14 Things to Do in Canada

Turquoise glacial lakes beneath snow-capped Rocky Mountain peaks — Lake Louise and Moraine Lake are among the most photographed landscapes in North America. The Icefields Parkway is arguably the world's most spectacular mountain drive.

Whitehorse and Yellowknife offer some of the world's most reliable Northern Lights viewing from August to April — colours from pale green to magenta ribbons above a sky of more stars than you've ever seen at once.

2,800 cubic metres of water per second — the Maid of the Mist boat ride to the base of the Canadian Horseshoe Falls and the evening illumination are the essential experiences.

Mountains meet Pacific rainforest meet harbour — consistently one of the world's most liveable cities. Whistler Blackcomb, 2 hours north, is the largest ski resort in North America.

The CN Tower's glass floor 447 metres above downtown, Kensington Market's multicultural food scene and the Royal Ontario Museum make Toronto one of North America's most rewarding cities.

The only remaining fortified city north of Mexico — cobblestone streets, Château Frontenac and the Plains of Abraham. Montreal's French arts scene, bagel culture and jazz festival make it Canada's most distinct city.

232km past turquoise lakes, ancient glaciers and wildlife including bears, elk and mountain goats. The Columbia Icefield's Skywalk glass cliff-edge platform is the route's most dramatic stop.

Whitehorse and Yellowknife sit in the auroral oval. Stay in a glass-roof wilderness lodge, combine with dog-sledding for the quintessential Canadian winter experience.

The polar bear capital of the world — each October, hundreds of bears gather on Hudson Bay's coast before freeze-up, viewable from tundra vehicles.

The world's largest accessible dark sky preserve — the annual Dark Sky Festival in October draws astrophysicists and stargazers from around the world.

30 days in June–July with 500 concerts, most free — a city that becomes a single enormous outdoor music venue while feeding everyone with poutine, smoked meat and bagels.

The world's highest tides (up to 16m) flood and drain twice daily in New Brunswick — tidal bore rafting and clam digging on the exposed ocean floor.

Old-growth rainforest, surfable Pacific swells and the Wild Pacific Trail on Vancouver Island — orca and grey whale watching in Clayoquot Sound is exceptional April–October.

BC's wine region along a desert lake valley — 180 wineries producing Pinot Noir and Chardonnay that now regularly beat Burgundy in international competitions.