If you’ve driven across Canada without pulling over for at least one ridiculously oversized animal, coin or piece of food, did the road trip even count?
The Big Apple
Colborne, Ontario
Traveling on Highway 401, drivers will unexpectedly see a gigantic smiling red apple on the side of the road. Mr. Applehead, as it’s called, is actually something you can go inside of and climb to a viewing deck. Nearby, there’s an entire attraction with apple pies and more treats to snack on.
The Giant Lobster
Shediac, New Brunswick
If you ever find yourself posing next to a giant lobster on the side of the road, you know you’ve arrived on Canada’s East Coast. Standing at 11 metres long and weighing approximately 90 tonnes, Shediac’s giant lobster was built as a monument to celebrate the area’s lobster industry. The roadside attraction is one of New Brunswick’s most famous photo ops, and clambering on top of the monument for a photo is unofficially part of the experience.
The Big Nickel
Sudbury, Ontario
It seems almost too Canadian to believe, but beside a road in Sudbury stands a giant Canadian coin called Big Nickel. Sitting next to the road is a nine-metre-tall replica of Canada’s 1951 five-cent piece. It’s a monument to the area’s mining history.
Mac the Moose
Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan
The city of Moose Jaw was practically fated to have a huge moose on the side of the highway. It is about 10 metres tall and has been welcoming travellers since 1984. He became embroiled in a delightfully Canadian international feud when another giant moose in Norway took the title of tallest moose in the world. Mac got bigger antlers and reclaimed the title.
The World’s Largest Axe
Nackawic, New Brunswick
Perched next to the Saint John River is an axe head so big that a typical lumberjack would appear small next to it. Created in 1991, this roughly 15-metre-tall structure honours the forestry industry of the area. There’s just something delightfully Canadian about scaling a useful logging tool into a gigantic roadside attraction.
Husky the Muskie
Kenora, Ontario
Perched on the banks of Lake of the Woods is a fish that’s much bigger than the ones you’ll reel in with your rod. Husky the Muskie has watched over Kenora since 1967. He measures about 12 metres from snout to tailfin. Husky commemorates the region’s fishing heritage.
The World’s Largest Dinosaur
Drumheller, Alberta
Drumheller has already earned its reputation as Dinosaur Town, but apparently normal-sized dinosaurs just weren’t big enough. They built an enormous Tyrannosaurus rex that stands just about 25 metres tall and features stairs, so you can climb inside it. At the top is a view of Drumheller nestled inside the dinosaur’s mouth.
The Giant Beaver
Beaverlodge, Alberta
It wasn’t enough for Beaverlodge just to share a name with our nation’s beloved rodent. They also had to erect a six-foot-tall sculpture of a giant beaver right by the side of the highway. Standing about five metres tall and near the highway, it’s odd, happy, and almost impossible not to take a picture of.
Wawa Goose
Wawa, Ontario
Few landmarks along Canadian road trips are more fitting than a huge Canada goose. The original statue was built in 1960, and today’s version is over eight metres tall. Visitors travelling across Northern Ontario have almost made it a tradition to stop and take photos with the giant bird.
The World’s Largest Easter Egg
Vegreville, Alberta
It’s not just a giant Easter egg. Vegreville’s Big Pysanka, which was erected in 1975, celebrates the region’s Ukrainian roots and incorporates a complex geometric pattern instead of just painting an eggshell. This egg is approximately nine metres in length and spins in the wind.
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