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Must Do Canada

The Best Things to Do in Canada

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Ah yes. Fishing, Fiddles and Jigs Dinner. This is a side of Canada you're bound to fall in love with.

Atlantic Canada packs a completely different vibe than you'll find anywhere else in the country. Lighthouses, bright coloured houses, fishing, and old-fashioned hospitality are just a few of the things that stand out. We're still working hard on this section but check below for the best things to do in Atlantic Canada.

Things To Do In Halifax, Nova Scotia

By Matthew G. Bailey 1 Comment

things to do in halifax waterfront

When it comes to the charming Maritimes, there’s no better city than Halifax, Nova Scotia. Not only is it Nova Scotia’s capital city, but it’s also the largest city in the Atlantic provinces. While it started off as one of Canada’s important ports, it now also has a thriving tourism scene thanks in part to its manicured parks and gardens, heritage buildings, a thriving arts scene, a variety of pubs and craft breweries, a lively music scene, and a nice steady flow of sea breezes.

Thanks to the major airport, it’s become the gateway to the Maritimes and has something to offer people of all ages. Whether you decide to stroll the beautiful waterfront, catch one of the many events that happen throughout the summer, catch some live music at one of the many Celtic pubs, or visit one of the many wonderful museums, Halifax is a great place for an East coast vacation. [Read more…] about Things To Do In Halifax, Nova Scotia

Unique Canadian Wine – Tantalizing Tastebuds in Three Wine Regions of Canada

By Matt Browman Leave a Comment

canadian wine

If you’re already visiting wine country, you may as well venture off the main tasting routes of icewine, chardonnay, riesling, cabernet, and the pinots and try some truly unique wines from truly unique people. And these aren’t your “we do it differently but they taste weird” wines. These are outstanding examples from proven masters.

Whether you’re in looking for Okanagan wine tours, Niagara wine tours, or Nova Scotia wine tours, these three wineries will introduce you to something different.

[Read more…] about Unique Canadian Wine – Tantalizing Tastebuds in Three Wine Regions of Canada

Hiking Newfoundland – Five Great Hiking Trails

By Leigh McAdam Leave a Comment

Hiking in Canada is a very popular thing to do and Newfoundland is blessed with an abundance of excellent hiking trails, usually with a backdrop of rugged, world-class scenery. But there’s a downside – though only if you’re short on time. Many of the trails are some distance from each other. From my experience, the best hiking is along the East Coast Trail – not far from the capital of St. John’s and in Gros Morne National Park. There are a couple of other hiking trails in newfoundland you could access if you’re planning a drive across the province.

These five Newfoundland hikes are some of the best in the province…

best hikes in newfoundland sugarloaf path

Sugarloaf Path

The Sugarloaf Path is but one section of the 265-kilometre East Coast Trail Newfoundland. It’s one of the prettiest sections of the trail that can be done as a one-way day trip from St. John’s. I recommend either a shuttle should you have two cars or a 15-minute taxi ride to the Logy Bay trailhead at the Ocean Science’s Centre.

The East Coast Trail Association rates this hike as a difficult one, largely because the elevation gain is more than 150 metres. In my books, coming from the Rockies I’d give it a moderate rating. Allow four to five hours, more if you’re an avid photographer.

From the trailhead, it’s 8.8 kilometres to the scenic Quidi Vidi village. Along the way, it’s non-stop rugged coastal views with stunning cliffs and a good chance of iceberg sightings if you visit in June. Birders will love all the activity along this hike.

While in theory, the hike finishes in Quidi Vidi, I’d recommend adding another four kilometres and a little more than an hour of hiking time to finish in downtown St. John’s. There is the option of picking up a bus from the village as well. Look for the signs directing you to the Cuckold Cove Trail. Follow it to Signal Hill and from there into the city. [Read more…] about Hiking Newfoundland – Five Great Hiking Trails

BEST Things To Do in St. John’s, Newfoundland

By Matthew G. Bailey 4 Comments

best things to do in st johns newfoundland
The harbour is one of the most popular pictures of st john’s Newfoundland.

Newfoundland is one of my favourite places in all of Canada. There’s something about the friendly people, the landscapes, the food, the music, and the overall culture that just makes me want to go back each and every year. By far, it’s the most unique province in Canada, with its own very distinct personality. It was our first stop on our 150-day road trip back in 2017, and from day one, locals kept asking us what we were doing (they saw us with cameras) and then proceeding to invite us to their home for dinner. That’s just the kind of place it is.

If you’re flying into Newfoundland, there’s a good chance that you’ll be flying into St. John’s, the capital city of Newfoundland. St. John’s is an incredibly vibrant town, steeped in history and full of things to do. You could easily spend a week in this area and not run out of activities. From learning about the history of the oldest English-founded city in all of North America to whale watching and lively parties, St. John’s is an incredible place to visit.

This article was updated in April 2020.

[Read more…] about BEST Things To Do in St. John’s, Newfoundland

Whale and Puffin Watching in St. Johns, Newfoundland

By Matthew G. Bailey Leave a Comment

Puffin watching newfoundland

A trip to Newfoundland just isn’t complete without a look at the famous Puffin. Small funny-looking birds with bright-coloured beaks like a parrot can be found in many windy seaside areas of Newfoundland. They are simply awesome to watch and cute of course.

Puffins are also very interesting. They feed by diving into the water (up to 60m I was told) and are better swimmers than they are flyers. They’re nests consist of burrowing a hole into the soil and they even go as far as to have two separate rooms; one for resting and one for pooping. Although they don’t fly extremely well, they can flap their wings up to 400 times per minute and they stay in windier areas where it can assist them in flight. Smart.

We saw thousands of them on a whale-watching tour we took with Mullowney’s Puffin and Whale Tours. Located in Bay Bulls, just 30 minutes from the famous city of St.Johns, Mullowney’s is a small outfit with a lot of charm and a great track record with their customers. We love supporting companies like this and we’re thrilled to hit the seas with them.

[Read more…] about Whale and Puffin Watching in St. Johns, Newfoundland

Three Moose and a Mountain | Hiking Gros Morne, Newfoundland

By Matthew G. Bailey 1 Comment

Gros Morne National Park Hiking

It surprises me that after visiting Newfoundland more than a dozen times, I had never hiked their treasured UNESCO World Heritage site. When I look back though, I was never as adventurous as I am now. With a curiosity and passion to visit the most beautiful places on earth, it was without a doubt that I would hike Gros Morne National Park on my latest visit to the rock.

Located on the West coast of Newfoundland, Gros Morne is the provinces second tallest mountain, standing tall at 806 m. Created from eroded remnants of a mountain range formed more than 1.2 billion years ago, Gros Morne is an exquisite and rare example of continental drift, a process where deep ocean crust and the rocks of the earth’s mantle are exposed.

In other words, it’s gorgeous and educational.

Gros Morne Summit

We were lucky to arrive on a hot sunny day, something rare in this “neck of the woods”. After purchasing our park ticket and getting some great advice from one of the friendly park rangers, we headed to the base of Gros Morne mountain to prepare for our climb. We packed plenty of water, some protein bars, and fruit and of course, a good camera.

The beginning of the climb was nice and shady with the trail taking us over freshwater streams and plenty of vegetation. We also took the time to read some information signs, where we learned that …

[Read more…] about Three Moose and a Mountain | Hiking Gros Morne, Newfoundland

Kayaking Hopewell Rocks, New Brunswick

By Matthew G. Bailey 5 Comments

hopewell rocks, new brunswick

Stunning.

The only word I could think of as I glanced out over the Bay of Fundy near Hopewell Rocks, New Brunswick. The water was as smooth as glass, with a calming light-coloured background of blue hues.

Stunning.

Although I had gone to simple see the rocks and the rising tide, I was actually more amused by the hundreds of shorebirds silently flying across the bay just inches from touching the water. I really fell in love with these little birds, catching them in their annual migration down south. I couldn’t peel my eyes away from the absolutely majestic scenery. Everything was so silent and so smooth.

Then I looked beside me.

hopewell rocks new brunswick

 

Towering next to me was the equally impressive Hopewell Rocks; a series of wonderful rock formation caused by tidal erosion. The biggest attraction in this neck of the woods is the largest ocean tides in the world. This area in particular rises and falls an average of 35 feet, twice per day. [Read more…] about Kayaking Hopewell Rocks, New Brunswick