9 Essential Items for Your Trip to Canada

From the warm lake waters and misty forests, to the white treeless tundra and crisp evenings, Canada’s nature is as dynamic and diverse as its population. Don’t leave home without the following items to round out your ultimate adventure across the country and through four distinct and beautiful seasons. 

1. Nau’s Dayuse Blazer 

Perfect for: Québec City, Québec 

You’ll need a versatile, breathable blazer to tackle a full day in and around Québec City. Start the day cycling between beautiful farms on nearby île d'Orléans trying fruit juices and produce straight from the branch or vine. Then, head to Old Québec for some shopping at chic boutiques and dinner at Bistro Le Sam at the famous Fairmont Le Chateau Frontenac overlooking the St. Lawrence River. The best part? You won't have to change to go from day to evening, because this blazer's got your back.  

2. Vibram’s Furoshiki Shoe 

Perfect for: Vancouver Island, British Columbia 

The ultra-unique, ultra-futuristic Furoshiki amphibious shoe is the footwear of the future and the perfect item to strap on when you’re dipping in and out of warm water and craggy rocks as you surf or SUP along Vancouver Island’s west coast. The durable soles will protect your feet from the elements as you climb over a difficult ridge to find the perfect secret sun tanning spot.   

3. Craghoppers Nat Geo CompressLite Jacket

Perfect for: Whistler, British Columbia  

Craghoppers Nat Geo jackets come in a variety of colors and have breathable space-age technology that will keep you toasty on the peaks of Whistler during its seven months of blissful skiing. Unzip during your après ski sessions and visit some of the area’s compelling museums and galleries that showcase thousands of years of rich Aboriginal history.   

4. Ex Officio Bugsaway Ziwa Convertible Pant Short

Perfect for: Great Slave Lake, Northwest Territories 

When it comes to ultimate fishing trips, very few places on earth beat out the faraway lodges on Great Slave Lake in Canada’s Northwest Territories. Here, you'll find access to thousands upon thousands of perch and trout amidst some of the most beautiful scenery on earth. The Ziwa Convertible Pant Short is the ideal piece of apparel for hours of peaceful boat-sitting while waiting for that perfect catch — you can zip the pants down to breeze shorts in the afternoon rays, or wear them in their entirety as the midnight sun dips into the cricket-filled evening.  

5. Eddie Bauer’s Amphib Cargo Shorts

Perfect for: Wasaga Beach, Ontario  

The world’s largest freshwater beach in the entire world (yes, you read that correctly) is Wasaga Beach, only a few hours by car from downtown Toronto along Georgian Bay. Take a dip with these cargo shorts and swim out into the deep in the sweltering summer heat. Then dry off with a stroll through the hills of Collingwood nearby or head a bit further to the national park at the tip of the Bruce Peninsula. 

6. Palladium Pampa Sport Cuff Boots 

Perfect for: Bonavista Peninsula, Newfoundland & Labrador 

Lightweight yet durable against all elements, these boots are the perfect fit for any of the coastal hikes along Newfoundland & Labrador’s Bonavista Peninsula. The boot breathes on the hot summer days when the grass crunches underfoot along the precipices of the towering cliffs. It will also repel water when the North Atlantic winds tear through, reminding visitors of the awesome — and stunning — power of nature.  

7. Fjallraven Duffel

Perfect for: Churchill, Manitoba

The ultimate safari bag is durable and malleable, fitting into tight cargo holds in the prop planes that shuttle adventurers to Churchill, Manitoba on the banks of the Hudson Bay. Fill your duffel with your snorkel and mask for incredible outings with migrating belugas in summer or pack it tight with camera gear to capture snaps of elusive polar bears in the cooler months.  

8. Brooks England Suffolk Rear Pannier

Perfect for: Victoria, British Columbia   

Bikes aren’t only for the countryside. Experiencing a Canadian city like Victoria might best be done by bike, which lets you cover more ground and see more of this urban landscape. Book a tour at the Pedaler or rent a bicycle while you’re in town. You’ll need room for whatever treasures are found along the way, so bring a pannier that’s both classic and useful. This Brooks England Suffolk rear pannier is waterproof, expandable and stylish. Put everything inside and then whiz through the city.

9. The Collected Essex County

Perfect for: Toronto, Ontario

Spa choices abound in Canada, especially in the cities. Toronto has its Ritz-Carlton and Four Seasons, or the Hammam Spa and its Turkish-inspired baths. Ste. Anne’s Spa, an 1858 stone farmhouse that’s now a rural spa hotel, is in Grafton and it’s an Ontario experience like none other. Whether you opt to be engulfed by the excitement of the city or surrounded by the beauty of stone walls and turrets as you recharge, bring this award-winning graphic novel by Canadian Jeff Lemire. In his fictional trilogy, The Collected Essex County, Lemire explores an imaginary version of his rural Ontario hometown and takes readers through three interconnected stories of the people who live there. You can read about the southwestern most part of Ontario while experiencing any other destination on your itinerary.