Immerse yourself in pristine wilderness, wander flatland deserts and discover charming rural towns and diverse cities in Canada’s 13 provinces and territories.

Visit Canada’s capital, Ottawa, in Ontario. Gaze at Parliament Hill on a summer evening to see the grand gothic buildings in a sound-and-light show or encounter Canada’s aboriginal cultures on Victoria Island. In winter, go ice-skating among historic buildings along the Rideau Canal. In spring, see a “sugar bush” on a maple tree farm.

Toronto, Ontario’s largest city, is full of surprises. Wander through Chinatown, Greektown, Little Italy and Portugal Village before warming up in the 19-mile (30-kilometer) underground shopping and dining strip known as the PATH. Explore cultural, geological and natural history at the enormous Royal Ontario Museum or relax near the Victorian architecture of the Distillery district and taste local beers.

Encounter the French-influenced culture of Ontario’s neighbor, Quebec, in Montreal. Develop a taste for poutine (fries drenched in gravy and topped with cheese curds) or toffee made from pouring hot maple syrup into snow. Bike along Lake Saint-Louis through Musée de Lachine's outdoor sculpture museum. Wander amid homes and warehouses built in the 15th and 16th centuries in one of North America’s oldest districts, Quartier Petit Champlain in Quebec City.

In Alberta, find the Badlands desert landscape, a dinosaur graveyard and some of Canada’s best-known ski fields. In summer, look for grizzly bears and elk.

Ski resorts on Whistler and Blackcomb mountains in British Columbia offer a huge array of snow sports in winter. Rock climb, mountain bike and hike in summer. Enjoy busy nightlife year-round. Move west to beautiful and mild Vancouver, a city on the sea, surrounded by mountains. Vancouver is a good jumping-off point for tours to Alaska.

Canada’s diverse landscapes, untamed wilderness and freezing winters are perfect for those seeking excitement. Find plenty of cultural attractions in the cities and small towns as well.