Some of Canada’s most famous fiddlers – like Natalie MacMaster, Ashley MacIsaac and the Rankin Family – hail from Cape Breton Island (home of the Celtic Colours International Festival) where y

I love that sea glass or beach glass is sometimes called “mermaid’s tears,” a romantic nickname for the washed-up-on-shore shards of broken glass, frosted and tumbled smooth over decades ­– even centuries – by the rolling action of the waves.

Mac n’ cheese, meatballs, cupcakes and now doughnuts—all things humble and homey are getting that haute cuisine makeover in restaurant kitchens.

In the spring, all minds might turn to flowers; but in the fall, the focus is on food. Canada’s glowing landscape shifts to produce some of the body fillers we’ll covet in the months to come: top-class wines, delicious seafood and meats, plus root veggies perfect for soups and cold nights in front of a fireplace. And when the hard work of the harvest is done? We party.

When it comes to seafood, you can always go haute, but some of the most memorable meals you’ll have in Canada’s Maritime provinces can be at “eat-in-the-rough” spots with fish right off the boat.

Early morning, New Year’s Eve day. I’m hiking across a clearing in Alberta’s Banff National Park. In summer it’s a campground. Right now, it belongs to me. High on the wall of a valley just east, I stare out at a view that would make a stoic cry.

The first clue to Canada’s Atlantic provinces is in the name—the Atlantic Ocean dominates Canada’s four easternmost provinces. There’s Prince Edward Island, the beach-circled, bucolic birthplace of fictional character Anne of Green Gables.

From west to east, here are our picks for Canada’s top 10 wildest, woolliest, gotta-do-it-now adventures:

Highlight films from the Banff Mountain Film Festival travel the world, exposing thousands who wouldn’t normally see the films in Banff to the subject of each short: anything from environmental conservation to extreme paragliding.

A celebration of PEI shellfish such as oysters, mussels, lobster and clams. The event features great Maritime entertainment, including the North American Oyster Shucking Showdown, the Cream International Chowder Championships, chef demos and much more.