Reader’s Choice Awards 2010

Explore Magazine

December 8, 2011

Your picks for Canada’s best parks, towns, and more

Information gathered by Jessica Lewis

Earlier this year, we conducted a comprehensive Readers’ Choice Awards Survey to find out your opinions on the best of Canada’s outdoors. We wanted to know your favourite national parks. Your favourite provincial parks. Your favourite outdoor towns. And more.

At the outset, I was fairly certain that I knew what some of the results would be. For example, I had an idea of what you’d choose as your favourite national park. And your favourite place in the country to go canoeing. And your favourite hiking trail. But I couldn’t have predicted what your second-favourite national park might be. Or your favourite national park in Northern Canada. Or your favourite provincial park in Quebec Or your favourite piece of gear.

In this issue, we present the findings from that survey. Some of the results were indeed as expected, but others were definitely surprises. For example, I wouldn’t have guessed that you’d choose a paddling trip as the country’s top adventure. Or that one national park would be voted as the best for both scenery and adventure. And who knew that a sleeping pad would rank as one of your top pieces of gear? (Obviously we Canadians appreciate a good night’s rest.)

Thanks to those of you who participated in the survey, and congratulations to John Casey of Kamloops, B.C., who won the Eddie Bauer First Ascent Big Tahoma backpack.

Here are the results:

READ MORE: News