Canada is pretty massive. The country spans almost 4,700 miles from east to west, touches three oceans, and hosts six different time zones.
Fortunately, I've been able to visit all 10 of its provinces. And with so many options, I know it can seem overwhelming to choose where to explore next.
Although I enjoyed learning and experiencing what makes each province unique, a few places stand out — and they aren't in Ontario, Canada's most-touristed province.
Here are the three Canadian provinces I loved visiting, plus highlights I experienced that'll make you want to plan your own trip to each.
Humans tread on the Earth's crust, but it's not every day that you experience the second component below it, the mantle.
However, in the Tablelands in Gros Morne National Park, parts of the Earth's mantle are exposed, and visitors get a rare chance to admire this distinct structure without any digging.
When I explored the south end of this UNESCO World Heritage site, the rust-colored terrain made me feel as if I were on Mars. I loved learning about the local carnivorous pitcher plants and feeling the texture of the rusty rocks.
There, I opted for a guided group walk along the beautiful Tablelands Trail, which is around 5 miles out and back.
After walking on the mantle, I headed north of the park to visit Western Brook Pond. This freshwater fjord was carved thousands of years ago by retreating glaciers, and it's nothing less than breathtaking.
I took a guided boat tour through the fjord and learned all about it. If you want a panoramic view of it, take the day to hike to the top of the Western Brook Pond Trail.
Prince Edward Island is famous for its potatoes, red-sand beaches, and picturesque countryside.
The red sand is due to the soil's rich iron content, which oxidizes (turns reddish) when exposed to air. During the summer, there are usually more than 20 supervised beaches on the island.
Instead of admiring the area by car or on foot, my family and I have enjoyed exploring it by bicycle. Biking allowed us to slow down, be present with where we were, and get a taste of the laid-back island lifestyle.
We chose to pedal along the Confederation Trail, which stretches from one tip of the island to another and covers about 278 miles. It helped us connect to special towns like Cardigan, where we visited Canada's smallest library.
The Confederation Trail has labeled stretches that range from easy to hard, so you can choose your own cycling adventure. If you're looking for a strenuous trail, I recommend gearing up on the Gairloch or O'Leary Mountain Bike Trail.
Source: Read the original article on www.businessinsider.com
