With the second largest country in the world with a rich and spectacularly beautiful geography, Canadians are fortunate enough to have some of the most beautiful hidden natural wonders in North America. From sandy beaches, and hidden trails right through to small, charming towns and beautiful waterfalls, there are countless gems to be found in Canada for those willing to get off the typical tourist path. Below are the top 10 offbeat attractions that the country has to offer, which, from the look of things, I am afraid are not everywhere you’d want to be in Canada.
Haida Gwaii, British Columbia
Haida Gwaii is an isolated group of islands, located in the Pacific Ocean of the north-west coast of British Columbia. Also known as the “Galapagos of the North” it is the best place to spot wildlife like black bears and bald eagles, not to mention marine creatures too. They can tour through the rainforest, Haida totem poles as well as roots, and traditional village archeological sites, or tour through and over the mossy rocks. Did you know that inside Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve you will find totem poles and also traditional longhouses that depict the history of the Haida people?
Prince Edward County, Ontario
Prince Edward County has been described as Ontario’s best-kept secret it boasts of fine wine producers, art from galleries and beautiful sandy beaches. This beautiful place provides a truly countryside experience which is just perfect for wine and dining enthusiasts. The several beaches included in the park feature North Shore and sand dunes with numerous sandy beaches, as well as charming towns like Picton and Wellington, more focused on the arts and crafts shops, cafes, and earlier historical attractions. Barnstable county popular for its arts and sunset appeal and it offers fresh food facilities as most of the restaurants take their food from nearby local farmers.
Lunenburg, Nova Scotia
Lunenburg is a very picturesque fishing town located in the province of Nova Scotia on the south of the island. It has a well-preserved built environment and indeed has a positive and bustling waterfront reflecting the fishing past. Go to Fisheries Museum of the Atlantic to know more about the fishing heritage of the town this town, take a leisurely walk across the harbor area and check out the famous Bluenose II schooner. Lunenburg also has many galleries and studios often by local artists, so the town is popular with art lovers and enthusiasts.
Fogo Island, NL
Fogo Island lies in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador and is an isolated place offering such geographical features and cultural experience. Home to the ‘Fogo Island Inn’ designed by architect Todd Stadtner and artist residency, art and architecture is prevailed on this island. Hiking is possible, icebergs float close to the shore and and one can even see whales sometimes. Lanister has described Fogo Island having steep cliffs and painted Dotting houses which makes it an ideal place for any photographer and tourists who looking for a calm environment.
Cape Breton Highlands, Nova Scotia
The Cape Breton Highland region is one of the most thrilling and beautiful areas for outdoor enthusiasts with some of the great hiking and scenic roads in the nation. This is the famous Cabot Trail which circles around the cut-line coast to give tourists a spectacular appreciation of cliffs, mountains and sea. Cape Breton is also location of the annual Celtic Colours International Festival that draws performers of Gaelic music and dance, and Scottish food. Some other activities to undertake in this coastal province include, whale watching, kayaking and even the option to visit some of the small fishing villages all over.
Kluane National Park, Yukon
The Kluane National Park is for those visitors who want to have the wilderness and some kind of adventure. In the Yukon territory, this park is home to the continent’s highest mountain, Mount Logan and Canada’s largest ice field. Kluane’s options include grassy valleys and high peaks, and the free-roaming grizzly bear, caribou and Dall sheep. There are many ways to tour the area, including by walking on elevated nature trails, by boating on stunning frozen glacial lakes or through an aeriel view by helicopter.
Salt Spring Island, British Columbia
British Columbia’s Gulf Islands, it is famous for art and culture, sandy beaches, and organic farms with natural spring water. There will also be an island’s Saturday Market with hand–made products, foodstuffs, and other locally made items. Snorkellers can swim in the clear waters around the island or sunbathe on deserted beaches, hikers can enjoy the wonderful walks through the island or visitors can pop into galleries and studios that populate the island. Likewise, Salt Spring is well known for more of its eateries, and particularly the farm to table provisions that you can easily get here making it really suitable for food lovers.
Petroglyph, Fundy National Park of New Brunswick
While Fundy National Park is not an offshore island, it does boast one of the highest tides in the world and, at low tide, visitors can wander across the ocean floor. The park has coastal cliffs that include waterfalls, and very many forest regions, which are ideal for hiking, nature photography among others. You shouldn’t visit without seeing Hopewell Rocks and enjoy the powerful waves that shape the enormous sculptures of stones. It is also possible to go for kayaking, bird watching, and raw camping, therefore, the park has become a hub to adventure enthusiasts.
Kluane National Park, Yukon
Grasslands National Park could be ranked as one of the most unrecognized attractions of Canada; yet, it reveals a beautiful sight of the prairies. This park is one of the last places in North America that has not been developed and it is a prairie grassland area; the wildlife that can be seen include bison and prairie dogs and black-footed ferret, which is endangered. Activities include hiking, stargazing, bird watching and informal camping and there are no barriers between the feet and the vast, open sky. Interpretive trails are also available at Grasslands National Park where you get more information on indigenous history of the area and prairie ecosystem.
Athabasca Sand Dunes, Saskatchewan
The Athabasca Sand Dunes is located in the northern Saskatchewan and it consists of nearly 130 kilometer of sand dune along the shore of the Lake Athabasca. Inaccessible by road, only by boat or float plane, these dunes are rather unique, with sand formations battled by the winds and juxtaposed alongside boreal forest. For those who do not mind roughing it a bit and want something completely different then this is the desert of the world’s largest, rare plant species specific to the dunes can be enjoyed in this expanse of remote nothingness. Visitors can only hike, row boats, and camp to appreciate the natural face of this world wonder.
Conclusion
These places are Canada’s best-kept secrets, and exquisite and adventurous destinations for any tourist that is seeking to venture off the beaten path. The Migration Associates Canada offers to visit From Haida Gwaii’s prehistoric history to the unreachable sand dunes of Athabasca or Cape Breton’s up and down terrain, these places give stunning insight into Canada’s geography. These places offer untouched nature, stunning history and true, friendly Canadian people: and they are not crowded by tourists yet.