I cut my teeth canoeing in Algonquin - it's only a four hour drive from Toronto, where I lived at the time, and pretty much a "standard" destination. I have no idea how I got started canoeing - invited by a buddy probably?

Canoeing took a back seat to backpacking when I moved out west, but Quetico was "on the way" for road trips to visit family in T.O., and one year I decided to rent a canoe and  take a couple of days break from driving. Now it's a destination rather than a stopover, and most years I've been able to fit a Q trip in.

Other recent trips have included WCPP, Nopiming (Manitoba), and Bowron Lakes (BC). This year I hope to make it to Atikaki (MB) and McLellan lakes (northern Saskatchewan). Plus Quetico of course - that's still #1 for me.

Why do I choose one place over another?

Well first I have to find out about them. Quetico got a writeup in Outside mag one year ("world's best canoeing destination"), WCPP I learned about on QJ, Bowron was a third-hand recommendation, McLellan is used by U of Calgary for one of their annual trips, and CCR is always a good source of ideas and trip reports.

Beyond that, anyplace that's wilderness (the less-used the better), new to me (new route if not new park), and closer than Quetico is enough of an excuse to put on the list.