Planning a trip to Canada? Want to maybe get off the beaten track and do something a little different than the usual hockey games, snowy mountain expeditions and poutine eating? You’re in luck because, below, we have curated some of the best, quirky things you can do in Canada amongst all those perfect lake trips and mountain getaways. Sound good? Read on.
1. Visit the Desert in British Columbia (Yes, Really)
You’d expect deserts in Arizona or Morocco, but most definitely not in Canada, right? And yet, in the town of Osoyoos, British Columbia, there’s an actual desert. It has cacti, rattlesnakes, and enough sun to make your sunscreen cry. Visit the Nk’Mip Desert Cultural Centre to learn about the local Indigenous history while wondering if you accidentally crossed into Nevada.
This is the kind of geographical curveball that makes you question everything you learned in 6th grade geography.
2. Ride the Kettle Valley Railway Like It’s 1915
In a world full of high-speed trains and overcrowded airports, riding the Kettle Valley Railway is a glorious, slow-motion time warp. This heritage railway in British Columbia offers vintage train rides with incredible views and an occasional cowboy robbery re-enactment. It’s charming, old-timey, and exactly the kind of niche experience that makes a trip memorable.
Bonus points if you dress like a turn-of-the-century aristocrat and dramatically wave at hikers from the open-air car.
3. Visit the Giant Nickel in Sudbury, Ontario
Sudbury isn’t exactly high on most travel bucket lists, but it does have one thing going for it: a truly massive nickel. Standing 30 feet tall and weighing in at “definitely unnecessary,” this monument to Canada’s mining history is both bizarre and oddly compelling.
Because why not celebrate your natural resources by building a giant shiny coin in the middle of nowhere?
4. Feed a Goat on a Roof in Coombs, British Columbia
On Vancouver Island, you’ll find a little market in Coombs where goats live on the roof. No, this is not a hallucination or an elaborate tourist prank. The Old Country Market literally has goats munching away on its grassy rooftop like it’s the most normal thing in the world.
Grab an ice cream cone, feed a goat, question the meaning of life. Standard Canadian road trip stuff.
5. Walk Through a Haunted Railway Tunnel in Ontario
Feeling brave? Head to Brockville and take a walk through Canada’s first railway tunnel. It’s been restored with moody lights and music, which makes it feel either magical or mildly cursed, depending on your tolerance for tunnels and Victorian ghost energy.
It’s free, weirdly atmospheric, and a great way to cool down on a hot day. Or spook yourself on purpose. Your call.
Embrace the Odd
Canada might be the home of majestic mountains and charming cities, but it is also a place where you can find lots of quirky, interesting and just plain unusual things to do, so on your next trip to Canada, take some time to embrace the oddness!