Taking a road trip across Canada has got to be on your bucket list; and if it’s not already, get ready to be convinced! Seeing the country from coast-to-coast offers the most spectacular, scenic, and memorable views and experiences you could imagine. From immersing yourself in Canada’s nature, to marvelling at just how cool planet earth is, Canada’s landscape is sure to leave you in awe.
Did you know that a road trip across Canada can be done on (almost) ONE road? The Trans-Canada Highway is a transcontinental federal–provincial highway system that travels through all ten provinces of Canada, from the Pacific Ocean on the west coast to the Atlantic Ocean on the east coast. The main route spans 7,476 km across the country, one of the longest routes of its type in the world!
Along this, you’ll see stunning views as mentioned, but also some seriously weird and quirky things that are so quintessentially Canadian! From a giant Toonie, to the biggest Beaver and Moose you’ve ever seen, to a tiny church and everything in-between!
Here’s some must-see roadside attractions you won’t want to miss when traveling from the West to East coast of this beautiful country.
BC
The Moss Lady – Victoria, BC
This public art piece was created by local artist Dale Doebert and depicts a graceful, serene woman made entirely of moss. She stands over six feet tall and is surrounded by a small garden filled with plants and flowers.
Where to find it: 250 Douglas St, Beacon Hill Park, Victoria (southern end of Vancouver Island)
World’s Largest Paddle – Golden, BC
In a country full of giant things, here’s the world’s largest paddle, according to the Guinness Book of World Records!
Built in 2014, the paddle is 13 times larger than an actual oar, standing 2.8 metres (9 feet) high, 18 metres (60 feet) long and weighing 5,300 pounds.
Where to find it: Located at the Columbia Wetlands Adventures facility approximately 26km south of Golden
Alberta
Saamis Teepee – Medicine Hat, AB
The Saamis Tepee was originally constructed for the Calgary 1988 Winter Olympics with each of the 10 masts featuring a large storyboard that depicts aspects of native culture and history. Below the Tepee lays the Saamis Archaeological Site, one of the most important archaeological sites of the Northern Plains.
The area was once a buffalo camp and meat processing site, and experts believe over 83 million artifacts are buried at the site.
Where to find it: 2 Eagle Birth Rd SW, Medicine Hat (on the Trans-Canada Highway next to Tourism Medicine Hat)
Drumheller’s Little Church – Drumheller, AB
Calling all couples looking to have a quaint and unique wedding! The Little Church in Drumheller seats just six people and almost looks like it’s on another planet. This free sight to visit is a little bit off of the highway but such a cool detour for a fun photo opp, and yes people do real weddings and special ceremonies here!
Where to find it: Murray Hill Rd, Drumheller. Located on the north side of the North Dinosaur Trail between the Royal Tyrrell Museum and the Golf Course
The World’s Largest Dinosaur – Drumheller, AB
This immersive attraction gets you up close and personal – and even inside Tyra, the World’s Largest Dinosaur! Drumheller is the heart of the Canadian Badlands and is widely recognized as the “Dinosaur Capital of the World.”
This attraction offers visitors a unique and breath-taking view of the badlands 106 stairs up and inside the dinosaur to experience the Drumheller Valley from Tyra’s gaping jaw.
Where to find it: 60 1 Ave W, Drumheller. Climb 106 stairs inside the 26 m (86 ft) tall T-rex
World’s Largest Perogy – Glendon, AB
This roadside tribute to a staple of eastern European cuisine is a delicious photo opp and oh so fun! Complete with a giant fork beside it, the Perogy stands 27 feet tall, weighs approximately 6,000 pounds, and is considered one of the “Giants of the Prairies”.
Next to the Giant Perogy, is a Perogy Cafe, the only restaurant in this small town and serves Ukrainian and Chinese perogies.
Where to find it: The small village of Glendon is located 8 km north of Highway 28 on Sec Highway 882. Northeast of Edmonton (GPS 54.2484, -111.1545)
Saskatchewan
Mac the Moose – Moose Jaw, SK
Mac the Moose guards Moose Jaw’s tourism office and offers a fun place to stretch your legs on your road trip.
Constructed by Saskatoon artist, Don Foulds using a steel frame covered with metal mesh was completed with four coats of cement. And what’s in a name? A contest was held to name the moose and the winner was Mac, after late city alderman and moose booster, Les MacKenzie.
Where to find it: 450 Diefenbaker Drive, Saskatchewan
Manitoba
World’s Largest Coke Can – Portage-la-Prairie, MB
Among the unique structures that catch your eye as you travel along Canada’s highway, a visit to Portage la Prairie will bring you in front of the towering presence of the World’s Largest Coca-Cola Can! Coke lovers need to stop here for a photo opp.
The 85-foot (26 metre) can was first constructed as a water tower by Manitoba Iron Works Limited in Winnipeg and is now the cutest stop, breaking up a sometimes lengthy, flat drive.
Where to find it: 2445 Saskatchewan Ave W, Portage la Prairie (southwest corner of the parking lot at Canad Inns hotel)
Ontario
The Big Nickel – Sudbury, ON
If you’re leaving from the Toronto area, The Big Nickel in Sudbury will likely be your first giant roadside stop! It’s a nine-metre replica of a 1951 Canadian nickel and it’s located at the grounds of the Dynamic Earth science museum, making it a nice little activity to do!
The area includes a parking lot, places to sit, and garbage bins if you’re having a road trip snack.
Where to find it: 122 Big Nickel Rd, Sudbury
Wawa Giant Goose – Wawa, ON
Since 1963, the Wawa Goose has welcomed visitors from around the world to the northern Ontario town of Wawa. This is one of the most photographed monuments in North America, if you can believe it.
You’ll need to step back for your photos because this goose is 28 feet tall, 22 feet long, and has a wingspan of 20 feet!
Where to find it: It’s located at the junction of the last link of the Trans-Canada Highway. Wawa postal code P0S 1K0.
The World’s Largest Lumberjack – Algonquin Highlands, ON
This 14-foot high Sawyer (lumberjack) is located on the grounds of the Stanhope Museum in Ontario’s Haliburton Highlands, making it a fun and woodsy stop when you’re travelling through Northeastern Ontario.
He represents the proud and important history of logging in Haliburton
County
Where to find it: 1123 North Shore Road, Algonquin Highlands
The Big Toonie – Campbellford, ON
That’s some big money! This iconic giant two dollar coin (aka the Toonie) features the image of an adult polar bear in early summer on an ice floe and was designed by a wildlife and landscape artist, Brent Townsend, who lived in Trent Hills.
The Giant $2 Coin is 27 feet (8.2 metres) high and 18 feet (5.5 metres) in diameter.
Where to find it: along the Trent River in Old Mill Park
Husky the Muskie – Kenora, ON
The Muskie (muskellunge) fish is the known symbol of the town of Kenora and stands 40 feet tall, weighing two and a half tons.
Where to find it: 21 Sylvan St, Kenora (inside McLeod Park proudly displayed at the most northern extremity of Lake of the Woods.
Quebec
Giant Chair & Side Table – La Bostonnais, QC
Feel like you’re in a living room made for giants at this seriously trippy roadside attraction in La Bostonnais, Quebec.
Where to find it: At the corner of 991 Rte 155 & 1 Rue St Jean Bosco (GPS: N47° 31.335 W072° 41.066)
Giant Orange – Montreal, QC
If you’ve ever driven into Montreal, you may have spotted the iconic giant orange orb along the highway. Wondering what it is, you’d go closer to investigate and find that it’s a fast food joint with hot dogs, creamy orange drinks & fries for takeaway!
The shape of the building certainly attracts interest while being a delicious roadside stop and a bright photo opp.
Where to find it: 7700 Decarie Blvd (Gibeau Orange Julep)
East Coast
The World’s Largest Potato – O’Leary, PEI
If you love potatoes in all their forms, head to the Canadian Potato Museum and see the world’s largest potato guarding it. Here you’ll find the world’s largest exhibit of potato-related farm machinery, agricultural and community artifacts.
The museum is open seasonally but you can always take a picture with the giant potato during your winter road trips!
Where to find it: 1 Dewar Lane, O’Leary, Prince Edward Island
The Giant Squid – Glover’s Harbour, NL
This giant squid sculpture sits near the spot where a real-life specimen was captured in the late 19th-century. This fishing village claims to be the “Home of the Giant Squid,” earning this distinction in 1878, when a living giant squid (Architeuthis dux) was discovered stranded offshore.
Where to find it: Main Street & Glovers Harbour Rd, Leading Tickles, NL
The Giant Lobster – Shediac, NB
Shediac is recognized the world over as “The Lobster Capital of the World” for its lobster fishing industry. For that reason, in 1989 the Shediac Rotary Club erected a monument in tribute of the delectable crustacean.
Why is it called the World’s Largest Lobster you may ask? This sculpture weighs around 90 tonnes and a staircase has been put in to allow visitors to climb up on the monument and get the most unique photo opp!
You can even rent kayak & stand-up paddle boards on-site to enjoy the say around The Giant Lobster.
Where to find it: 229 Main Street
Magnetic Hill Mountain Road – Moncton, NB
This is as trippy as an attraction gets! Try to defy the laws of gravity at Magnetic Hill Mountain Road. At the bottom of the legendary Magnetic Hill outside of Moncton, put your car in neutral, and feel the pull as it rolls uphill.
Is it magnetic, an illusion, or a gravitational mystery? Stories about Magnetic Hill have been around since the early 1800s, and this wondrous place has been puzzling visitors for decades.
Where to find it: The hill is located at Exit 450 on the Trans Canada Highway (Route 2).
Keep your eyes peeled on KIND Magazine for all the cool, quirky, artsy, and trippy things to discover across Canada and beyond! Don’t remember to pick up a copy at your local dispensary.
