Destination - Canada! About This Page:

[AKLRULZ]

Okay, who is a seasoned international traveller who can give us some great places to visit while on vacation with our Northern neighbor! What are great places to stay, countries/cities to visit and places to eat at for a first time visitor? Give us your knowledge - I know there are quite a few Canadians on this board, so tell us about your country!!

[Elliot'sDragon]

What provinces are you planning on viisting? I have been to British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick and all the Maritime Provinces. I want to go back to Nova Scotia around Cabot Bay or Harbor. It was beyond words beautiful. I also want to head back to Newfoundland to head up to the vikings landing. Haven't been there yet.

[PS - I LUV WDW]

We loved Toronto! We went on a very spur of the moment (supposed to be going camping but there was a hurricane heading for New England) so instead we left the camper at home and drove to Toronto. We caught a game at the Toronto Skydome, visited the Hockey Hall of Fame (awesome!), went to the Casa Loma (castle/mansion), shopped and wandered around the city.

[GoofyMom]

Proud Canadian here - I'll be happy to tell you what I know. I'll cover the west, someone else will have to do the east. Bear with me. First, you'll love how much your dollar is worth, but I wouldn't use US cash here because the stores really take a huge chunk when they exchange it. Exchange at home or at a bank here (although our banks want a huge chunk of the buck too). Next, EVERYWHERE is beautiful! Bring your camera. In the summer, head up to the Yukon. Super long days, interesting wildlife, unusual plants, untamed wilderness feeling. Speaking of plants, see the Buschart Garden (the REAL one) in Victoria, B.C. Unbelievable! I've never done this, but skiing at Whistler Mountain is supposed to be great. Monster watch at Lake Okanagan, which I believe is the home of OgoPogo, Canada's very own version of the Loch Ness Monster. The Rocky Mountains are great any time of the year. Banff is too bustling for me (although it's one of the most beautiful places I've been to), my favourite resort in the mountains is Waterton National Park on the Montana/Alberta border in the summer because it's smaller, intimate, same beautiful scenery!
While we're in Alberta...you've got to see Drumheller, the badlads and the hoodoos, the Dinosaur Museum, the Passion Play in the summer. Very cool. Oh, yeah, Calgary and Edmonton each have wonderful things to do. The Calgary Zoo is one of the nicest ones I've ever been too. Later, go up the Calgary tower to see a different perspective of the city. Edmonton's got the West Edmonton Mall, which just has to be experienced to believe.
On to Saskatchewan (pronounced sus-CAT-chew-one)... This is where I was born and raised so I'm very biassed about how beautiful "nothing to see" is. [img]graemlins/love.gif[/img] It's not really pancake flat, unlike what people will tell you. There's nothing prettier than driving down the highway and watching the wheat wave in the wind. [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img] Now I'm homesick. [img]graemlins/pout.gif[/img] In the summer, go to Waskesieu (pronounced Was-ke-sue) in Prince Albert National Park. It's heaven on earth. Pine trees, lake, don't feed the bears. We watched a bald eagle swoop down and catch a fish right out of the lake when we were canoeing. Cooooool. [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img] Rent the funny bikes. Regina and Saskatoon are the big cities in Saskatchewan and they both have fun and interesting things for tourists to do. Interesting side note - every single tree in Regina is supposed to have been planted by hand.
Manitoba has such diversity. If you can make it to Churchill in October/November you can take a polar bear watching trip. Check out the northern lights on a clear night. But don't sit in the back seat of the tundra buggy cuz the Japanese tourists aparently feel it's good luck to have a baby concieved under the Northern Lights! [img]graemlins/blush.gif[/img] (ew)
Winnipeg has another cool zoo, just not quite as big as Calgary's. Check out Winnie the Pooh's home at Assiniboine Park. They're supposed to be building an interpretive centre or something for him. You can buy Beavertails at the Forks Market downtown. [img]graemlins/yuma.gif[/img] My favourite is the cinnamon, sugar and lemon squirted on. And almost every tourist will tell you how friendly everyone is in Manitoba.
I can't tell you any more about our country because although I was in Ottawa, Ontario for a weekend, other than that I have never been east of Manitoba. By the way, I was really impressed with Ottawa, even though we were there at a real "off" time (November).
Sorry this is so long, but how do you describe half of a really huge country without going on and on.
My husband and I have a retirement goal of seeing a CFL football game in every home stadium one season. So far there are only 9 teams, but I live in hope that the Maritimes will get a team so we can go all across Canada. I think that cross country trip will be a hoot!
As for places to dine - every city has soooo many good restaurants, don't worry, you'll get full! [img]graemlins/yuma.gif[/img]

[Heidi]

Originally from Winnipeg, Manitoba, my home in now in BC. I live in Burnaby (suburb of Vancouver). I love it here. From our backyard, you see the North Shore Mountains. Absolutely Beautiful. There are so many things to do here. West, you take a ferry ride over to the island and there are many places to go there, Victoria being the most "noted" but there are great bed and breakfasts along the west coast (Tofino) of the island - and lots of whale watching tours.

Just north of us about 1 hour and a bit drive on the Sea to Sky Highway is Whistler (The Apsens of the North). It is so beautiful up there. We try to go up at least once a year.

To the east is the "Interior". Kelowna has some wonder vineyards - Mission Hill being the most famous I guess you could say. The weather in summer is beautiful. As well as a huge lake as GoofyMom mentioned.

As for the city of Vancouver, there are so many things to do here. This summer we want to try and become tourists ourselves. I find when you live somewhere, you sometimes forget what it has to offer so you have to look at it through fresh eyes. Granville Island (wonderful market), hiking up in the North Shore mountains, winter skiing at Grouse Mountain and Cypress Bowl. Locals flock up there all the time. I could go on.

Right now is Cruise Ship season. Port at the Canada Place downtown and they head up to Alaska every week.

The City is even putting in a bid for the 2010 Winter Games (think it's that year [img]images/icons/confused.gif[/img] ). It would be in Vancouver and skiing portions in Whistler.

I'm sure Maggy_1 can give a great description of Quebec too. [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

[travlin gal]

If you are going to British Columbia Stanley Park in Vancouver is great, they have neat sea life there. Also a NOT TO BE MISSED is Butchart Gardens in Victoria. If you are buying stuff to remember your trip the exchange rate is pretty good, one U.S. dollar is worth about $l.55 Canadian. Also a good place in Vancouver is Cows ice cream and they are plenty of Starbucks there. As far as I am concerned all parts of Canda that I have been to are great. I also went to Banff, Lake Louise, Jasper and the ice fields. I have also been to Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia and Halifax. I have not been to Montreal, Calgary or Quebec as I live in Colorado and British Columbia is closer. I hope this helps you soon. Butchart Gardens has a web site Butchartgardens.com. Have a great time. The Canadians I have been there are really nice.

[img]graemlins/usa.gif[/img]

[BRWombat]

Wish I could help -- I've been coast to coast, from New Brunswick to BC, but it was on a concert tour, so I didn't do much sightseeing! It is a beautiful, friendly country, though. Best of luck with your trip planning. [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

[PixiePower]

Darn! I did it again. This is patsy-c (who continues to post by mistake under DD's screen name).

Banff (Alberta) is one of my favorite places in the world. I'd say top 3. The mountain scenery is majestic and pristine, with taller, bolder peaks than the Rocky range down south. If you're there, stay at the Banff Springs Hotel - it's grandiose and marvelous. (Reminds me a little of the hotel in The Shining - without the twins of course). If you don't stay there then just go in to look out the big picture window, then walk around back for absolutely the best lake/mountain background shots you'll ever get. It is easy to fly into Calgary and take the hour-or-so trip to Banff.

If you are driving, then definately come up through Montana and the beautiful Glacier national Park. Stop for a night at the historic and lovely Prince of Wales Hotel in Waterton before moving up to Banff.

I've taken 3 trips to Canada, and go a little further north each time. On the last trip, which was too long ago, we drove as far north as Jasper, taking in the Columbia Ice Fields (where else can you walk on a glacier and drink fresh glacier water -- it is a color I can't even begin to describe). From Glacier I would spend 3 days going up and 2 coming back.

Stop me! I think I'm quick talking myself into a trip. DS goes fishing in northern Montana (Whitefish/Flathead area) every summer with my parents and it would be a perfect starting place for a summer vacation. We've never done this with all the kids. Hmmmmmm.

[ 05-20-2002, 11:27 PM: Message edited by: PixiePower ]

[maggy_1]

OK! guys I try to said you about Quebec but sorry if I mixt the name it's hard I have to translate everything [img]graemlins/blush.gif[/img]

Montreal: Big city multicultural with plenty of good restaurants downtown and in Old Port of Montreal. Lots of museum like Biodome, Beaux-Arts museum. Botanical Garden it a must see and do with the Insectarium. For people who like gamble we have a Casino or just for the fun of the atmosphere. During summer a lot of festival in Ste-Catherine Street, Jazz festival ,Just for Laugh on St-Denis Street. La Ronde with the new attractions seem more in great shape than ever [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

Quebec City the Capital of Quebec is more classical than Montreal by the Architecture is more old in Old Quebec my favorite place when I go during summer [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img] a lot of old building but so well maintain and the shops all around the streets, the musician and The Festival of summer of Quebec just love it and you can have a Beavertails just around Chateau Frontenac [img]graemlins/yuma.gif[/img]
With our dollar you know you can visit us and it willbe a pleasure to help you [img]graemlins/puter.gif[/img]

Let me know if I forgot something or want to know if ... [img]graemlins/ears.gif[/img]

Chantal [img]graemlins/pout.gif[/img] sorry if the English was not so good I was stress

[maggy_1]

OK! guys I try to said you about Quebec but sorry if I mixt the name it's hard I have to translate everything [img]graemlins/blush.gif[/img]

Montreal: Big city multicultural with plenty of good restaurants downtown and in Old Port of Montreal. Lots of museum like Biodome, Beaux-Arts museum. Botanical Garden it a must see and do with the Insectarium. For people who like gamble we have a Casino or just for the fun of the atmosphere. During summer a lot of festival in Ste-Catherine Street, Jazz festival ,Just for Laugh on St-Denis Street. La Ronde with the new attractions seem more in great shape than ever [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

Quebec City the Capital of Quebec is more classical than Montreal by the Architecture is more old in Old Quebec my favorite place when I go during summer [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img] a lot of old building but so well maintain and the shops all around the streets, the musician and The Festival of summer of Quebec just love it and you can have a Beavertails just around Chateau Frontenac [img]graemlins/yuma.gif[/img]
With our dollar you know you can visit us and it willbe a pleasure to help you [img]graemlins/puter.gif[/img]

Let me know if I forgot something or want to know if ... [img]graemlins/ears.gif[/img]

Chantal [img]graemlins/pout.gif[/img] sorry if the English was not so good I was stress