thecircumference.org catalogs the best life experiences around the world; country results for Canada

Lift Off At The St-Jean-sur-Richelieu International Balloon Festival

Fri, 30 Mar 2012 04:13:09 +0000

Ever wondered what it would be like to float miles high above the world in a hot air balloon? You can do just that and take your pick from hundreds of balloons at the annual International Balloon Festival in Saint-Jean-Sur-Richelieu, on the outskirts of Montreal. The Canadian balloon festival began in 1984 and quickly attracted balloonists from around the world to compete. For just over a week in August, the skies of Saint-Jean-Sur-Richelieu are dotted with hot air balloons that launch each day at dusk and dawn. The launch times are chosen in relation to the drop in temperature around those times of day, vital for ballooning, and luckily, they also make for breathtaking photo opportunities. Saint-Jean-Sur-Richelieu festival visitors line cordoned pathways along the fields to watch competing teams inflate their massive hot air balloons. Those who reserve a place in the gondolas early can hop in for a scenic ride. While some of the balloons are quite standard in appearance, others come in popular cartoon characters– a definite hit with the kids! During the "Night Glows" program of the Saint-Jean-Sur-Richelieu Balloon Festival, which runs on a few select nights, balloons are inflated after dark and lit from the inside to create a magical spectacle. Onlookers are also entertained by fire-eaters, jugglers and other pyrotechnic artists. Today the Saint-Jean-Sur-Richelieu Balloon Festival also incorporates an outdoor family fair atmosphere, with plenty of rides, bouncy castles, costumed entertainers, food stalls and an outdoor stage for live music performances. It is extremely family-friendly and offers family admission packages, special sections and entertainment for kids, and even an outdoor cinema. The site itself is a former airplane hanger, which makes it an ideal setting in terms of space and location. Since there is a designated camping area, many families choose to bring their RVs and camp out for the entire week while enjoying the numerous activities. This fun and exciting balloon festival is a wonderful way to create plenty of memories during the last long days of summer.

Takin' In Inuit Traditions at the Toonik Tyme Festival

Wed, 05 Oct 2011 18:59:22 +0000

Toonik Tyme is a spring festival held annually in Iqaluit, on Canada’s Baffin Island. Initially started to promote tourism in the far northern province of Nunavut, it showcases traditional Inuit talents, crafts and other less conventional festivities such as Snow Golf. Making your way north to visit Nunavut for the Toonik Tyme celebration is well worth the trek, just be sure to pack extra warm woolies. The Toonik Tyme festival has been running for four decades, and has become quite a popular tourist attraction in recent years. People from all over the world come to attend the two-day festival that hosts hundreds of events. Some of the highlights are the North of 60 Idol Talent Competition, the Snowmobile Race, Ice Golf, Iglu Building and the Toonik Tyme Fear Factor event that features the eating of earthworms or caribou. Every event is held at a suitable place in the Iqaluit area, so be prepared for a lot of local travel during the festival. There are events for the elders and children as well, and everyone is encouraged to showcase their talents. Toonik Tyme is held in spring, the only time when people get to see the sun; but the bitter cold is ever-present even in this season. Dress in warm layers. The Iqaluit people are proud of their culture and way of life, and the Toonik Tyme festival allows them to showcase some of their traditional events like seal racing, dog racing, and fishing. Despite the harsh cold weather, the Toonik Tyme festival in Iqaluit celebrates the spring, and does so with the locals really letting their hair down and soaking up the sun. If you are able to convince yourself to take a vacation that doesn't involve a beach and daiquiris, then Toonik Tyme may be perfect for you. Over the years of celebration, more events have been added to the Toonik Tyme festival, which is named after the Tuniit people, who were the first settlers from Greenland. Their prehistoric cultural traditions are followed closely by today’s Inuit people of Iqaluit, and really are intriguing to see in a day and age inundated by fast paced technologies.

See the World’s Largest Collection of Works by Henry Moore at the Art Gallery of Ontario, Toronto

Fri, 08 Jul 2011 21:41:03 +0000

The Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO) is an art museum located in downtown Toronto, founded in 1913. It was first known as the Art Museum of Toronto, and was renamed the Art Gallery of Toronto 1919; and later in 1966 it became the Art Gallery of Ontario. The first formal exhibition of the museum opened in 1910 in the Grange: an historic Georgian-style mansion built in 1817 in Toronto. The AGO grew as several expansion projects took place throughout the 20th century. The most notable redevelopment of the gallery, called Transformation AGO, took place in 2004 and was planned by famous architect Frank Gehry. The new AGO opened to the public in November 2008, with its viewing space expanded by 47 percent. Today, the AGO has 45,000 square meters of exhibition space and holds over 68,000 works that span from the 1st century to the present day. The new design of Toronto’s AGO received wide acclaim and made the AGO one of the most notable buildings of Toronto. The AGO holds the world’s largest collection of Canadian art, which makes up more than half of the museum’s art pieces. The artifacts reflect 11,000 years of tradition and artistic expression of the country. At the AGO, you will find First Nations objects and art, as well as oil paintings dating from the 1800s through to the 1970s, including many works by the Group of Seven. The AGO has a notable collection of European art, especially decorative arts of the medieval and Renaissance periods. At the AGO, you can find works by Bernini, Rembrandt, Rubens, van Dyck, Picasso, Van Gogh, Degas, Pissarro, and Monet. The AGO holds one of the most important collections of African art in North America. The collection is made predominantly of sculptural works from West and Central Africa from the 14th to mid-20th century. There is also a collection of about 1,200 objects of Australian Aboriginal art. The AGO is home to the Henry Moore Sculpture Centre, and holds the world’s largest collection of works by the sculptor. One of Moore’s works, Two Large Forms (1966-1969), can be seen outside of the AGO, just north off the front entrance. The AGO is known for its collection of contemporary art with works from Canada, United States, and Europe, including a number of pieces by Andy Warhol. The AGO also holds a collection of prints and drawings, and over 40,000 works of photography. In addition to its permanent collections, the AGO always offers a number of travelling exhibitions. One of its recent expositions was the King Tut exhibit in 2010. For current and upcoming exhibitions visit the AGO’s website at www.ago.net/exhibitions. For food, check out FRANK Restaurant. With the interior designed by Frank Gehry, the restaurant is a popular dining spot among Torontonians. For a more relaxed environment, go to caféAGO located on the concourse level of the museum. There is also the Espresso Bar serving coffee and snacks with a view, as it is located on the top level of the gallery. There are a number of budget-conscious food options right outside of the museum, including coffee shops, diners and pubs right on Dundas Street West. Toronto’s China Town is a short walk away. For gifts and souvenirs visit the AGO gift shop by the main entrance of the gallery, or shop online through the museum’s website.

Bike around the Toronto Islands

Fri, 24 Jun 2011 00:02:22 +0000

In order to get to some of the best biking trails in Toronto, you will need to take a boat trip out to Toronto Islands. Toronto Islands are a chain of small islands located offshore from downtown Toronto, and they have more than 10 km of cycle paths to explore. There are no cars on Toronto Islands, and undoubtedly the best way to explore it is by bike. Three ferries that leave from the ferry docks in Toronto connect the city to the three main islands of Toronto Island Park: Hanlan’s Point, Centre Island, and Ward’s Island. No matter what island you dock at, the ferry ride is a lot of fun, offering one of the best views of the Toronto skyline. Ward’s Island is farthest to the east, and gets its name after the Ward family who first settled there around 1830. Today, Ward’s Island is a small community of private residences. There is a public beach and a playground on Ward’s Island, and since it is a residential area, it does not get as busy as other parts of the Toronto Island Park on the weekends. Make sure to bring your camera, for homes on Ward’s Island are very photogenic. Hanlan’s Point is the westernmost island of the Toronto Island Park. Also named after a family that used to reside on Hanlan’s Point, it has been a summer vacation place for Torontonians since the late 1800s. The old Gibraltar Point Lighthouse (built in 1808) is a testament to the historic past of the original island community. Other sights and facilities at Hanlan’s Point include tennis and volleyball courts, softball diamonds, lifeguard supervised beaches, snack bars, picnic areas, and wading pools. Hanlan’s Point is also where one of the Toronto Island Park’s bicycle rental shops is located. Centre Island is the most popular and by far the busiest of the three islands. Centre Island offers another bicycle rental shop as well as most of the entertainment of the Toronto Islands. Centre Island is home to Centreville Amusement Park and Far Enough Farm. On Centre Island you can eat at Carousel Café and Island Paradise Restaurant. Franklin Children’s Garden and Avenue are perfect for an afternoon stroll. For the more adventurous types there is the Toronto Islands Recreation Ropes Challenge Course. To enjoy the waterfront, check out the Toronto Islands Marina with boat rentals and public boat moorings, as well as wading pools and beaches. To enjoy the Toronto Islands by bike, you can either bring your own bicycle on the ferry, or get a rental from two of the rental shops on the islands. The Toronto Island Bicycle Rental (416-203-0009) offers a variety of regular bikes, as well as tandem bicycles ($6 and $13 per hour), and two and four-seat quadricycles ($16 and $28 respectively) for those who wish to explore the island in a group. There is a $10 to $40 deposit, depending on the type of bicycle you rent. The rental is open daily from May to October.

Explore the Collections of the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto

Thu, 16 Jun 2011 22:43:19 +0000

The Royal Ontario Museum, known as the “ROM,” is a museum of world culture and natural history located in Toronto, Ontario. Founded in 1912, the ROM opened in 1914 near the University of Toronto, and remained under the University’s control and management until 1968. Since then, the Royal Ontario Museum has been an independent organization. Over the years, the ROM underwent several expansions and constructions, the most notable one being the renovation project named Renaissance ROM that began in 2002. The Michael Lee-Chin Crystal (known simply as the Crystal) designed by architect Daniel Libeskind, replaced the old Terrace Galleries. The first phase of the reconstruction opened to the public in 2005, with the Crystal becoming available to visitors in 2007. It exemplifies Deconstructivist architecture, and is made of 25 percent glass and 75 percent aluminum. The Crystal is where the main entrance, a gift shop, a restaurant, a cafeteria, and several galleries of the Museum are located. The ROM houses more than six million items in its forty galleries, and two of those are the Natural History Galleries and the World Culture Galleries. The Natural History Galleries house collections and samples of various animals of the world, and you will find several hundred bird specimens, a gallery of endangered animals (like polar bear and giant panda), a display of extinct species, and collections of gems, gold, and other minerals from around the world. The World Culture Galleries hold a collection of fabrics and textiles with garments from different world cultures; and the CIBC Discovery Gallery offers a number of hands-on activities for younger visitors, like trying on armour costumes or digging for fossils. The ROM has one regular museum store, a special exhibition boutique dedicated to visiting collections, and a ROMkids store with many museum-inspired interactive gifts, toys, games, and books. A recently renovated children’s favourite, the Bat Cave, displays bats and other animals that typically exist in caves, such as spiders and snakes. Louise Temerty Galleries of the Age of Dinosaurs is a must-see for dinosaur skeletons and displays of early species. The World Culture Galleries dedicate four galleries to China. The ROM boasts one of the largest collections of Chinese artifacts outside of China. There is a gallery of Egyptian culture (mummy cases and the mummy of Antjau are a must-see), and galleries with several hundred objects from several periods of Ancient Greece, ranging from 3,000 BC to 700 BC. Another collection depicts the culture of aboriginal peoples in Canada, and there is a gallery of Korea (the only collection in the country), a gallery about Japan, a South Asian gallery, and a gallery of the Middle East. Other parts of the world represented are: Africa, the Americas and Asia-Pacific, and Europe. For food, check out Food Studio with family-friendly meals like pizza and salads, as well as stations with ethnic cuisine inspired by the exotic exhibitions of the ROM. For more upscale dining, visit c5 Restaurant Lounge, which offers five star menu and award-winning interior. Located at the top of the Crystal, c5 boasts an excellent view of the city of Toronto. For those choosing to bag their own lunch, Lunch Room is open on the weekends, and there are vending machines with snacks and soft drinks.

Celebrate The World's Biggest Jazz Festival in Montreal

Tue, 14 Jun 2011 05:03:00 +0000

For ten solid days, a massive section of Montreal's downtown core is blocked off for the world's biggest jazz festival. Outdoor stages pop up in ten separate locations, and idling motors are replaced with live melodies as the streets and parks spill over with the 2.5 million peaceful music lovers that attend the Montreal Jazz Festival every year. The Festival International de Jazz de Montreal is the most anticipated summer festival of the city. You can almost feel the surging energy of the massive crowds from the Plateau: the neighbourhood just north of the downtown core where the Montreal Jazz Festival is held. The most impressive aspect of the Montreal Jazz Festival is that there is something for everyone. If you’re a penniless student, you won’t have to worry about ever paying for shows because, of the 650 concerts, 450 of them are free outdoor performances. The Montreal Jazz Festival schedule is absolutely overwhelming. Each year there are approximately 3,000 artists hailing from over thirty different countries, gracing the stages of ten indoor concert halls and ten outdoor stages. Of course the big guns are kept inside, and can be quite pricey. The main attractions of 2011 include; Marianne Faithfull, David Liebman, Robert Plant, K.D. Lang, and Yael Naim; and they are in the major concert halls. Then there are the shows in smaller venues, like Club Soda, which feature more up and coming artists, and the price point is a little lower. However, you may find that some of your favourite artists can be seen free of charge. One summer, July Black, Alpha Yaya Diallo and Alice Russel were performing on two glorious hot summer days and starry Montreal nights. To kick off the 30th anniversary of the Montreal Jazz Festival in 2009, the great Stevie Wonder played a free show attended by over 200,000 fans. The downtown core was gridlocked, and it was impossible for anyone who had not showed up two hours in advance to get anywhere near the show. But if you listened close from any bubbling bistro terrace, you could hear his music bouncing from building to building, and at least catch the fireworks that marked the end of the performance and the beginning of the festival as they illuminated the city in purple, red and gold. The spirit of the world's largest Jazz festival grows stronger each year, and is absolutely an experience for any die-hard music lover, not to miss.

Celebrate Winter at Ottawa's Family-Friendly Winterlude Festival

Tue, 07 Jun 2011 02:41:44 +0000

The annual Winterlude festival in Ottawa, Canada, is a celebration of all things cold, icy, and distinctly Canadian. With ice sculpting contests, snow slides, and of course, skating on the famous Rideau Canal, it’s a chilly way to embrace the coldest month of the year—a time when most of us would rather be bundled up indoors. The main hubs of the Winterlude festival are Confederation Park, Jacques-Cartier Park, and the Rideau Canal, all of which have tons of family-oriented activities. Confederation Park, at the head of the Rideau Canal, is home to the Crystal Garden, where an international ice-sculpting contest takes place. Throughout the Winterlude festival, incredible feats of ice sculpting are on display, and guests can even try their own skills with hands-on demonstrations. There is also live music and snack stands offering hot chocolate, apple cider, hot dogs, maple taffy, and Ottawa’s most famous treat: beaver tails (a fried dough pastry smothered in your choice of cinnamon, maple butter, chocolate, or garlic and cheese). Meanwhile, across the river in Gatineau, Jacques-Cartier Park is home to Snowflake Kingdom: the largest snow playground in North America. There are snow slides, snow sculptures, a bunny ski hill, horsedrawn sleigh rides, kicksled rides (essentially a chair on skis), and some years there’s a snow maze. But it’s the Rideau Canal Skateway that is probably the most iconic Winterlude spot. It is the world’s largest skating rink, stretching out at 7.8 kilometres (just under 5 miles) and running through the heart of downtown Ottawa. During the Winterlude festival, the Rideau Canal is home to art exhibits, skating demonstrations, hockey games, and an annual Bedzzz Bed Race (which is exactly what it sounds like—a race in which contestants wheel beds along the canal). The Skateway is also lined with snack kiosks offering the usual Winterlude treats, including those famous beaver tails. If all that time outside gets to be too much, many of Ottawa’s museums, such as the Science and Technology Museum, the Museum of Nature, and the Museum of Civilization, have special winter displays and special rates in honour of the festival. And of course, given that Ottawa is Canada’s capital city, you can visit some sites of the federal government, including Parliament Hill, the Royal Canadian Mint, the Prime Minister’s house on Sussex Drive, and the Governor General’s residence, Rideau Hall. Finally, when all that sightseeing and winter fun leave you hungry, visit one of the many Ottawa restaurants offering Taste of Winterlude menus. These restaurants have prix-fixe (fixed price) menus or special winter-themed dishes in honour of the festival.

Prepare to Get Wet Cruising the Foot of Niagara Falls on the Maid of the Mist

Thu, 02 Jun 2011 03:50:17 +0000

Found on the border of the twin cities—Niagara Falls Ontario, and Niagara Falls New York—the Falls has fascinated all who have witnessed it. Although there have been many documents suggesting who discovered Niagara Falls, the bottom line is, the only thing they deserve credit for is writing about it in their journal and giving themselves a pat on the back. The Niagara Falls we see today started forming itself over 10,000 years ago (meaning lots of time for people other than the Europeans to "discover" it). Over these thousands of years, Niagara Falls has been moving ever so slowly. It's believed to have started approximately six miles down river, where currently the Queenston-Lewiston Bridge connects the U.S and Canada. Each year the Falls recede roughly 6 feet in certain areas due to erosion, and it’s because of this that Niagara Falls has its renowned Horseshoe curve. Although the Niagara Falls has been forging its own path in history (excuse the pun), it received a helping hand in the mid 18th century. In 1846, the first Maid of the Mist began to cruise the foot path of the largest waterfall in North America (and one of the largest in the world). It was initially built to act as border transportation, but after two years became part of the tourism attraction when the Whirlpool Rapids Bridge was built. From 1860–1885, there was no Maid cruising the Niagara River. But since then, the Maid of the Mist has carried millions of people along the magnificent base of Niagara Falls. The most recent ships (Maid of the Mist VI & VII) built in 1990 and 1997, have allowed passengers to get closer than ever to the Falls. Each ride equips you with a life-jacket and, most importantly, a useless souvenir water poncho. Be prepared to get wet. The ship gets so close to the Falls that at points, the mist is so think almost nothing can be seen, and your other senses take over: The smell of fresh water, the feel of cool mist hitting your face, and, most amazingly, the shaking roar of crashing water surrounding you. For those afraid of getting wet there is an indoor viewing area, but unfortunately, you'll miss the true experience of the Niagara Falls there. The Maid of the Mist tour lasts around half an hour, but is complemented by numerous other ways to experience Niagara Falls. Take a walk along the Niagara River to get the full panoramic view right to the point of the river's drop where only a 2-foot wall separates you from the rushing water. Another great experience is the tour behind the Falls where there are multiple look-out points. Again, be prepared to get wet. For the adventurous, try the Whirlpool Jetboats which travel along the Niagara River leading to the Falls. For this ride, bring a bathing suit and scuba goggles. The different experiences this monster of nature offers cannot be fully explained but must be experienced to truly appreciate its power, and wonder.

Making Maple Syrup in Quebec

Thu, 05 May 2011 03:59:36 +0000

Invented by Canada's First Nations, maple syrup is made by tapping maple trees for their sap, and then boiling down the clear sweet watery substance into a thick amber syrup. Canada is actually the world's largest supplier of maple syrup, exporting a whopping 64 million pounds per year, with the majority of this coming from the province of Quebec. Making maple syrup is relatively easy, requiring mostly patience as you wait for the sap to run and then to boil down. Therefore, many rural Quebecers, like my family, try their hand at making their own every spring. Quebec maple syrup is most commonly made from the sap of the sugar maple, though black maple and red maple sap is also used. The location where maple syrup is made is called a sugar bush, or “cabane a sucre". A typical commercial sugar bush will have a huge network of tubes flowing from acres of maple trees where it is collected in an evaporator house. Smaller sugar bushes still use the tap and bucket methods, and collect the sap by hand. Many sugar bushes still use wood fired evaporator stoves to boil down the sap, and this adds a fantastic smell to the crisp spring air, adding an authenticity to the experience. If boiling outside, this can double as a heat source to warm your toes. Many Quebec sugar bushes offer sleigh rides and pancake brunches as part of your cultural experience of rural Quebec. Maple-baked beans anyone? I have fond memories of elementary class trips to sugar bushes at Easter time, walking through the woods with a large bucket, collecting sap from the smaller buckets hanging from the trees. It's always a competition to see who can collect the most, and race back without spilling any. The collected sap would then be boiled down into maple toffee. Boiling sap past the point of syrup turns it into a molasses-like consistency. It is then poured onto a bank of fresh clean snow, and into small circles to cool and solidify. Right before it turns cold, you are given a wooden popsicle stick to twirl up the toffee. It becomes THE most amazing treat, which you can enjoy in the warm spring sunshine while the birds sing in the maple trees, calling in the new season.

Paddle and Portage Algonquin Park

Tue, 03 May 2011 03:34:42 +0000

Algonquin Park in Ontario, Canada, is about six times the size of Los Angeles, or 7,725 square kilometers to be exact. The further you paddle and portage from the drop-off, the more distance you will put between your campsite and the noises and distractions of modern life. By far the best way to explore Algonquin Park is with a canoe over your head and a pack on your back. Having inspired a dozen movies, a symphony, thousands of scientific documents and, most famously, the artwork of Tom Thomson of the Group of Seven, Algonquin Park occupies as impressive a portion of Canada's imagination as it does its land. Canoe Algonquin Park, and you can immediately see why. With just enough beauty in its variations of water, trees and sky, and just enough open spaces to act as a blank canvas for the imagination, Algonquin Provincial Park it the ideal place to be inspired by nature. There are other parks, with other lakes and other trees, but canoe trippers have overwhelmingly chosen Algonquin Park for its proximity to Toronto, its accessibility by highway, its well-maintained portages and signs, and above all else: its iconic status as the inspiration for Canada's most famous art. It has become a symbol for the efforts of a young country to forge a connection with its land by exploring its untouched wilderness. To get the most out of your Algonquin Park Canoe trip, forget the car camping sites near the drop-offs, and rent yourself a good, lightweight canoe. Paddle for an hour or two on a pristine lake. Depending on the route you chose, you will still hear motor boats and see cottages and camps, but by the end of the day you will be far away from all of that. Find the portage sign among the trees, jump out of the boat, flip the canoe on your head, and go. The portages can be gruelling, multi-kilometre journeys that test your willpower. Flies and mosquitoes will dance around your face; roots and rocks will take your feet by surprise; but the longer the portage, the sweeter the site of the next lake when you finally get there. You will have followed the footsteps and canoe wakes of many generations of trappers, loggers, painters and poets who have come to Algonquin Park as outsiders and left with great stories, sore shoulders, and an incredible sense of connection with nature.

Visit the Castle of Toronto: Casa Loma

Tue, 26 Apr 2011 02:39:03 +0000

Nearly a century old, Casa Loma is one of the major architectural landmarks of Toronto, and offers great insight into the history of Toronto in the early 1900s. Casa Loma (meaning “house on the hill” in Spanish) is a former estate of Sir Henry Pellatt, who was a well-known and wealthy broker, industrialist, and military man in Toronto during the early 1900s. Casa Loma is the largest private residence in Canada, and was designed by Canadian architect E. J. Lennox. It took 3 years (1911-1914), 300 workmen, and $3.5 million to complete this castle in Toronto. Toronto's Casa Loma is surrounded by 5 acres of gardens that also house the stables and the Hunting Lodge. The main residence has three floors and a basement, with 98 rooms in total. In the best medieval castle tradition, Toronto’s Casa Loma has two secret underground passageways that connect the main building to those of the stables and the Hunting Lodge. The architecture and interior of Casa Loma reflect the flamboyant personality of Toronto castle’s former owner. Sir Henry Pellatt was well travelled, and developed taste for art and architecture during his visits to Europe. Casa Loma Castle displays artwork by artists from Canada and around the world, and Pellatt invited artists from Europe to create elaborately decorated rooms and beautiful furniture. After completion, Casa Loma was a popular party spot where Pellatt and his wife, Lady Mary Pellatt, regularly entertained elite socialites of Toronto. Pellatt eventually went bankrupt and had to give up his Casa Loma Toronto residence. Over the years, suggestions for possible uses of the building included a city hotel, a high school, an art gallery, and a home for recovering war veterans. In 1937, after the castle underwent restoration, the city of Toronto opened Casa Loma as a museum for the public. Today, Casa Loma museum is one of the major tourist attractions of the city of Toronto, with hundreds of thousands of visitors each year. It is also a popular venue for private functions, and there are over 200 events held at the castle in Toronto every year. Casa Loma is often used as a location for film, TV, and photography shoots. For example, the movies X-Men, Chicago, and Scott Pilgrim vs. the World were all filmed around Casa Loma. When touring Casa Loma, check out the underground tunnels, which offer an experience similar to visiting catacombs (there are no human bones, of course). Another must-see are the stables with their interior completed in mahogany and Spanish tiles. The stalls still display nameplates of the horses they held, and the two towers of the castle are fun to climb and offer a stunning view of downtown Toronto. The Casa Loma gardes are an ideal place to have lunch during your visit to Toronto’s castle. There are groomed flowerbeds, benches, fountains, and plenty of trees for shade. With lots of green space and photogenic city views, the neighborhood right outside of Casa Loma is great for a stroll or a picnic after your visit.

Cruise the Icefield Parkway of Alberta, Canada

Thu, 14 Apr 2011 16:32:37 +0000

Rolling through the Canadian Rocky Mountains of western Alberta, the Icefield Parkway is truly one of the most picturesque and awe-inspiring drives in Canada. Running the length of 230 km from Lake Louise to Jasper, the Icefield Parkway weaves and bends around snowcapped mountains, glacial lakes, scenic lookouts, and through some of the best hiking and camping spots in western Canada. The whole drive can take as little as four hours, but to do so would mean missing out on all that make the Icefield Parkway drive famous. Lake Louise, by far the most famous lake in Canada, is a great starting point to the Icefield Parkway. This glacier feed lake sits between two large mountains which frame its turquoise waters. Once visitors set eyes on this rare combination of colour and beauty, they can’t help but grab their camera and start taking photos. However, there is more to see than just majestic Lake Louise. Many kilometers of hiking trails branch out from Lake Louise, allowing visitors to score the mountains and get an ever better look at the glacier, which sits atop. Heading out from Lake Louise, the Icefield Parkway leads north, and there are no real towns or stores for the remainder of the trip, which is what makes this journey so remarkable. The first portion of the Icefield Parkway is the Bow Pass, the highest point along the trip, in which the road sits at a staggering 2070 m above sea level. Regardless of the time of year, snow flurries and high winds can be expected. In just a few hundred kilometers, visitors are able to experience a change of season from summer to winter, and enjoy a snowball fight while in their shorts and t-shirt. If you are lucky, you may also spot the elusive elk that roams much of this sub-alpine terrain. As Canada's Icefield Parkways heads further north, exiting Banff National Park and entering Jasper National Park, there is a subtle change in natural landscape. The Columbia Icefields, one of the largest collections of ice south of the Arctic Circle, contains little of the towering fur and spruce trees that are seen further south. However, it is at the Columbia Icefields that visitors actually have the opportunity to walk atop the Athabasca Glacier. Nowhere else in Canada can you stand on a glacier and watch as 200-year-old snow melts below your feet. What is truly unique about the Athabasca Glacier are the many plaques that stand as a testament to where this glacier once reached. Over the centuries it has gradually made a slow retreat due to global warming. Nowadays it may seem relatively small in surface area, but the Athabasca Glacier is over 300 meters thick. Just north of the Columbia Icefields, as you enter the town of Jasper, stands the Athabasca Falls: a large 23-metre-tall waterfall. You can literally feel the vibrations in your chest as the water barrels down the falls, showing off its sheer power and speed. It is with this force that much of the rivers and canyons in the area have been created. Leaving the falls, you can walk for miles downstream along the large Athabasca canyon carved out from centuries of rushing water. It is as apparent here as anywhere else on the Icefield Parkway, that nature is truly beautiful. Natural elements over centuries have worked together to create some of the most beautiful natural landscapes in the world. Although these are only a few of the highlights along the Icefield Parkway, there is much more to see and do. During the entire drive, everywhere you look is a perfect moment in time that you can’t help but want to capture. Each mountain, lake and valley hold a wonderful host of wildlife, history and natural beauty that you only can experience while looking out the window and driving the Icefield Parkway. You just never know what wonders are around the next bend.

The Wonderful Tastes and Smells of Toronto's St. Lawrence Market

Mon, 28 Mar 2011 03:27:43 +0000

Full of wondrous sights, sounds, smells and most importantly taste, Toronto's St. Lawrence Market is an institution. Located in downtown Toronto, and covering over a full city block, the St. Lawrence Market is a rare opportunity to bring the country into the city. Whether doing Saturday morning groceries or looking for that something special, the St. Lawrence Market in Toronto has it all, providing visitors and locals with fresh meats, produce, cheese and breads; as well as the additional culture and feel reminiscent of an earlier time. Established in 1901 in what is officially called the “Market Block”, the St. Lawrence Market has thrived through the many changes in Toronto, including the Great Fire of 1849, and the many reconstructions to its original wooden structure. The better-known South St. Lawrence Market was once home to Toronto’s first city hall until 1899 when it was converted into the market visitors see today. The South St. Lawrence Market covers over 10,000 square feet with more than 100 vendors displaying a wide variety of locally grown and manufactured products. Not only do visitors have the opportunity to pick up many meat, poultry and seafood products, but also fresh baked goods, fruits and vegetables, milk and eggs, gourmet teas, mustards and even maple sugar. Every week a wide variety of local merchants display their products just as they have been doing for over 100 years. As the seasons change, so do the products available. Summer months bring much more fresh produce, while the spring allows for a wide variety of freshly blooming flowers and plants. To allow for the seasonal change of many of these products, the north St. Lawrence Market, located just across from the south market, allows for temporary vendors to display the products that are in season, which is the more traditional Saturday morning farmer’s market style. Depending on the season, the availability of products and prices in this market will vary. Good growing seasons will see a high influx of fresh fruits and vegetables while a poor growing season will see many artisans displaying handmade sweaters, scarves and homemade jams. No matter the season, just walking around the St. Lawrence Market in Toronto will make your mouth water. The smell of freshly baked breads, sautéing kabobs and fresh seafood will make anyone hungry. Luckily, many vendors do have small sample stations where you can try pretzels dipped in mustard, the new brie cheese, or even samples of fresh free-range meats. But no experience to Toronto’s St. Lawrence market would be complete without visiting one of the many restaurants onsite that use many of these locally grown products in their meals and snacks. Fresh veal on a bun, grilled eggplant, anything with peameal bacon, sweet cinnamon buns and fired egg sandwiches—are just a few of the many treasures to be found. As with many farmers, the market days start out early with merchants setting out products as early as 4.30 a.m. on weekends, and about 7.30 a.m. on weekdays. Arriving early will allow for the best of products and the opportunity for shopping right next to many of Toronto’s world-famous chefs, who arrive early to select only the best for their restaurants. There are even opportunities to “shop alongside a chef,” where a chef will accompany you in purchasing your groceries and give you helpful tips on how to select only the best products. Whether coming only for a visit to see the St. Lawrence Market, or to complete your shopping list, the St. Lawrence Market has something for everyone. Nowhere else in Toronto can you step away from the hustle and bustle and completely immerse yourself in food paradise!

Winter Camping in a Yurt at Silent Lake Provincial Park, Ontario

Thu, 17 Mar 2011 03:23:16 +0000

For many Canadians, winter is a time of hibernation. Although Canadians are deemed a hearty bunch from the land of ice and snow, most have a natural inclination to hide indoors while waiting for spring. Torontonians in particular are often relieved when their plans are suddenly cancelled on a bitterly cold January night, giving them the ultimate excuse to imprint themselves on the couch instead of schlepping across the city. It is for all these reasons that if you mention you are going winter camping for the weekend, you are given a look as though you have three heads. In Toronto, winter lovers are rare. Fortunately I have been lucky to find my pack of five fellow winter adventurists, whom in a city of 2.5 million, are among the few. For two years, we have made the trek to Silent Lake Provincial Park where our accommodation is nothing more than a yurt with two bunk beds, sleeping six in total, a woodstove, plywood flooring and an outdoor barbecue. What is a yurt, you may ask? Traditionally, a yurt is a portable tent-like home used by nomadic Mongolians. For the purposes of Silent Lake, these shelters are made of canvas and sit on a wooden platform approximately two feet above the ground. There are six Silent Lake yurts available in this campground just outside of Bancroft, Ontario. We are not the only three-headed people who do this; site reservations for Silent Lake Provincial Park begin in September, and the entire winter is booked within weeks. If you are lucky enough to make it to Silent Lake by 6 p.m., the very kind and laid-back park wardens will load up your gear in a trailer and drive you in a sled to your yurt, which, depending on your fellow passengers, can be an amusing ride. Should you miss this convenient shuttle, you will have to ski or snowshoe in with all of your stuff in the dark. This seems most inconvenient. The Silent Lake yurts come equipped with water and firewood, but waking up at 3 a.m. feeling like you’re next in line for the Polar Bear dip will remind you that the woodstove needs to be fed constantly. While most people grumble about venturing out for a pint on a cold winter’s night, we have been known to winter camp in -35°C temperatures when snow has actually been frozen to the inside walls of our weekend home at Silent Lake Provincial Park. Concerned about my digits in such conditions, I have burned several pairs of socks by placing my icy feet a little too far into the woodstove. The most common question that people ask about winter camping at Silent Lake Provincial Park is what to do to pass the time. Negative winter temperatures are not conducive to swilling beer, lingering over S'mores and singing around the campfire. If you are to embrace being outside for an entire weekend at Silent Lake Provincial Park, you absolutely MUST be a winter enthusiast, as there is very little else to do. There are incredible cross-country ski trails that range from six to nineteen kilometres, covering spectacular lake and forest terrain. Snowshoeing is also popular at Silent Lake with infinite bushwhacking opportunities and trails. There is no running water, there are some outhouses, and you will have to cook and do a few household chores to keep the yurt manageable. This is winter in a yurt at Silent Lake.

Skate Nathan Phillips Square

Tue, 01 Mar 2011 05:16:15 +0000

Winter may not seem like Toronto's best season. Walking through the downtown core in the winter months usually means bundling up in heavy coats and mitts, and fighting bitter winds whipping in from off the lake while trudging through heavy slush. But there are a few oases of magic throughout the city where winter is transformed from something to be battled to something to be savoured... places like Nathan Phillips Square. Nathan Phillips Square is a busy urban plaza in the heart of the city. Located in front of Toronto’s City Hall on the northwest corner of Queen Street West and Bay Street, the square is named for Nathan Phillips, who was Mayor of Toronto from 1955 to 1962. In the summertime, Nathan Phillips Square is the site of concerts, art displays, and a farmers market, but in winter, it is home to a festival of lights and the city's busiest ice skating rink. Every winter, the square’s large reflective pool is turned into an outdoor skating rink - the perfect place to embrace the cold weather and participate in the ultimate Canadian pastime. Visitors can rent skates or bring their own and there are indoor changing rooms for patrons to use. There are delicious snacks available at the concession stand, one to three rink guards, and a zamboni operator on site. Because it is in the shadow of the surrounding buildings, the ice is often better than rinks in direct sunlight. Given its location in the middle of downtown Toronto, surrounded by the city lights, Nathan Phillips Square is the perfect place for a bit of romance or just a fun family outing. In the evenings the square is lit up and music is played and on the weekends there are often live concerts. And of course, ice skating is a great way to get some exercise and enjoy the fresh air, especially at a time of year when most of us are bundled up inside, waiting for spring to arrive. Even if you don’t feel like skating, it’s fun to stop and watch the skaters, tourists and locals. Within such a large city, Nathan Phillips Square provides a real sense of community as people from Toronto and from all over the world mingle and take to the ice.

Whale Watching Around the Maritime Coastline of Canada

Sat, 08 Jan 2011 04:55:49 +0000

Given the lifestyle of Canada's eastern coast, the best way to discover the Maritimes is slowly and relaxed. Instead of rushing through on a whirlwind tour, why not try a camping road trip instead? You'll find countless gorgeous photo-worthy and fun spots to discover, most of which aren't even mentioned in a lot of guidebooks. Book off a week or two, rent a car, and plan your route around the coast of New Brunswick or Quebec, along the banks of the St. Lawrence river. This area in particular is a haven for whale watching, as they pass through during their summer feeding season. Nature enthusiasts and photographers will be thrilled to watch everything from seals and dolphins, to belugas, baleens, blue whales and humpbacks, play and burst out of the water. This usually happens quite close to the waterside camping areas too. If you ask at the campsite offices, they will provide you with an illustrated chart of the various species of marine mammals to look out for based on the time of year. Dying for a closer look? A number of companies at the campsites also operate guided boating excursions along the St. Lawrence River (row boats, kayaks and zodiacs also available), which will take you mere metres away from the whales. I would highly advise this since the guides are extremely knowledgeable about the whales, the local ecosystem, migratory patterns, and so on. If you choose not to get into the water, don't feel left out. Quite often the whales come close to the cliffs, where some camping sites are situated. Imagine seeing a blue whale breach out of the water right in front of you as you prepare supper over the campfire! If you opt for this route, keep a camera on hand and wait for the whales. There is no warning when they leap out of the water; but when they do—it is quick and magnificent. Bird watchers will have a field day spotting various marine birds, including razorbill penguins perched on the cliff walls. If you do happen to be visiting in early spring (although I must warn that it will still be rather cold at this time), you'll be lucky enough to see mass amounts of seals coming back for their birthing season.

Sail with Whales along the Saguenay Fjord

Fri, 17 Dec 2010 06:35:07 +0000

Even for most Canadians, the Saguenay Fjord is one of those little-known hidden gems, proving just how vast and spectacular this corner of the globe can be. Located about a six-hour drive directly north of Montreal, this area can easily be mistaken for the northern regions of Europe. Quaint villages and small towns are enclosed by looming mountains and vast expanses of water. For a fun family-friendly day trip, head directly to the Saguenay Fjord itself, said to be one of the largest in the world. Take the ferry to Saint-Felix-d'Otis - the boat ride itself is breathtaking, so make sure to have a camera on-hand! As soon as you debark, you'll find yourself in Nouvelle France, an open-air museum complete with costumed actors to give you an authentic experience of life amongst the natives and European settlers in the 17th century. You will likely spend several hours exploring the vintage exhibits, equestrian show and interactive demonstrations, and can round off your afternoon with a visit to their restaurant for a taste of some 17th century fare. Based on your interests, you can also choose other types of boat trips down the Saguenay Fjord for a sampling of different activities. Some offer a relaxing cruise (or even a more intimate water-taxi for just one or two people) along the lengths of the fjord, with a guide to tell you about the history and highlights of the region. Other boat trips offer whale-watching trips, fishing (cod) and guided naturalist tours, while finally you can even find one boating trip of a slightly more religious nature - Croisières du Fjord takes visitors along to a little village called Sainte-rose-du-Nord and on the way, it stops for a few minutes of silent reflection at the statue of Notre-Dame-du-Saguenay (Our Lady of Saguenay).

The Mountain Biking Capital of Canada throws the Rossland Rubberhead Bike Festival

Tue, 30 Nov 2010 05:44:03 +0000

Rossland, B.C., is widely known for two things: powder skiing and snowboarding during the winter, and mountain biking in the summer. With only 4,000 residents year round, the population of Rossland is nearly the same as its elevation of 3,400 feet, nestled in the Monshee Mountains of southern British Columbia. In celebration of its mountain biking roots, each Labour Day weekend in September Rossland is home to the Rossland Rubberhead Bike Festival. Limited to the first one hundred racers, the Rubberhead attracts participants from across Western Canada. The Dreaded All Mountain Challenge is the main event of the Rubberhead Festival, which takes place on Saturday at the local ski hill: Red Mountain Resort. This two-part race (Dread Head Up, and Dread Head Down) sends bikers first 1,329 feet up the Red Mountain summit trail, and then down the Red Dread Head trail back to the base of Red Mountain. Featuring fast corners, jumps, gap jumps, wide-open spaces, amazing scenery, and tons of pine trees, this course challenges riders to their maximum fitness and ability levels. Eric Gross was the winner of the Dreaded All Mountain Challenge in 2009 with a time of 31.22 minutes for the Dread Head Up, and a dizzying time of only 3.33 seconds for the Dread Head Down. The next event in the Rubberhead Bike Festival is the Huck en Berries Bike Jam, which is held at Centennial Bike Park in upper Rossland. This jam-style bike competition is offered to several different age categories. Riders are judged solely by other riders participating in the event, and so display their tricks accordingly as they utilize the jumps and slopes. With a deejay on site, the music pumps as the riders get in as many runs as they can within their allotted time. Winners of the Berries Bike Jam are designated as the King and Queen Berry Huckers. Centennial Park also offers a selection of food venues, a beer garden, plus entertainment throughout the day. Saturday is also the day for the Little Grom Event, especially designed for children aged 4 to 10. Kids are encouraged to dress up in costumes for riding the oval track, but most of all, to just have fun during this family-oriented event. Prizes are awarded to the kids in a variety of categories, including one for best costume. Sunday marks the last day of the Rubberhead Bike Festival and its final event, the Seven Summit’s Poker Ride. This non-competitive event takes riders along the challenging 22-mile course that spans seven mountain peaks and takes in picturesque alpine meadows, forests, and amazing views of the valleys below—all the while climbing 3,396 feet in elevation.

Get Extreme with Ice Cross Downhill in Quebec City

Thu, 25 Nov 2010 05:04:22 +0000

Never heard of ice cross downhill before? Neither had most of Canada until the Red Bull Crashed Ice World Championship exploded onto the world of hockey in 2001. Now held annually in January, this extreme sports event in Quebec City draws followers and participants from around the world. Think of downhill skiing but substitute skating instead; then add in some great roller derby action. Throw in some BMX biking jumps. Combine all of this with ice hockey athletes, a 196-foot vertical drop over a 1,280 foot track—and you’ve got ice cross downhill. This exciting new sport sends four skaters down the course as they vie to finish first while careening along at speeds up to 43 mph. It’s crazy, fun and scary all at the same time. Although rules do not permit any physical contact, crashes occur on a regular basis, which excites the crowds even more. In 2009, two Red Bull Crashed Ice World Championships were held: one in Quebec City, with another in Munich. The upcoming 2010 season promises to be bigger and better than ever with events to be held in Munich again, Valkenburg in the Netherlands, and Moscow; with the event finale to be held in their original Quebec City location. Athletes from around the world participate in the event, and notables have been Adam Green, Anthony Yearego, and Brian Zhou from the U.S.; Louis-Philippe Dumoulin, Gabriel Andre, Kevin Olson, and Christian Papillon of Canada; along with seven-time Red Bull Crashed Ice World Champion Jasper Felder of Sweden, who’s also a U.S. citizen. In 2010, the Red Bull Crashed Ice track was almost attached to the gorgeous Chateau Frontenac, and ended at Place de Paris on the St. Lawrence River in downtown Quebec City. Each year the course is changed slightly to continually add more challenges to the already dizzying course. Join more than 120,000 fans to watch the Red Bull Crashed Ice World Championships. It’s a great spectator sport for anyone who’s a hockey fan or for those looking for a thrilling event to watch up close and personal. Ice cross downhill is an exhilarating event that inspires young athletes to have fun and do their best when competing. And of course, you get the added bonus of being in vibrant historical Quebec City.

Enjoy a Classic Québécois Poutine in Marvellous Montréal!

Tue, 23 Nov 2010 02:41:51 +0000

Whenever I travel to a new country, I always try and taste the local food—whatever that may involve. Sometimes you get completely grossed out, and sometimes you hit the jackpot. Often it involves something that has a slightly different approach to it, and it makes you wonder why you didn’t come up with the idea yourself. Montreal 's Poutine is one of those examples. Poutine is a staple of the Canadian province of Québec that was invented in the 1950’s. It’s quite simple, French fries covered in gravy and cheese curds. Now, while this may sound quite innocuous, it really can be incredibly delicious (especially at 3 a.m!), and depends quite a lot on the quality of the fries, the thickness of the gravy, and most especially, the freshness of the cheese curds. The cheese curds are quite important, as shredded cheese just doesn’t cut it!! When the cheese curds squeak in your mouth, you know they’re fresh! Quebecers flock to their local chip carts and diners for a good poutine, and it’s easy to be fooled by some of the places that make the “best poutine” around. Whilst you can get it as a side in most big restaurants, if you want the best Montreal poutine experience you need to find a “greasy spoon” type diner or even small chip cart (known as “casse-croûtes”) on the side of the road. This is where the best stuff can be found, as generally they’re places that specialize in poutine. Montréal is an incredible city to visit as it has a wonderful mix of North American with European charm. It is fabulously cosmopolitan, and you will meet all sorts of people in your stay there. Whether you decide to wander the cobblestone streets of Vieux Montréal (the Old Town) or meander the subterranean tunnels that make up a gigantic underground shopping district, you’re certain to find everything you want. If you’re seriously on the hunt for a good poutine, it’s always a good idea to ask the locals. They’ll generally point you in the direction of the nearest diner or chip cart, but you can always find a decent poutine at La Belle Province: a chain of poutine restaurants. Don’t stress if you don’t speak French. While the locals will definitely appreciate it if you give it a try (and in my opinion you always should!), most people in the downtown area will be bilingual. When you find your casse-croûte or diner just say “Je prends un poutine s’il vous plait,” and you can’t go wrong!

Celebrate Spring at Yellowknife's Caribou Carnival

Tue, 16 Nov 2010 18:35:04 +0000

When you first think of Yellowknife, it might conjure up visions of snow-clad tundra, caribou hunts, or maybe even ice fishing in this northernmost territory of Canada. During the winter season, October through April, Yellowknife’s almost 19,000 residents come out to celebrate during their annual Caribou Carnival. Since 1955, Yellowknife's Caribou Carnival has been held in the spring months of either March or April. Originally, the Caribou Carnival was designed as a get-together for local trappers who would compete in various events in the hopes of being crowned the champion. Don’t worry about being cold in the Diamond Capital of North America. As long as you’ve dressed appropriately, there are plenty of places to warm up and enjoy a nice big mug of hot chocolate while enjoying the fun. Today’s Caribou Carnival has evolved into offering music venues, a teen dance, fireworks, entertainment, vendors with food and crafts, traditional northern games such as snow tennis and snow bowling, and ice sculpting competitions. What’s great about the Caribou Carnival is that it's always different. They actually scaled back a few years ago and held the majority of the events indoors, but as of 2010 they were back in full swing. This year also marked the first year to enjoy live webcasts of the Carnival. Because of the time of year during the Caribou Carnival, another big non-carnival attraction is the spectacular views of the brilliantly coloured Northern Lights (also known as Aurora Borealis). Yellowknife is one of the best locations to view them in all of Canada, you’ll be witness to this scientific phenomenon with ribbons of colour ranging from deep emerald greens to ruby reds and royal blues. The highly collectible annual Caribou Carnival button (or pin) is a must for purchase during the Caribou Carnival. They’re widely available for sale, and there’s also an opportunity to trade and purchase pins from previous years. If you don’t purchase the coveted pin, you risk being “arrested” by the Caribou Cops who won’t release you until you’ve bought one—all in the best of fun, of course. The Carnival Capers, usually held at the Ed Jeske Arena in downtown Yellowknife, is a great event for the entire family. Here’s where you’ll find an offering of entertainment ranging from comedians and ventriloquists to popular local performers. The arena is also where the pageant and crowing of the royal Caribou Carnival Queen takes place. The three-day Diavik 150 Dog Race is one of the main events attracting visitors to the Caribou Carnival. Drawing mushers and their dogs from Canada, the U.S. and even France, it’s exhilarating to watch them fly by as they make their way along the solid ice of the normally unfrozen Frame Lake. The 150-mile race takes approximately ten hours to complete, and afterwards, there’s a short window to view the dogs up close and personal (including the icicles that have formed on their snouts and whiskers).

Spend the Night in a Hotel Made of Ice

Tue, 31 Aug 2010 17:57:30 +0000

The first thing they tell you at the Ice Hotel is not to put your head inside your sleeping bag. You’ll want to. It’s cold in the Ice Hotel and your nose will want to tuck itself under the covers to keep warm. But if you do, your warm breath will mix with the hotel’s cold air and you’ll end up with a sleeping bag with an opening coated in ice. The Hotel de Glace in Quebec, Canada, is a boutique hotel made entirely of snow and ice – 20,000 tonnes of it. Redesigned and rebuilt every winter, it takes over a month to complete. Construction begins in December, when steel frames and wooden walls are mounted as a base. Snow is then blown over the frames and, once the snow and ice hardens (usually after three days), the frames are removed and the Ice Hotel is left standing, ready for a grand re-opening every January. The name Ice Hotel isn’t an exaggeration. Everything inside the hotel is made of ice. The hotel’s café has tables and chairs made of ice, a counter made of ice, and even glasses made of ice. There’s an ice chapel with pews and an altar made of ice, and an ice discotheque where clubbers get their groove on in full snowsuits while a DJ spins from a stage made of ice. The rooms are like little snow caves, windowless, with curtains instead of a door. Inside the suites, ice and snow sculptures adorn the walls, and ice couches and chairs with snow “cushions” are the only furniture apart from the bed. In all the rooms, beds are wooden frames encased in ice. A mattress draped with animal pelts provide a cushion to sleep on and some protection from the cold around you. Some rooms boast fireplaces, but all the heat is piped outside of the hotel, lest you risk melting your room. At night, the room is eerily quiet, all the sounds of life muffled by the thick snow walls around you. But before a night in the Ice Hotel can begin, guests must sit through a lesson on how to not get frostbite while they sleep. Gathered in the early evening in the main (heated) lodge next to the Ice Hotel, they are soothed by the warmth of the lodge’s roaring fireplace and sip cups of hot chocolate while a staff member holds up one of the arctic sleeping bags that are supplied by the hotel. The sleeping bags are good to minus 30 degrees, and since it’s normally minus 3 to minus 5 degrees inside the hotel, staff will assure you that you shouldn’t have any problem staying warm. The lesson then begins: a step-by-step demonstration of how to climb inside an arctic sleeping bag. First, there’s the inner layer that fits snug against your body and forces you to wiggle yourself in, squirming like a giant inchworm. Then, you manoeuvre your constricted body into the outer layer of the sleeping bag and pull a hood over your head. You zip yourself up, pull the drawstrings on the hood, and the only pieces left exposed are your eyes, nose, and mouth. You’re ready for a night in the Ice Hotel. Just remember that rule about your head.

Ski, Skate and Sleigh in Stunning Lake Louise

Thu, 05 Aug 2010 01:48:55 +0000

Picture-perfect Lake Louise in Alberta, Canada, is one of the country’s most famous images. Nestled between towering, snow-capped mountains, with the gleaming Victoria glacier in the background, Lake Louise is a place too perfect to be real. First, spend the day tackling the slopes of Lake Louise Ski Area, which has been called the most scenic ski resort in North America. Then, when your legs are burning and your fingers are numb, strap on some skates and venture onto the lake’s frozen waters. One glide across the smooth surface, and you’ll be hypnotized by the mountains around you and forget all about your exhaustion. Warm up at a bonfire on the edge of the lake, then skate around the crystal walls of an ice castle that’s built every year by the nearby Fairmont hotel. Then, once your legs really can’t take any more, climb aboard a horse-drawn sleigh for a ride around the lake, towards the base of the Victoria glacier, where the adventurous can climb (and slide down) a frozen waterfall. Located in Banff National Park (a UNESCO World Heritage Site), Lake Louise is a glacial lake fed by run-off from the nearby, massive Victoria glacier (covering some 3.5 km, the view of the glacier from the lake only hints at the incredible size of it). In summer, the lake is a shimmery turquoise that reflects the mountains like a mirror; in winter, it is a slick, frozen piece of glass that gleams white with sticky, untouched snow. One look and it's no wonder Lake Louise is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the Canadian Rockies. People visit year-round, but if you arrive in winter, when the air is crisp and cold and the snow is thick and fluffy, you’ll encounter a real-life winter wonderland, not to mention some of the best skiing and skating in the world.

Kick up your Spurs at the Calgary Stampede

Wed, 09 Jun 2010 16:04:12 +0000

It's the most anticipated event of the year for the rodeo fans. A short window of time where locals and visitors alike forget the hubbub of everyday life, don their cowboy boots, and hoedown. The entire city of Calgary shuts down for one of Canada’s greatest events, the Calgary Stampede. Traditionally known for its preservation of “western heritage and values”, the 10-day event has developed into the “Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth”. For more than a century, Calgary Stampede Park has been home to an epic rodeo. So grab your boots, hat and cowboy chaps and prepare to have the time of your life. To kick off the festival, check out the Calgary Stampede Parade. Held on the first day of Stampede, it heralds the beginning of the 10 day celebration, honoring Calgary's western culture and values. With hundreds of floats, marching bands and other cultural displays the Calgary Stampede Parade will set you off on the right foot. As soon as you hit Stampede Park, the smell of a good ol’ fashioned farm fills your nose. That, and the smell of cotton candy, hot dogs and pop corn. It doesn’t get much better. There are food vendors throughout Stampede Park selling everything from traditional treats – candy apples, French fries, pogo dogs – to corn on the cob and deep-fried chocolate bars. You can even get your hands on some gourmet grub in one of the many restaurants on site. Whatever you’re in the mood for, it will likely be at your fingertips at the Calgary Stampede. Besides great food, there are more than 40 different rides providing endless fun to visitors, so keep you arms and legs inside the car at all times and enjoy the ride. If fast and furious isn’t your thing, ever taunting fair games and betting tables are located around every corner, but good luck fitting that over sized stuffed teddy in your car when the day is done. Midway coupons and wristbands are available for visitors to ride and play all day. Once you’ve navigated your way through the rides and games, you’ll find the Calgary Stampede Grandstand has much more to offer. There are a number of themed areas scattered around the park designed to educate and display the ways of the west and are free to enjoy. One of the highlights of the festival is the Calgary Stampede Rodeo. Your trip wouldn't be complete without cheering on your favorite cowboy or cowgirl as they rope a steed, race their chuck wagon or hold on to their bronco for dear life. When you’re done watching the Calgary Stampede Rodeo, switch up your cowboy boots for dancing shoes and head into Nashville North, one of three great concert venues on the grounds where you can eat, drink, dance, sing and mingle. Between Nashville North, the Coca-cola stage and the Saddeldome Plaza visitors are able to see some of the biggest names in country music with a beer in hand and lots of room to line dance. Most concerts are even free to enjoy. As the Calgary Stampede Park's population swells beyond 100,000 people every day of the event, the gates become only a doorway to other participating venues. Bars, clubs and pubs around town host parties daily and nightly. The nightlife gets so busy you have to show up early, like 2pm early, or you won’t make it in to join the party. Between rodeos, parades, rides and pancake breakfasts you'll never be at a loss for ways to show your Stampede spirit.

Wine Tasting off the Beaten Path on the Beamsville Bench

Fri, 04 Jun 2010 16:45:41 +0000

The Niagara escarpment dips down into rolling vineyards and finally into Lake Ontario – a “bench shape” that is both beautiful to look at and fundamental to the growing conditions that allow Beamsville to produce great wines. With eight wineries in walking distance and a scattering of wineries not too much further away, wine connoisseurs and travellers will have a wealth of diversions here for day trips or a holiday weekend. The Beamsville Bench wine tour route is connected to the Bruce Trail, Canada's oldest and longest hiking trail, which runs along Niagara's escarpment, an official UNESCO biosphere reserve. It is amazing how many people end up at a restaurant or winery in Niagara's wine country, having never heard of it before they saw the signs on the side of the highway between Toronto and Niagara Falls. Beamsville, part-way between two of the most famous destinations in Canada is a hidden gem and a destination in its own right. Each Beamsville Bench winery has something different to offer and a different ambiance to experience. Each, however, is beautiful, and the delicious smell of fermenting wine is the first warm welcome. When a great Gewurztraminer at Angels Gate Winery is being fermented, for example, the smell of tropical fruits wafts through the air. One of the highlights here is Fielding Estates Winery. When you approach from Locust Lane, Fielding Estates looks like a modern Muskoka cabin. Here, in addition to the wine tours and tastings available, you can purchase wine by the glass, which you can enjoy on the patio. The ambience here can't be beat, relaxing in an adirondack chair, wine in hand with a beautiful view of the emerald-green vineyards and lake sprawling out before you. Angels Gate Winery is another must-see. Their beautiful California mission style building is surrounded by well-maintained gardens, a snapping-turtle pond, and of course, vineyards. A great place to stop for lunch, Angels Gate Winery offers a tapas-inspired patio lunch, where you can take a break from the day and enjoy sipping on one of their great wines such as their Riesling or sparkling varieties. For a very high-end, posh experience, Hidden Bench Winery is the place to go. A little bit exclusive in their approach to service, they offer one-on-one personalized tastings in their beautiful, angular crystal glasses, each tailor-made for a specific varietal or blend. Hidden Bench Winery makes an excellent Fumé Blanc, but pretty much everything is stellar here. Often, you hear the sounds of the great out doors in this part of the Niagara escarpment, which is more country than city. Chirping birds and rustling leaves are replaced though by music and laughter during the many festivals that occur throughout the year. Graze the Bench, an event which takes place during the first weekend of June, offers live music, food and wine pairings at wineries all along the Beamsville Bench. During the following weekend there is a run for casual runners, who can enjoy wine samples along the way, and, following that, there is a strawberry festival, when Beamsville's second-favourite fruit is also celebrated. A little later in the year, the Grape and Wine Festival takes place every September, to celebrate the years harvest, and the Ice Wine Festival takes place in January. About 20 years ago, the only thing you would find in Beamsville would be doughnut shops. With new wineries cropping up every year, and great, local restaurants and beautiful, lakeside B&Bs, this is a great way to get out of the city and experience one of Canada's favourite micro-climates.