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From sea to shining sea | Is a trip across Canada worth it?

From arctic tundra, to vast prairies under open skies, to lush boreal forest, to the crashing waves of the Pacific or Atlanticseas, to the majestic peaks of the Rockies, this country has many humbling sights to behold. Indeed, it’s no secret whytourists and locals alike treasure the country’s natural heritage, varied and impressive as it is. However, the disadvantageof living in such a vast country as Canada is that its considerable size prevents many of its citizens and visitors to see all10 million square kilometers. You could spend a lifetime exploring just a few of its thirteen provinces and territories andnever get bored, but those with a hungry wanderlust might find themselves pondering how to see more of this great landand its people.

Undertaking such a trek from coast to coast would be daunting, time-consuming and costly, and even some of the mostadventurous among us might wonder if a trip across Canada is worth it. Our answer?Without a doubt, absolutely worth it. Here’s why.

WORTH IT: The TransCanada makes it easy

One view of the Trans-Canada Highway near the Rockies

The name of this road should be your first clue: Spanning from St-John’s on the East coast all the way to Victoria on theWest coast, this famous highway is easily one of the longest in the world. It crosses from the maritimes to the prairies allthe way to the Rockies and beyond. This road is no eyesore, either. While it’s always advisable to get off the beaten trackhere and there to check things out in more detail, this useful highway can nevertheless provide you with direct access tosome of Canada’s greatest cities, landmarks and natural splendors. You can’t go wrong following this direct path shouldyou decide to embark on the journey by car. Doing so will take you between a week and a half and three weeks,depending on how pleasantly distracted you get on the way. So pack your maps and camera, and bring a driver friend ortwo or three, and share an epic road trip from East to West.

WORTH IT: You don’t have to drive

Sign for the TransCanada Highway

Passenger train going through Canadian forests

Hate driving? Hop aboard the railroad version of the TransCanada. Sit back, relax and enjoy the breath-taking scenery ona train from East to West and back again. This option can be a bit costly, but it is certainly one of the most scenic andconvenient. Certain companies also handily offers rail passes which allow you to get on and off as you please, should aparticular spot really tickle your fancy. This makes the journey flexible and tailored to your pan-Canadian curiosity. Hereare a few options available for you to check out:

Trainpackages.ca offers packages for rail travel and holidays.

Via Rail offers rail passes and packages

Canada Rail can help you plot a train itinerary and get reasonable fares.

WORTH IT: You’re already here.

No need for a passport on a cross-Canada roadtrip

You already live here, or are visiting… so you won’t be hindered by the logistical nightmare of border crossings, passportsor different (and sometimes expensive) currencies; it’s all in one place! No matter your starting point, you’re never a farjaunt from somewhere interesting or COMPLETELY different than where you started. Climates, topography, flora andfauna, they all vary kilometer by kilometer. So whether you’re looking to ski or water-ski, it’s a matter of waiting for the righttime of year or just making tracks a few provinces over. You can find what you’re looking to see or do all in one huge,wonderful place. Plus, Canada is one of the safest countries in the world to travel in.

WORTH IT: Pictures are worth a thousand words. Take a look from East to West:

Newfoundland:

St-John’s Newfoundland, is famous for its colorful facades.

Nova Scotia

The lighthouse at Peggy’s Point in Nova Scotia, Canada

Prince Edward Island

Prince Edward Island’s (P.E.I.)’s characteristic red sand coastline.

Prince Edward Island and New Brunswick

One of the longest bridges in the world, the Confederation Bridge, links P.E.I. to New Brunswick.

Quebec

Quebec City’s beautiful and historic downtown at night

Ontario

Famous Niagara Falls, in Ontario, Canada

Manitoba and Saskatchewan

The great prairies of Manitoba and Saskatchewan

Alberta

Beautiful Lake Louise in Alberta, Canada, nestled in the Rockies.

British Columbia

Gorgeous downtown Vancouver in British Columbia, Canada

These sights are only the beginning of the many discoveries you’ll make on your journey across Canada. If you needfurther convincing, consider that travel is a great way to relieve stress, to get to know yourself and travel buddies, and togain a greater appreciation for the various cultures and people you will encounter along the way. All of these benefits arevery possible in Canada, where the variety of people, climates, sights and landscapes is endless, and experiencing thetrip of a lifetime is just a matter of venturing into your own backyard.

Happy travels!

If you’re curious about some of the cities you will come across on your travels, be sure to checkout Navut’s city profiles!

Quebec

Ontario (Toronto and Ottawa)

Manitoba

Alberta (Edmonton and Calgary)

British Columbia

(Images: Wikimedia, Cat-in-the-Stock, Fishermansblog, Torontohiking.com, HelloBC.com)