I visited Canada for the first time in 2023. As a nature lover, many people had told me that I was likely to love Canada, however my hold-up to even considering being out there for an extended period of time has always been the fact that I generally hibernate in the winter. With temperatures going double figures, below 0 degrees – I did not believe this was my portion. However, I was pulled to Canada to visit my gorgeous niece, just before she turned one in Vancouver. To say I was impressed is an understatement! Vancouver is the perfect blend of city and nature. It is right by the coast, with glass walled high rises forming the Vancouver skyline – it provided for the casting of the craziest and most dynamic sunset reflections I have ever seen.

Canada is very well known for its diverse landscapes and outdoor activities. It is the second largest country in the world with a coastline that spans over three oceans. The country has a lot to offer for the nature lovers amongst us, with national parks, hiking trails and waterbodies across the country. There is also quite a wide offering in wildlife as one can spot grizzly bears, eastern wolves, moose, beavers and porcupines, amongst others. If you are in Vancouver, I recommend a trip to FlyOver Canada as it gives you a short 4D experience of ‘exploring’ the Canadian landscape.

As it snows for about half the year in Canada, it is a haven for winter sports such as skiing, snowboarding and ice skating. Ice hockey is one of the most popular sports in the country. Canadians generally have a reputation for being quite active which I believe comes from their love of sport and their landscapes. The summer also melts the waterbodies, to allow for an array of water sports and presents a new canvas for outdoor summer adventures.

Visiting museums and galleries is a very interesting way to learn more about Canadian history and culture. For example, the country had Aboriginals people living in the area before the French and English conquered the country. One of Canada’s 13 provinces and territories, Quebec, is a French colony whose official language, to this day, is French and its culture is therefore nuanced from the rest of Canada.

Interesting places to visit in Canada include, the Niagara Falls – for largest waterfalls in the world, the Canadian Rockies – for mountain views, Manitoulin Island – to celebrate Canada’s first nations, Baffin Island – for Inuit art and landscapes, Montreal Jazz Festival – for music, Whistler – for skiing, Banff National Park –  nature views, Rideau Canal – for ice skating, Toronto – varied city experience, The Prairies – for road trips, Bay of Fundy – for whale spotting and Churchill for polar bear encounters.

For my fellow food lovers, Canadian food does not have a lot of variety – poutine, waffles and maple syrup are the main foods that are directly Canadian. However, as it is a hub for lots of different people I found their variation of Asian foods to be delectable. This also comes from different parts of Asia and therefore one can find amazing Thai, Vietnamese, Burmese, Japanese or Indian food, amongst others.