A killer whale turns and heads straight for our small boat, its tall triangular fin slicing through the water with barely a ripple, dives directly underneath us and emerges, salmon in mouth, with a cheeky victory roll … a grizzly bear draws itself up to its full height and scratches itself against a tree before ambling along the rainforest river bank to pick out the juiciest salmon to feast on, in nature’s own all-you-can-eat sushi buffet … the mushroom foragers and scallop divers for Canada’s top restaurant demonstrate just how easy it is to return laden with natural fresh food for the table … a breathtaking walk along one of the world’s most scenic and remote coastlines ends, surreally, in a magnificent dinner sitting directly behind multiple-Oscar nominee Ethan Hawke.
Canada is a country bigger than China, but with a population of just 35 million. It contains some of the world’s last great wildernesses and some of its biggest national parks, but also some of the most attractive cities with the most forward-thinking cuisine. It even has the Calgary Stampede – an annual rodeo exhibition. Large parts of Canada may be snow-locked in winter, but in the spring, summer and autumn the coastal waters are alive with whales, seals and fish of all varieties, the days are warm and the scenery is jaw-dropping.
Canadians are far too polite to brag – a recent study found that 90% of 18 to 25-year-olds apologise if you bump into them – so let us do it for them: they really do have the best country in the world.
For more information and inspiration, see explore-canada.co.uk
