I'm interested to know why you think the outdoor lifestyle is better in Canada than the UK as we had the same perceptions that just haven't rung true.

Yeah I would agree.

Doesn't that depend on location, both where you are coming from and going to?

I am surrounded by mountains which offer dozens and dozens of hiking/biking trails, there are a few lakes which offer beaches, water sports and swimming, a couple of rivers that are full of salmon for fishing and have well maintained trails along their embankment, and there is numerous campgrounds all within 20-25 minutes. Then there are several city owned parks which have well maintained sports fields and running tracks for your morning/evening run and recreational sports.

Back home my outdoor lifestyle involved walking to the pub and then walking home from said pub. Don't get me wrong.. I miss that pub, but doesn't really qualify as an outdoor lifestyle.

It absolutely depends on where you're moving from and where you're moving to.

I don't see that at all. Surely it's about whether you want to go outside or not. If you do then central London offers all manner of parks and recreational opportunities. If you don't then you can sit by the fire in your igloo in the Yukon. I don't think location is a major consideration except in the case that being outside is dangerous due to warring tribesman or similar.

But the question was why they think Canada offers a better outside lifestyle.

Yes London offers parks.. and yes a lot of them are very nice and well maintained. But walking through a park in the middle of the city isn't the same for me as hiking up a mountain in the forest. We can hike for hours and maybe see 3 people in that time.

It is different, but for me the outdoor lifestyle that is available to me where I am right now is a lot better than where I was.

I agree with your point if we're speaking about simply being outside. I'm thinking more specifically about particular activities, as that's where geography will play a larger role, especially in Canada where distances are vast, where it can take hours or days of driving before geography changes, where it's not cheap or necessarily easy to venture around or abroad. Downhill skiing, ocean kayaking, and year round golf won't be happening after work in Toronto or London. Dog sledding and ice fishing won't be happening in Vancouver. Depending on what outdoor recreation you're pursuing, geography will play a role in where you should move to.

I agree. I think both offer opportunities to do different outdoor activities, and it just depends where you are and what you're looking for.

My husband and I were given snowshoes for Christmas, so we did a few snowshoeing trips over the winter months and enjoyed that a lot. In the UK we went to France to go skiing - haven't been out west, but when I was younger we often went to Quebec, and my husband went skiing in Vermont a number of years ago with his family. My husband's parents often go on holiday to places in the UK with walking trails and paths; we just got memberships for the Bruce Trail, and they have all kinds of organised walks and hikes. As a teenager I played softball; when I moved to London I joined a team there. At some point I may sign up for sailing lessons - Oakville is right on the water and has a marina. My husband knows how to sail already, so doing some sailing day trips could be a lot of fun.

Lots of opportunities in both places, if you are willing to go out and look for it.

Yeah I agree ... you just don't find many of those lovely english country pub gardens here do you ... Nothing beats walking a foot path and calling into the pub for a pint on the way home.

Oh wait ... one exception, The Crow and Gate that we literally stumbled across last summer on Vancouver Island...

But in all seriousness I must admit we really miss the ability to walk the public footpath system that exists just about everywhere in the UK. There nothing I've found like it here...

But of course it really depends on your location as to whats available.

This trail should keep you busy for a weekend or two

http://tctrail.ca/explore-the-trail/

hahahaha ...

Thank you ... I actually meant those lovely gentle walks across 'cow pat caked' meadows in the driving rain ... but you knew that didn't you..

If you're in Ontario, check out these sites:

http://brucetrail.org/

http://www.ontariotrailsmap.com/onta...l?town=toronto

http://www.ontariotrails.on.ca/trail...iking-walking/

So now you're saying I'm not outdoorsy???? I even did it in 3 or 4 inches of snow at points this winter.

Maybe

Unless your pub happens to be Lake Agnes Tea House.. https://goo.gl/maps/Mb25e

I'll give you an A for effort though!

Ok, so we've come to live in recreational country, and we came from a super wet place in Wales, but there are so many activities to do both summer and winter here compared to back home. We've spent this winter snowmobiling, ice skating, skiing, tobogganing, cook outs on the lake and we haven't tried ice fishing, dog sledding or snow shoeing (save those for next year). I'm already looking forward to getting my ice skates back out! It's been fabulous. But now summers coming and there seems equally a lot to do. We're already looking forward to going out on the lakes- tubing, boating, bike riding, camping, sea doo's etc etc.

The only caveat I would add is that a lot of these things are expensive. Our first expense was ice skates, no rentals since everyone owns their own. We haven't bought ski stuff yet, but that will be expensive. Owning a boat around here is very common, but still not cheap, not to mention skidoos etc. You still have to pay for snowshoes, plus all the snow stuff the kids grow out of every year. If you can't afford to do these extra things, then it does limit you to the sort of outdoorsy stuff you can do in the uk, albeit in better weather. Well for us anyway!! It should be part of your consideration.

Edited to add.... In case you think we're loaded. We lucked out with our rental, and our landlords as well as being our friends are really into their outdoors toys and have been very generous in letting us all have a go. The same applies for summer apparently. They've promised to teach my son to waterski in the bay