Buzz
When life takes a strange turn, the unconventional journey leads north. Where else can you willingly pay to nearly freeze to death, sip a drink garnished with a human toe, or sleep in a ghostly prison cell? During my two-year exploration of Canada's finest experiences, these stood out as the most eccentric.
1. The Infamous Sour Toe Cocktail
Photo: Robin Esrock
At Dawson City’s Downtown Hotel bar in Yukon, Canada, you can order a unique cocktail featuring a severed human toe. Since its introduction in the 1970s, over 60,000 individuals have become members of the Sour Toe Cocktail Club. The toe, preserved in salt, is placed in a glass of local bourbon, offering a slightly tangy flavor. Whether you drink it quickly or slowly, your lips must make contact with the toe. Be cautious not to swallow it, as doing so incurs a $2500 fine—a mistake some patrons have made.
2. The Cryotherapy Cold Sauna
Photo: Robin Esrock
Flash-freezing yourself to the brink of death offers numerous health benefits, including relief from muscle pain, arthritis, hormonal imbalances, and a newfound appreciation for survival. Sparkling Hill, a luxurious spa resort in British Columbia, boasts North America’s only cold sauna. Clad in just a bathing suit, gloves, and booties, you’ll spend three minutes in a monitored chamber at a chilling -166ºF. While seven minutes at this temperature could be fatal, the advanced spa system ensures your safety.
3. The Narcisse Snake Dens
Photo: Ruslan Margolin
While venomous Australian snakes may strike at the slightest provocation, Canadian snakes are remarkably docile. This is fortunate for visitors to Manitoba’s Narcisse dens, home to the world’s largest gathering of snakes. Every spring, tens of thousands of red garter snakes emerge in a chaotic mating ritual. Visitors are welcome to handle them, greet them, or even fashion a living Medusa-inspired wig. Just be gentle, watch your step, and don’t forget to smile, eh?
4. The Haunted Prison Hotel
Photo: Robin Esrock
For more than a century, Ottawa’s Carleton County Gaol housed the city’s most infamous criminals. Notorious for its squalor and cruelty, the prison closed in 1972 due to its inhumane conditions. A year later, it reopened as a youth hostel, offering budget travelers a unique—and eerie—stay. Join the nightly ghost tour on Death Row before retiring to your dorm cell. Those unsettling screams and groans in the night? They’re likely just your imagination. Or are they?
5. The Not Since Moses Run
Photo: Nova Scotia Tourism Agency
Nova Scotia’s Bay of Fundy is renowned for having the world’s highest tides, with water levels soaring up to 50 feet. This unique phenomenon sets the stage for a thrilling race along the exposed ocean floor, where participants not only compete against each other but also against the immense force of 100 billion tonnes of Atlantic water flooding the bay. Aptly named, the Not Since Moses run offers a modern twist on parting the seas, culminating in a celebratory BBQ and cold beers.
6. The Dead Sea of Canada
Photo: Robin Esrock
You’ve likely heard of the Dead Sea, where visitors float effortlessly in water eight times saltier than the ocean. However, few are aware of North America’s counterpart, Little Manitou Lake, located in Saskatchewan. This evaporating lake, with water three times saltier than the ocean, provides enough buoyancy to read a newspaper while floating. The scenic views, natural hot springs, and free therapeutic mud add to the experience, offering a hidden gem yet to be commercialized.
7. The Heli Yoga Class
Photo: Robin Esrock
Sick of yoga classes in cramped, sweaty rooms with less-than-inspiring views? Imagine a helicopter whisking you away to the majestic peaks of the Rockies, where a certified yoga instructor guides you through a session surrounded by breathtaking vistas. While hiking to such heights might leave you exhausted, flying ensures you’re ready for poses like the tree. Just don’t let the awe-inspiring scenery distract you from your breathing—though it’s hard not to feel at one with nature up here.
8. The Magdelan Island Cave Bash
Photo: Auberge la Salicorne
Officially termed Cave Swimming, this exhilarating activity on Quebec’s stunning Magdelan Islands involves donning a thick wetsuit and plunging into the icy, turbulent waves of the Atlantic. The powerful waves propel you against the island’s striking red cliffs, cushioning your impact as they sweep you in and out of sea caves and crevices. While it may seem perilous, this guided adventure is surprisingly safe, offering a thrilling yet controlled experience.
9. The Salmon Snorkel
Photo: Robin Esrock
The annual salmon migration is one of the Pacific West Coast’s most awe-inspiring natural events. To truly grasp its magnitude, dive into the waters of Vancouver Island’s Campbell River. Drifting downstream, you’ll witness hundreds of thousands of salmon swimming upstream to spawn and complete their life cycle. Surrounded by shimmering schools of pink, coho, chum, sockeye, and massive king salmon, you’ll gain a newfound appreciation for these remarkable creatures—and perhaps even your next sushi meal.
10. The Crooked Bush
Photo: Robin Esrock
Venture deep into Saskatchewan’s prairies, and you’ll discover a forest that seems plucked from a Tim Burton film. While wild aspen trees usually grow tall and straight, a peculiar genetic mutation has created the “Crooked Bush”—a bizarre, twisted grove shrouded in local legends of hauntings. Its spider-like branches sprawl over a wooden boardwalk, attracting intrigued visitors from across the nation. Some locals speculate extraterrestrial involvement, but then again, don’t aliens get blamed for everything unusual?
11. The Hermetic Code
Photo: Robin Esrock
The Pool of the Black Star, located in Winnipeg’s Legislature Building, carries a fascinating and mysterious history. Every individual involved in its construction was a Freemason, led by a master Freemason who embedded hidden symbols, esoteric secrets, and ancient mysticism into the design. A local scholar dedicated a decade to deciphering this Hermetic Code. His summer tours reveal a real-life Da Vinci Code experience, challenging your understanding of architecture. Stand on the Black Star, speak aloud, and sense the enigmatic energy of Hermes.
12. The Diefenbunker
Photo: Robin Esrock
Imagine a global thermonuclear war reducing the world to ashes, leaving only radioactive zombies. Deep beneath Ontario’s countryside, 500 chain-smoking bureaucrats would work tirelessly to rebuild Canadian society. This was the purpose behind the Diefenbunker, a top-secret nuclear shelter constructed in the 1960s to protect government officials. Equipped with a canteen, hospital, CBC studio, offices, sleeping quarters, and War Games-style control rooms, it was never used by a prime minister except Trudeau, who quickly cut its funding. Now decommissioned and transformed into a Cold War Museum, the bunker is available for events, weddings, and, of course, surviving the zombie apocalypse.
