19 Things You Can Only Do in Canada

Niagara Falls

Sure, one side is on U.S. territory, but cross the border for a better view of Niagara Falls. Arguably more impressive than the American Falls, Canada's Horseshoe Falls is one of the most popular attractions in the area. The waterfall dumps more than 600,000 gallons of raging water per second.

Ice Wine

The Niagara Lakes region has so much more to offer than just the Falls, and what better way to enjoy a weekend getaway than with a little bubbly? The annual Niagara Wine Festival celebrated its 20th anniversary in January 2015, but oenophiles don't have to wait months to enjoy the region's celebrated ice wine, because many local vintners are open to the public. Ice wine is made from frozen grapes that are picked off the vine at a specific temperature and pressed to release a single drop of sweet white delicate wine.

In many parts of French Canada, poutine is as ubiquitous as apple pie in America. In fact, fast-food chains carry the Quebec-birthed dish, typically made from French fries topped with cheese curds and a thin gravy, on their menus. The best places to consume this comfort-food delicacy are pubs, roadside stands, and restaurants that offer their own versions of the classic food. Several cities throughout Canada host Poutine Week competitions as well.

Salmon Snorkeling

Visitors are encouraged to play with their food in the town of Campbell River, British Columbia, the "Salmon Capital of the World." In its namesake river, you can snorkel with salmon as they swim upriver to spawn. Several local providers, including Destiny River Adventures, offer salmon-snorkeling tours.

Crooked Bush

A grove of misshapen aspen trees on a farm in Saskatchewan makes a big impression on visitors. The mysterious-looking trees have gnarled branches that grow down instead of up. The twisted plants are reportedly caused by a genetic mutation. Either science is at work or, according to local folklore, extraterrestrial beings, magnetic forces, or little green men created the contorted cluster of trees.

Bay of Fundy

Guinness World Records named the Bay of Fundy the world's most extreme tide range. But the Bay of Fundy also offers gorgeous coastal views, bird watching, camping, hiking, and golfing. A good place to start planning your trip is the Fundy National Park of Canada page on the official Parks Canada website.

Northern Lights

According to many experts, some of the best places to see the northern lights are in the upper portions of Canada's provinces, many of which extend into the Arctic Circle. Catch the aurora borealis light shows from late fall through spring, especially in the Yukon, the Northwest Territories, Nunavut, and northern Alberta.

European Culture

No need to hop across the pond to experience all that French culture has to offer. Montreal is the world's second-largest French-speaking city, and Quebec City in particular has the French je ne sais quoi.

Caribana

Groove to the sounds of soca, samba, salsa, and hip-hop, all at the third-largest Caribbean festival in the world, Caribana. This year, the annual Toronto party is on from July 30 through August 2.

Vancouver Lookout

It's nearly impossible to experience a large metropolis such as Vancouver all in one visit. But with the ample 360-degree views from Vancouver Lookout, it sure is possible to take it all in visually—and what a sight! At 553 feet in the sky, only a bird has a better view.

Quebec Winter Carnival

Quebec turns it up every year for two weeks for the largest winter carnival in the world, Carnaval de Quebec. Enjoy shows, parades, sleigh rides, ice-skating, snow-sculpture competitions, ice plunges, and other wintry fun. The 2016 fest is scheduled for January 29 through February 14.

CN Tower

For a walk on the wild side in Toronto, you'll need to head to the edge—the EdgeWalk, that is. The CN Tower may have lost the title of world's tallest freestanding structure in 2007, but it can still claim the honor of world's highest hands-free walk. Those with a fear of heights need not apply. Adventurers who brave the 116-story-high EdgeWalk are strapped into a harness, then they step out along the five-foot-wide ledge that rings the CN Tower's exterior. They're even encouraged to lean back over the edge, above all of Toronto.

Hockey Hall Of Fame

Just as Canton, Ohio, is the hub for football history in America, Toronto is the mecca for Canada's hockey aficionados. At the Hockey Hall of Fame, you can see the Stanley Cup and other ice hockey memorabilia.

Canadian Rocky Mountains Parks

The seven national and provincial parks in the Canadian Rockies are abundant with marine fossil sites, limestone caves, glaciers, hot springs, and mountains. These parks have been designated a UNESCO World Heritage site. Both VIA Rail and Rocky Mountaineer offer train trips through the rugged British Columbia and Alberta mountain ranges.

Great Bear Rainforest

Coastal British Columbia is home to part of the planet's largest temperate rainforest ecoregion, which extends as far south as northern California and as far north as Alaska. Of particular significance is the "Amazon of the North," the Great Bear Rainforest, situated between Vancouver Island and Southeast Alaska, which has the largest portion of old-growth temperate rainforest in the world.

Capilano Suspension Bridge Park

Suspension bridges more than 100 feet up will take you to new heights at the Capilano Suspension Bridge Park in northern Vancouver. Float above the rainforest canopy by way of the park's seven connecting suspension bridges, viewing platforms, and cliff walks.

Sleeping Giant Provincial Park

We'll let sleeping giants lie, especially the one at the Sleeping Giant Provincial Park. The top pick on the Seven Wonders of Canada list, the Sleeping Giant is a mountain that resembles a giant lying on his back. The Giant is found in Ontario's Thunder Bay.

Cabot Trail

One of those great North American drives like the Pacific Coast Highway or the Blue Ridge Parkway, the Cabot Trail on Cape Breton Island is a must for all road-trip aficionados and outdoor enthusiasts. Basically, it's for anyone who loves beautiful scenery!

Old Quebec City

Any Canada must-do list is incomplete without the great city of Quebec, in particular the Old Quebec neighborhood, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Step back in time in the historical quarter, the last remaining fortified city in North America. With its well-preserved walls and citadel, Old Quebec is an astounding example of a colonial city.

You Might Also Like:

• Reasons Why Canada Should Be Your Next International Vacation
• Eight Things That Prove Toronto is the Coolest City
• 10 Classic Summer Trips North of the Border