Explore the Canadian outdoors

Canada covers almost 10 million square kilometres of rich, diverse terrain -- our resources soar as high as the Rockies in the west and run as deep as the icebergs in the east. There's waving grain on the Prairies and breaking waves in the Maritimes. We've inherited great lakes and grizzlies, amazing waterfalls and whales. For our annual short list of “Oh, Canada!” hotspots, read on.

Swimming
With the world's longest coastline and countless lakes, rivers and streams, Canada has more than its fair share of great places to swim -- or just soak.

Middle Brook spills through the mountains in Newfoundland's Gros Morne National Park en route to Bonne Bay, creating cascades and terraced pools perfect for a midsummer dip. But leave cliff-diving to the locals -- it takes experience (and unerring aim) to hit the deep-water pockets. (709-453-2332; www.middlebrookcottages.com).

Parlee Beach in Shediac, New Brunswick, is a good spot to soak in tidal pools and swim over sandbars -- an average of 15,000 people visit daily in summer for its fine sand and warm water, as well as its volleyball tournaments and sand-sculpture contests. With its strongman competitions, however, it's not a good spot to kick sand on someone's blanket! (800-561-0123; www.tourismnewbrunswick.ca).

Prince Edward Island is well-known for its beaches -- all right, its golf courses, too -- yet some of the best remain well-kept secrets. On the Island's eastern edge, you can walk along long stretches of “singing sand” (the high silica content causes sand to squeak when walked on) next to crystalline water. The easiest to access is Basin Head Beach, 15 kilometres north of Souris. (888-PEI-PLAY; www.peiplay.com).

Alberta's Jasper National Park is tops for double dipping. Miette Hot Springs has two outdoor pools (one of which is wheelchair accessible) with naturally hot water that hovers around 39C; for those who like it cold, there's glacier-fed Lake Annette with its distinctive turquoise colour, tinted by mountain minerals, and temperatures that peak around 15C. (780-852-3858; www.jaspercanadianrockies.com).

Get back to nature by soaking in the sultry natural springs of Hotspring Island, one of the Queen Charlotte Islands off B.C.'s northern coast. It's located in the Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve and Haida Heritage Site, which encompasses more than 100 small islands and 1,746 kilometres of rugged, secluded shoreline. For access to this park you must attend an orientation session. (800-435-5622; www.parkscanada.gc.ca/pn-np/bc/gwaiihaanas).

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