On the Columbia Icefield Skywalk, visitors can experience panoramic views from a suspended glass platform 280 m above the ground. | PHOTO: MIKE SEEHAGEL/TRAVEL ALBERTA
TRAVEL
Unique Canadian Bucket-List Destinations
These four awe-inspiring Canadian experiences are well worth the journey.
By Vawn Himmelsbach
Canada has long been a destination for travellers seeking adventure and pristine wilderness. But even with such an abundance of natural beauty, there are special experiences and places across the country that are well worth going the extra distance to discover. From centuries-old ice formations to brilliant-hued night skies, get ready to add these four Canadian destinations to your travel bucket list.
An iceberg on the move off the coast of St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador. | PHOTO: WIRESTOCK/ADOBE STOCK
Will travel for... awe-inspiring icebergs
In spring and summer, when the fog lifts off the easternmost edge of Canada, they suddenly come into view — icebergs slowly drifting by in shades from pure white to aquamarine, some towering high with jagged peaks, others shaped like domes and wedges. This is Iceberg Alley, a remarkable area that stretches 1,000 km along the eastern coast of Newfoundland and Labrador. The ever-changing, always-moving forms are actually broken-off edges of ancient glaciers that originate in Greenland and the Arctic. And in Iceberg Alley, up to 1,000 of them appear every spring, only to drift on and melt away by summer’s end.
How to get there
To get to Iceberg Alley, most visitors fly into St. John’s, rent a car and drive along the coast to Bonavista or Twillingate. Another option is to fly into Deer Lake and travel up the Great Northern Peninsula, stopping in St. Anthony and L’Anse Aux Meadows. You can view the frozen giants from several places on the shore, on a boat tour or, if you’re comfortable paddling, on a kayaking excursion. “Iceberg season” runs from spring to early summer, and the best viewing is typically in May and early June. Book an excursion with a tour operator, some of which offer tours that combine iceberg viewing with the chance to see humpback whales and puffins, too.
Ice giants make their presence known near Ferryland, Newfoundland and Labrador. | PHOTO: DOLORES HARVEY/ADOBE STOCK
Will travel for... a hundred waterfalls
A rush of water cascades down shale and limestone steps, fanning outward into a waterfall that’s almost as wide as it is tall. In summertime, surrounded by lush greenery, you might forget that you’re in Hamilton, Ont., one hour’s drive west of Toronto. This is Albion Falls, considered one of the most beautiful falls in the area. But it’s just one of many. Hamilton is known as the City of Waterfalls, and is home to more than 100 of them, thanks to its location along the Niagara Escarpment. Feel free to go chasing waterfalls — when the bounty is this rich, there’s no reason not to.
How to get there
Many of the waterfalls dotted along the Niagara Escarpment are surprisingly accessible — some are just minutes from Hamilton’s downtown core, with parking lots and groomed multi-use paths nearby. The best time to visit is during non-peak hours (early mornings or weekdays) in summer or fall; combine falls-viewing with hiking or cycling and picnicking. It’s impossible to visit all 100 waterfalls in a single day, so plan your trip by visiting the City of Hamilton’s online map of publicly accessible local waterfalls or by consulting the Hamilton Waterfalls Guide.
Albion Falls is a 19 m-tall stepped cascade of water that fans out and flows down the Niagara Escarpment in Ontario. | PHOTO: MICHAEL BUDD/ADOBE STOCK
“Sitting directly under the Auroral Oval with clear skies and minimal light pollution, the Northwest Territories offers the best place in the world to view the aurora.”
Will travel for... the magic of aurora borealis
You’ve likely seen photos of aurora borealis, the swirling, pulsing ribbons of neon green, pink and purple that flash across the northern night sky. But seeing the northern lights in person might just take your breath away. Sitting directly under the Auroral Oval with clear skies and minimal light pollution, the Northwest Territories offers the best place in the world to view the aurora. It’s a unique place where the colours, duration and brightness are at their strongest. Here, it’s possible to see nature’s light display up to 240 nights of the year, from August through to May.
How to get there
Plan your trip for autumn, when the temperatures are milder than in the winter months, but the increasingly long, dark nights offer optimal viewing opportunities. To experience the lights up close, fly into Yellowknife, where licensed tour operators offer a number of aurora excursions, from rustic to luxe. Depending on your chosen experience, you can hunt for the northern lights in a van or on a snowmobile and stay in accommodations including remote wilderness lodges and heated teepees.
Aurora glow emerald over Turton Lake, Northwest Territories. | PHOTO: NICKY RICHARDS/NWT TOURISM
Will travel for... the greatness of glaciers
In the southern Rocky Mountains between Banff and Jasper, the Columbia Icefield is the largest icefield along North America’s continental divide, comprising around 300 sq. km. Formed over millennia, glaciers are a relatively rare geological phenomenon — and about 20 percent of the planet’s supply can be found in Western Canada. Road trip along the 232-km Icefields Parkway that connects Lake Louise and Jasper for a big-picture view of the imposing Athabasca Glacier. Stop at scenic lookouts to marvel at the Crowfoot, Bow and Saskatchewan glaciers along the way.
How to get there
Begin your journey in Edmonton, and drive west to Jasper National Park, where the Icefields Parkway winds south to Banff National Park — or leave from Calgary and do the same in reverse. From May through October, weather permitting, outdoor adventurers can even sign up for tours with certified guides to hike onto some of the glaciers in the area. It’s a rare chance to experience their monumental beauty up close.
Hikers navigate the terrain near Iceberg Lake, alongside the imposing Bow Glacier, in Banff National Park, Alberta. | PHOTO: PAUL ZIZKA/TRAVEL ALBERTA
Before any driving trip, check the weather and road conditions, make sure you have emergency numbers handy (such as roadside assistance), and download offline maps if you’re going to be in areas where cell service is spotty.
Ice giants make their presence known near Ferryland, Newfoundland and Labrador. | PHOTO: DOLORES HARVEY/ADOBE STOCK
Will travel for... awe-inspiring icebergs
In spring and summer, when the fog lifts off the easternmost edge of Canada, they suddenly come into view — icebergs slowly drifting by in shades from pure white to aquamarine, some towering high with jagged peaks, others shaped like domes and wedges. This is Iceberg Alley, a remarkable area that stretches 1,000 km along the eastern coast of Newfoundland and Labrador. The ever-changing, always-moving forms are actually broken-off edges of ancient glaciers that originate in Greenland and the Arctic. And in Iceberg Alley, up to 1,000 of them appear every spring, only to drift on and melt away by summer’s end.
How to get there
To get to Iceberg Alley, most visitors fly into St. John’s, rent a car and drive along the coast to Bonavista or Twillingate. Another option is to fly into Deer Lake and travel up the Great Northern Peninsula, stopping in St. Anthony and L’Anse Aux Meadows. You can view the frozen giants from several places on the shore, on a boat tour or, if you’re comfortable paddling, on a kayaking excursion. “Iceberg season” runs from spring to early summer, and the best viewing is typically in May and early June. Book an excursion with a tour operator, some of which offer tours that combine iceberg viewing with the chance to see humpback whales and puffins, too.
Albion Falls is a 19 m-tall stepped cascade of water that fans out and flows down the Niagara Escarpment in Ontario. | PHOTO: MICHAEL BUDD/ADOBE STOCK
Will travel for... a hundred waterfalls
A rush of water cascades down shale and limestone steps, fanning outward into a waterfall that’s almost as wide as it is tall. In summertime, surrounded by lush greenery, you might forget that you’re in Hamilton, Ont., one hour’s drive west of Toronto. This is Albion Falls, considered one of the most beautiful falls in the area. But it’s just one of many. Hamilton is known as the City of Waterfalls, and is home to more than 100 of them, thanks to its location along the Niagara Escarpment. Feel free to go chasing waterfalls — when the bounty is this rich, there’s no reason not to.
How to get there
Many of the waterfalls dotted along the Niagara Escarpment are surprisingly accessible — some are just minutes from Hamilton’s downtown core, with nearby parking lots and groomed multi-use paths nearby. The best time to visit is during non-peak hours (early mornings or weekdays) in summer or fall; combine falls-viewing with hiking or cycling and picnicking. It’s impossible to visit all 100 waterfalls in a single day, so plan your trip by visiting the City of Hamilton’s online map of publicly accessible local waterfalls or by consulting the Hamilton Waterfalls Guide.
Aurora glow emerald over Turton Lake, Northwest Territories. | PHOTO: NICKY RICHARDS/NWT TOURISM
Will travel for... the magic of aurora borealis
You’ve likely seen photos of aurora borealis, the swirling, pulsing ribbons of neon green, pink and purple that flash across the northern night sky. But seeing the northern lights in person might just take your breath away. Sitting directly under the Auroral Oval with clear skies and minimal light pollution, the Northwest Territories offers the best place in the world to view the aurora. It’s a unique place where the colours, duration and brightness are at their strongest. Here, it’s possible to see nature’s light display up to 240 nights of the year, from August through to May.
How to get there
Plan your trip for autumn, when the temperatures are milder than in the winter months but the increasingly long, dark nights offer optimal viewing opportunities. To experience the lights up close, fly into Yellowknife, where licensed tour operators offer a number of aurora excursions, from rustic to luxe. Depending on your chosen experience, you can hunt for the northern lights in a van or on a snowmobile and stay in accommodations including remote wilderness lodges and heated teepees.
Hikers navigate the terrain near Iceberg Lake, alongside the imposing Bow Glacier, in Banff National Park, Alberta. | PHOTO: PAUL ZIZKA/TRAVEL ALBERTA
Will travel for... the greatness of glaciers
In the southern Rocky Mountains between Banff and Jasper, the Columbia Icefield is the largest icefield along North America’s continental divide, comprising around 300 sq. km. Formed over millenia, glaciers are a relatively rare geological phenomenon — and about 20 percent of the planet’s supply can be found in Western Canada. Road trip along the 232-km Icefields Parkway that connects Lake Louise and Jasper for a big-picture view of the imposing Athabasca Glacier. Stop at scenic lookouts to marvel at the Crowfoot, Bow and Saskatchewan glaciers along the way.
How to get there
Begin your journey in Edmonton, and drive west to Jasper National Park, where the Icefields Parkway winds south to Banff National Park — or leave from Calgary and do the same in reverse. From May through October, weather permitting, outdoor adventurers can even sign up for tours with certified guides to hike onto some of the glaciers in the area. It’s a rare chance to experience their monumental beauty up close.