Guest Author - Melanie Hachey

Canada is a really big country; the second biggest in the world. It boasts an endless array of natural attractions, many of which I have yet to visit. Here is my wish list of Canadian attractions, in the Prairies and central Canada, that I would like to experience as soon as I can collect the funds and find the free time to do so.

Churchill, Manitoba: Home of the polar bears. Churchill is located in Northern Manitoba, on Hudson's Bay. It is the polar bear capital of the world. There are a variety of tours on offer to view the endangered bears in their natural habitat. According to the Great Canadian Travel website, "Every autumn, polar bears gather along the water's edge near the town, anxiously waiting for the sea ice to form." A visit to Churchill offers the opportunity to get fairly close to these amazing animals while riding in a really cool "tundra buggy" - a sort of combination bus-snowmobile.

Grand Beach, Manitoba: Grand Beach, which is located on Lake Winnipeg, is thought by many to be one of the best beaches in Canada. It boasts beautiful white sand that stretches for miles. The water, because of an abundance of sand bars, is warm and fairly shallow; which makes it ideal for swimming and playing.

1000 islands, Ontario: This is a beautiful area on the St. Lawrence river, just at the point where it joins Lake Ontario. According to Visit1000islands.com, "Each island has its own individuality with features such as stately granite cliffs, soft sandy bays, tall dark pines and vibrant maple trees - it's a sightseer's paradise." You can take a scenic boat cruise, or rent a boat or kayak and explore the islands by water. Or you can camp, or rent a cottage, and explore by car, on foot or by bike. There's much to see and do in the area. Make sure to stop at Heart Island to see Boldt Castle, which is an impressive four-floor granite castle built by George Boldt for his wife, Louise.

White water rafting the Ottawa river, Ontario: This is an exciting, eye-popping, adrenaline rich adventure. The river, which has three different channels with different types of rapids, can accommodate any level of experience with rafting. The company that provides the raft tours also offers body surfing in the waves, swimming, sea kayak tours, and (small) cliff jumping. You can go for a day adventure, or stay in their resort for many days of white water fun.

Gaspe Peninsula, Quebec: This peninsula in the south-eastern corner of Quebec juts out into the Atlantic between New Brunswick and the St. Lawrence river. This beautiful coastal region of Quebec offers just about anything you might be looking for in an outdoor adventure. Gaspesie has great beaches, fishing, wildlife, amazing coastal landscapes, quaint inns, great restaurants, and Southern Quebec's tallest mountains - for skiing in winter, or hiking in summer. The beauty of this area is breathtaking and the variety of landscapes and activities make it an endlessly fascinating place to explore.

There is so much to explore in Canada. Next week I'll share my wish list of destinations in Atlantic Canada.