The great Canadian parks guide

Adventure? Wildlife? An easy recreational day away from the hustle and bustle? You don't have to go abroad to find that perfect travel experience. Canada's 42 national parks and reserves and hundreds of provincial parks have it covered – and in whatever setting you desire: rugged mountains, wild woods, or endless stretches of beach, beach, beach. Here are some highlights from across the land.
 
The East Coast
The only problem here is which one to choose. The Bay of Fundy National Park in New Brunswick boasts 120 km of hiking trails, world-class sea kayaking and the highest tides on Earth.
 
Farther a field, in Newfoundland, Gros Morne National Park is a land of extremes, with wild land and barren lands, mountains and lowlands, smooth beach and that legendary rocky shore – it's stunning, and teeming with wildlife from Arctic hare to caribou.
 
In Nova Scotia, the Cape Breton Highlands National Park is also a sure pick, encompassing the fabled Cabot Trail in all its green-sea-crashing-into-craggy-cliffs glory.

Then there's the wealth of provincial parks that offer front- and back-country camping (Mount Carlton Provincial Park in N.B.), smooth sand (Basin Head or Cabot Beach provincial parks in P.E.I.), and charming picnic spots (Mactaquac Provincial Park in N.B.).
 
Check out www.novascotiaparks.ca, www.nbparks.ca, www.tourismpei.com/pei-provincial-parks, and www.env.gov.nl.ca/parks for more info.
 
Central Canada
Looking to escape to another world? Killarney and Lake Superior Provincial Parks in northern Ontario don't disappoint. Both inspired the Group of Seven.
 
The famed Algonquin Provincial Park is a dream for canoers and hikers alike (the nightly wolf howls are a great draw for kids). A stone's throw from the cities of Southern Ontario, the Bruce Peninsula National Park is loaded with hiking, climbing, and camping opportunities, ideal for family getaways.
 
In Quebec, two hours from Montreal in the picturesque Laurentians, Mont-Trembant Provincial Park overflows with 300 lakes, six rivers and waterfalls galore. Meanwhile, the Saguenay-St. Lawrence Marine Park (one of three national marine conservation areas) abounds a rich diversity of marine life – the abundant krill in the deep waters are feasted upon by indigenous beluga whales, along with minke, finback and blue whales. The lesser-known Jacques-Cartier Provincial Park is notably one of the most stunning parks in the region.

Page 1 of 2 – more on Central Canada on the next page!