Canadian bucket list experiences that are legit achievable for us civilians

Horseshoe falls is but one of the many experiences to tick off on your Canadian bucket list. (Pic courtsey of EWM)

This post has been sponsored by Intercontinental Hotels Group

Well folks, summer is almost over and what have you done with it? If you’re anything like me, you had the best of intentions, but, well… life just gets in the way.

Intercontinental Hotels Group (IHG) recently did a survey which found that 6 in 10 Canadians have or plan to make a bucket list, and the majority seek out Canadian experiences. You’re not alone if you weren’t able to turn your summer bucket list into reality. Apparently 90% of us don’t, mainly because of financial limitations and work obligations.

Have you seen the polar bears at Assiniboine Park in Winnipeg yet? (Pic courtsey of EWM)

Great Canadian Bucket List

But hang on. What if we modified our bucket lists into more achievable experiences? There’s so much to do and explore right here in Canada. To help us out, IHG partnered with bucket list expert, Robin Esrock (that dude I did heli-yoga with) to create The IHG Great Canadian Bucket List which offers 25 unique and achievable experiences to inspire Canadians. Here’s what’s on my radar:

Dinosaur adventures in Alberta

You know Alberta is prime dino land, but there’s so much more to explore than Drumheller and Dinosaur Provincial Park (lovely as it as). If you really want to do something unique, head North near Grand Prairie, where 73 million years ago, a flood trapped a herd of dinosaurs.

Viola! It’s now one of the richest dinosaur bone beds ever discovered.

This dino museum rivals the Royal Tyrrell in Drumheller! (Photo credit: Travel Alberta)

You can see these awesomely preserved fossils at the Phillip J. Currie Dinosaur Museum in Wembley. Fun fact: Phillip J. Currie is the Canadian paleontology legend that inspired the character played by Sam Neill in Jurassic Park.

Find Canada’s national animal

It’s kind of crazy that in a country flush with bears, moose, elk and deer, the beaver is our national animal. What’s up with that? Have you even seen a beaver outside of a zoo? I haven’t.

Apparently, they’re difficult to spot, but if you check out the 1.5 km Beaver Boardwalk in Hinton, you probably will. This boardwalk weaves through an active beaver dam and includes an observation tower over the beaver lodge.

Out of all the wild animals, beavers scare me the most. Is that weird? (Pic Courtesy of EWM)

Bucket list adventures in Saskatoon

Saskatoon is having a bit of a moment. Here, you can discover 6,000 years of Indigenous Peoples history at Wanuskewin Heritage Park, a National Historic Site. Beyond the exhibits and artifacts, there are loads of trails throughout the 600-acre property. There’s even a medicine wheel as old as Stonehenge there!

Wanuskewin Heritage Park has so much going on and the history is incredible.(Pic courtesy of EWM)

While in Saskatoon, I also recommend hitting up some of their numerous farm-to-table restaurants. Ayden Kitchen & Bar is a fave and I’m dying to try Little Grouse on the Prairie.

Get pulled up a Magnetic Hill

In Moncton, New Brunswick there’s this quirky roadside attraction called Magnetic Hill. You put your car in neutral to roll it uphill. Though it seems to defy the laws of physics, it’s actually an illusion caused by the surrounding landscape and lack of a horizon.

It gives the impression you’re being pulled uphill by some giant magnet, but actually, you’re gently rolling down. Your kids will be all, like, what just happened?

Magnetic Hill is also super close to Magic Mountain, a tricked-out waterpark and the largest zoo in Atlantic Canada.

I just went to Magnetic Hill last week with Eve. I still don’t get it. It totally seemed like we were booking it uphill in reverse. Totally worth it! (Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons)

To see the full list of 25 achievable, yet totally worth it IHG Canadian bucket list destinations, check out IHG.com.

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