The Most Extreme Things You Can Do in Canada
Canada is a great place to spend your vacation. The country is known for its cozy cabins, relaxing spas, rich food, and friendly people. What’s that? You say you’re looking for something a bit more… extreme? Well buckle up, hoser, ‘cause you won’t believe some of the crazy things you can do in Canada.
You can…
…dangle off the edge of an 1800-foot-tall tower
Toronto’s CN Tower is the tallest free-standing land structure in the Western Hemisphere, and one of the tallest in the entire world. Every year, more than two million international tourists visit the tower to take in its breathtaking view of the city below. But only the most daring visitors participate in the EdgeWalk, wherein six people at a time embark on a 30-minute, hands-free, full-circle jaunt around the tower’s slender 5-foot-wide ledge. Safety harnesses allow adrenaline-junkies to lean over the edge without any railings or windows separating them from the 116-story drop. Talk about having your head in the clouds.
…surf an infinite wave in the middle of the city
Calgary might seem the polar opposite of Honolulu (emphasis on “polar,” brrrr), but one thing they both have in common? Surfing. Instead of riding the ocean waters off the coast of some sandy beach, Calgary natives get their fix taming the wild waters of the twisty-turny rivers running through the city. The most famous spot to hang ten is right in the heart of downtown, beneath the 10th Street Bridge, where a naturally occurring endless wave draws an ever-increasing crowd of surfers and spectators every summer. With the sport growing in popularity, projects to expand the city’s aquatic offerings may be enough to tempt even the most sunburnt beach-bums into ditching Hawaii in favor of seeking out Calgary homes for sale.
…spend the night in a hotel room made of ice
Canada is famous for its frigid winters and heavy snowfalls, but if a desire for unconventional attractions is more than enough to warm your bones, then they don’t come more unconventional than Quebec City’s Hôtel de Glace. The only true “ice hotel” in North America, this breathtakingly beautiful structure is built from scratch every December and has a lifespan of just three months. Boarders sleep on mattresses atop huge blocks of ice and can enjoy such amenities as a fully stocked bar, chapel, and outdoor spa. More than “just” an architectural marvel, each room features a unique, ornately carved interior sculpted from snow, with themes changing every year to ensure every guest a one-of-a-kind experience.
…fly to the top of a mountain then ski back down
Millions of skiers trek north every year in search of the highest mountains, the fastest terrain, and the purest, untouched powder. If you really want to ski the best of the best, though, there’s really only one option: heli-skiing. A true Canadian original, heli-skiing was invented in the 1960s when Hans Gmoser founded Canadian Mountain Holidays, which continues offering heli-skiing excursions to this day. Thanks to good ol’ Hans, today’s intrepid thrill-seekers can take helicopter rides up to otherwise unreachable heights, then ski all the way back down from the snowy peaks with a speed and smoothness most daredevils only get to dream about.
