Happy 125^th Birthday Parks Canada! Over these next two years, Parks Canada will be offering exciting new initiatives and a variety of anniversary-themed activities at Canada’s national parks, national historic sites and national marine conservation areas.

On Parks Day, July 17, Parks Canada will open the gates and welcome visitors…for free! If you don’t know where to go or what to do on July 17^th, here’s the Parks Canada to-do list.

Top 125 Things You (and your family) Should Do.

Newfoundland and Labrador

Cape Spear National Historic Site

1) Walk along the rugged coastline of Cape Spear Lighthouse NHS, the eastern most point of North America and site of Newfoundland's oldest surviving lighthouse.

Signal Hill National Historic Site

2) Watch icebergs drift by as you take in the panoramic views of the ocean and the city of St. John's while hiking the trails at Signal Hill NHS.

Terra Nova National Park

3) Under a canopy of stars, relax and unwind with friends and family at the campfire circle at Terra Nova NP.

Gros Morne National Park

4) Go moose spotting in Gros Morne NP. With approximately 4800 of them in the park, moose are often seen along roadsides and trails, particularly around dawn and dusk.

5) See unique geology, walking on some of the world's oldest rock, as you hike in the Tablelands in Gros Morne NP.

6) Take a boat tour of Western Brook Pond in Gros Morne NP and cruise between massive billion-year-old cliffs.

L'Anse aux Meadows National Historic Site

7) Discover the Vikings at L'Anse aux Meadows NHS. Be a guest in the chief's sod house. Relax by his fire and listen to Viking sagas that recall the time when these hardy men and women sailed forbidding seas to this wild and beautiful place.

Red Bay National Historic Site

8) Hear stories of 16th century voyages from the Basque country to Labrador in search of precious whale oil: tales of adventure, hardships, wrecks and survival at Red Bay NHS.

Torngat Mountains National Park

9) Journey to the tradition homeland of the most southerly population of Inuit in the circumpolar world and see the beautiful white giants - polar bears at Torngat Mountains NP.

Prince Edward Island

Province House National Historic Site

10)Hear the echo of the delegates to the Charlottetown Conference as you stand in Confederation Chamber, the birthplace of Canada, at Province House NHS.
Prince Edward Island National Park

11) Cycle along the Gulf Shore Way in Prince Edward Island NP and soak up the wonderful views of the sand dunes, beaches, salt marshes, fresh water ponds and forests.

12) Delight in the sight of gently waving marram grass atop magnificent sand dunes and feel waves crashing at your feet as you stroll into a picturesque sunset at Prince Edward Island NP.

Dalvay-by-the-Sea National Historic Site

13) What could be more relaxing and refined than afternoon tea at a Victorian Mansion in PEI NP? Spoil yourself with your first taste of Dalvay-by-the-Sea NHS's famous Sticky Date pudding.

L.M. Montgomery's Cavendish National Historic Site

14) Step back into a simpler time when the shoe game and three-legged races kept youngsters amused for hours. Join the children of Avonlea for an afternoon of old fashioned fun at Green Gables at L.M. Montgomery's Cavendish NHS.

Nova Scotia

Grand-Pré National Historic Site

15) Feel the heartbeat of Acadia and the resilience of its people at Grand-Pré NHS. Follow a new, interactive theatrical experience through the garden as it carries you back in time, before the troubled era of the Great Deportation.

Louisbourg National Historic Site

16) Enjoy 18th century cuisine at Fortress of Louisbourg NHS, a crusty loaf of soldier's bread, a chocolate delicacy fit for a king or sample the Governor's food and drink at a special Wine Tasting.

17) Hear the cannons roar, smell the smoke from crackling fires, cock your ear to the sound of music floating from a tavern door. The townspeople of Louisbourg NHS will delight you with stories, demonstrations and activities from 18th century Louisbourg.

Alexander Graham Bell National Historic Site

18) Be inspired by the creative spirit of a world-famous inventor at Alexander Graham Bell NHS. Marvel at his experiments with flight and his development of a record-setting hydrofoil boat.

Cape Breton Highlands National Park

19) Hike the trails at Cape Breton Highlands NP and explore ocean coastlines, panoramic peaks, taiga forest and splendid waterfalls.

20) Drive along the famous Cabot Trail and stop at the look offs to take in the ocean views as well as the hills, forests and waterfalls in Cape Breton Highlands NP.

Halifax Citadel National Historic Site

21) Brush your hand against the cool stone of a dimly lit passageway. Grip your lantern tighter and search the shadows for your guide. You'll discover the haunted secrets and fascinating history of the Halifax Citadel NHS when you take a guided Ghost Walk - after dark.

22) Your foot is tapping and your hands are clapping, to bagpipes. The 78th Highlander Pipes and Drums are world class pageantry at its best at Halifax Citadel NHS.

Kejimkujik National Park

23) Join a guide and listen to her story as she brings you to one of Kejimkujik's petroglyphs.

24) Rent a canoe and explore the gentle lakes and rivers of Kejimkujik NP with your family.

Port-Royal National Historic Site

25) Enter Port-Royal NHS and your family will be transported back to Champlain's time. Watch a Frenchman turn wood on a lathe, creating tools for artisans. Now it's your turn to push the pedal! Learn ancient Mi'kmaw healing remedies or join in a traditional game of Waltes.

Fort Anne National Historic Site

26) Take the family on an unforgettable adventure in time. Find the special key to Fort Anne NHS on A Quest for the Keys. Discover a treasure trove of secrets hidden in the fort.

Beaubassin and Fort Lawrence National Historic Site

27) Join in, get your hands dirty and help uncover the remnants of an Acadian village or perhaps a relic of fort life by participating in an archaeological dig at Beaubassin and Fort Lawrence NHS.

New Brunswick

Kouchibouguac National Park

28) Learn about the Migmag culture by hiking the Migmag Cedar Trail at Kouchibouguac NP.

29) Paddle in a Voyageur Canoe and observe a geological rarity: the sand dune islands. Your breath will be taken away as you witness seal and tern colonies and shore birds at Kouchibouguac NP.

30) Sit in a warm wigwam and listen to the passionate stories and legends from a First Nations Interpreter at Kouchibouguac NP. Create your own friendship necklace and make new friends.

31) Enjoy a leisurely afternoon cycling with your family in Kouchibouguac NP, one of the best biking locations in Atlantic Canada.

Fort Beauséjour - Fort Cumberland National Historic Site

32) Step back in time and become a soldier for a day at Fort Beauséjour - Fort Cumberland NHS. Hide in the casements, stand atop the fort's bastions and look out onto the Bay of Fundy.

Fundy National Park

33) Witness the world's highest tides at Fundy NP

34) Five is the number of finds you need to receive an exclusive Fundy NP geo-coin. The find... A small box hidden somewhere in the park. The challenge... Finding it. The reward... Fresh air, discovering new areas of the park and bragging rights.

Carleton Martello Tower National Historic Site

35) Get a 360 degree unobstructed view of the Bay of Fundy and the City of Saint John at Carleton Martello Tower NHS.

Québec

Forillon National Park

36) Hike to the Mont Saint Alban Tower where you can see Percé Rock, the Bay of Gaspé and Cap des Rosiers lighthouse. Enjoy hassle-free camping by taking advantage of the equipped yurts and tent trailers available for rent at Forillon NP.

Mingan Archipelago National Park Reserve

37) Have you ever wanted to be alone on an island? You can be at Mingan Archipelago NPR. On your walks you'll discover intriguing natural sculptures. Live in tune with nature in this remarkable spot that is perfect for meditating.

Saguenay St. Lawrence Marine Park

38) Catch a glimpse of beluga whales at Saguenay St. Lawrence Marine Park.

La Mauricie National Park

39) Explore the many lakes of La Mauricie NP by canoe and take in the diverse waterscapes of the park. Get back in touch with nature by camping at La Mauricie NP.

Forge du Saint-Maurice National Historic Site

40) At the Forge du Saint-Maurice NHS relive the actual experience of an apprentice moulder by producing a typical local object. Prepare the mould that will hold the molten metal, and take what you've made home with you as proof of your new know-how.

Fortifications of Quebec National Historic Site

41) Walk along the walls of the Fortifications of Quebec and take in the old city and the St Lawrence River.

Grosse Ile and the Irish Memorial National Historic Site

42) Walk through the quarantine station at Grosse Ile and the Irish Memorial NHS, and see and experience the first stop in Canada for many immigrants.
Fort Chambly National Historic Site

43) On summer Sundays, visit Fort Chambly NHS. Craftspeople, tailors, soldiers and officers will be dressed in the Sunday best to welcome you. Don't miss the musket firing demonstration.

Chambly Canal National Historic Site

44) Cycle along the 20 kilometre former towpath at Chambly Canal NHS.

45) Get the explorer's kit and visit the amazing remains of Fort Sainte Therese and the Fryer dam.

Sir George Etienne Cartier National Historic Site

46) Discover the moments that marked the life of George-Etienne Cartier, as well as the daily lives of the bourgeoisie and domestic servants at Sir George Etienne Cartier NHS.

Lachine Canal National Historic Site

47) Enjoy the unique experience of a lock in operation and striking views of the city of Montreal at Lachine Canal NHS. Relive the major historic moments of the canal accompanied by a guide and characters from the past.

The Fur Trade at Lachine National Historic Site

48) Discover the departure point of the great explorers of North America aboard a large Rabaska canoe. Navigate where Alexander Mackenzie started his journey. The adventure starts at The Fur Trade at Lachine NHS.

Manoir Papineau National Historic Site

49) Let yourself sway to the sound of classical and traditional music from the heyday of Manoir Papineau NHS. In the sombre atmosphere of the blue room or on the estate's sunny lawns take advantage of some memorable Sunday concerts.

Ontario

Fort Wellington National Historic Site

50) Kids, go on 1840's adventure at Fort Wellington NHS by enlisting for the day as a British soldier.

Bellevue House National Historic Site

51) Savour afternoon tea and live theatre in the spectacular gardens at Bellevue House NHS. Relax and sample fresh scones, jams, lemon butter, clotted cream, homemade shortbread at tea will costumed interpreters provide a glimpse into the life of John A. Macdonald and his wife.

St. Lawrence Islands National Park

52) Embark on a scavenger hunt in the beautiful Thousand Islands. With your GPS, explore St. Lawrence Islands NP to find one of the caches hidden on the mainland or on one of the islands. Paddle through the Thousand Islands. Surround yourself with nature at St. Lawrence Islands NP.

Laurier House National Historic Site

53) Enjoy a special glimpse into the lives of Sir Wilfrid Laurier and William Lyon Mackenzie King, two of Canada's most celebrated prime ministers, during an evening candlelit tour of Laurier House NHS.

HMCS Haida National Historic Site

54) Go aboard the HMCS Haida, the last remaining Tribal Class destroyer of the Second World War. Go below decks to see the engine and boiler rooms and then take in the bird's-eye view from the open bridge.

Bruce Peninsula National Park

55) Take in the great view points along Georgian Bay by hiking the northern portion of the Bruce Trail in Bruce Peninsula NP. Look carefully and you may see Eastern Massassauga Rattlesnakes as you hike the trails at Bruce Peninsula NP.

Fathom Five National Marine Park

56) Discover the shipwrecks of Fathom Five National Marine Park. Some of the wrecks are accessible to snorkelers, some to divers and two can even been seen from your boat.

Point Pelee National Park

57) Experience the spring bird migration at Point Pelee NP, one of the most spectacular birding hotspots in North America.

Georgian Bay Islands National Park

58) Take advantage of an all-inclusive camping package at Georgian Bay Islands NP.

Trent-Severn Waterway National Historic Site

59) At Peterborough you will find the world's highest hydraulic lift lock. This open-air elevator for boats is like a giant bathtub that goes up and down ferrying boats from one water level to a different one.

Pukaskwa National Park

60) Experience Anishinaabe culture and values by visiting an authentic encampment featuring a wigwam, tepee, cook tent and meeting area at Pukaskwa NP.

61) Wander along the shores of Lake Superior; see the rugged landscape and rushing rivers of the Canadian Shield and chance upon remarkable plants and animals. Get a sense of the true wilderness character of the enchanted place called Pukaskwa NP.

Manitoba

The Forks National Historic Site

62) Take a fun-filled, self-directed GPS tour and track down the elusive history at The Forks NHS and locate a hidden geo-cache.

Lower Fort Garry National Historic Site

63) Meet the personalities that bring Lower Fort Garry NHS to life. Test your skill as a blacksmith or a fur packer. Make a fire with flint and steel. Spin wool. Participate in a workshop and learn an historic craft of skill.

64) Kids can "sign on" as a worker for the Hudson's Bay Company at Lower Fort Garry NHS and take part in entertaining activities every Wednesday in July and August.

Riel House National Historic Site

65) Visit Riel House NHS and hear the stories that illuminate Louis Riel, a 19th century champion of Métis rights and culture.

Riding Mountain National Park

66) Discover the dramatic landscape of the Manitoba Escarpment rising above the prairie as you hike in Riding Mountain NP.

67) Listen for the call of elk as they bugle during the fall mating season at Riding Mountain NP.

Prince of Wales Fort National Historic Site

68) Visit Prince of Wales Fort NHS, the monumental stone fort built by the Hudson's Bay Company on the Churchill River 250 years ago. Watch stone masons as they rebuild the fort's massive walls using 17th century techniques.

Wapusk National Park

69) Fly in by helicopter for an adventure of a lifetime at Wapusk NP.

70) Hike on the tundra, meet scientific researchers and look for caribou, wolves, arctic fox and over 250 species of birds. You may even see a polar bear!

Saskatchewan

Grasslands National Park

71) Explore the scenic rolling hills, rugged coulees and steep ravines while hiking the backcountry at Grasslands NP and catch a glimpse of bison or black-footed ferrets in their natural habitat.

72) Celebrate cowboy country in the East Block of Grasslands NP with an evening of musical entertainment and storytelling followed by an early morning trail ride and wagon ride overlooking the striking badlands.

Motherwell Homestead National Historic Site

73) Learn about binding, stooking and threshing. See the machines used by W.R. Motherwell, the garden he planted and the land he tilled at Motherwell Homestead NHS.

Fort Walsh National Historic Site

74) Kids, join the North West Mounted Police and dress in their uniform of red tunics and pill box hats. It all happens at Fort Walsh NHS.

75) Relive an era of high adventure when the North West Mounted Police ruled the prairies. Watch live horses, taste fresh baking at the cook tent and see how historic weapons were used at Fort Walsh NHS.

Fort Battleford National Historic Site

76) Take a ghost tour of Fort Battleford NHS at night.

77) Become one of 500 settlers taking refuge inside the Fort walls during the spring of 1885.

Batoche National Historic Site

78) Participate in a lively celebration of Métis culture during Back to Batoche Days at Batoche NHS.

Prince Albert National Park

79) Ride horseback near the plains bison herds with a local ranch guide at Prince Albert NP.

80) Take a pilgrimage to Grey Owl's last home, "Beaver Lodge" in Prince Albert NP.

Alberta

Waterton Lakes National Park

81) Experience the unique landscape of Waterton Lakes NP where the prairies meet the mountains. Watch animals such as mule deer, white-tailed deer, elk and black bears, from the safety of your vehicle at the pull-offs along the parkway.

82) Stay in a traditional tipi at Waterton Lakes NP.

Cave and Basin National Historic Site

83) Discover the unexpected at Cave and Basin NHS. The site is host to orchids, tropical fish, garter snakes and endangered snails that thrive in the special environment created by the thermal spring waters.

Banff National Park

84) Ride the gondola for the best view in Banff NP from the top of Sulphur Mountain.

85) Take a spectacular hike or horseback ride to two heritage tea houses, still in operation today, for magnificent views of Banff National Park's iconic Lake Louise. Get your cameras ready as you go elk, bighorn sheep and mountain goat spotting in Banff NP.

86) Luxuriate in the comfort of warm soothing water at Parks Canada’s Hot Springs (Banff NP, Radium Hot Springs and Jasper NP).

Jasper National Park

87) Take a boat tour on the beautiful turquoise waters of Maligne Lake, the largest lake in the Canadian Rockies, in Jasper NP.

88) Take in the Athabasca Glacier at the Columbia Ice fields at Jasper NP, the largest ice field in the Canadian Rockies. Roll up your sleeves and join the Friends of Jasper NP on their scheduled volunteer work days.

Bar U Ranch National Historic Site

89) Sample some tasty bannock and cowboy coffee at Roundup Camp at Bar U Ranch NHS. Set yourself down around a blazing campfire and take in some historic tales of high adventure on the range.

Rocky Mountain House National Historic Site

90) Step back in time as you enter the Métis Trapper's Tent at Rocky Mountain House NHS. Toast bannock over an open fire, try your hand at some traditional games and listen to the ancestral stories of the Métis Nation of Alberta.

British Columbia

Yoho National Park

91) Go train spotting at Kicking Horse Pass National Historic Site. You can watch trains entering and exiting the Spiral Tunnels, the engineering feat that cleverly bypassed the treacherous Big Hill.

92) Gaze up, way up to the top of Takakkaw Falls in Yoho NP, the third highest waterfall in Canada. Freefalling almost 250 m, you can almost feel the rocks vibrate as the water crashes down creating a rainbow of fine mist.

93) Take a guided hike to the world-famous Burgess Shale fossil beds in Yoho NP, where ancient sea floor is now mountain side.

Kootenay National Park

94) Photographers will find inspiration in Kootenay NP’s vista of contrasts; fresh green growth against trees sculpted black and silver by fire; glaciers and grasslands; moose and bighorn sheep; the bright orange cliff of the Redwall Faults and the narrow Sinclair Canyon.

Mount Revelstoke National Park

95) Gather your family and circle a trunk of the ancient trees in the world's only inland cedar rainforest in Mount Revelstoke NP.

Glacier National Park

96) Gaze at the 360 degree vista of peaks from Glacier Circle in Glacier NP.

Fort St. James National Historic Site

97) Take in what life was like at Fort St. James NHS in 1896 as you try traditional hide tanning and traditional food preparation with local Aboriginal people and animators in period costume.

Gulf of Georgia National Historic Site

98) Hear the whirring and clattering that signals the salmon canning line coming to life at Gulf of Georgia NHS. Watch as your interpreter fires up the canning line and demonstrates firsthand how the process is done.

Fort Langley National Historic Site

99) Let costumed interpreters introduce you to the lives and loves of the people who lived at Fort Langley NHS. Meet First Nations women and Hudson's Bay Company workers from places like Quebec, Scotland and Hawaiil. See their homes and how they worked.

Fort Rodd Hill and Fisgard Lighthouse National Historic Sites

100) Witness two historic military encampments where re-enactors provide a dramatic display of blank firing demonstrations of everything from muzzle loading muskets to machine guns at Fort Rodd Hill and Fisgard Lighthouse NHS.

Pacific Rim National Park Reserve

101) Hike the rugged West Coast trail in Pacific Rim NPR for a challenging wilderness experience.

102) Look out over the Pacific Ocean as far as the eye can see in Pacific Rim NPR.

103) Camp in the temperate rainforest at Green Point Campground in Pacific Rim NPR.

Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve

104) Visit Gwaii Haanas and talk to the Haida Gwaii Watchmen at old Haida village sites and learn about their past and present lives.

105) Explore Sgang Gwaay UNESCO World Heritage Site where carved land and sea creatures mingle on majestic century-old poles.

The Yukon

Chilkoot Trail National Historic Site

106) Hike the Chilkoot Trail and share the challenge of those who reached the Klondike.

Kluane National Park Reserve

107) Go to the viewing deck at the Tachal Dhal Visitor Centre in Kluane NPR to view the park's most abundant large mammal, Dall Sheep.

SS Klondike National Historic Site

108) Stand in the wheelhouse of the SS Klondike. Feel the romance and adventure of a bygone era when the Yukon River was the territory's highway and life-line for First Nations, Gold Rush explorers and growing Yukon communities.

Dawson Historical Complex National Historic Site

109) Stroll the wooden boardwalks of Dawson Historical Complex NHS. Gaze into windows of long-abandoned buildings.

110) Hear Klondike stories of hardship, glory and heroism.

Vuntut and Ivvavik National Park

111) Be one of the privileged few to witness the caribou migration at Vuntut and Ivvavik NP.

112) Dare to raft the untamed waters of the Firth River in Ivvavik NP.

113) Travel through millions of acres of mountains, tundra and translucent waterways.

Northwest Territories

Wood Buffalo National Park

114) Take in the salt plains at Wood Buffalo NP and see bison, moose and sandhill cranes.

115) Witness the Aurora Borealis, swirling bands of pale green, red and purple dancing across the darkening late summer sky.

Nahanni National Park Reserve

116) Travel to Nahanni NPR where you can paddle the mighty South Nahanni River and marvel at the deep canyons and wild landscape.

117) Hear fascinating stories, in Nahanni NP, from local aboriginal people of battles and hardships endured by the Dene in Nahanni's mountains.

Pingo Canadian Landmark

118) See a unique arctic phenomenon and tell the world you've been to Tuktoyatuk.

119) Discover the place where a quarter of the globe's pingos (ice cored hills) are concentrated, including one of the largest, Ibyuk, at Pingo Canadian Landmark.

Aulavik National Park

120) Canoe the Thomson River, the most northerly navigable river and experience the magnificent ancient landscape of Aulavik NP.

Tuktut Nogait National Park

121) Trek through a glorious world of rolling hills and multicoloured tundra in Tuktut Nogait NP.

Nunavut

Auyuittuq National Park

122) Make it offical! Just a day hike or snow machine trip in Auyuittuq NP via Pangnirtung takes you to the Arctic Circle..

123) Test yourself with some extreme mountaineering on the internationally famous Thor Peak and Mount Asgard in Auyuittuq NP.

Sirmilik National Park

124) Experience the never ending daylight in Canada's North. At three o'clock in the morning, you'll be smiling as the sun still shines in the arctic night.

Quttinirpaaq National Park

125) Go to the Top of the World at Quttinirpaaq National Park.

Source: Parks Canada

Photo Credit: wikipedia