Spanning six time zones and bordering three oceans, Canada has just 38 million citizens. As a result, the second-largest nation in the world is full of wide-open spaces and exhilarating natural scenery. The rustic lodges of British Columbia and Alberta rival the best that Montana and Wyoming can offer. Above the Maine border lie the dramatic, wind-lashed landscapes of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. And farther north is the Arctic, a breathtaking region best explored via a guided cruise. In contrast, the great cities of the east, Toronto and Montréal, offer European elegance enlivened by dozens of vibrant ethnic enclaves. Vancouver, too, is a wonderfully cosmopolitan metropolis with world-class dining, a thriving arts scene and splendid hiking on its doorstep.