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).

Page 1 of 4

Hiking and biking
Canada's seemingly endless supply of trails covers the country from coast to coast. Ready boots? Start walking...

The 243-hectare Irving Nature Park in Saint John, New Brunswick, is bounded by mud flats, saltwater marshes and a sandy beach, making for marvellous views of diverse marine life. The park has eight trails, plus a wheelchair-accessible roadway, a seal observation deck and a bird-watching boardwalk. (506-632-7777; www.ifdn.com).

Hikers and bikers gravitate to Prince Edward Island's Confederation Trail, the gently graded 279-kilometre path that winds past kelly green fields, red clay cliffs and white sand beaches. Go to www.peiplay.com for tips on travelling the trail independently, or sign on with a tour company offering guides, bike rentals and van support. (800-672-0775; www.freewheeling.ca or 800-969-2822; www.macqueens.com).

Before the Second World War, ski-mad Montrealers reached the Laurentians on trains that ran through quiet valleys and quaint villages before arriving at Mont-Laurier. In 1996, recreational trails replaced the rails, and stations were transformed into rest stops –- some with cafés and boutiques. The 200-kilometre-long Le Petit Train Du Nord park welcomes 400,000 outdoor enthusiasts each summer. (800-561-6673; www.laurentides.com).

Beaver Creek Conservation Area, 13 kilometres south of Saskatoon, is the perfect place for an afternoon amble. With five scenic nature trails, it's also one of the last native short-grass Prairie sites in Saskatchewan. Bonus for night owls: sign up for an evening of meteor watching. (306-374-2474; www.meewasin.com).

Take a walk on the wild side in Lynn Canyon Park, a lush 250-hectare enclave of cedar, hemlock and 100-year-old Douglas fir in North Vancouver. Along with trails of varying length and difficulty, the park features an idyllic swimming spot and an impressive 50-metre-high suspension bridge. (604-987-7131; www.district.north-van.bc.ca).

Page 2 of 4

Canoeing
Canoeing in Canada? It's a shore thing. We've got a rich paddling tradition and the top places to “dip, dip and swing.”

Halifax's Northwest Arm has long been a favourite of sailors. In fact, North America's oldest yacht club is located there. But it's also perfect for leisurely paddles. Nature lovers can launch from two popular parks along the sheltered six-kilometre route. More interested in human nature? Check out the exclusive homes lining the shore. (902-490-5946; www.halifaxinfo.com).

Paddle back through time in Ontario's Algonquin Park, in eight-metre canoes similar to those used by coureurs de bois, taking in much the same scenery (think boreal forests, bear tracks and beaver ponds). Options range from easy three-hour outings to seven-day canoeing-camping combos, and no canoeing experience is necessary. (800-794-9660; www.voyageurquest.com).

Experience is required on the Clearwater River in northwestern Saskatchewan, known for its challenging conditions. Though it's in a remote location (backcountry access is by float-plane) it's hardly “undiscovered” -- it was frequented by 18th-century fur traders. (877-2ESCAPE; www.sasktourism.com).

The Forks, at the juncture of the Red and Assiniboine rivers in Winnipeg, has changed a lot since early canoeists paddled its course 6,000 years ago. Today, Winnipeg's riverfront boasts a thriving market, bountiful boutiques and several kilometres of scenic walkways. But you can still explore it the old-fashioned way –- just rent a canoe and embark on an urban adventure. (204-942-6302; www.theforks.com).

Page 3 of 4

Sightseeing
Every year, Canadian communities host thousands of fairs, festivals and sundry other celebrations. But some of the best events are organized by Mother Nature.

Twice daily, 200 billion tonnes of water (equivalent to all the world's rivers) floods in and out of the East Coast's Bay of Fundy. One spot to see its awesome impact is at Hopewell Rocks, 30 kilometres south of Moncton. At high tide, the rocks look like tree-topped islands; six hours later, when the Bay drops a whopping 14 metres, they look like mammoth “flowerpots” rising from the bare ocean floor. (877-734-3429; www.thehopewellrocks.ca).

The Great White North has great white wildlife, and Churchill, Manitoba, is the best place for viewings. Hop aboard a helicopter to watch the world's largest concentration of polar bears return to their dens after the annual seal hunt, or set out in an open boat to see the beluga whales that arrive en masse each summer to nurse their young. (800-690-7887; www.toursexplore.com).

If white's not your colour, try a three-day orca and grizzly tour around Vancouver Island. In summer, Coastal Spirits Wilderness Expeditions runs a 28-metre ketch from Port McNeill through Johnstone Strait into the Coast Mountain Inlets. Watch for killer whales -- the world's largest resident population -- and grizzlies, which can weigh up to 780 kilograms. (888-427-5557; www.bearsandwhales.com).

Whales come with a side order of icebergs in Newfoundland's Notre Dame Bay. Every spring, 10,000-year-old mountains of ice drift in from Greenland. The bergs are big: they can weigh 100,000 to 200,000 tonnes and loom 60 metres above sea level. Thanks to tunnels, runnels, and colours ranging from dazzling white to celestial blue, they're also surprisingly beautiful. (800-563-6353; www.gov.nf.ca/tourism).

Adrenaline-fuelled adventurers migrate to the North West Territories' Nahanni National Park each summer to tackle some of Canada's roughest terrain. It has an isolated location and a limited entry policy. So what's the attraction? Nahanni, the first park to be named a World Heritage Site, features one of the country's wildest rivers, one of the continent's deepest canyons and a waterfall twice as tall as Niagara's. Whew! (867-695-2713; www.nahanni.com).

For more inspiration to help plan your dream getaway, visit our Travel section.

Page 4 of 4