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 western and northern Canada, that I would like to experience as soon as I can collect the funds and find the free time to do so.

Aurora Borealis, Northern Canada: Otherwise known as the Northern Lights. This amazing, all natural night-sky light show can be viewed in Canada's north. The Northwest territories and Yukon offer Aurora vacations which include viewings of the lights, among other attractions, such as ice fishing and dog sledding. The North also boasts breathtaking scenery, outdoor adventure and unique wildlife.

Vancouver Island, British Columbia: Located in the pacific ocean, off the coast of British Columbia, Vancouver Island offers a nice variety of attractions. Outdoor adventure, such as kayaking, sailing, hiking and biking are popular on the island. It is also home to B.C.'s capital city, Victoria. Victoria is rich in history, shopping, and good restaurants. It also has a beautiful harbour, and the famous Butchart gardens, which are both must-sees.

Whistler Blackcomb, British Columbia: Whistler Blackcomb is a world-renowned ski resort located in Whistler, British Columbia. Whistler Blackcomb has a seemingly endless list of exciting outdoor activities to offer in all seasons. In winter, they have skiing and snowboarding, an exciting terrain park where the adventurous can practice ski and snowboard jumps and tricks, dog sled tours, heli-sking; the list goes on and on. In summer, they have the number one rated mountain bike park in the world, ATV tours, zip-cord tours, and a base adventure zone with fun family activities, such as wall climbing and mini-golf. And, if you don't want to stop skiing, they also have glacier skiing and snowboarding in summer.

Banff National Park, Alberta: Canada's Rockies National Park. Skiing, hiking, breathtaking beauty and the truly gorgeous Banff Springs hotel. The hotel, which overlooks a pristine lake and is surrounded by steep mountain peaks, resembles a fairy tale castle. The park is a huge attraction in itself. According to the Parks Canada website, "Spanning 6,641 square kilometres (2,564 square miles) of valleys, mountains, glaciers, forests, meadows and rivers, Banff National Park is one of the world's premier destination spots." One feature that makes a trip to Banff exciting is the hot springs, which are open for bathing year-round.

Canadian Pacific Rail's Royal Canadian Rockies Experience: CPR's train ride through some of Canada's biggest and baddest mountains - the Rockies on the border between Alberta and British Columbia. According to the Canadian Pacific Rail website, "The Royal Canadian Pacific takes you through some of the most rugged, inaccessible and spectacular terrain in the world along the historic Canadian Pacific Railway lines."

Dinosaur Provincial Park, Alberta Badlands: Dinosaurs and a fascinating otherworldly landscape; what's not to like? Dinosaur Provincial Park is a great place to experience the unique landscape of the Alberta Badlands and to learn about the excavation of the dinosaur fossils which are so abundant in the area. Another must see is the impressive collection of dinosaur fossils at the Royal Tyrrell Museum, Canada's only museum devoted to paleontology.

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