What should I do in Canada?

[Necrisha]

In Quebec City is the old Frontenac walled city, an absolute pleasure to wander and beside they have the oldest military base in Canada. I recommend spending a full day down in that part if you can. If you're brave take the bazillion stairs down from the plains de Abraham and see how jellied your legs get along the bottom. Edit: they also have an amazing music festival in the summer, check if it's on when you're there!!!

Ammolite jewelry, native American crafts (dream catchers and soapstone carvings (the inukshuk are a safe bet) would probably be your go to- unless the RCMP moose/beaver stuffed animals would be appreciated. East coast seafood is pretty famous to us on the Western end of the country, PEI is famous for their potatoes and red soil, alberta for beef, and British Columbia is called bring cash for a few different reasons.

Respect the wildlife. Here it really is wild, and that moose/elk/mountain goat will take you out if it wants to.

If you know someone who appreciates it icewine from Niagra falls area, or Newfoundland screech for the daring. Try Crown Royal if you drink whiskey or enjoy a good rye. Try second cup coffee at least once, it's the strongest coffee by caffeine content in Canada, and Tim Hortons can keep their swill. Just because it was started by a famous Canadian hockey player don't mean it stayed good when the franchise was sold to an American conglomerate.

Check out the small fusion restaurants, and especially at least one small town Chinese restaurant- they have an interesting history in Canada and the food's as genuinely Canadian as any. Ask the locals about the best place to eat. And although winter sports are usually a bigger deal try to take in a basketball game(was created by a Canadian!), Lacrosse game, or spend at least one day at a national heritage site.

[Trappin]

Since two or three of you guy live in Canada - whars the name of that mulled wine drink? I'm pretty sure it's a Christmas festival drink, though. I had it once, but that was a long time ago.

And you guys are right, weather west of the continental divide is low humidty dry heat. Mosquitos can be thick as fog and can make life miserable unless you literally bathe in Deet mosquito repellent. I've not seen rattlesnakes in BC, but saw one crossing a gravel road in Alberta. Victoria island headlands trail rival the best Redwood forests of California. It crazy awesome there.

I'm jealous of people living in the region of Nova Scotia, NFD and Labrador because of the sheer wild beauty found there. It's just too far away from me to visit.

Re: the oldest fort in Canada. I think Benedict Arnold and another Colonial American officer (Montgomery) and 2000 colonial militia got roundly slaughtered trying to storm that fort in the middle of winter 1776.

Edit: Pointe-aux-Trembles

[ven]

I don't know what to think of Canadian bugs. The way people talk about it makes it seem it's really bad. Wikipedia pic of Nunavut:

Don't you have frogs or birds in the North?

[MrPunchers]

Go to America.

[Necrisha]

Yep, frogs, birds bats, but they don't even put a dent in the population. The percentage of lakes and swampy wild areas make the numbers a lot higher than more settled regions of the world, though we have the least number of unique venomous creatures in the continent and a lot fewer reptile species than more moderate climes, Which is probably what makes the difference. And our mosquito species are famous for being able to remain dormant for years before hatching if the region is usually to dry to support them. So there would be record numbers every time there's an unusually damp year.

[jordancoles]

I don't know what to think of Canadian bugs. The way people talk about it makes it seem it's really bad. Wikipedia pic of Nunavut:

Don't you have frogs or birds in the North?

These are called Shad Flies and they are literally everywhere for about a month of the year in northern Ontario
https://www.facebook.com/kelly.rivardmc ... 490609379/

They don't have mouths and so they don't eat. They're literally just food for fish and shit because they exist to breed and then die pre-much.
They have a weird musky smell when they're in a big group and even though they die after a week or whatever, their stupid dead bodies are still stuck to whatever surface they happened to die on.

Yeah, bugs are shit

[spawningmink]

You could always come visit me, coles and troll

[Miss_Min]

Headchef - last time I tried ice skating I nearly broke my wrist. Twice. Ice hockey goes down as one of those Weird Foreign Customs that might be worth watching ... but apparently I'll be there in the brief time when there are not actually any games to watch?

Jordan - I get that poutine is traditional, but is it, like, drunk-person food? Should I only buy it on the way back from a night out? Or would a normal non-tourist eat it at other times of day?

ven - because of reasons, I think my sword is currently in New Zealand. I don't really want to buy another one. Also I suspect that like the hockey, it's also the off-season for the Northern Lights. And anyway, do the Northern Lights show up at that latitude? I've only ever seen them once at 50°N.

Trappin - so you're basically saying run away from bears, catch a big fish and if I'm lucky I might find a flotsam? Ok, that I can do! Also, buy real maple syrup for my brother (who is likely to be reading this) and maple flavouring (see, I don't think maple flavouring is a thing here? Suppose I'll have to check now) for people who only get the low budget stuff.

Necrisha - Ammolite is exactly the kind of shiny thing I've never heard of, thank you! Also for the rest of your reply

People talking about insects - I've been to Scotland (ugh midgies no) and the White Sea coast of Russia (biggest mosquitoes ever. not the *most*, but the biggest) in the summer. I was planning on taking the tropical-strength DEET already, this confirms my plan.

MrPunchers - no.

spawningmink - as lovely as that idea is, my travel plans are restricted by my work. Alas. Maybe another time....

[ven]

And anyway, do the Northern Lights show up at that latitude?

They do if you really believe in them.

[jordancoles]

Jordan - I get that poutine is traditional, but is it, like, drunk-person food? Should I only buy it on the way back from a night out? Or would a normal non-tourist eat it at other times of day?

Well, I don't think you'd want it for breakfast but most people would get it from a food cart or stand while out for the day

Basically any time you'd have fries you can have poutine, but it's a heavier meal for sure because of the gravy/cheese.
You'll definitely feel really full if you ate a whole tray