577 Cool and Unusual Things to Do in Canada - Atlas Obscura

Unusual Attractions in Canada

Toronto, Ontario

The Monkey's Paw

A book collector's dream, this Toronto bookstore has the world's first "Biblio-Mat," a random book vending machine.

Toronto, Ontario

Winter Garden Theatre

A botanically themed auditorium blooms within the world’s last operating double-decker theater.

Malakwa, British Columbia

The Enchanted Forest

An old world fairytale-land with over 350 fairy folk figurines hidden amongst 800 year old cedars.

Toronto, Ontario

Casa Loma

A 98-room castle in the middle of Toronto that bankrupted a 19th century electricity multimillionaire.

Toronto, Ontario

Thomas Fisher Rare Book Library

One of Canada's most incredible rare book collections holds hundreds of thousands of gorgeous tomes that the general public can touch.

Vancouver, British Columbia

VanDusen Garden's Elizabethan Hedge Maze

This Elizabethan hedge maze is one of only six in North America.

Qualicum Beach, British Columbia

Free Spirit Spheres

Sleep snuggled in a sphere suspended atop the forest canopy of Vancouver Island.

Montreal, Québec

Biosphere of Montreal

Designed by Buckminster Fuller, this relic of the 67 Expo survived fire and ice.

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Cool Places to Eat & Drink in Canada

Montreal, Québec

Marché Jean-Talon

Montreal's giant farmer's market is a foodie's best friend, especially in the winter months.

Vancouver, British Columbia

Japadog

Surprisingly Delicious Asian-Style Hot Dogs.

Montreal, Québec

Gibeau Orange Julep

The skyline of Montreal includes the silhouette of an unexpected fruit-shaped Canadian staple.

O'Leary, Prince Edward Island

Seaweed Pie

Made from local Irish moss, this pie is served only in Prince Edward Island's potato museum.

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Stories About Canada

The Arctic hare BBYY traveled more than 240 miles during a seven-week period in 2019.

What Energized This Arctic Hare to Keep Going and Going and Going?

The animal known as BBYY traveled hundreds of miles, breaking records and shattering expectations.

by Gemma Tarlach

February 1, 2022

Residents across southwestern British Columbia and Vancouver Island are going to great lengths to keep Anna's hummingbirds safe during an unusual cold spell.

Saving Canada's Hardiest Hummingbirds Requires Extreme Care

Bird-loving volunteers are going to great lengths to help the animals survive a cold snap in British Columbia.

by Rochelle Baker

January 17, 2022

Don't let its appearance fool you: Eggnog can be badass.

The Wild and Weird History of Eggnog

The cozy cocktail has fueled prison parties and West Point riots.

December 21, 2021

Inspired by the Bayeux Tapestry, French Shore locals embroidered their own history for posterity.

How a Tiny Hamlet's Wondrous Tapestry Preserves a Complex Past

Inspired by the Bayeux Tapestry, artists and embroiderers in a Newfoundland village commemorated a lost way of life.

December 2, 2021

One of the largest <em>T. rex</em> skeletons ever found, "Scotty" was apparently at home in a swampy Saskatchewan.

T. Rex Thrived in a Swampy Home, According to Amber 'Time Capsule'

Fragments of fossilized tree resin suggest the iconic dinosaur ruled an ecosystem similar to the Everglades.

by Jack Tamisiea

August 26, 2021

Marco, part of the beekeeping team at Miel’s D’Anicet, inspects a frame in search of a queen.

How a Canadian Beekeeper Breeds New Queens

Honeybees aren't your typical livestock.

Podcast: Dude Chilling Park

Join us for a daily celebration of the world’s most wondrous, unexpected, even strange places.

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Amid ice and tundra, the lighter Hayes River flows from the northeast (top right) into the dark Back River in Nunavut, Canada, but remains distinct from it for 10 miles.

Why Two Rivers Meet But Don't Mix in the Canadian Arctic

The Back River remains visually distinct from its tributary, the Hayes River, for several miles after their confluence.

by Charlene Pinckney Goldberg

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