17 days in Canada Itinerary

Most people remember their holiday in Canada by the country's great outdoors, yet this sprawling land of hulking mountains and rocky coastlines also boasts numerous modern cities, home to some of the world's finest dining, shopping, and entertainment options. Made for leisurely road trips, North America's biggest country features vast landscapes still unspoiled by mass tourism. A tour of Canada reveals a place packed with diverse cultures, living in tolerance and enjoying one of the highest standards of living in the world. If the vastness of those natural landscapes overwhelms you at any point during your Canada vacation, head to the openhearted cities of Vancouver, Toronto, or Montreal, ideal destinations for art lovers, history buffs, shopaholics, fashionistas, and impassioned foodies.

Magdalen Islands is one of two municipalities forming the urban agglomeration of Magdalen Islands in Quebec, Canada. It is part of the Gaspésie–Îles-de-la-Madeleine region and the population is 12,291 as of the Canada 2011 Census.As part of a municipal reorganization across Quebec, the seven communities of the Magdalen Islands amalgamated to form the municipality of Magdalen Islands on January 1, 2002. However, after a referendum in 2004 the community of Grosse-Île decided to split from the municipality, effective January 1, 2006. Although Grindstone likewise voted to split in the same referendum, it did not actually do so.CommunitiesThe following are the six formerly independent communities that constitute Magdalen Islands:Grindstone (Cap-aux-Meules)Located on Grindstone Island (Île du Cap aux Meules in French), Grindstone was settled as early as the 19th century. Before the 2002 amalgamation, it was the Magdalen Islands' smallest community in land area, but because of its location at the centre of the archipelago, it has become the most important business centre of the islands and, as such, was named "Capital of the Islands." The ferry servicing Cap-aux-Meules to Souris, Prince Edward Island constitutes the archipelago's only port of entry by sea.

Canada's only island province, Prince Edward Island earned the nickname the "Garden of the Gulf" thanks to its pastoral landscape of rolling green hills and a patchwork of cultivated fields. The country's smallest province in terms of land and population, the island boasts a long coastline marked by sandy beaches, making up in visual appeal what they lack in modern infrastructure. It's easy to get away from everyone during a vacation in Prince Edward Island, as this photogenic landmass features just a scattering of small towns housing warmhearted locals stubbornly clinging to their easygoing lifestyle. Begin your Prince Edward Island tour in Charlottetown, the quaint provincial capital with a good selection of bars and restaurants.

Small in terms of land area, Nova Scotia nevertheless encompasses nearly 3,800 islands floating in the Atlantic just off Canada's mainland. A vacation in Nova Scotia is understandably an ocean-based experienced, allowing you to stay within 60 km (40 mi) of the water no matter where you choose to base your adventure. Stay near the ocean, and you'll find mostly lighthouses and small settlements living off lobster fishing. Drive or cycle inland, and the landscape changes dramatically, with pretty orchards and photogenic highlands dominating the geography everywhere you look. For urban amenities during your Nova Scotia holiday, look no farther than provincial capital Halifax, offering the region's biggest range of shopping, dining, and entertainment options.

Pristine natural scenery, photogenic little towns, charming beaches, and sprawling parks remain top reasons to take a trip to New Brunswick. This relatively small Canadian province with a long Atlantic coastline remains sparsely populated, the majority of its area covered with dense forests. Five scenic drives intersect the region, allowing visitors to spend their New Brunswick holiday sightseeing from the comfort of a rented car or bicycle. If you prefer to stay near the water, don't miss the world-famous Bay of Fundy, home to the world's highest tides, several species of whales, and quaint seaside settlements maintaining their own slow pace of life.

One of the world's biggest islands, Newfoundland sits just off North America's eastern coastline, blocking the mouth of the St. Lawrence River and forming the largest estuary on the planet. A trip to Newfoundland reveals a place distinct from the rest of Canada, where even local time ticks away at its own pace--the island's time zone is 30 minutes ahead of the mainland's. Water remains the lifeblood of this land at the edge of the continent, so most holidays in Newfoundland include some form of sea-related activities. You can fish, sail, whale watch, explore lighthouses, and observe majestic icebergs as they drift by the island's rugged coastline.