Skip the passport: Canada’s wild alternatives to iconic U.S. destinations
Why fly south when the North is calling? From desert-like tundra in the Arctic to remote islands with wild horses and breathtaking fjords, Canada offers a world of wonder. With insights from Cedar Swan, CEO of Adventure Canada — a Canadian travel company that specializes in Arctic and Atlantic Canada travel — these photos highlight destinations across the country that rival their famous U.S. counterparts.
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A different kind of desert Canada’s Arctic offers a desert-like dryness, expansive treeless tundra and a rugged remoteness that rivals Arizona’s vast wilderness – only here, the winds are colder. (Photo Courtesy of Todd Mintz and Adventure Canada)
A northern nation with a vast soul “If you’re looking for a desert experience…the Arctic, for the most part, is a very dry and desert-like environment. Great for hiking and good for wildlife,” Swan says. “How many people get to plunge above the Arctic Circle?” she adds. (Photo Courtesy of Todd Mintz and Adventure Canada)
Haida Gwaii's vast coastline The remote archipelago off B.C.’s northwest coast offers lush rainforest trials, ancient totem poles and a living testament to the Haida Nation’s enduring strength and culture. (Photo Courtesy of Danny Catt and Adventure Canada)
Untouched and unfiltered Haida Gwaii rivals coastal U.S. destinations with its towering cedars, vibrant marine life and deep Indigenous knowledge that permeates every shoreline. Swan says B.C. has beautiful beaches and access to the warm Pacific Ocean that is good for surfing. (Photo Courtesy of Danny Catt and Adventure Canada)
A sandy stretch Canada has the world’s longest coastline stretching more than 243,000 kilometres, Swan said — and Sauble beach, in Ont., is just one stop along the way. Its warm shallows, glowing sunsets and relaxed charm make it stand out on Lake Huron’s shores.(Scott Miller/CTV News London)
Not your typical national park Nearly 300 kilometres from Halifax, N.S., Sable Island National Park Reserve is a windswept sandbar known for it population of wild horses and rivals U.S. national parks like Yellowstone. “Very few people have ever set foot there. It’s out of this world,” Swan says. (Photo Courtesy of Dennis Minty and Adventure Canada) (Dennis Minty)
Dunes With no palm trees in sight, Sable Island offers something rare: Dunes, grey seals and untamed nature at the edge of the world. (Photo Courtesy of Jacquie Matechuk and Adventure Canada)
California sunshine, Canadian soul Swan says B.C. is Canada’s best known wine region. The Okanagan Valley rivals California’s Napa Valley and offers sun-drenched vineyards and scenic lake views. This is a view from the Mission Hill Family Estate Winery in Kelowna, B.C. (Mission Hill Family Estate Winery/Facebook)
Charm on Atlantic’s edge Nova Scotia’s Annapolis Valley is a “niche East Coast wine experience,” Swan says. With ocean breezes and historic farms, this hidden gem serves up an experience that should satisfy wine aficionados. Workers are seen picking grapes at the Luckett Vineyards in Wallbrook, N.S. on Thursday, Oct. 19, 2017. (Andrew Vaughan/The Canadian Press)
Canada’s hidden fjords “In my opinion, the jewel of Canada’s park system,” Swan says. The Torngat Mountains National Park echoes the grandeur of Norway’s fjords – dramatic cliffs rising from icy waters – without the crowds or the trees. (Photo Courtesy of Dennis Minty and Adventure Canada)
A land of Inuit heritage Located in northern Labrador and Nunavik, this park is co-managed with Inuit communities and is home to polar bears, caribou and sacred landscapes. (Photo Courtesy of Liz Carlson and Adventure Canada)
A hiking experience Unlimited trails, sheer cliffs and ocean views await in one of Canada’s most remote and breathtaking parks. It’s a wild counterpart to U.S. best-loved alpine terrains like Glacier or Yosemite. (Photo Courtesy of Dennis Minty and Adventure Canada)
