You might think that you happen to know quite a bit about Canada, but if you’ve only been to Toronto and the more iconic sites, such as Niagara Falls, the CN Tower, or the Rocky Mountains, you’re really missing out. There are a couple of lesser known gems that will expand your knowledge about the Great White North.

Walk with Vikings

If you’re planning a trip to Canada between June and October, you might want to visit L’anse aux Meadows. This is a National Historic Site and Leif, Eric the Red’s son, used to live there. If you happen to enjoy more scenic routes, history that comes to life, and iceberg sightings, this is one that you really shouldn’t miss out on. There’s even a place called Norstead, which is a Viking trade town that’s been recreated. You might even want to try your hand at ax throwing! Just be sure that before you head out, you get some cheap renters insurance to insure all of your stuff back home so you have one less thing to worry about and can really enjoy this once in a lifetime experience.

Uncover Dinosaurs

If you’re looking for more than just your run of the mill cultural tour in Toronto, there’s only one place in the entire world where you can find a 151-foot long, 86-foot tall dinosaur standing right at the center of the city. This area is affectionately called Dinosaur Valley. Back in the 1800s, the first dinosaur bones were found here and they’re still being found today. You’ll need to purchase tickets in advance for tours of Dinosaur Provincial Park, and you might even run across a paleontologist or two looking for fossils. You might also want to drop by the Royal Tyrrell Museum of Paleontology. During the summer months, this is a popular destination because of the camp-outs and dinosaur digs.

Walk on the Bottom of the Ocean

This is a great trip to plan if you’ll be coming between May and October. Some of the highest tides in the world are found in the Bay of Fundy. When they’re highest, they can reach as much as 54 feet in some places. Here, you can hop in a kayak and explore during the high tides or just enjoy the view from the cliff shores. If you come at low tide, once 100 billion tons of water have receded, you can actually walk on the bottom of the ocean. From rock formations called the bear and mother-in-law that have been formed by water, to age old fossils, there’s more than plenty to be marveled at. That said, once the water begins to lap at your ankles, you might want to find a bit of higher ground.

Of course, these aren’t the only things to do in Canada, but they aren’t your run of the mill, tour the city kind of vacation either. If you’re into nature and history, these just might be some of the best vacation destinations in Canada.