On My Bucket List

*This is a collaborative post.

I have got to be honest, any time I have ever thought about the places I want to travel to and visit, it has generally been somewhere hot or somewhere super tourist based like New York. I either want a sun lounger by a pool with cocktails or I want to be walking across Time Square and heading to Broadway. However, a few years ago, a friend of mine from University, moved to Canada and after having watched her Facebook feed for some time, I have to say, the country has shot up my bucket list of places I really want to visit!

Canada is one of those countries that continuously finds itself on “top 10” destination lists. Whether it’s for the country’s incredible natural beauty, delicious food, unique culture, or unbeatable road trips—Canada has it all!

Being the world’s second largest country in regards to land mass, you’ll find an extraordinary amount of diversity in the culture, history, as well as the natural and man-made attractions.

There are high mountain ranges, sparse plateaus, desert-like areas, forested valleys, stunning lakes, seemingly endless prairies, modern cities, as well as a tremendous assortment of flora and fauna. Not to mention, there’s a Tim Hortons (Canada’s beloved coffee and donut shop, named after the late NHL hockey player Tim Horton) in almost every city and town across the country.

Canada is home to 16 UNESCO World Heritage Sites! It has the longest ski season in the world, polar bears, the Northern Lights, and poutine (fries covered in squeaky cheese and gravy! *drool*).

When researching Canada or should I say dream window shopping holidays, there was so much in Canada that I would want to see that probably the best bet for me would be something like Canada self drive tours where you choose your own destinations and stops and head out on the open road.

Generally, the best time to visit is during the Autumn months of August and September. The weather has cooled down a bit, but it’s still comfortable for outdoor activities. Plus, the summer crowds have left, prices have dropped, and the foliage is changing colour.

The two official languages of Canada are English and French, with over 80% of Canadians speaking English, so that should not present a problem. Some places I am considering visiting are;

Vancouver: British Columbia’s largest city, Vancouver is the epitome of cool with its buzzing food and craft beer scene, plus its stunning landscapes.

Toronto: One of the most diverse cities in the world, you can hear over 140 languages spoken in Toronto with over half of the residents being born outside of Canada. It’s an exciting city that’s well known for its music and festival scene as well as many of the world’s most esteemed restaurants.

Banff: Banff is one of the most beautiful national parks in Canada. It boasts breath-taking mountain scenery, epic hiking trails, and picturesque camping grounds and lodges.

Calgary: The cosmopolitan city in Alberta, Calgary is quite the cool city with its many skyscrapers and the annual event of the Calgary Stampede!

This is just to name a few. It used to be all about sun, sea, sand and a Broadway show and now its much more about experiencing the world, the individual countries and the amazing culture that they have to offer.

Have you ever been to Canada?