Prime Minister Justin Trudeau started celebrations in Ottawa with a rousing speech to rain-soaked citizens on what it means to be Canadian. "Canada is a country made strong not in spite of our differences but because of them," he said. But he made a major gaffe, omitting Alberta as he listed the provinces and territories. Moments later, he jumped up, called, "I love you, Alberta," and blew a kiss.

Prince Charles and wife, Camilla, made a three-day visit to Canada to mark the sesquicentennial. The royal visit began with a trip to the northern territory of Nunavut, home to a large number of First Nations and Inuit people. The future king praised Canada for its inclusiveness and fairness. "We are celebrating a country that others look to for example," Charles said.

In Toronto, the hometown Blue Jays played against the Boston Red Sox in front of a patriotic crowd. Despite the inspirational flag, Boston edged ahead to victory in the baseball game. The massive flag is apt for such a large country: Canada is the world's second-biggest by area.

U2 members Bono and The Edge, both well known for being Irish and not Canadian, entertained the 500,000-odd people celebrating in Ottawa. "Where others build walls you open doors," Bono told the crowd, noting that Canada has welcomed tens of thousands of Syrian refugees.

Cities across Canada splurged on events and installations to celebrate the milestone, with the total cost to the federal government reported to be half a billion dollars over the year. Along with fireworks, free museums and outdoor concerts nationwide on Saturday, more than 50 special ceremonies to swear in new citizens were planned across the country.

Toronto, Canada's largest city, also had a giant rubber duck floating in its harbor to help celebrate. The yellow duck, which reportedly cost C$200,000 ($154,000/135,000 euros) including the rent, drew criticism from some party-poopers who described it as a waste of taxpayer money.

For many, the special day was a reminder of indigenous persecution. Ahead of the anniversary, activists erected a teepee on Parliament Hill in protest and on Saturday, about 100 indigenous protesters marched through Toronto. Canada has a long and varied history of persecuting its indigenous people, including systematically separating native children from their parents even as late as the 1980s.

With its stunning landscape of fjords and mountains, the Gros Morne National Park is a trekker's and paddler's paradise. The eerie Tablelands, a formation of rock displaying earth's crust, offers a clear demonstration of the continental drift process, which is why the park was designated UNESCO World Heritage Site. The small fishing town of Rocky Harbour is a good base to reach the park.

Nova Scotia's Cape Breton Island boasts one of the world's most scenic drives, the Cabot Trail, which winds along mountains around the coast with unforgettable views on the ocean. It's also a great spot for hiking and kayaking. The Fortress of Louisbourg, where French soldiers fought the English in the 18th century, is the largest historical reconstruction of such a site in North America.

Most of the coastline of Prince Edward Island is still in a pristine state, making it an ideal destination for its sandy beaches and red cliffs. For fans of Lucy Maud Montgomery's 1908 novel "Anne of Green Gables," the island is also synonymous with the site that inspired the classic story of the red-haired orphan, making the Green Gables Heritage Place in Cavendish (photo) a must-see attraction.

The tides of the Bay of Fundy are the world's highest. The Hopewell Rocks are a good site to explore the impressive phenomenon, as one can walk around the unique stone formations at low tide and see them gradually turn into islands under high tide. The region is also famous for its whale-watching boat excursions.

Founded in the early 17th century, the capital city of the province of Quebec is one of the oldest cities in North America. With its ramparts and unusually well-preserved architecture, Quebec City's historic town center is a UNESCO World Heritage Site where one can still feel the French heritage of its colonial times - and French is still the first-spoken language throughout the province.

As one of the world's most famous attractions, the 57-meter-high (187-foot-high) falls overlapping the border between Canada and the US keep drawing millions of visitors every year. The self-proclaimed "honeymoon capital of the world" is meanwhile more exciting to visit with small children. The bucket-list destination is just over an hour-drive away from Toronto, Canada's largest city.

No paved road leads up to northern Manitoba, so a train or plane is needed to reach the tiny town of Churchill, nicknamed "polar bear capital of the world." About 1,000 of Canada's iconic and endangered bears migrate there every year. Tours in special safe vehicles allow visitors to spot them in October and November. In the summer, countless beluga whales also gather in the Hudson Bay's estuary.

The Prairies actually cover three provinces: Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta. The grasslands' mesmerizing poetry can best be appreciated on a road trip. The iconic grain elevators that dominated each village for the last century are vanishing sights. Abandoned pioneer settlements have become ghost towns. And then, after kilometers of flatness, the glorious Rocky Mountains appear on the horizon.

No matter how many photos you've seen of the Rocky Mountains, nothing beats experiencing their breathtaking grandeur on location. The town of Banff is a good base to explore the vast Banff National Park. Hiking up into the mountains or canoeing on the electric blue waters of Lake Louise (photo), you can expect encounters with wildlife, whether elk, big horn sheep - or perhaps even grizzly bears.

Several rankings have named Vancouver "the best place to live in the world." The coastal city has it all: Beyond its incredible glass skyline, it not only boasts a buzzing cultural scene, it's also set amidst a natural paradise allowing to go ski or lay on the city's beaches within the same day. The year-round ski resort Whistler is world famous, and it's just a two-hour drive away.