Canada, the second largest country by landmass in the world, is an unknown giant. With an area of almost 3.9 million square miles, you would think that Canada would be a much more prominent figure in today’s world. However, often overshadowed by its neighbor to the South, Canada has an almost mythical aura to it. While we may hear tales of maple syrup, grizzly bears, and hockey, most of us know very little about Canada. I admit to this same fault, but fresh off my trip to Canada this past weekend, I am here to enlighten you on the beauty of Canada.

Upon my arrival in Canada, I was instantly struck by the sanitary conditions of the Calgary airport. Honestly, it was by far the cleanest facility I had ever visited in my life. As we exited the plane, we were greeted by the Canadian hospitality team, a group of retired individuals who were excited to welcome us to Canada. Bombarded with “o’s” and “eh’s”, we shuffled outdoors into the 25 degree weather. While we shivered in the frigid conditions, Canadians passed us by in hockey jerseys and shorts, clearly unbothered by the weather.

After renting a car, we took off across the unknown Canadian landscape to our final destination, Lake Louise. Although the drive was pretty remote, the beauty of the Canadian wilderness was enough to keep me occupied for several hours. The snow-covered peaks of the Rocky Mountains coupled with the semi-frozen streams made for a beautiful backdrop. Finally, we arrived at Lake Louise, a lake below a glacier that stays frozen almost year round.

Since Lake Louise is in a pretty isolated area, the main attraction of the area is the ski slopes. Even in April, snow still covers the mountain and allows for skiing all the way until May. With slopes ranging from greens to double black diamonds, there are certainly runs for everyone. In fact, I found myself incredulous as 5 year olds sped by me en route to black diamonds. The Canadian people were more than willing to help as they eagerly offered advice on the best ways down the mountain which brings me to my final point.

My overall impression of Canada was one of incredibly nice people who were proud of their country. Most of the other stereotypes of Canada were quite incorrect, although you could find maple syrup in almost any store. In conclusion, I was only able to see one small part of Canada, but it was clear that Canada has much more to offer beyond grizzly bears and ice.