• Striking geography
• Gros Morne National Park
• Viking and Irish heritage
• Seafaring lifestyle

Canadians love their newest province (established in 1949) not only for its rugged landscape of rocky shores, fjords, and sweeping island vistas, but for its people who have inherited the humorous, indomitable spirit of their Irish forbears. St. John’s, the capital city, is a good place to begin your “Newfie” journey, which will probably also lead you to beautiful Gros Morne National Park on the western coast, or Terra Nova National Park on the eastern side of the island. Labrador , nearby on the Canadian mainland, has a sizable aboriginal population, as well as the town of Happy Valley-Goose Bay, with its World War II historical background.

• Charming seaside villages and towns
• Fortress Louisbourg
• Unique blend of English, Scottish and French Acadian roots
• Great seafood

These three provinces are renowned for their magnificent coastlines. The Bay of Fundy, between Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, has the highest tides in the world, which can be seen at Fundy National Park. Whale watching in Nova Scotia is a big attraction, but if historical sites beckon, ensure a visit to the amazing reconstruction of Fortress Louisbourg on Cape Breton Island. Children’s story book heroine Anne of Green Gables has a whole town devoted to her on Prince Edward Island. Throughout the three provinces, charming Acadian fishing villages complete with brightly painted lobster boats abound, particularly on the Acadian Peninsula and Wolfville. The area is renowned for fresh seafood.

• Cosmopolitan flair
• Fine museums
• Delightful ambience of Vieux-Montréal
• Shopping in the Underground City

Canadians are quietly proud of their second largest city which was home to both the 1967 World Exposition and the 1976 Olympic Games – and is simply an exciting and fun city to visit at any time of the year. Vieux-Montréal , the old city built along the shore of the St. Lawrence River, is a charming 18th-century enclave of horse-drawn carriages, boutique hotels, and cafés. The Basilique Notre-Dame-de-Montréal is a must-see site as is the Musée des Beaux Arts. Shopping is centered on rue Sainte-Catherine, and the nationally famous Underground City is a labyrinthine network with hundreds of shops and restaurants.

• UN World Heritage Site
• Historic and political seat of French Canada
• Gourmands’ paradise
• Rare marine wildlife

Quebec City, with its narrow cobblestone streets which give it a European flavor, is truly representative of French Canada. It was named a UN World Heritage Site in 1985. The small capital of the province of Quebec embraces visitors with a wealth of sights, from the fascinating La Citadelle fort, to the renowned religious shrine of Sainte-Anne-de-Beaupré, and the wondrous cuisine in the restaurants surrounding the imposing hotel, Château Frontenac. Farther afield, you can experience French maritime charm on the Iles-de-la-Madeleine or on the Gaspé Peninsula, where there is bountiful seafood and rare marine wildlife.

• Farmland in the south
• Skiing in the Laurentian Mountains
• Canadian Museum of Civilization
• Laid-back Gatineau

Just south of Montreal, rich farming communities straddle the US border around the Appalachian Mountains, particularly at Sherbrooke and Lac Memphrémagog. North of the city the magnificent Laurentian Mountains, such as Mont Tremblant, display beautiful colors in the fall and in winter delight skiers and other winter-sports enthusiasts. Across the river from Canada’s capital city of Ottawa is the Gatineau Region and the dynamic Canadian Museum of Civilization. For those seeking adventure in the far north of this vast province, Nunavik – not to be confused with the territory of Nunavut – is for the hardiest traveler.

• Dynamically multicultural
• Soaring CN Tower
• Renaissance in the arts
• Superb shopping and entertainment

Canada’s largest city, with a population of nearly five million people, is a wonder of ethnic diversity, with disparate cultural and linguistic communities. Under the gaze of the CN Tower – the second-tallest free-standing structure in the world – is a city that pulses with exciting nightlife, fine and varied dining, and a truly global shopping experience. Stroll around fashionable Yorkville with its cafés and upscale shops, or the colorful and lively Chinatown on Spadina Avenue, with its boisterous streetlife. Toronto is increasingly renowned for its unique architecture, with the new look Art Gallery of Ontario and a bold, futuristic addition to the Royal Ontario Museum. Both museums hold extensive collections. The city has a rich tradition of entertainment, with a wide range of theater, festivals, music, and dance offerings.

• National capital region
• Camping at Algonquin Provincial Park
• Picturesque Kawartha Lakes
• National Gallery of Canada

Ottawa, the nation’s delightful capital city, has enough culture and history (and fun things to do) to make for an interesting visit. Your first stop could be the Parliament Buildings, and then a pleasant walk to the National Gallery of Canada for the country’s best array of the fine arts. The Canadian War Museum is far from somber, and you can find the best Canadian live music, theater, and dance at the National Arts Centre. The vast Algonquin Provincial Park is rich in wildlife and typifies the great outdoors, as do the Kawartha Lakes.

• Point Pelee National Park
• Stratford’s world-class live classical theater
• Thundering Niagara Falls

The Great Lakes are the lifeblood of millions of Canadians and Americans. The cities, towns, and villages that have been built on their shores are verdant, vibrant, and definitely visitor-friendly. No visit to this region would be complete without experiencing the majestic Niagara Falls, and the picture-perfect town of Niagara Falls. Point Pelee National Park juts out into Lake Erie, offering rural charm and the country’s southernmost point. The city of Stratford is renowned in North America for its excellent annual festival of Shakespeare’s (and others’) works, and Sainte-Marie-among-the-Hurons is a fascinating glimpse of a Jesuit settlement among the Huron natives of the 17th century.

• First Nations culture
• Dinosaur Provincial Park
• West Edmonton Mall
• Polar bear territory

Roughly the size of Mexico, Central Canada includes the provinces of Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta. Whether you want to go dinosaur hunting in Dinosaur Provincial Park, or encounter the Royal Canadian Mounted Police at Regina’s RCMP Centennial Museum, these sweeping prairies offer a myriad of experiences. You can also learn about First Nations history in Saskatoon or visit polar bears in Churchill, Manitoba. The oil-rich sands of Alberta fuel not only the economy here, but also keep the gargantuan shopping mecca of West Edmonton Mall busy year-round.

• Breathtaking mountain and coastal scenery
• Colorful Granville Island in Vancouver
• Victoria – a timeless gem
• Whale watching in the Pacific Rim National Park

Sometimes easily confused, British Columbia’s capital – the lovely city of Victoria – is situated on Vancouver Island, whereas the striking metropolis of Vancouver is located on the mainland. Among many sights to see in Vancouver are the Capilano Suspension Bridge, artsy Granville Island, the impressive downtown “wilderness” of Stanley Park and the stunning UBC Museum of Anthropology. Vancouver Island is proud of its impeccably landscaped Butchart Gardens in Brentwood Bay, and the phenomenal nature displays in the Pacific Rim National Park Reserve. Watch out for whales!

• Sublime Banff National Park
• Calgary Stampede
• Jasper’s treasures
• Canada Olympic Park

The “Rockies,” as they are affectionately termed, contain no fewer than six national parks, four of which are UNESCO World Heritage sites. Banff National Park was Canada’s first, and nearby Jasper is idyllic in both summer and winter. The youthful city of Calgary, a former host of the Winter Olympics and home to the annual ten-day Calgary Stampede festival of all things western, is a lively urban area, so some may prefer quieter cities such as Cranbrook, Prince George, or Fort Nelson. The Rocky Mountains are nearby, silent and impressive sentinels for year-round vacationing.

• Bountiful Okanagan Valley
• Queen Charlotte Islands and the Haida people
• Whistler – host of the 2010 Winter Olympics
• Thriving, cultural Nelson

A climatically diverse province, British Columbia is able to host the 2010 Winter Olympics in Whistler, grow bountiful fruits and vegetables in the Okanagan Valley, and produce some excellent wines at the same time! The Queen Charlotte Islands in the north have yet another ecosystem, and are the proud home of the native Haida people, known for their artistry. The town of Nelson in the south also has a thriving cultural scene, and its pretty location on the shores of Kootenay Lake is an envied one.

• Gold Rush history in Dawson City
• Inuit art and culture
• The Northern Lights
• Nunavut, Canada’s newest territory

Multitudes of tourists have yet to discover the barren beauty of Canada’s northern regions. Witnessing the magical Northern Lights is a definite highlight, as is appreciating the uniqueness of Inuit art and culture by native artisans and musicians. Dawson City in the Yukon is embedded in the Canadian psyche thanks to its rollicking history of the Klondike Gold Rush. The locally produced diamonds are now available worldwide. The Northwest Territories’ capital city of Yellowknife is also worth a visit. The new territory of Nunavut (formed in 1999), and its capital Iqaluit on Baffin Island, may be remote but offer a once-in-a-lifetime experience.