Ontario's Wasaga Beach is the longest freshwater beach in the world

Wasaga Beach, Ontario - Sink your toes into the soft white sands of the longest freshwater beach in the world. The 14 km (8.6 mile) Wasaga Beach is part of a Provincial Park, with the beach divided into eight areas, each with change facilities, washrooms, picnic tables, etc. Over two million people enjoy this 'Blue Flag' beach each summer. Different areas attract different crowds, with the beach area furthest to the west being the quietest. There are also water parks, volleyball tournaments, fireworks, shops, mini golf, hiking trails in the dune area, and special events, such as Kitefest, Beachfest, Summerfest, the Toe Jam Wakestate, and the Corvett Weekend each August, which draws about 500 Corvette owners from around North America. Despite a downtown fire in 2007, the historic beachfront 'strip' remains intact and all accommodation is open for business. Brand new for 2008 - a huge beachfront dome with circus entertainment, Splash Pad (free interactive water play area), and a 2,520 sq metre tent for interactive games and concessions. Photo: Courtesy Wasaga Beach

Where: On the shore of Georgian Bay, a 90-minute drive north of Toronto. Quick Tips: At the Nancy Island Historic Site you can see a restored schooner from the War of 1812. Ontario Travel Information

Canada’s Coolest:

Welcome to a new feature on Canada Cool. I'll be presenting different 'Coolest' lists with my favorites and I encourage you to nominate suggestions from your own experiences. You can Twitter @CanadaCool or email Lucy@CanadaCool.com. Let me know what makes your suggestion exceptionally cool. Remember, by contributing your comments you are giving Canada Cool permission to quote you. Only a selection of submissions will be included, but all comments and submissions are greatly appreciated!

The first feature is: Canada's Coolest Single Day Scenic Drives

Here are some of my favorites...

The Icefields Parkway, Jasper National Park, Alberta - This 229 km (142 mi) Rocky Mountain route from Banff/Lake Louise to Jasper passes 100 frozen rivers and nudges the base of the Athabasca Glacier - the most accessible glacier in the world. You can stop and explore it. It spills down from the Columbia Icefield, an area of ice so massive that you could fit the entire population of North America on it with each person getting at least a square metre of space.

The Corridor, Algonquin Park, Ontario – this 56-km stretch of Hwy 60 cuts through the southwest section of Algonquin Park. Less than three hours north of Toronto the park is a nature-lover's paradise with 7,725 km of lakes, rivers, forest, trails, camping, comfortable lodges and 2000 km of canoe routes. Offers hiking trails to stop and enjoy, but what makes it really cool is that it’s one of the best places in North America to spot moose (especially in May and June). And, on Thursday nights in August up to 600 cars will gather to listen to wolves howl.

The Cabot Trail, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia – Driving this 303 km (187 mile) route is like riding a roller-coaster: the road snakes around hairpin turns, rises to heights over 365 metres (1200 ft), weaves around headlands revealing spectacular coastal scenery, and plunges down to sea level taking you into the heart of small fishing communities. The most dramatic scenery is between the Cape Breton Highlands National Park entrance near Cheticamp and Pleasant Bay, so go slow. And, plan some flexibility into your schedule, so you can drive it on a clear day.

And here are some of your nominations for 'Canada's Coolest Single Day Scenic Drives'...

More from Canada’s Coolest

'Canada's Coolest' topics we'll be publishing in the future:

• Golf Course Features
• Haunted Hotels
• Hotel Special Services

Send your suggestions to lucy@CanadaCool.com

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