Thank you to USA Today 10best for inviting to write about 30 amazing adventures in Canada. 15 lists of 10 were combined to create 150 things to see and do in Canada
Did you know Canada turns 150 this year? To help celebrate, we’ve created a list of 150 things to see and do – one for each year – all within the borders of this vast nation. From exploring its great outdoors, to sampling its fantastic food and drink scene, and experiencing culture that’s unique to Canada, there’s something for everyone.
If you’d like to see more about a specific interest, click into its corresponding article, linked below each section.
Outdoor activities
Camping at Kluane Lake — Photo courtesy of Government of Yukon/Derek Crowe
Adventure
- Go heli-hiking in Banff, Alta.
- Take a 5-day otter kayak tour in Kyuquot, B.C.
- Adventure at Glacier National Park
- Watch grizzly bears at Great Bear Lodge in British Columbia
- Get away on a multi-day horse pack trip in Big River, Sask.
- Canoe down the Churchill River
- Go on safari at Lazy Bear Lodge in Churchill, Man.
- Face your fears on a CN Tower EdgeWalk in Toronto
- Kayak at sea for several days in Cape Broyle, N.F.
- Explore the wilderness surrounding Rapid Lake Lodge in Quebec
10BEST
10 of the best places to have an outdoor adventure in Canada
Lakes
- Visit the largest lake in Gros Morne National Park, Western Brook Pond
- Take in the turquoise hues of Lake Louise
- Check out the trails around Lake O’Hara
- Climb 2,500 feet to see the majestic Garibaldi Lake
- Choose from over 50 lakes in Killarney Provincial Park
- Go fishing at Kluane Lake
- See the 10th largest lake in the world, Great Slave Lake
- Marvel at autumnal colors surrounding Lake Memphremagog
- Float in Canada’s version of the Dead Sea, Little Manitou Lake
- Enjoy the white sand beaches at Lake Winnipeg
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You need to visit these 10 otherworldly lakes in Canada
Wildlife
- See the free-ranging bison herd at Prince Albert National Park
- Visit Grasslands National Park, the only place in Canada to see black-tailed prairie dogs
- Go on a two-hour safari at Banff National Park
- Watch deer frolic against the magical backdrop of Lake Louise
- Observe elk at Jasper National Park
- Enjoy an unbelievable view of polar bears at Churchill, Man.
- Scope out the waters in Sidney, B.C. for whales
- Explore the nation’s largest enclosed park, Elk Island National Park, for a variety of hoofed animals
- See bald eagles, fox, bears and more at Waterton Lakes National Park
- Be amazed by the sea animals that thrive at Gwaii Haanas National Park
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These are the best places in Canada for seeing wildlife
Leisure
- Take a scenic cycling route in Quebec’s Eastern Townships
- Have an authentic dude ranch experience in British Columbia
- Play a round of championship golf at Fox Harb’r Golf Resort and Spa in Nova Scotia
- Soak in the picture-perfect views from a CTMA Cruise in Montreal
- Enjoy the scenery as you tee off at Deerhurst Highlands Golf Course in Huntsville, Ont.
- Explore Ottawa, Canada’s capital city
- Go skiing at Mont-Tremblant, Montreal’s playground
- Chill out among the snow at Canmore, Alta where you can go dog sledding
- Get out on the water in Kingston, Ont.
- People-watch at Trinity Bellwoods Park in Toronto
10BEST
10 leisurely options for outdoor fun in Canada
Food & drink
Pasta at Little Grouse on the Prairie — Photo courtesy of Bob Deutscher
Amazing restaurants
- Try fresh wild game at Raymonds
- Treat yourself to the indulgent fare at Joe Beef
- Explore the foie gras section of the menu at Au Pied de Cochon
- Enjoy a six-course tasting menu at Alo
- Savor Scandinavian-inspired eats at Dandylion
- Sip a cocktail alongside a canned seafood specialty at Bar Raval
- Delight in classic Italian cooking at Little Grouse on the Prairie
- Dine on delectable veggie-focused dishes at Pigeonhole
- Taste the local and seasonal ingredients on the menu at Hawksworth Restaurant
- Sample the unique combination of Japanese and Italian cuisine at Kissa Tanto
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Make reservations at these 10 Canadian restaurants now
Regional foods
- Try Nanaimo bars (and items inspired by them) while following the eponymous trail in British Columbia
- Sample poutine, one of Canada’s most famous dishes
- Indulge in butter tarts, a gooey and buttery treat
- Savor tourtiere, a French-Canadian meat pie
- Enjoy an authentically Canadian beaver tail
- Treat yourself to a hearty bannock
- Chow down on smoked meat sandwiches in Montreal
- Have a Montreal bagel
- Get some maple syrup to take home with you
- Order a sandwich with peameal bacon
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10 delicious foods in Canada that you really need to eat
Doughnuts
- Sample scrumptious varieties like the Madagascar bourbon vanilla at Jelly Modern Doughnuts
- Enjoy unique offerings using Fair Trade ingredients at Oh Doughnuts
- Indulge in creative flavors like a cold brew cruller at Lucky’s Doughnuts
- Grab a yummy doughnut from Doughnut Party before they sell out
- Try one of the seasonal menu items from Glory Hole Doughnuts
- Customize your own doughnut creation at Maverick’s Donut Company
- Savor a smaller take on the traditional doughnut at DoughNats
- Head to the farmers’ market to pick up a fresh flavor from Queen B Doughnuts
- Delight in warm doughnuts crafted by the Ol School Donuts food truck
- Taste the many unique varieties, like malt vinegar, on offer at Von Doughnuts
10BEST
These doughnuts in Canada might make you spell donut differently
Breweries
- Imbibe at Canada’s first craft brewery and gastropub, Spinnakers
- Pop in for a pint at Flying Monkeys Craft Brewery
- Sip local beer while taking in lake views at Microbrasserie Du Lac Saint-Jean
- Sample beers with hyper-local ingredients at Yukon Brewing
- Check out the grain-to-bottle operations at Farmery Estate Brewery
- Tour the farm and sample ale at Meander River Farm & Brewery
- Enjoy homemade pizza and farm-fresh beer at Persephone Brewing Company
- Indulge in sustainable suds at Beau’s All Natural
- Try a shrimp po’ boy and Beach Chair Lager at Prince Edward Island Brewing Company
- Have a taste of the subversive offerings at Rebellion Brewing
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Raise a glass to 10 of Canada’s best breweries
Distilleries
- Sample local, handcrafted spirits at Dillon’s Small Batch Distillers
- Get a taste of Scotland at Glenora Distillery
- Sip craft cocktails made with Odd Society Spirits
- Enjoy the unique flavors found in grain-to-glass spirits at Lucky Bastard Distillers
- Try gin and vodka filtered through charcoal and gold nuggets at Yukon Shine Distillery
- Taste award-winning Parlour Gin at Eau Claire Distillery
- Experience the world’s only organic potato vodka at Pemberton Distillery
- Savor the woodsy alchemy of Cirka Distillery spirits
- Sample the four varieties of Canadian whisky on offer at Still Waters Distillery
- Get out of the vineyards and into the fruit liqueurs at Okanagan Spirits Craft Distillery
10BEST
Smooth sipping at 10 of Canada’s best craft distilleries
Culture
Victoria Symphony Splash — Photo courtesy of Deddeda Stemler/Tourism Victoria
Festivals
- Savor delicious deals during Canada’s largest annual dining celebration, Dine Out Vancouver
- Attend the International Ice Carving Competition during Ice on Whyte
- Enjoy Devour!, a tribute to food, film and wine
- Revel in the vibrancy and joy of Pride Toronto
- Get your fill of amazing eats at the BC Shellfish & Seafood Festival
- Experience a bit of Scottish culture at Royal Nova Scotia International Tattoo
- Take in the daily chuckwagon races at the Calgary Stampede
- Delight in traditional tunes performed in a tranquil setting at Rollo Bay Fiddle Festival
- Get out on the water and enjoy an evening with the Victoria Symphony orchestra during Symphony Splash
- Listen to an eclectic mix of live music at CityFolk Festival
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Music
- Explore Studio Bell, a must-see hub of music history and live music
- Check out the oldest tavern in Nova Scotia, Split Crow Pub
- Go to a concert at Métropolis, one of the top live music venues in the world
- Visit one of Canada’s most important venues for concerts, Massey Hall
- Rock out at Commodore Ballroom
- Catch an intimate performance at Alix Goolden Performance Hall, a former church sanctuary
- Revel in Ottawa’s thriving music scene at House of Targ
- Enjoy the sensational acoustics at Winspear Centre
- Take in a live show set against a breathtaking backdrop at Mission Hill Family Estate
- Hear awesome bands, drink cheap beer and have a good time at Foufounes Éléctriques
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TV & Film
- Check out the Bay Adelaide Centre where Suits is filmed
- See the setting where Twilight: Breaking Dawn – Part 2 was filmed: Stawamus Chief Provincial Park
- Tour the University of Toronto, which served as the backdrop for Good Will Hunting
- Go to Montreal’s Olympic Stadium, a crucial part of Blades of Glory
- Follow in Ennis and Jack’s footsteps in the Canadian Rockies where Brokeback Mountain was filmed
- Visit Rocko’s Family Diner, or as Riverdale fans know it, Pop’s Chock’lit Shoppe
- Cruise through Coal Harbour and see if you recognize any locations from The X-Files
- Walk through The Distillery District where films like Chicago and X-Men were shot
- See the Manitoba Legislative Building, where Capote was filmed
- Take to the sea in Halifax Harbour to experience the location where Titanic was filmed
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Hidden gems
- Search for fossils at Dinosaur Provincial Park
- Go for a dip at Sooke Potholes
- See First Nation petroglyphs at Writing-on-Stone Provincial Park
- Enjoy watching goats on a roof at the Old Country Market in Coombs, B.C.
- Check out the world’s largest moose statue in Moose Jaw, Sask.
- Learn about dinosaurs at the T.rex Discovery Centre
- Be amused by the 47 gopher dioramas at Gopher Hole Museum
- Glimpse into the mystical past at the Niagara Daredevil Exhibit
- Explore the Aga Khan Museum, the only North American museum for Islamic art
- Get up close and personal with insects (both alive and dead) at the Insectarium
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Now for something completely different: 10 unique places to see in Canada
Art
- Check out the works of B.C. artists at Vancouver Art Gallery
- Marvel at the snazzy Art Gallery of Alberta building, and the works housed inside
- See the world’s largest public collection of contemporary Inuit art at Winnipeg Art Gallery
- Wander among the tranquil outdoor paths and sculpture garden at McMichael Canadian Art Collection
- Enjoy works by the famed Group of Seven on display at the Art Gallery of Ontario
- Witness a spectacular collection, including works by Andy Warhol, at the National Gallery of Canada
- Explore the 41,000 works of art housed at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts
- Be inspired by the idyllic landscapes of Charlevoix, Que.
- View the stunning Pre-Raphaelite paintings at Beaverbrook Art Gallery
- Go inside the spectacular Maud Lewis House on display at the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia
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Canada is home to some of the world’s most beautiful art
History
- Explore L’Anse Aux Meadows, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
- Experience the past at the Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21
- Learn about Montreal’s history at Pointe-a-Calliere Museum
- Enjoy hands-on educational activities at the Canadian Museum of History
- Tour Casa Loma, also known as Toronto’s Majestic Castle
- Learn about the heritage of the first settlers of Manitoba at the New Iceland Heritage Museum
- Get educated about the Royal Canadian Mounted Police at RCMP Heritage Center
- Attend the Calgary Stampede and Rodeo with roots that go back to the 1800s
- Explore what was once the largest copper mine of the British Empire at Britannia Mine Museum
- See the historical sights and explore the Aboriginal history museums of British Columbia
Travel brings power and love back into your life.
Nickole from Nepal