Bucket list: a list of things one hopes to accomplish in one''s lifetime It''s been more than a decade since I set off on an adventure to discover and share the extraordinary destinations, adventures, and activities one can only do in Canada. At the time, I had just completed filming a forty-part TV series filmed in thirty-six countries, and was writing a weekly travel column for a national newspaper. My travels had already taken me to over a hundred countries, and I became curious about unique experiences in my own backyard. After visiting every province and territory in multiple seasons, the result was a smash bestselling book that hit a cultural nerve. For despite the "list" in the title, or the fact that you may find this book among guidebooks, it contained few lists or practical information about how to travel. Rather, I undertook a personal journey to focus on the why : awhat makes these experiences so special, who might we meet, and what might we learn along the way? Extending into a third edition -- fully revised, updated, and beautifully redesigned -- the answer is surprising as Canada itself. I became a travel writer literally by accident. A car ran me down at an intersection on the way to an office in downtown Vancouver, smashing my bike, breaking my kneecap, and ultimately resulting in a modest $20,000 insurance settlement.

There we are, thinking we have all the time in the world, and along comes a distracted driver, an illness, a crisis, or a pandemic. My accident inspired me to pack a bag and travel the world, recording my solo adventure for others to perhaps follow in my footsteps. This led to articles and columns, TV shows, numerous bestselling books, and speaking events, all powered by an energetic enthusiasm for discovery. Since the first edition, I got married and had two beautiful children, who''ve join me on many new adventures I hope will appeal to families of all ages. I ticked off another twenty countries (plus Antarctica), wrote an Australian and Global Bucket List, expanded a series of regional editions, became a Fellow of the Royal Canadian Geographic Society, and won a few awards along the way. I still consider that car accident to be the luckiest break of my life. Since the bestselling second edition 2017, Canadian tourism has weathered an unprecedented crisis, a pandemic that resulted in the closure of many thriving businesses. We came back stronger, more resilient, more innovative, and with plenty of enthusiasm to make up for lost time.

This book builds on my previous editions, adding dozens of new experiences while revising my personal favourites. Across nature, culture, history, food and adventure, there''s something here for everyone of all interests. As always, you can visit the companion blog for many more, along with new adventures, and all the practical information you''ll need to follow in my footsteps. It''s no small responsibility defining a nation''s bucket list. I''m fully aware of my woeful omissions, and the fact that dozens if not hundreds of new experiences await my discovery. This new edition also casts an overdue lens on Indigenous tourism, which I hope will result in powerful and personal connections this country desperately needs. I define a bucket list experience as something unique, memorable, realistically achievable, and ripe for a good story. Of course, this is entirely subjective, and I''ve always emphasised that travel is a deeply personal endeavour: one person''s poutine might easily be another person''s Sour Toe Cocktail.

Making a bucket list is personal too; a powerful goal-orientated exercise to turn dreams into reality. Take it from me, there''s simply no other country on the planet like Canada, a country blessed with an abundance of beauty, hospitality, promise, and hope. Whether you''re a student or retiree, a parent, immigrant, or a visitor, I invite you to turn the page, and join me for the adventure of a lifetime.