Canadians - what quintessentially Canadian thing should we do?

[klpca]

We are headed to Banff/Jasper next month for ~10 days. We plan to hike, hike, hike (of course). But I was thinking that it would be fun to do something that we can't do in the states; otherwise this may as well be a trip to Glacier. For example, if you came to San Diego I would encourage you to have a carne asada burrito from Robertos and head over to hike at Torrey Pines beach. (I also have a much longer list of things that give you a sense of place if anyone is interested). We will primarily be in Canmore, with three days in Jasper and the last night we are booked in Calgary. Also, we will be in Canmore on July 1st, in case that changes anything. Let me know if anything comes to mind.

 

[easyrider]

White water rafting, guided horse tours and fishing should be happening in-between Banff and Calgery. Too bad the Stampede isn't until July. I'm not sure if the food is too different but there is wild game on some menus like a duck poutine, elk, bison, wild game stroganoff and fish. June berries show up in June, lol. Earl Grey, milk and vanilla is a Canadian invention called a London Fog. I like these hot. We all know the best maple syrup comes from Canada.

That's about it except that the tripple A grade beef isn't as good as USDA Prime. It does sound better though and it is pretty good.

Bill

 

[Dori]

Eat butter tarts! Also try to go to Moraine Lake, the most beautiful vista we have ever encountered! Enjoy!

Dori

 

[klpca]

Eat butter tarts! Also try to go to Moraine Lake, the most beautiful vista we have ever encountered! Enjoy!

Dori

Moraine Lake is definitely on the itinerary. We are so excited. And I will put butter tarts on the list.

 

[klpca]

White water rafting, guided horse tours and fishing should be happening in-between Banff and Calgery. Too bad the Stampede isn't until July. I'm not sure if the food is too different but there is wild game on some menus like a duck poutine, elk, bison, wild game stroganoff and fish. June berries show up in June, lol. Earl Grey, milk and vanilla is a Canadian invention called a London Fog. I like these hot. We all know the best maple syrup comes from Canada.

That's about it except that the tripple A grade beef isn't as good as USDA Prime. It does sound better though and it is pretty good.

Bill

I am oddly excited about London Fog. I will make a point to try to find it.

 

[Ski-Dad]

Have lunch or dinner at the Chateau Lake Louise. Pricey, but memorable for the total experience. Or same place for the high tea.

Hiking would have been my first answer, but you have that covered.

 

[bizaro86]

That's about it except that the tripple A grade beef isn't as good as USDA Prime. It does sound better though and it is pretty good.

You would want Canada Prime steaks, not triple A, if you were looking for the highest quality Alberta beef.

 

[PrairieGirl]

Make sure that you grab a bag of Cheezies at the grocery store for a snack. Like the hard old fashioned Cheetos (not the puffy ones you see everywhere now) but SOOO much better!

Along the same lines, you could also try the ketchup flavoured potato chips. Not my thing, but I have been asked to bring them down to my US friends.

Take a picture with a bag of one of them in your hand and there you have it - proof you were on holiday in Canada.

Enjoy!

 

[marmite]

I find this thread so amusing (in a good way). There are all these foods being mentioned that I had no idea would be associated with being Canadian. Things that are readily available, but I had no idea were not common in the US. Cheezies, butter tarts & even London Fog ... didn't have a clue that was a Canadian thing.

If you like beer, Alberta has a lot of craft breweries. I'm sure you can try some at any restaurant even if you don't go directly to a brewery. Calgary even has a beer map.

BC wines are excellent so please try some Canadian wine while you're there.

Canmore has a Canada Day parade, so it will probably be nuts there on the 1st. Enjoy!

 

[Ski-Dad]

Not quintessentially Canadian, but I spent some time in Canmore on a ski trip this winter, and I had the benefit of staying with friends who are local. Based on that experience, I recommend.

Canmore Brewing : Friday evening live music and $5 pints

Sheepdog Brewing : Simply very good craft beer

Wild Life Distillery & Cocktail Bar : Fun local distillery with some great cocktails

 

[easyrider]

You would want Canada Prime steaks, not triple A, if you were looking for the highest quality Alberta beef.

Truthfully, I can't tell the difference other than price when they are cooked right.

Bill

 

[sue1947]

Not necessarily a Canadian thing, but a Canadian Rockies thing:
The mountains at Banff/Jasper et al are much more impressive than Glacier. Glacier is impressive, but there is just so much more from Jasper to Banff to Yoho to Kootenay. Each has its own appeal. Go to Kananaskis area just east of Canmore which won't be quite so crowded, but also a bit different. There are lots of hikes there as well, or it's a nice drive out from Canmore with a high potential for various critter sightings. Wilcox Pass is a spectacular, but less well known hike along the Icefields parkway where you will likely see mountain goats or grizzlies and it's a lot less crowded. Highly recommended. However, in June, there might be a lot of snow but there was less snow this winter so it might be ok.

If you can get a permit for the bus to Lake O'Hara; take it. Spectacular hiking, but the road walk in makes it too long for a day hike. The bus limitation reduces the crowds.
Moraine Lake is beautiful, but the crowds reduce the appeal a lot.

 

[bizaro86]

Truthfully, I can't tell the difference other than price when they are cooked right.

Bill

I almost exclusively buy AAA beef because the price difference for Canada Prime is significant. But for someone who can tell the difference between USDA Prime and AAA they should buy Canada Prime while in Canada.

Canada Prime and USDA Prime have the same requirements for marbling (literally exactly the same, Canada adopted the US standard for marbling in the '80s), and the Canadian standard has additional requirements for animal age, fat colour, firmness, and meat colour.

AAA beef has the same marbling requirements as USDA choice, and a similar list of other additional requirements.

There is also a slight technical difference in the different grading categories between the countries. USDA standard allows an exceptional category to offset a weak one, whereas in Caanda beef will be scored at its lowest category.

As an example, a steer that had some characteristics prime, some choice, and one select might be scored choice in the US, with the prime characteristics averaging out the select ones. In Canada that would be a AA steer (equivalent to select) because of the lowest category.

Basically, in Canada any Canada Prime meat would grade USDA Prime, any AAA would grade USDA choice, and any AA would grade USDA select. The opposite isn't quite true - some USDA Prime would grade AAA and some USDA choice would grade AA for various reasons. Like I said earlier - I'm a picky buyer of AAA meat, and I can almost always select a package that (imo) would grade USDA Prime or close to it at substantial savings from buying Canada Prime beef.

 

[geist1223]

I skimmed and did not see anyone mention Poutine. One more food item I have had to give up with my diagnosis of Diabetes Type 2.

 

[marmite]

I almost exclusively buy AAA beef because the price difference for Canada Prime is significant. But for someone who can tell the difference between USDA Prime and AAA they should buy Canada Prime while in Canada.

Canada Prime and USDA Prime have the same requirements for marbling (literally exactly the same, Canada adopted the US standard for marbling in the '80s), and the Canadian standard has additional requirements for animal age, fat colour, firmness, and meat colour.

AAA beef has the same marbling requirements as USDA choice, and a similar list of other additional requirements.

There is also a slight technical difference in the different grading categories between the countries. USDA standard allows an exceptional category to offset a weak one, whereas in Caanda beef will be scored at its lowest category.

As an example, a steer that had some characteristics prime, some choice, and one select might be scored choice in the US, with the prime characteristics averaging out the select ones. In Canada that would be a AA steer (equivalent to select) because of the lowest category.

Basically, in Canada any Canada Prime meat would grade USDA Prime, any AAA would grade USDA choice, and any AA would grade USDA select. The opposite isn't quite true - some USDA Prime would grade AAA and some USDA choice would grade AA for various reasons. Like I said earlier - I'm a picky buyer of AAA meat, and I can almost always select a package that (imo) would grade USDA Prime or close to it at substantial savings from buying Canada Prime beef.

Great post. Thank you, I just learned a lot. I will be taking a special look at the AAA beef here.

 

[Janann]

if you came to San Diego I would encourage you to have a carne asada burrito from Robertos

This was a thing many, many years ago when I came to San Diego once in a while to visit a friend in college. I'm glad to hear that it still exists.

Thanks for the blast from the past.

 

[Tacoma]

Nanaimo bars are supposed to be Canadian. Beaver tails as well.

 

[Janann]

Coffee Crisp candy bars (made by Nestle) are very popular. However, you can sometimes find them in the U.S. in retail stores, and you can always get them on Amazon.

 

[T_R_Oglodyte]

Nobody mentioned Tim Hortons?

 

[marmite]

Nanaimo bars are supposed to be Canadian. Beaver tails as well.

There is a Beaver Tails in Canmore, my kid likes them. Looks dangerously messy to eat in my opinion. Surprisingly there are a couple of locations in the US now.

Nanaimo bars, yes, my Grandma used to make them for me. Not widely available (they are a bit fussy to make), but some bakeries might have them.

 

[klpca]

This was a thing many, many years ago when I came to San Diego once in a while to visit a friend in college. I'm glad to hear that it still exists.

Thanks for the blast from the past.

Still going strong. We were just there on Sunday. The prices haven't stayed the same though!

 

[klpca]

I knew that you guys would come through! I am all about trying everyone's favorites and I can't wait. From the food suggestions to breweries and the suggestion of a different place to hike, this is exactly what I was hoping for. I am sure that we are about to have an excellent time.

The funny thing about timesharing is that the lead time before a trip is so long that it feels like it will never happen, then all of the sudden the trip is almost here. We are so excited to take this trip - I have never been, but my husband visited with his family when he was 17. He still tells tales of 1) Driving the family wagon, towing the travel trailer (that was a bold move of his dad lol), 2) visiting the Athabaska glacier, and 3) being able to buy near-beer. I am not sure if that was even legal, but it made a big impression on him. I am excited to see a place that made such a big impression on him.

 

[dioxide45]

Make sure that you grab a bag of Cheezies at the grocery store for a snack. Like the hard old fashioned Cheetos (not the puffy ones you see everywhere now) but SOOO much better!

If we are mentioning salty snacks, I suggest Hostess Hickory Sticks and Ruffles All Dressed potato chips. They had the All Dressed for a while down in the USA, but they are gone now. My parents like Humpty Dumpty Ched A Corns. I was never a fan. Maltesers also beat out the US Whoppers by a mile.

 

[marmite]

If we are mentioning salty snacks, I suggest Hostess Hickory Sticks and Ruffles All Dressed potato chips. They had the All Dressed for a while down in the USA, but they are gone now. My parents like Humpty Dumpty Ched A Corns. I was never a fan. Maltesers also beat out the US Whoppers by a mile.

We have a friend in Oregon who asks us to bring her the Ruffles All Dressed potato chips. I thought it was such a strange request, considering all the great junk food choices in the US!

 

[Ski-Dad]

Cherry Blossom (chocolate)

When my New England cousins come home to the Maritime Provinces in Canada, they always look for a Cherry Blosom and ketchup chips. They lived in Canada as children, and these things remind them of their childhood.