huge and amazing country, teeming with unique experiences to offer travelers. Discover hidden local gems, from hotel stays and experiences to natural wonders and quaint cities.
Here is a unique experience in every Canadian province that we recommend you add to your bucket list:
British Columbia – Spotted Lake
In winter and spring, this lake, located northwest of Osoyoos in British Columbia’s Okanagan Valley, looks just like a normal lake. But in the summer months, Spotted Lake evaporates and leaves behind a polka-dotted landscape of yellow, green, and blue spots!
These colorful pools occur due to high concentrations of minerals like calcium, sodium sulfates, and magnesium sulfates in the water.
Spotted Lake is a sacred place for the indigenous people of the Okanagan Nation. To them, each of the different circles has different healing and medicinal properties. A great way to visit this lake is with a local First Nations guide.
Make sure to visit other great sites in the area such as Nk’mip Cultural Centre.
Alberta – Lake Minnewanka Ghost Town
Can you believe that there is a lost underwater city in Banff National Park?
In 1888, a resort village called Minnewanka Landing was founded on the shores of Lake Minnewanka, a spot that had been used by humans for 10,000 years.
Today, Minnewanka Landing is accessible only by boat—or scuba diving! Dams in 1921 and 1941 were built to provide power to the area and flooded the resort townsite, submerging everything! You can still see nineteenth-century stoves, lanterns, docks, and building foundations, all preserved.
The sunken city under Lake Minnewanka is truly a hidden gem that very few know about, and it’s waiting to be discovered! This is a super special and unique site. If you want to explore Minnewanka Landing, you will need to be a licensed scuba diver.
Saskatchewan – Tunnels of Moose Jaw
Did you know there are tunnels underneath Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan?
These underground tunnels in Moose Jaw, once home to crime, are open for the public to experience and be teleported back in time!
The Tunnels of Moose Jaw is a year-round tourist attraction that entertains guests with a unique production of Canadian History. Head under the streets of Moose Jaw and experience guided theatrical tours. Relive the days of prohibition, learn of Al Capone’s connections to Moose Jaw, and hear firsthand of the hardships faced by early Chinese immigrants and their struggles to help build the country in the early 1900s.
Manitoba – Churchill, Manitoba
The ‘Polar Bear Capital of the World,’ Churchill Manitoba lures people to the shores of Hudson Bay for its majestic predators, beluga whales, a huge old stone fort, the northern lights, and endless subarctic majesty.
The amazing wildlife is enough for Churchill to be on any Canadian bucket list, but there’s so much more that Churchill had to offer.
There are between 900 and 1,000 polar bears in the western Hudson Bay population and companies adhere to strict guidelines to help protect the polar bear population.
From Tundra vehicle and walking tours to boat and helicopter tours, there are so many amazing ways to experience Churchill!
Ontario – Tobermory, Ontario
The Tobermory area offers visitors an amazing Canadian experience with its beautiful landscapes and endless amazing activities.
From diving and snorkeling, visiting a shipwreck, kayaking, and canoeing to shopping for treasures, eating delicious fish, and watching picture-perfect sunsets, there is something for everyone. The Bruce Trail also has some of the best hiking on the peninsula!
Explore Five National Marine Park, which is famous for its scuba diving, take a glass-bottomed boat ride to Flowerpot Island or rent a stand-up paddleboard and explore the coastline.
Tobermory is perfectly located at the tip of the spectacular Bruce Peninsula. It is an amazing little lakeside town that is surrounded by crystal clear waters that will remind you of something you would see in the Caribbean!
Quebec – Hôtel de Glace
This Chilly Canadian hotel only has a four-month lifespan due to the unique resources it’s made of. Every part of the hotel is created out of ice, including the furniture!
Made out of 15,000 tons of snow and 500,000 tons of ice, the Hôtel de Glace in Quebec takes a month and a half and 60 full-time workers to finish its rooms. The result is an amazing blend of chilly, natural structural design and ambient pastel light.
The hotel has 85 bedrooms, a club, an art gallery, and even a chapel that can host weddings.
Beds are covered with furs, blankets, and sleeping bags to keep you warm. The only areas of the hotel that are heated are outdoor bathrooms, along with the outdoor hot tubs.
Staying in the Hôtel de Glace is certainly a unique experience as it changes in layout and complexity every year!
Newfoundland – 10,000-year-old Icebergs
From April to August, you can cruise around 10,000-year-old glacial giants along the northern and eastern coast of Newfoundland.
These icebergs come in every shape, size, and colour, ranging from snow-white to the deepest aquamarine! But don’t underestimate icebergs. In 1912, only 400 miles from the Newfoundland coast, an iceberg sank the infamous Titanic.
Although they don’t move that quickly, you can stand on the amazing coastlines and watch them sail by. The best ways to watch icebergs are by boat tour, kayak, and from land. Be sure to keep your eyes peeled for whales and sea birds. You can even sleep in a lighthouse on Iceberg Alley!
New Brunswick -Moncton Tidal Bore
Twice a day in Moncton, New Brunswick, the water of the Petitcodiac River flows upstream in a surfable wave! The tidal bore in Moncton is caused when the unparalleled tides in the Bay of Fundy begin to make their way up the historic Petitcodiac River. The Bay of Fundy is home to the highest tides in the world, and over 100 billion tonnes of water come in and out of the bay each day!
This natural phenomenon makes the Petitcodiac River one of the world’s best tidal bore surfing spots, which enjoys increasing popularity internationally. Yet it is a dangerous adventure suitable mostly for advanced surfers.
Nova Scotia – Joggins Fossil Cliffs
Explore one of nature’s most exciting creations, where the highest tides in the world reveal the most complete fossil record of the “Coal Age” 100 million years before the dinosaurs.
Every rock holds the possibility of discovery, and their guided tours may lead you to find something amazing! At Joggins, their backyard is 300 million years old, and every day there is the possibility to discover something new! At this UNESCO World Heritage Site, you can see cliffs that hold ancient fossils, including the earliest known reptile, dating back more than 300 million years.
The Joggins Fossil Centre is situated on the recovered site of the Old Joggins No. 7 Coal Mine overlooking the cliffs. This Centre offers an amazing learning experience, featuring a wide-ranging fossil specimen collection, exhibits, and displays.
Prince Edward Island – Thunder Cove Beach
Thunder Cove Beach is a true hidden gem in PEI. It is located off-the-beaten-path in Darnley, just outside of Kensington. This is one of the most incredible places to visit in PEI, with majestic “Teacup Rock”, sandstone cliffs, and awe-inspiring cave formations that are constantly being changed by Mother Nature. This is an amazing beach to visit if you want to enjoy the sights of the sea, dunes, and cliffs all in one place, and also if you just want a perfect place to relax.
PEI’s north shore is known for rolling dunes and fine sand beaches, but Thunder Cove is much different! The shore and beach are geologically diverse and an example of how water and wind shape and change PEI’s landscapes.
I CAN’T WAIT TO HELP YOU PLAN YOUR CANADIAN BUCKET LIST ADVENTURE!
When you’re ready to learn more about crossing off this Canadian bucket-list must-dos, contact me. I have extensive experience in life-changing travel experiences and will be able to craft something incredible that is suited to your unique needs.
Disclaimer: Current travel rules and restrictions can change without notice. The decision to travel is ultimately your responsibility. Contact your consulate and/or local authorities to confirm your nationality’s entry and/or any changes to travel requirements before travelling. OnantaForbes.com does not endorse travelling against government advisories.
