A Guide to Off-Beat Destinations

To recognize Canada Day, even during a pandemic, here’s a
sampling of weird and unusual places you can visit on an all-Canadian vacation
this year! From scary creatures to haunted locations, UFO landing spots and
natural wonders, Canada has much to offer for an off-beat travelogue from coast
to coast. Most of these sites are accessible even during regional restrictions,
and many can be visited anytime! (NB: But check with locals first; hotels, for example, may not be fully open.)

Sasquatch
Provincial Park, near Harrison Hot Springs, BC

Will you spot a Sasquatch if you hike the trails?

Sasquatch Trail,
east of Osoyoos, BC

There’s a Sasquatch statue lurking beside the road at the
entrance to this housing subdivision!

British Columbia’s lake monster is said to ne Nessie’s
cousin.

Running down from the mountains west to Vancouver, this
swath of land is said to be a favourite path for UFOs.

In 1967, the town built a UFO landing pad for alien
visitors. Since them a UFO museum has been added.

One of Canada’s most haunted buildings, according to
paranormal fans.

A ghostly light seen at the Tabor Cemetery, 17 miles
northeast of Esterhazy, is said to dance over the headstones.

Crooked Bush, Hafford,
SK

For some reason, all the aspen in this park are bent and
twisted, which some have attributed to aliens.

Little Manitou
Lake, near Watrous, SK

Canada’s own version of the Red Sea, this lake is high in
salt content, and you can float on it!

In 1967, a UFO landed near a amateur prospector, and
burned him and the surrounding vegetation. Today, you can visit the site on
horseback.

Hotel Fort Garry,
Winnipeg, MB

Another of Canada’s great haunted hotels.

Magnetic Hill,
Swan River, MB

You’ve heard of the more popular one in New Brunswick
(see below), but there’s one in Manitoba too, where your car seems to coast
uphill!

West Hawk Lake
Crater, MB

Just like its American cousin in Oregon, this deep blue
lake was formed by a giant meteor 350 million years ago.

Manipogo (Lake
Manitoba), MB

Manitoba’s version of Nessie has its own Provincial Park,
northeast of Dauphin.

Of course, Ontario has one too!

Boblo Island,
Amherstburg, ON

An abandoned amusement park is said to be haunted!

Scugog Island Ghost Light, Port Perry, ON

There’s a spook light that can be seen on a road south of
Port Perry, said to be the headlight of a ghostly motorcyclist.

Screaming Tunnel,
Niagara, ON

This drainage tunnel is said to be haunted by the ghost
of a young girl who as set ablaze as she tried to escape from her captor.

Hotel Bonaventure,
Montreal, PQ

In 1990, a strange UFO was seen and photographed as it
hung over the rooftop patio of this hotel on downtown Montreal.

Quebec lays claim to its share of a lake monster said to
inhabit Lake Champlain, of which a small chunk is in Canada.

St-Georges-de-Windsor
Cow, PQ

Sometimes, you just have to include a strange roadside
attraction in a list like this. This one is a lookout tower in the shape of a
cow laying in a field.

Magnetic Hill,
Moncton, NB

The “original” Magnetic Hill in Canada, where your car
rolls uphill!

Reversing Falls,
St. John, NB

Because of the huge tides in the Bay of Fundy, this set
of rapids flows both towards and away from the sea!

The tide here is more than 13 metres, with a turnaround
of a little more than 6 hours.

In 1967, a UFO was said to fall into the ocean, where a
fleet of ships sped to the scene to try and recover whatever it was. Only a
patch of luminous foam was discovered.

The home of the famous Sable Island breed of horses,
under government protection.

Teazer Light,
Mahone Bay, NS

A phantom ship ran aground in 1813 and its light has been
seen off shore ever since.

Kensington Haunted
Mansion, PEI

One of Canada’s classic haunted locations.

Ghost Ship of
Northumberland Strait, PEI

In the strait between Prince Edward Island and New
Brunswick, a bright light like a ship on fire has been reported often.

Lomond Sinkhole,
Bonne Bay, NF

Not easy to get to, this limestone formation has a
waterfall that disappears into the ground.

Kelly’s Island,
Conception Bay, NL

Strange lights that are said to be the ghosts of pirates
are said to guard this small island offshore.

Bell Island,
Conception Bay, NL

This larger island near Kelly’s Island is said to be even
more haunted!

Smoker, the
Phantom Trapper of Labrador, NL

A wily trapper evaded RCMP by painting his sled and
himself white to avoid detection. His ghost is said to still mush across
southern Labrador.

Point Amour
Lighthouse, NL

The tallest lighthouse in Atlantic Canada!

In 1996, more than 30 people witnessed a huge UFO, said
to be a mile wide, float ponderously north above Fox Lake.

Bessie Gideon,
Carcross, YK

The hideous ghost of this former owner of the Caribou
Hotel is said to haunt the halls!

Waheela,
Nahanni Valley, NT

A creature that is half wolf and half supernatural spirit
is claimed to reside in the beautiful Nahanni Valley.

Smoking Hills,
Paulatuk, NT

The oil shale content of this area of the Northwest
Territories is so high, they spontaneously ignite and burn continuously!

Ibyuk Pingo,
Tuktoyaktuk, NT

Canada’s own version of Australia’s Uluru, this small
mountain of permafrost is always growing in size!

Arctic Winter
Games Arena, Iqaluit, NU

A ghost is said to frighten visitors to the former site
of the winter games!

Rankin Inlet Fire
Hall Ghost, NU

As does a ghost in this building in Rankin Inlet!

NASA uses this ancient impact site as a stand-in for
Mars!

This is the second largest island in Canada, but is
largely uninhabited. However, it possesses something very unique: an island in
a lake on an island in a lake on an island in the Arctic Ocean. Really: 69.7924,
-108.2395