Canadians - what quintessentially Canadian thing should we do?

[PrairieGirl]

If we are mentioning salty snacks, I suggest Hostess Hickory Sticks

Yes! I thought of them too but couldn't remember what they were called.

 

[PrairieGirl]

And I always have to bring one friend some Mackintosh's Creamy Toffee (aka carmel). Her dad was born in Edmonton and she always remembered it from trips they took when she was a kid.

She freezes it before eating - but watch out, once it cost her a $$$$ visit to the dentist! But she still enjoys eating it, just a bit more carefully now.

You can't miss the distinctive packaging - red with blue, green and red squares!

 

[easyrider]

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

Yum yum yum............

Bill

 

[easyrider]

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.

My Aunt use to make nanaimo bars. She use to live in Nanaimo BC. Her trick was freezing the bars so they weren't messy. I haven't had one for decades.

Bill

 

[hotspot]

Hi Katherine,

You have hit the motherlode, pun completely intended! My son lives in Canmore and is a tour guide, he spends lots of time in Jasper as well. Yes hiking is at the top of the "must do" list, driving the Icefields Parkway slowly so you can stop multiple times. Absolutely get a London Fog at Tim Horton's, it will be under $5, if you go to one of the quaint cafes, it will be triple that.

I am going to suggest 2 places I enjoyed the last few times I went to visit him. The Yamnuska Wolfdog Sanctuary in Cochrane, between Calgary & Canmore. A very well run facility that lets you get as close as you want, as an animal lover, I suggest the interactive tour.

A few hours away in Drumheller, the Royal Tyrrell Museum. If you are at all interested in dinosaurs, this is the place.

Canmore does have a Canada Day Parade on July 1, and many other events to celebrate our country's birthday. Make sure you bring some red & white clothing, it's our uniform for that occasion!

 

[jwalk03]

Nobody mentioned Tim Hortons?

Tim Horton's may have started in Canada but we have them all over the states now too.

 

[jwalk03]

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.

This was the first thing I thought of reading the thread title- Poutine!!

 

[klpca]

Tim Horton's may have started in Canada but we have them all over the states now too.

We don't have any locations here in San Diego so we'll be trying some while visiting. With my husband, it's a toss up as to which he likes more - coffee or beer - so it will happen for sure.

 

[dioxide45]

Tim Horton's may have started in Canada but we have them all over the states now too.

All over is a bit of a stretch. They seem to mostly be in the north east and none really further west than Michigan

Number of Tim Hortons locations in the USA in 2024 | ScrapeHero

There are 649 Tim Hortons locations in the United States as of September 09, 2024. The state/territory with the most number of Tim Hortons locations in the US is New York with 256 locations, which is 39% of all Tim Hortons locations in America.

www.scrapehero.com

 

[marmite]

Well if you're going to go to Tim Horton's and do it the Canadian way, you have to order properly. There is no Tall, Grande, Venti like Starbucks and you need to know what a "double double" is. I thought it is funny that there is a wikiHow page on ordering at Tim's.

 

[jwalk03]

All over is a bit of a stretch. They seem to mostly be in the north east and none really further west than Michigan
View attachment 93818

Number of Tim Hortons locations in the USA in 2024 | ScrapeHero

There are 649 Tim Hortons locations in the United States as of September 09, 2024. The state/territory with the most number of Tim Hortons locations in the US is New York with 256 locations, which is 39% of all Tim Hortons locations in America.

www.scrapehero.com

Wow- I had no idea they were that limited! Of course I am in Ohio so yeah they are everywhere to me!! I mean there are 4 of them within a 10 minute drive from my house.

 

[klpca]

Well if you're going to go to Tim Horton's and do it the Canadian way, you have to order properly. There is no Tall, Grande, Venti like Starbucks and you need to know what a "double double" is. I thought it is funny that there is a wikiHow page on ordering at Tim's.

Ah! The important info! So my order appears to be a medium dark roast double double? And my husband's order is a large dark roast? I'll write this on the palm of my hand so that I don't screw this up, lol.

 

[dioxide45]

Wow- I had no idea they were that limited! Of course I am in Ohio so yeah they are everywhere to me!! I mean there are 4 of them within a 10 minute drive from my house.

I beleive most of them sprang up during the time that Wendy's owned Tim Hortons. Wendy's being a Columbus based company led to the heavy concentration of Tim Hortons locations there.

 

[jwalk03]

I beleive most of them sprang up during the time that Wendy's owned Tim Hortons. Wendy's being a Columbus based company led to the heavy concentration of Tim Hortons locations there.

Yes I'm sure you are correct. There were many co-located Wendy's/Tim Horton's restaurants then that have all but vanished now.

 

[geist1223]

Do you know how they decide to build a new Tim Hortons? You go out into the Street in front of a current Tim Hortons with a regular Donut. You send it rolling down the center of the street. Where it stops you build a new Tim Hortons.

 

[sponger76]

All over is a bit of a stretch. They seem to mostly be in the north east and none really further west than Michigan
View attachment 93818

Number of Tim Hortons locations in the USA in 2024 | ScrapeHero

There are 649 Tim Hortons locations in the United States as of September 09, 2024. The state/territory with the most number of Tim Hortons locations in the US is New York with 256 locations, which is 39% of all Tim Hortons locations in America.

www.scrapehero.com

There's at least one near Houston. I went there a couple months ago.

 

[T-Dot-Traveller]

@kipca

Watch regular season football in the summer - the 3 down version
June 29th - McMahon Stadium Calgary AB
Calgary Stampeders vs Winnipeg Blue Bombers

 

[cd5]

There are several natural hot springs near Banff. Not to be missed!

Discover the Banff Hot Springs: Canada’s Natural Spa Experience

Discover the natural wonders of banff hot springs a rejuvenating escape surrounded by the stunning Canadian Rockies. Visit today!

canadiantrainvacations.com

 

[Chrispee]

Although Tim Hortons is a Canadian classic, if you really like coffee then you should probably limit your expectations. Maybe do a back to back comparison with the Banff Roasting Company!

 

[dioxide45]

There's at least one near Houston. I went there a couple months ago.

Yeah, looking at the map there are a few dots in the Houston area.

 

[dioxide45]

Yes I'm sure you are correct. There were many co-located Wendy's/Tim Horton's restaurants then that have all but vanished now.

I grew up in Canada, but Tim Hortons donuts certainly were not the best. I also lived in Ohio, Dayton area for over 20 years and they built one of those Wendy's/Tim Hortons around the corner from us. We never went. There were too many better donut shops in the Montgomery, Warren, and Hamilton county area where they actually made the donuts fresh daily.

 

[jwalk03]

Do you know how they decide to build a new Tim Hortons? You go out into the Street in front of a current Tim Hortons with a regular Donut. You send it rolling down the center of the street. Where it stops you build a new Tim Hortons.

Not as bad as Dunkin!

What's the shortest distance between two Dunkin's in Mass.?

What's the shortest distance between two Dunkin's in Mass.? We found out. Read more on Boston.com's Wickedpedia.

www.google.com

 

[Dori]

I would also like to add my vote for a visit to .Drumheller! It was fascinating, as was Horsethief Canyon with its hoodoos.

Dori

 

[Thunder Up]

Best coffee is Evelyn’s Coffee Bar, downtown Banff.

 

[marmite]

Back to alcohol suggestions again (I'm not a lush, really)!

This suggestion is only If you like Bloody Marys... order a Caesar (the Canadian version of Bloody Mary). It was first made by Walter Chell in 1969 in Calgary, so there's an Alberta connection. I actually remember TRYING to order a Caesar in the US, I was probably in my 20's. The restaurant had no idea what I was talking about, so it stuck with me that a Caesar is definitely a Canadian thing.