Riding Mountain National Park
Riding Mountain National Park
For one of Manitoba’s natural gems and practically a sure bet to see elk, moose, beaver, bear or even lynx, invite yourself to Riding Mountain National Park (204-848-7275; http://www.pc.gc.ca/pn-np/mb/riding; Hwy 10). Topographically modeled as an escarpment rising above the plains and draped in brown fields, green forests and blue lakes, activities and nature can be found everywhere; heck Lake Audy even has bison.
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Just outside the park’s northern border off Hwy 10, summer fests dictate the scene. Country Fest (204-622-3700, 800-361-7300; http://www.countryfest.ca; late Jul) uses a gorgeous forested amphitheatre for four days of music, drinking, camping and a whole lotta yeehaw in Canada’s longest-running, arguably best, country music festival. Canada’s National Ukrainian Festival (877-747-2683; http://www.cnuf.ca; early Aug) features folk dancing, drinking, traditional costumes, cultural displays and the chance to stuff your face with pierogi, cabbage rolls and kielbasa.
Revelstoke National Park
Revelstoke National Park
Grand in beauty if not in size (only 260 sq km), this national park just northeast of its namesake town is a vision of peaks and valleys – many all-but-untrod.
From the 2223m summit of Mt Revelstoke, the views of the mountains and the Columbia River valley are excellent. To ascend here, take the 26km Meadows in the Sky Parkway, 1.5km east of Revelstoke off the Trans-Canada Hwy. Open after the thaw (usually June to September), this paved road winds through lush cedar forests and alpine meadows and ends at Balsam Lake, within 2km of the peak. From here walk to the top or take the free shuttle, which runs from 10am to 4pm daily.
Easily accessible, Skunk Cabbage Trail, 28km east of Revelstoke on Hwy 1, is a 1.2km boardwalk along the Illecillewaet River. Another 4km east, the Giant Cedars Boardwalk winds a 500m course around a grove of huge old-growth cedars.
There are several good hiking trails from the summit. You can camp only in designated backcountry campsites, and you must have a $10 Wilderness Pass camping permit (in addition to your park pass), which, along with lots of useful information, is available from Parks Canada in Revelstoke or from the Rogers Pass Centre inside Glacier National Park. Admission to both Mt Revelstoke and Glacier national parks (the two are administered jointly) is adult/child $7/3.50 per day.
Introducing Prince Edward Island
Prince Edward Island
Prince Edward Island (PEI) is Canada’s well-tended and inviting back garden. The weeds and wilderness have been tamed to create a pastoral green patchwork of rolling potato fields, tidy gabled farmhouses and seaside villages. The whole of it is rimmed with miles of vivid red cliffs, sand dunes and fabulous beaches. Click here to find out more! Advertisement As you wind along country roads, there is little chance that your eyes will alight on any ugliness or mess. Every turn brings a fresh and soothingly bucolic vista of bays, rivers and fields running down to the water’s edge. Just as you’re thinking ‘wouldn’t some beer and fish-and-chips be nice about now, ’ – oh, look! There is a quaint café with an open door. The people are friendly, life is slowed to a civilized pace and the down-home hospitality and country charm are genuine. About the only thing lacking authenticity are the orange nylon braids of the current Anne of Green Gables. Look at a map of the island when you’re hungry and you’ll see a croissant cut into three equal parts. Central PEI is where the Confederation Bridge comes ashore, binding the island to the mainland. This is the most visited part of the province, holding both the capital city Charlottetown and the major tourist areas along the seashore around Prince Edward Island National Park. Eastern PEI boasts secluded beaches and fishing villages; its wealth of stunning routes has earned it an international reputation as a cycling destination. Western PEI offers the opportunity to explore the cultures and history of the French Acadians and Mi’kmaq Aboriginal peoples. The peak tourism season is short, with most services shut between mid-September and mid-June. The margins of this season are great times to visit, when the weather is still warm and the crowds of July and August are missing. History Its Aboriginal inhabitants, the Mi’kmaq, knew the island as ‘Abegeit’ – Land Cradled on the Waves. Although Jacques Cartier of France first recorded PEI’s existence in 1534, settlement didn’t begin until 1603. Initially small, the French colony grew only after Britain’s expulsion of the Acadians from Nova Scotia in the 1750s. In 1758 the British took the island, known then as Île St Jean, and expelled the 3000 Acadians. Britain was officially granted the island in the Treaty of Paris of 1763. To encourage settlement, the British divided the island into 67 lots and held a lottery to give away the land. Unfortunately most of the ‘Great Giveaway’ winners were speculators and did nothing to settle or develop the island. The questionable actions of these absentee landlords hindered population growth and caused incredible unrest among islanders. One of the major reasons PEI did not become part of Canada in 1867 was because union did not offer a solution to the land problem. In 1873 the Compulsory Land Purchase Act forced the sale of absentee landlords’ land and cleared the way for PEI to join Canada later that year. But foreign land ownership is still a sensitive issue in the province. The population has remained stable, at around 140, 000, since the 1930s. In 1997, after much debate, PEI was linked to New Brunswick and the mainland by the Confederation Bridge – at almost 13km, it’s the world’s longest artificial bridge over ice-covered waters.
Jasper Ski Resort Guide
Jasper Ski Resort Guide
Introduction
Guest stay in or near the atmospheric town of Jasper, 20 minutes away, which has a good range of shopping and dining and the same strong community spirit evident on the slopes which differentiates the area from many of the more corporate resorts of North America.
Where in the world?
British Columbia Sightseeing
British Columbia
Gastown, the city’s reconstructed old centre, is a pleasant array of cobblestone streets, cafes and shops. Museums and galleries include the University of British Columbia’s Museum of Anthropology, Science World and the Vancouver Maritime Museum.
Sensational views
Also in Vancouver, the Grouse Mountain Skyride on the North Shore offers views of the city and fjords of the Pacific coast. You’ll find more breathtaking city and coastal views in Vancouver’s eastern suburbs at Burnaby Mountain Park.
Pioneer sites
Historic towns are dotted along the Cariboo Gold Rush route. Common stops include 100 Mile House, which recalls the days when Cariboo pioneers measured journeys by the distance from the Gold Rush town of Lillooet, otherwise known as ‘Mile 0′.
Lakes and deserts
Vineyard views and their vinous produce abound in British Columbia’s ‘playground’ around Lake Okanagan. The northern tip of Mexico’s Sonora Desert ends in this rich countryside and azure-blue waters. Autumn wine tours attract many visitors. Shuswap Lake offers resort-like summer weather and excellent boating opportunities.
Bear facts
Many visitors are eager for a close encounter of the furred kind with foraging black bears; prime viewing areas include Wells Gray Provincial Park and rural roads nears Kamloops and Merritt. Learn about bear safety first, and keep a safe distance. Never approach or feed them.
Ranches and lodges
Vast tracts of untamed lakeland, forest and wilderness define the Cariboo. The arid, desert-like terrain is best known for its guest ranch accommodation and winter lodge facilities.
Glaciers
More than 400 glaciers continue to sculpt the dramatic Columbia Mountains and to feed the crystal-clear rivers in the spectacular Glacier National Park.
Volcanoes and natives
The Nisga’a Memorial Lava Bed, a sacred Aboriginal site about 100km (62 miles) north of Terrace, is a unique volcanic landscape where you can learn about Nisga’a culture and legends. The Queen Charlotte Islands are also inhabited by several Aboriginal communities, and are accessible by boat or floatplane.
Ancient history
Fossil hunters can see specimens dating back 50 million years at Driftwood Canyon Provincial Park.
Royal British Columbia Museum
The Royal British Columbia Museum in BC’s capital city, Victoria, is home to exceptional collections of First Nations masks and totem poles, as well as other items from the province’s history. After exploring the museum, take in the sights of charming Victoria, whose stately buildings and red pillar boxes give a pronounced British feel.
World Heritage Site
More than 1 million seabirds and animals populate one of Canada’s many UNESCO World Heritage Sites, the Gwaii Haanas National Park Reserve.
Lake Louise Ski Resort
Lake Louise Ski Resort
The slopes look out across the valley to Lake Louise itself (which is frozen in winter) and are served by efficient, mostly high-speed lifts. These provide access to wide-open runs, powder bowls and steep chutes.
Lake Louise is the first North American stop on the World Cup tour each November, thanks to its early opening date, and the reliable snow and cold temperatures mean the season usually lasts about six months.
Where in the world?
Banff Ski Resort Guide
Banff Ski Resort Guide
With no shortage of shops, bars and restaurants, even non-skiers can enjoy a winter holiday in Banff. One downside is that you have to drive to reach the ski areas, unless you stay at the only hotel at Sunshine (which was expanded for the 2009-10 season). Another factor to be aware of is that temperatures can plummet; skiers used to sunny European resorts should be prepared for the cold. Watch out for elk too – there are 1,000 of them in the area and you might spot them strolling along the streets!
Where in the world?
Quebec City Sightseeing Tour
Quebec City Sightseeing Tour
See the best of Quebec City on a short introductory tour of Old Quebec, the historic heart of French Canada. You’ll be charmed by the old-world atmosphere of Quebec City on your two-hour tour, with its narrow streets, steep hills and numerous historical treasures on the banks of the St. Lawrence River.
Tour highlights include:
- Old Quebec
- Place Royale, birthplace of French civilization in North America (20 minute stop)
- Plains of Abraham, where the famous battle between the French and English armies took place in 1759
- Picturesque Place d’Armes square
- Chateau Frontenac hotel
- The Fortifications and city walls
This tour is commentated in English, however if there are French passengers on board, the guide will give a bilingual commentary.
Canada travel 