Sometimes a traditional vacation isn’t what you’re gunning for. You want to go somewhere off the beaten path and see something you can say few people have seen before. Canada is full of under appreciated sites. FlightHub, an online travel agency based out of Canada, recommends the following off-beaten places worth visiting. FlightHub reviews interesting Canadian destinations all the time, so they had plenty of wonderful suggestions on the matter.
The Diefenbunker
Known as Canadian Forces Station Carp, the Diefenbunker is a time capsule of Cold War-era Canada. Built in 1962, it was built to house the critical members of cabinet and prevent a government shutdown during a nuclear crisis. They were called Diefenbunkers by opposition parties within the Canadian Government according to FlightHub, who opposed their high cost. The bunkers were built to withstand five megaton explosions and could house over 500 people for a month. The odd thing about the Diefenbunker was that then-Prime Minister John Diefenbaker refused to actually use the facilities due to the fact his wife would not be able to share a room with him. The Diefenbunker was decommissioned in 1994 and opened as a small museum in 1998. The small town of Carp, Ontario doesn’t get many visitors, so you should have an easy time enjoying this small museum dedicated to a nervous era in Canadian history.
Camp Picton Ghost Town
Camp Picton was originally opened in 1938 as a training complex for British pilots flying during World War II. While it had a modest beginning, it was quick to expand. At its peak, it featured several hangars, 2,500 foot runways, five bombing ranges, and facilities equipped to house up to 1,000 people. While it was a strong base with great training facilities, it did lack the facilities of more modern bases according to FlightHub, leading to soldiers and airmen spending a lot of time in the small village of Picton, something that was not very well received by residents. Military activity continued at CFB Picton until its closure in 1969. While some areas of the base have been used for manufacturing, much of the barracks remain largely untouched since, overgrowing and falling into a state of decay. While newer bases have modern facilities, the former CFB Picton resembles something more like a cottage complex or campground providing visitors a chance to take a look at how Canada hastily ramped up its war efforts in the 30s and 40s.
Vulcan, Alberta
From classics of Canada’s wartime history, to something out of this world. Any initiated weirdo would know why this town made the list. Vulcan, originally named after a Greek God, became a important gathering place for the many fans of the sci-fi juggernaut Star Trek according to FlightHub. Sharing a name with the home planet of one of its principle characters, Spock, Vulcan, Alberta has embraced this happy coincidence, holding an annual Star Trek Festival, and building a large monument in honour of the USS Enterprise. While sci-fi conventions are generally limited to cities, Vulcan manages to hold its own, planning and supporting its festival locally despite its smaller population of just over 1,800 people.
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