Fireworks in Ottawa, 2013
With only 2 months left of full-time travel before I go back to work, I can’t help but reminisce about my favorite Canadian memories over the last 12 months. My sabbatical thus far has me not only experiencing the world’s far away places, but also has me trying new things in my home country–Canada. Even though I have traveled through 7 countries and visited countless destinations in the last 12 months, I’m left with amazing Canadian experiences in between each of my abroad travels.
Whale Watching in Cape Breton Nova Scotia
Winter Wonderland in Timmins, Ontario
Who says you can’t have fun while at home? Canada is a big place and I’ve had the opportunity to explore the majority of its provinces less Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Yukon, Nunavut, and the North West Territories (I’ll get there someday!). I’ve seen the rest! Over the last 12 months, I’ve had ample opportunities to explore more within Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, and Ontario (including northern Ontario–which is a whole other world). I’ve even had the chance to visit places I’ve never been before like Cape Breton Highlands National Park which is considered one of Canada’s most beautiful national parks.
Hiking in the Cape Breton Highlands National Park
Here are the highlights of my Canadian 2013-2014 travels:
Hike in the Cape Breton Highlands
Fly a Plane
Miramichi River Tubing
Buy Lobster in PEI
Segway Around in New Brunswick
Eat the Best Food in Montreal
Ring in Christmas and New Year in Atlantic Canada
World Wine and Food Expo
Visit an Alpaca Farm
Play in the Snow
Winter Wildlife Tour
See a Moose
Nordic Baths
Nova Scotia- Can you see me?
There is no better way to celebrate one’s country than by experiencing it! Happy Canada Day!
View of Ottawa on Canada Day from a helicopter, 2013
Turquoise Compass Wellness 
Our fabulous west is note ably absent from your list. You gotta get yourself out there girl! The Rockies are beckoning as is the skyline of Vancouver. One of my top 10 would be sleeping on a sailboat in Vancouver Harbour surrounded by the light of the high rise city. Happy Canada Day to you!
Unfortunately, I haven’t been to the west coast in the last 12 months (during my sabbatical), but I have been in 2009 (Alberta, BC, Vancouver Island, Alaska, Washington State). I DO have lots to say about the west coast and once I go back to work in the fall I’ll probably be catching up on previous trips. This year off is keeping me quite busy. The Rockies are BEYOND this world. I’d love to sail around Vancouver Island. Hey, did you ever get whale watching out west? I went whale watching to see the Orcas, but we didn’t see any :(!
Happy Canada Day to you too!
I didn’t go whale watching per se, but we did see lots of whales in Los Cabos, in Newfoundland and I saw a pod of orcas off the Great Ocean Road in AU. We should see plenty of whales up close on our trip through the inside passage.
I saw whales in Cape Breton (lots of them), but I really wanted to see whales while in BC (orcas specifically). 😦
Post lots of photos!
Jessica, Turquoise Compass