The second largest country in the world has beautiful landscapes, natural wonders and unique culturally rich cities. Half of Canada’s land is covered in forests – one-tenth of the world’s forests are in Canada. The Rocky Mountains and Vancouver, Victoria and Calgary cities dominate most itineraries in western Canada.

In the central part, Niagara Falls, Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal and Quebec City are must-visit destinations. The North has great rivers flowing out to the Arctic Ocean and polar bears can be spotted in the wild. Tourists can explore the remote beauty of places like Nahanni National Park and the towns and cities of Churchill, Whitehorse, and Yellowknife.

Niagara Falls is the most famous natural attraction. Located about an hour’s drive from Toronto, along the US border, the massive falls drop approximately 57 metres. Banff National Park in the majestic Rocky Mountains in Alberta has the most beautiful scenery, with turquoise-coloured lakes, snow-capped peaks and glaciers are all easily accessible in this park. Lake Louise and Moraine Lake are other impressive sights worth a visit. Banff is a major winter sports zone and home to Lake Louise Ski Resort and Sunshine Village, two of the country’s most prominent ski destinations.

Canada’s biggest city Ontario is home to the iconic CN Tower which dominates the skyline at an impressive 553 meters high. The structure is visible from almost anywhere in the city. At night, the tower is lit in different colours. Old Quebec is a Unesco World Heritage Site and contains the city’s most historic buildings. About two hour’s drive from Vancouver is the Whistler ski resort and village which gained global fame when it became one of the locations for the 2010 Winter Olympic Games.

Ottawa’s Parliament Hill is home to the Neo-Gothic-style Parliament buildings built in the 19^th century. In front of the Parliament buildings is the Centennial Flame lit in 1966 to commemorate the centenary of the Canadian Confederation.

St. John’s Signal Hill National Historic Site is where the first wireless transatlantic signal was received in 1901. The Cabot Tower is one of the key sites of Signal Hill having built in 1897 to mark the 400th anniversary of the discovery of Newfoundland.

Old Montreal, lined with historic buildings, is a place to go for great shopping and fine dining. Montreal is a vibrant modern city, but Old Montreal has historic buildings including the beautiful Notre-Dame Basilica, Place Jacques-Cartier and the 1870-built City Hall

One of the most unique attractions is the polar bear migration that sees these beautiful creatures make their way from land out onto the ice in Hudson Bay in Northern Manitoba. Tours take visitors out in tundra buggies with caged windows for close encounters with the polar bears. A two-hour ferry ride from the mainland, Vancouver Island offers unforgettable experiences with hiking trails and camping.

The Bay of Fundy, in eastern Canada in between New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, is known for its amazing tides. Victoria’s Inner Harbour is a marvellous waterfront against the backdrop of the harbour. Vancouver’s must-visit treasure is the 405-hectare Stanley Park situated on a peninsula and surrounded by the ocean and home to huge red cedar and Douglas fir trees. Canadian Museum for Human Rights in Winnipeg displays a unique design and highlights personal stories capturing different perspectives.

Canada is a country of immigrants and its food culture reflects the influences — Europe, Asia, the Caribbean and especially Britain and France. Poutine, a French fry-looking dish, is arguably the country’s most-defining dish or side dish. Then there are Butter Tarts, Beaver Tails, Nanaimo Bars, Maple Syrup, Canadian Pizza, the Split Pea Soup and Tourtière.

Butter tarts are one of the original foods from Canada. They consist of a delicate, crumbly crust and a creamy centre made of a butter, sugar and egg mixture. Named after the West Coast city in British Columbia, Nanaimo Bars are rich tri-layered dessert bars made of crumb mixture, vanilla-flavoured butter icing, and melted chocolate.

Quebec produces 85 per cent of the world’s maple syrup, which is usually drizzled over pancakes, waffles, French toast, oatmeal, or porridge. Essentially a flattened doughnut without a hole, the Beaver Tail is heralded as a quintessential Canadian dish. Canadian Pizza is a thin-crust pizza with an array of creative pizzas toppings. Split Pea Soup is a classic French Canadian food that is centuries old and is still thoroughly enjoyed today. Tourtière is a deep-rooted French Canadian food, a flaky pie that dates back to as early as 1600.