As Canada Day approaches, I thought it might be fun to celebrate our collective quirky side by looking at some of Canada's most bizarre and unique tourist destinations.

As it turns out, Albertans are the most prolific builders of remarkable and unique attractions. Throughout the province you'll find many unusual things to see that are indeed, the world's largest, tallest, first whatever-they-ares. The pride and joy of Vegreville, a small town on the Yellowhead Highway, is their giant pysanka, or Ukrainian Easter egg. At 9.5 metres tall this record setting egg is brightly painted on aluminum according to a mathematical formula and sits atop a 27,000 lb base of concrete and steel and turns in the wind like a weathervane. The village of Glendon, southwest of Cold Lake, is home to the World's Largest Pyrogy which is 7.6 metres tall. Constructed of fibreglass and steel, it is 7.6 metres tall and weighs in at 6,000 lb. If it was real, the locals brag it could feed 10,000 people. Other "largest in the world" items include a badminton racket in St. Albert, a mushroom in Vilna, a  piggy bank in Coleman and a Western Boot in Edmonton. There are many others!

There is also the bizarre. The town of Vulcan between Calgary and Lethbridge, just hosted their annual Spock Days from June 13-15. Think beer gardens, ball tournaments, and star gazing (both in the sky and former Trek actors) for Star Trek fans from all over the world. I had the chance to check out the town last summer. I did miss Spock Days however, so I was the only one wearing pointy ears. This tiny town on the Prairie is well worth the stop...between the Vulcan Tourism and Trek Station and the recently opened Trekcetera museum, you will be amused. Trek fan or not!

On the East Coast, it's all about the names; there are towns with whimsical names like Heart's Delight, Heart's Desire and Heart's Content in Newfoundland. And many more after that! In Nova Scotia, they like their animated animal names. Grab a bite or coffee at one of these fancifully named establishments;  The Dancing Goat in Magaree, The Laughing Whale in Lunenburg, The Dancing Moose in Wreck Cove, The Prissy Pig in Antigonish or The Stubborn Goat or The Wooden Monkey in Halifax.

As far as attractions go, check out the Glass House on the East Shore Kootenay Lake in British Columbia.  This unusual roadside attraction was built from over half a million discarded embalming fluid bottles. In 1952, David H. Brown retired from 35 years in the funeral business. It occurred to Mr. Brown that there should be some practical use to put the bottles to. And, it was all started, to quote Mr. Brown, "to indulge a whim of a peculiar nature". Mr. Brown travelled western Canada collecting bottles from many of his friends in the funeral profession, until he had acquired 500,000 of the square shaped bottles, weighing 250 tons in all. The house itself sits upon solid rock. Built in a cloverleaf pattern with three main rooms, circular shape, 48 feet in length, 24 feet wide and with the upstairs room, it contains 1,200 sq ft of floor space. Entering the grounds, the visitors are welcomed by a mountain stream trickling over a moss-covered water wheel which brings to life the dwarf inhabitants nestled around the wishing well. Over 320 dozen flowers border pathways and entice visitors from the terrace over a bridge also built of glass bottles. A winding path beneath the bridge leads to the rocky lakeshore and a lookout called the lighthouse which offers a spectacular view of beautiful Kootenay Lake. Tours of the estate are available seven days a week, May to October.

For adventurous types travelling through Quebec this summer consider staying at Domaine Pourki in Sainte-Anne-de-Sabrevois. Located by a beautiful beach of the Richelieu River, just 35 minutes from Montreal you can stay overnight in teepees on the water. Accessible by boat with all the necessary comforts for several nights (toilets, propane stove), with a removable glass opening to watch the fish. Many activities are offered on-site including: archery, use of canoes, bicycles and a sports field for basketball, soccer, baseball, bowling, volleyball and badminton. The teepees can sleep two to six people and a canoe is included with life jackets and paddles to access your accommodation. Price: $ 65.00 per person.