It’s Calgary Stampede time, the 10-day party that takes over the Western city every summer. I got my first taste of cowboy culture last July, soaking up the barrel races and rodeos, and yes, trying some of the stomach-churning food offerings of the midway. (I lived to tell about the cheeseburger ice-cream.) But I also discovered the vibrant spirit of the West, and a deep and abiding pride in putting on the Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth. Plus: So many pancakes. Read more.

Also this week, we take you to the windswept Îles-de-la-Madeleine in Quebec, where our writer got a taste of lobster poutine, sangria and the gift of solitude. Read more.

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