What does Canada have to offer visitors? Undoubtedly, a wealth of activities and attractions to suit every traveler: from majestic natural landscapes to cultural experiences, gastronomy, vibrant cities, and much more. Of course, there’s also plenty to choose from for sports enthusiasts.
Whether you want to enjoy the most exciting competitions or practice your favorite sports, Canada offers a wealth of options. However, you should consider the region you visit and, especially, the time of year. Let’s take a look at a small selection of the many possibilities this vast and wonderful country has to offer.
If you like watching sports competitions
It will come as no surprise that ice hockey is Canada’s national sport. Seven of the NHL’s 32 teams represent cities and towns across the country, including two of the most successful: the Montreal Canadiens and the Toronto Maple Leafs. Experiencing the atmosphere of a hockey game firsthand by visiting one of its historic rinks is highly recommended.
Of course, this country is also very strong in other winter sports. Many travelers may come from warmer climates and have only seen these activities on television, like the classic New Year’s ski jumping competition, or in movies, like the fun bobsleigh film Cool Runnings. And let’s not forget the legendary video games, like Konami’s Nagano Winter Olympics 98, or even the digital slots for skiing and hockey that are available not only at an online casino in Canada, but also in other countries.
Whether that’s the case, or the recent Olympic Games in Milano Cortina have captivated you, a trip to Canada in winter is an excellent opportunity to see these competitions and discover surprising and lesser-known disciplines, such as those already mentioned, or the ever-fascinating curling and the incredibly attractive figure skating. You can visit a curling club in many cities, or the Calgary National Bobsleigh Training Center, to name just a few examples.
Of course, Canada isn’t all ice, snow, and cold. We can enjoy spectacular events at other times of the year. For example, the famous Canadian Formula 1 Grand Prix at the Gilles Villeneuve Circuit on Notre-Dame Island. And you might not know that lacrosse is one of the country’s most popular sports and one of the most played during the summer.
If you’re one of those who prefers to train and sweat it out
Where do we begin? Canada’s vast wilderness is one of its defining characteristics. Therefore, hiking and adventure sports are an excellent way to explore the country (and, incidentally, its culture). Visitors can embark on long treks by hiking, biking, kayaking, or even traversing valleys on zip lines or navigating rivers on rafts. And where can we enjoy many of these activities?
Many will already have the answer in mind: the Rocky Mountains; specifically, Banff, Yoho, and Jasper National Parks. An incredible landscape that allows you to experience the sport to its fullest (depending on the intensity you choose and your fitness level). Routes of all distances and difficulty levels, and for those who think walking is boring, they can try trail running in one of these incomparable settings.
If you prefer a different kind of scenery, with rainforests and beaches, you also have British Columbia on the west coast. And what about the Appalachian Trail? Isn’t it an incredible experience to hike the longest trail in the world? We’re talking about more than 3,500 kilometers. Obviously, we recommend planning these kinds of activities well and being careful.
Of course, if it’s snowy season, we might prefer to trade our hiking boots for a snowboard. Whistler Blackcomb is considered the premier ski resort in North America and one of the best in the world, with over 8,100 acres of skiable terrain. Naturally, there are many more options; in fact, there are hundreds across the country. And in some areas, the snow season can last up to six months (from November to May).