When I was a kid living in Alaska, I had the incredible opportunity to drive through Canada and it was an experience I will never forget. Canada is unlike any place in the world, and we Americans are pretty lucky because getting to Canada is so easy. Flights to Canada are inexpensive and often quite short, and all you need is a current passport. I know many people, when trying to pick their next vacation, often don’t think of Canada as a must-see destination, but this peaceful, unique, and beautiful country has so much to offer.

With no shortage of wilderness or solitude, Canada is a great place to unwind and get away from reality. There are a lot of resorts catering to people who want to get close to nature and experience something new. Fishing, kayaking, hiking, and golfing are just a few of the many things to do while in Canada. You can’t beat Canada’s breathtaking scenery and virtually untouched forests, not to mention fresh seafood on the eastern and western coasts. British Columbia, home of the 2010 Winter Olympics, is well known for having everything a wildlife adventurer needs, and much more. Resorts often have guided tours for their outdoor activities if you’re uncomfortable going alone and they also have activities for the whole family or specifically for kids if you want some downtime.

King Pacific Lodge is a beautiful luxury resort located on a small island in British Columbia with its own Japanese inspired spa. Right on the water, you can go fishing in the pristine waters, hiking in the Great Bear Rainforest, or simply stay inside and get pampered at the luxury spa with a private yoga lesson and spend the evening with a cup of hot chocolate surrounded by calm waters and beautiful scenery. If you want a truly unique experience, you can have your yoga lesson amidst the mountains and glaciers via helicopter ride. King Pacific Lodge would be the perfect place to go and unwind. To find out more about this amazing resort, visit www.kingpacificlodge.com.

The Briars, a lakeside resort in Ontario, is any golfer or adventure lover’s paradise. This resort offers a mindboggling amount of activities all year round and most of them are included in the overnight package. You can go canoeing and mountain biking in the summer, or skating and, my personal favorite, go sleigh riding with hot chocolate in the winter. They also have a spa and fitness center! To see what other activities they offer check out their website at http://www-briars-ca.rztrkr.com.

Photo by ibackpackcanada Corbin Fraser

Tags: camping, Canada, family, fishing, flight, getaway, golf, hiking, nature, relax, resort, spa, Travel, trip, wilderness, wildlife