Surprisingly, there are many unique, unusual and eye-catching landmarks, attractions and things to see that can be found in Canada. Every imaginable attraction from huge vegetables, enormous animals, the world's largest cowboy hat and unexplained structures such as the world's largest duck in Alberta to a hotel made of ice and the sugar shacks of Quebec.
Book flights to Canada and spend some time seeing her more 'quirky' sights. Check out some of the best below.
U Won't Believe It
The World's Largest UFO Landing Pad
In an effort to boost tourism, St. Paul, Alberta decided to build a UFO landing pad, which is currently the world's largest. The landing pad officially opened in 1967 and in 1993 a tourist booth was built to complement the area. In 1996, the centre built an adjoining UFO interpretive display, one of only two that exists in North America. The centre also started a UFO hotline number that is used regularly for UFO sightings, unexplained phenomena and other irregular happenings. The 130 ton landing pad has a map of Canada embossed on it. If aliens are your thing, then stop and take a look!
Chill Out
Ice Hotel Quebec
More than an unusual sight, the Ice Hotel in Sainte-Catherine-de-la-Jacques-Cartier is an architectural winter wonder. Open to the public from January to the first week of April, this 30,000 square foot hotel is a stunning public attraction, a work of art and a place to stay overnight; if you don't mind being surrounded by ice and snoozing in temperatures of-2°C to -5°C. An ice caf, bar and a sauna will help warm the body as will the cosy bedding that is placed on the hotel beds. Daily public tours are available to those who prefer not to book a room in this chilly
Hit the Bottle
The Bottle Houses
Inspired by a picture of a glass castle on a postcard sent by the inventor's daughter, douard T. Arsenault collected and cleaned 25,000 recycled bottles to create this amazing architectural attraction. Since 1981, visitors have been drawn to the three glass buildings and the magnificent glass-themed gardens that Eduard built at the age of 66, shortly after his retirement. Over the years, Prince Edward Island's inclement weather led to the rebuilding of the three structures between 1992 and 1998. Bricklayers carefully reconstructed the buildings by taking down the various shapes, sizes and colours of the glass piece by piece. douard's six-gabled house was the initial attraction to this site. Tourists were amazed by the intricacy of his work and encouraged douard to continue to build glass structures, which had started out as just a hobby. The beauty of the light shining through the bottle walls is breath-taking.
Spud U Like
Giant Potato, O'Leary, Prince Edward Island
The Prince Edward Island Potato Museum is located in the community of O'Leary in the western part of Canada's smallest province. It is surrounded by fertile potato growing fields where the humble spud has played an important role in the economy for many years. The museum depicts the history of the potato industry, and houses a large collection of farm implements and machinery related to the growing and harvesting of the humble tattie. In fact, this museum contains the largest exhibit of potato artefacts in the world! But, the highlight has to be a 14-foot tall potato statue that sits outside the Museum (possibly the only potato museum in the world).
Gopher and Out
Gopher Hole Museum
In Torrington, Alberta, there is a Museum dedicated to the small furry rodent that is endemic to North America. However, this is no ordinary museum. There are 47 whimsical displays featuring 77 mounted gophers dressed up to match the different scenes ranging from a wedding, a hairdressers to a fashion show. Each display gives the onlooker an idea of what Torrington would look like as a gopher village, if it were populated only by gophers, that is. If you're looking for something really unique and slightly bizarre, you won't want to miss the world-famous Gopher Hole Museum and Gift Shop at Torrington. Dressed up to represent life in the past, present and future of Torrington, 77 gophers are on hand to give you something very different to tell your friends and family when you get home. They may not believe you so be sure to take some photos!
A Sticky End
Sugar Shacks of Quebec
One of the best attractions in Canada lies in Quebec. Quebec is one of the few places in the world where conditions are right for harvesting maple sap (known as 'sugaring off'). The trees store sugar in their roots before winter, then in spring, when daytime temperatures increase, the sap rises and can then be drained out of holes drilled into the trunks. Three-quarters of the world's maple syrup comes from this province, yet the season is short, concentrated into February, March and April. This is when Sugar Shacks come into their own. Sucrerie de la Montagne is one of the most popular and serves comfort food taken to another level. How about homemade pea soup and bread, sausages in syrup, maple smoked ham, baked beans with syrup, deep fried pork jowls, pancakes with, surprise surprise, syrup and snow lollies where hot syrup is poured on the snow and rolled onto a stick! The best way to get to as many shacks as you can is to grab your skis and sashay from shack to shack tasting the sweet, sticky delights of the maple season!
Not Run of the Mill
Canadian National Historic Windmill Centre
The Canadian National Historic Wind Power Centre at the Etzikom Museum in South East Alberta displays an assortment of windmills dating back many years. As you tour around the Etzikom Museum, a fascinating area to see is the Canadian National Historic Windmill Centre where hundreds of antique windmills are on display separated by a pathway. Each windmill you pass has a sign telling of its previous whereabouts and how it was once used. The windmill location at the Etzikom Museum relates information on the history of wind power utilization throughout Canada. The museum is open from the middle of May to the beginning of September with a small fee for adults and seniors. A small general store, hotel, schoolhouse, blacksmith shop, barber shop, post office as well as homes from the early years of the 1900's are also available to tour around. For a feeling of going back to a simpler time, don't miss this unusual day out!
The Big Orange
The Gibeau Orange Julep
The Gibeau Orange Julep restaurant is a roadside attraction and fast food restaurant in Montreal, Quebec. The building is in the shape of a giant orange, three stories high with a diameter of forty feet. In 1945, Hermas Gibeau built an orange concrete sphere two stories high to house his restaurant. It is believed Gibeau intended to live in there with his wife and children. The restaurant and its orange sphere was rebuilt larger and further back from the roadway when it was widened as the Dcarie Expressway in 1966. Its shell consists of plastic segments which were ordered from a local pool manufacturer, and the whole building could light up. For a time, the Julep was noted for roller-skating waitresses but customers today order food in the more conventional fashion of a fast food restaurant. Food can then be taken away or eaten at one of a number of picnic tables.
Book flights to Canada and spend some time seeing her more 'quirky' sights. Check out some of the best below.
U Won't Believe It
The World's Largest UFO Landing Pad
In an effort to boost tourism, St. Paul, Alberta decided to build a UFO landing pad, which is currently the world's largest. The landing pad officially opened in 1967 and in 1993 a tourist booth was built to complement the area. In 1996, the centre built an adjoining UFO interpretive display, one of only two that exists in North America. The centre also started a UFO hotline number that is used regularly for UFO sightings, unexplained phenomena and other irregular happenings. The 130 ton landing pad has a map of Canada embossed on it. If aliens are your thing, then stop and take a look!
Chill Out
Ice Hotel Quebec
More than an unusual sight, the Ice Hotel in Sainte-Catherine-de-la-Jacques-Cartier is an architectural winter wonder. Open to the public from January to the first week of April, this 30,000 square foot hotel is a stunning public attraction, a work of art and a place to stay overnight; if you don't mind being surrounded by ice and snoozing in temperatures of-2°C to -5°C. An ice caf, bar and a sauna will help warm the body as will the cosy bedding that is placed on the hotel beds. Daily public tours are available to those who prefer not to book a room in this chilly
Hit the Bottle
The Bottle Houses
Inspired by a picture of a glass castle on a postcard sent by the inventor's daughter, douard T. Arsenault collected and cleaned 25,000 recycled bottles to create this amazing architectural attraction. Since 1981, visitors have been drawn to the three glass buildings and the magnificent glass-themed gardens that Eduard built at the age of 66, shortly after his retirement. Over the years, Prince Edward Island's inclement weather led to the rebuilding of the three structures between 1992 and 1998. Bricklayers carefully reconstructed the buildings by taking down the various shapes, sizes and colours of the glass piece by piece. douard's six-gabled house was the initial attraction to this site. Tourists were amazed by the intricacy of his work and encouraged douard to continue to build glass structures, which had started out as just a hobby. The beauty of the light shining through the bottle walls is breath-taking.
Spud U Like
Giant Potato, O'Leary, Prince Edward Island
The Prince Edward Island Potato Museum is located in the community of O'Leary in the western part of Canada's smallest province. It is surrounded by fertile potato growing fields where the humble spud has played an important role in the economy for many years. The museum depicts the history of the potato industry, and houses a large collection of farm implements and machinery related to the growing and harvesting of the humble tattie. In fact, this museum contains the largest exhibit of potato artefacts in the world! But, the highlight has to be a 14-foot tall potato statue that sits outside the Museum (possibly the only potato museum in the world).
Gopher and Out
Gopher Hole Museum
In Torrington, Alberta, there is a Museum dedicated to the small furry rodent that is endemic to North America. However, this is no ordinary museum. There are 47 whimsical displays featuring 77 mounted gophers dressed up to match the different scenes ranging from a wedding, a hairdressers to a fashion show. Each display gives the onlooker an idea of what Torrington would look like as a gopher village, if it were populated only by gophers, that is. If you're looking for something really unique and slightly bizarre, you won't want to miss the world-famous Gopher Hole Museum and Gift Shop at Torrington. Dressed up to represent life in the past, present and future of Torrington, 77 gophers are on hand to give you something very different to tell your friends and family when you get home. They may not believe you so be sure to take some photos!
A Sticky End
Sugar Shacks of Quebec
One of the best attractions in Canada lies in Quebec. Quebec is one of the few places in the world where conditions are right for harvesting maple sap (known as 'sugaring off'). The trees store sugar in their roots before winter, then in spring, when daytime temperatures increase, the sap rises and can then be drained out of holes drilled into the trunks. Three-quarters of the world's maple syrup comes from this province, yet the season is short, concentrated into February, March and April. This is when Sugar Shacks come into their own. Sucrerie de la Montagne is one of the most popular and serves comfort food taken to another level. How about homemade pea soup and bread, sausages in syrup, maple smoked ham, baked beans with syrup, deep fried pork jowls, pancakes with, surprise surprise, syrup and snow lollies where hot syrup is poured on the snow and rolled onto a stick! The best way to get to as many shacks as you can is to grab your skis and sashay from shack to shack tasting the sweet, sticky delights of the maple season!
Not Run of the Mill
Canadian National Historic Windmill Centre
The Canadian National Historic Wind Power Centre at the Etzikom Museum in South East Alberta displays an assortment of windmills dating back many years. As you tour around the Etzikom Museum, a fascinating area to see is the Canadian National Historic Windmill Centre where hundreds of antique windmills are on display separated by a pathway. Each windmill you pass has a sign telling of its previous whereabouts and how it was once used. The windmill location at the Etzikom Museum relates information on the history of wind power utilization throughout Canada. The museum is open from the middle of May to the beginning of September with a small fee for adults and seniors. A small general store, hotel, schoolhouse, blacksmith shop, barber shop, post office as well as homes from the early years of the 1900's are also available to tour around. For a feeling of going back to a simpler time, don't miss this unusual day out!
The Big Orange
The Gibeau Orange Julep
The Gibeau Orange Julep restaurant is a roadside attraction and fast food restaurant in Montreal, Quebec. The building is in the shape of a giant orange, three stories high with a diameter of forty feet. In 1945, Hermas Gibeau built an orange concrete sphere two stories high to house his restaurant. It is believed Gibeau intended to live in there with his wife and children. The restaurant and its orange sphere was rebuilt larger and further back from the roadway when it was widened as the Dcarie Expressway in 1966. Its shell consists of plastic segments which were ordered from a local pool manufacturer, and the whole building could light up. For a time, the Julep was noted for roller-skating waitresses but customers today order food in the more conventional fashion of a fast food restaurant. Food can then be taken away or eaten at one of a number of picnic tables.
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