Must Do Canada

The Best Things to Do in Canada

Outdoor Attractions

Exploring Saskatchewan’s Big Muddy Badlands

By Matthew G. Bailey 3 Comments

Big Muddy Badlands of Saskatchewan

In a land that often gets criticized for being so flat, Big Muddy’s Castle Butte rises up to challenge that misconception. Located in Big Muddy Valley, Castle Butte is just one of the attractions that inspire people to visit here from all over the world (Don’t let that scare you though. You certainly won’t find crowds). In fact, It was mainly Castle Butte that encouraged us to visit the area, but after taking a full-day guided tour, we were equally impressed by everything else we saw and experienced.

It all starts in a little town called Coronach. This is where a small team of locals offers guided tours of the Big Muddy badlands. With many of the attractions being located on private land, not to mention all the historical information you’d miss out on, guided tours are really the only way to do it. [Read more…] about Exploring Saskatchewan’s Big Muddy Badlands

Exploring Grasslands National Park, Saskatchewan

By Matthew G. Bailey 7 Comments

badlands camping in Grasslands National Park

Having travelled across all of Canada, we’ve seen a lot of impressive national parks. From hiking mountains in Banff National Park to walking on the Earth’s mantle in Gros Morne National Park, there are so many incredible things to do in Canada from coast to coast to coast.

When I first looked into Grasslands National Park, I wasn’t sure what to think. For one, there are basically no trees and it’s small and relatively flat. It doesn’t have mountains or oceans or waterfalls. However, it’s the only national park dedicated to preserving prairie grasslands, is home to wildlife that can’t be found anywhere else in the country, and is the darkest Dark Sky Preserve in Canada. It’s also somewhat “off the beaten track”, which makes it very quiet compared to world-famous parks like Banff and Jasper.

So, we decided to include it in our 150-day Canada road trip back in 2017 and I’m so happy we did. Grasslands National Park is incredibly beautiful and has quickly become one of our favourite places to visit in Canada. in fact, we loved it so much that we went back in 2019, taking much more time to explore both the West Block and the East Block, which we’ll get into below. If you’re looking for beautiful wild-west-looking scenery, camping, and the chance to be in nature without all the crowds, make sure you add Grasslands National Park to your Canadian bucket list.

Let’s get into it… [Read more…] about Exploring Grasslands National Park, Saskatchewan

The BEST Things To Do in Regina, Saskatchewan

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things to do in regina saskatchewan canada

Things to Do in Regina last updated: November 12th, 2020

Named after Queen Victoria in 1882, Regina, which is Latin for “Queen”, is now Saskatchewan’s capital city. Although it’s not the biggest city (that would be Saskatoon), it’s the cultural and commercial centre for Southern Saskatchewan and is located right on the Trans-Canada Highway, making it the perfect stop on a Canada road trip.

Whether you’re passing through on a road trip or flying direct, we highly recommend spending some time in Queen City. Regina often gets overlooked on many traveller’s itineraries but is home to wonderful museums, historic districts, strong indigenous culture, a vibrant food scene, and of course, the Saskatchewan Roughriders.

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Rocky Mountain House National Historic Site

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unique camping in alberta

Have you ever heard of David Thompson?

If not, you’re not alone. We didn’t know who he was either until we visited Rocky Mountain House National Historic Site. It turns out that David Thompson was the greatest land geographer of his time, travelling more than 90,000 kilometres across North America while mapping 4.9 million square kilometres of the continent along the way.  This was just one of the many things we learned about during our visit to this former Hudson Bay Trading Post.

Rocky Mountain House is a National Historic Site located near the town of Rocky Mountain House, Alberta. It’s approximately 77 kilometres from Red Deer and almost equally in-between Edmonton and Calgary, making it a 2-hour road trip from either city. It’s situated right along the banks of the North Saskatchewan River, and is just off the famous Cowboy Trail, otherwise known as Highway 22. In other words, it’s a great place for a classic Alberta road trip. [Read more…] about Rocky Mountain House National Historic Site

The Best Things to Do in Ottawa, Ontario

By Matthew G. Bailey 6 Comments

things to do in ottawa

Last updated: January 4th, 2021

Beautiful and dynamic, there’s lots of things to do in Ottawa, making Canada’s capital city an incredible place to explore. From the gothic-style parliament buildings to the lovely parks and world-class museums, Ottawa is one of the top places to visit in Canada. There are so many things to do in Ontario, Canada, you’re sure to have an epic vacation.

Located along the Ontario-side of the Ottawa River, and right across from Quebec, Ottawa is also a great base for exploring parts of Quebec. It’s the sixth-largest city in Canada, the second-largest city in Ontario, and one of the most multicultural cities in the country. It’s also bilingual, which makes it unique for a North American capital.

It’s one of those cities that feels small, despite having a population of over one million people. Most of the action can be found around the downtown core, Parliament Hill, and the inner-city neighbourhoods. It’s a great city to go for a walk or to ride a bike, and there are many more activities to do in Ottawa.

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Things to do in St Pierre and Miquelon – North America’s France

By Matthew G. Bailey 19 Comments

saint pierre and miquelon

Last updated: January 4th, 2021 

From the moment you step on to St Pierre and Miquelon, you’ll know you’re not in Canada anymore. Little Peugeots and Renaults cruise the roads while ATMs spit out euros. French flags flap in the wind and suddenly everyone speaks French.

It’s a true taste of France just twenty-five kilometres from Newfoundland. Most people, including Canadians, have no idea that “Europe” is so close.

St. Pierre & Miquelon is a self-governing French territory accessible by ferry from Newfoundland or by plane from St. John’s, Halifax, Montreal, and even Paris. You’ll find baguettes, croissants, and Bordeaux. The time zone is different, the electrical outlets are different, and if you leave your cell phone on, you’ll be charged international rates.

There are essentially two islands – Saint Pierre and Miquelon. St. Pierre is the smaller island but is the most populated and developed, with approximately 5500 residents. Miquelon is much bigger in size but has only 600 residents or so, making it far wilder.

There’s also Langlade, which is connected to Miquelon by a beautiful sand bar. No one lives here but there are some summer cabins. Both Miquelon and Langlade are great for exploring the landscape, hiking, and bird-watching. Saint Pierre, however, is better if you’re looking for that “french town” feel, as well as history and culture.

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Aspen Crossing – Scenic Train Excursions in the Alberta Prairies

By Matthew G. Bailey 2 Comments

Aspen Crossing Alberta

Last updated: March 20th, 2020

Located less than an hour southeast of Calgary in Mossleigh, Alberta, Aspen Crossing offers guests the chance to experience a train ride through the beautiful Alberta prairies while enjoying themed excursions, delicious food, music, and more. It’s become a very popular day-trip getaway for Calgarians and has quickly become a major tourist destination in Southern Alberta. [Read more…] about Aspen Crossing – Scenic Train Excursions in the Alberta Prairies

Rocky Mountain House Alberta Road Trip

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Matthew and Karla Bailey Must Do Canada

(This post was sponsored by AMA Travel and Best Western. AMA Members save up to 15% on Best Western stays in Canada, the U.S., and worldwide. Your AMA Membership can save you – whether you need roadside assistance, to book a vacation or at one of our Rewards partners. Check out amatravel.ca/bwbloggers to find out more and see the adventures other bloggers went on!”

When it comes to travel, especially in Canada, it’s hard to beat a good ol’ fashioned road trip. With such wide-open areas, nature, and small towns, road trips are the best way to see the second largest country on Earth. As an Albertan, I’ve seen a lot of my home province. From small prairie towns in the South to small mining towns in the North and almost everything in-between, I’ve covered a lot of ground. Yet, I had never been to Rocky Mountain House. That is, until now. Located just 77 km west of Red Deer, and only 200 km from both Edmonton and Calgary, Rocky Mountain House is a wonderful place to explore on a road trip. It’s also just 170 km from the world-famous Icefields Parkway and sits on the Cowboy Trail, another epic Alberta road trip.

From my home in Calgary, Rocky Mountain House is less than two hours away. Since most of it is done via highway 2, which isn’t all that scenic, we decided to make a loop out of it. Rather than go up and down the fast way, we decided to return via the Icefields Parkway, which adds more than 3-hours to the drive but also adds some of the best scenery in the world thanks to the Icefields Parkway. Who could say no to the Icefields Parkway? [Read more…] about Rocky Mountain House Alberta Road Trip

The Ultimate Guide to the Best Things To Do in Toronto

By Matthew G. Bailey 24 Comments

Things to do in Toronto

Things to Do in Toronto last updated: September 20th, 2022

As Canada’s biggest city, there’s no shortage of things to do in Toronto, Ontario. Whether you’re looking for world-class museums, fun attractions, lively neighbourhoods, or major league sports, Toronto truly has something for everyone. It’s also one of the most multicultural cities in the world, which makes it a great place to experience a wide variety of cultures and food.

We’ve been to Toronto a number of times and are always excited to return. From the beautiful skyline featuring the CN Tower to the funky neighbourhoods like Kensington Market, Toronto is such a lively city to wander around. However, if it’s your first time, it might be overwhelming. There really is so much to do and so many Toronto attractions that there’s no way we could list everything in this article without boring you to death.

So, what we’re going to do is list out what we feel are the best things to do in Toronto as well as the best places to visit, especially if you’re new to the city. It’s unlikely you’d get through everything here on your first visit unless you’re staying for quite some time. Regardless of what you do, you’re bound to have a great time in Ontario’s capital.

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Newfoundland Travel – The Viking Trail

By Matthew G. Bailey 8 Comments

l'anse aux meadows

Snaking its way along the Northern peninsula coast, the Viking Trail is one of Canada’s best road trips. At 489 km, the journey can be done in as little as five hours. However, to truly appreciate what the route had to offer, you’ll want to spend as much time as you can. With so many scenic communities, coastline, historical sites, and majestic Gros Morne National Park, one could spend an entire month here and not get bored. Whether you love nature, culture, wildlife, or simply a scenic drive, the Viking Trail is one for the bucket list. [Read more…] about Newfoundland Travel – The Viking Trail