"Oops sorry, was my face in the way of your fist?" A study titled "Sorry ... I'm Canadian," reports 90% of Canadians aged 18-25 apologize if a stranger bumps into them. Travelers should still be wary of niceties, notes one Canadian: "Sometimes we're actually expressing our sympathy for your shortcomings."
1. Apologizing —
"Oops sorry, was my face in the way of your fist?" A study titled "Sorry ... I'm Canadian," reports 90% of Canadians aged 18-25 apologize if a stranger bumps into them. Travelers should still be wary of niceties, notes one Canadian: "Sometimes we're actually expressing our sympathy for your shortcomings."
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Canada has more lakes than any other country -- about 3 million. Ontario alone contains about a third of the world's freshwater. Recently, National Geographic Traveler called the lake district of Muskoka the top summer destination -- in the world.
2. Lakes —
Canada has more lakes than any other country -- about 3 million. Ontario alone contains about a third of the world's freshwater. Recently, National Geographic Traveler called the lake district of Muskoka the top summer destination -- in the world.
Canadian Tourism Commission
"Capote"? You're not in Kansas, Dorothy. But Winnipeg. "Twilight?" Vancouver. "Titanic?" Much of it filmed off the coast of Halifax. Even if you've never set foot in Canada, you've been staring at it for years without knowing it. Hollywood loves filming here.
3. Stand-in movie locations —
"Capote"? You're not in Kansas, Dorothy. But Winnipeg. "Twilight?" Vancouver. "Titanic?" Much of it filmed off the coast of Halifax. Even if you've never set foot in Canada, you've been staring at it for years without knowing it. Hollywood loves filming here.
joe klamar/afp/getty images
A national air quality study put Canada third for the cleanest air on the planet. Until first and second placers (Estonia and Mauritius) are covered in CNN Travel's "better than anywhere else" series, we direct your breath to Canadian cities—which average a relatively pristine 13 micrograms of PM10 particles per cubic meter.
4. Air —
A national air quality study put Canada third for the cleanest air on the planet. Until first and second placers (Estonia and Mauritius) are covered in CNN Travel's "better than anywhere else" series, we direct your breath to Canadian cities—which average a relatively pristine 13 micrograms of PM10 particles per cubic meter.
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Canadians are hilarious -- sometimes even intentionally -- as a disproportionate number of comic heavyweights like Jim Carrey, John Candy, Eugene Levy, Catherine O'Hara, Dan Aykroyd, Seth Rogen, Mike Myers, Phil Hartman, Michael Cera and many others have confirmed over the years.
5. Humor —
Canadians are hilarious -- sometimes even intentionally -- as a disproportionate number of comic heavyweights like Jim Carrey, John Candy, Eugene Levy, Catherine O'Hara, Dan Aykroyd, Seth Rogen, Mike Myers, Phil Hartman, Michael Cera and many others have confirmed over the years.
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"Canadian chocolate is higher in fat and it is a higher particle size," a Hershey's chocolate expert noted in the National Post, adding that Hershey's offers a separate recipe for the discriminating Canadian chocolate palate. That's why eating Canadian faves like Caramilk, Aero, Mr. Big, heck even Sweet Marie in Saskatoon, is a creamy, velvety experience.
6. Chocolate bars —
"Canadian chocolate is higher in fat and it is a higher particle size," a Hershey's chocolate expert noted in the National Post, adding that Hershey's offers a separate recipe for the discriminating Canadian chocolate palate. That's why eating Canadian faves like Caramilk, Aero, Mr. Big, heck even Sweet Marie in Saskatoon, is a creamy, velvety experience.
PHILIPPE HUGUEN/AFP/Getty Images
Lake Louise is in gorgeous Banff National Park. BC's Whistler Blackcomb got a "best in North America" nod from SKI Magazine last year. Heli-skiing? That all started in the Canadian Bugaboos, still one of the best places to do it.
7. Ski country —
Lake Louise is in gorgeous Banff National Park. BC's Whistler Blackcomb got a "best in North America" nod from SKI Magazine last year. Heli-skiing? That all started in the Canadian Bugaboos, still one of the best places to do it.
Alexis Boichard/Agence Zoom/Getty Images
No national symbol is as ubiquitous as Canada's maple leaf. Especially abroad, flag-bearing Canadian travelers make sure everyone's clear who they are at a glance. Not American. Not German. Not Rarotongan. Canadian. See the leaf? Canadian.
8. Nation branding —
No national symbol is as ubiquitous as Canada's maple leaf. Especially abroad, flag-bearing Canadian travelers make sure everyone's clear who they are at a glance. Not American. Not German. Not Rarotongan. Canadian. See the leaf? Canadian.
Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images
Tim Hortons. Harvey's. Swiss Chalet. If you don't know these names, it's time to look beyond the Golden Arches. Nothing says gustatory bliss on the Trans-Canada Highway like a peameal & natural smoked Bacon Bacon burger, or half-chicken plate with Chalet sauce, or a box of Timbits with a double-double coffee.
9. Road trip grub —
Tim Hortons. Harvey's. Swiss Chalet. If you don't know these names, it's time to look beyond the Golden Arches. Nothing says gustatory bliss on the Trans-Canada Highway like a peameal & natural smoked Bacon Bacon burger, or half-chicken plate with Chalet sauce, or a box of Timbits with a double-double coffee.
courtesy Tim Hortons
While you'll be hard-pressed to find a real-life, toque-wearin' local who's ever called someone a "hoser," Canadians do call cases of beer "two-fours" and napkins "serviettes" in polite company. Nowhere else will you be "given the gears" if you do something dumb or alerted that "your gitch is showing" if your belt is too loose.
10. Adorable terms and phrases —
While you'll be hard-pressed to find a real-life, toque-wearin' local who's ever called someone a "hoser," Canadians do call cases of beer "two-fours" and napkins "serviettes" in polite company. Nowhere else will you be "given the gears" if you do something dumb or alerted that "your gitch is showing" if your belt is too loose.
PAUL ELLIS/AFP/GettyImages