/tags/canada.rss en-us 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. Tue, 26 Apr 2011 02:39:03 +0000 http://www.thecircumference.org/experiences/casa-loma http://www.thecircumference.org/experiences/casa-loma 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). Fri, 17 Dec 2010 06:35:07 +0000 http://www.thecircumference.org/experiences/saguenay-fjord http://www.thecircumference.org/experiences/saguenay-fjord 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. Tue, 30 Nov 2010 05:44:03 +0000 http://www.thecircumference.org/experiences/rossland-kootenays-biking http://www.thecircumference.org/experiences/rossland-kootenays-biking 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. Thu, 25 Nov 2010 05:04:22 +0000 http://www.thecircumference.org/experiences/ski-skating-quebec http://www.thecircumference.org/experiences/ski-skating-quebec 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). Tue, 16 Nov 2010 18:35:04 +0000 http://www.thecircumference.org/experiences/caribou-carnival http://www.thecircumference.org/experiences/caribou-carnival 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. Thu, 05 Aug 2010 01:48:55 +0000 http://www.thecircumference.org/experiences/ski-skate-sleigh-lake-louise http://www.thecircumference.org/experiences/ski-skate-sleigh-lake-louise Festooned with giant Douglas-fir, Sitka Spruce and Western Red cedar trees, it seems only fitting that Vancouver's Stanley Park is one of the largest urban parks in the world. Each year over eight million visitors come to Stanley Park to be explore over 200 km of trails webbed between the forested area. Located only minutes from downtown Vancouver, Stanley Park has something for everyone. A seawall runs almost 14 miles around the park perimeter, which is popular with walkers, joggers and cyclists, especially in the summer. Spanning from Canada Place in downtown Vancouver, through Stanley Park, around English Bay Beach and False Creek, the Stanley Park seawall is actually apart of the world's longest uninterrupted waterfront walkway. A walk along the Stanley Park Seawall is a great way to explore the park as it allows you to stop and enjoy views of Grouse Mountain, Coal Harbour and the Brockton Point totem poles. Meticulously manicured gardens stretch for acres, and the west coast forest of Stanley Park is home to local birds, squirrels and coyotes. Beaver Lake offers a stunning display of old-growth forest, including Hemlock, Red cedar, and Douglas-fir trees that are estimated to be at least 600 years old and can grow up to 250 ft tall! At Brockton Point, you’ll find a series of authentic carved totem poles representing Native ancestry. This most photographed attraction in all of British Columbia is said to welcome visitors to the park. The Stanley Park totem poles are brilliant works of First Nations Art which illustrate familiar legends, events, and clan lineage. The original Brockton Point totem poles carved in the 1880's have been moved to museums for preservation, while the current ones were commissioned between 1985 - 1995. Canada’s largest aquarium, Vancouver Aquarium, is also located within the spacious Stanley Park. This not-for-profit organization has been bringing the wonders of west coast ocean life to visitors for over 50 years. Vancouver Aquarium gallery exhibits include the Salmon Project and Giant Pacific Octopus; Canada’s Arctic; the Amazon; and the Tropics. Highlights include otter feedings, the dolphin show, and animal encounters. For physical activity, the Stanley Park offers tennis, golf, swimming, and several children's playgrounds (including a water park). There’s also a ton of family fun to be had with picnics, riding the miniature train, swimming at Second Beach Pool, frolicking at the Variety Kids Water Park, or taking a Stanley Park horse-drawn carriage ride. Farmland is another fun attraction for children, although due to financial considerations its future is unknown. Stanley Park is an urban oasis with endless things to do and see, the only question is where to start! Fri, 07 May 2010 16:45:02 +0000 http://www.thecircumference.org/experiences/stanley-park http://www.thecircumference.org/experiences/stanley-park For some nothing can be as dreary as a cold winter’s night, except in captivating Quebec where the city lives by three words, "Joie de Vivre!”, meaning "The joy of living!" The opportunity for a whole new way to experience winter in Quebec, Canada awaits you. Savvy travelers from around the world have noted that the winter wonderland reigns here! The foremost event of the year is the annual Winter Carnival. The festivities commence in late January through to early February, and have been a tradition since 1894. The Quebec Winter Carnival has garnered attention as a premier global celebration, rivaling the best of any Winter Carnival from around the globe, set amid one of most quaint and picturesque cities. Wed, 01 Oct 2008 16:54:41 +0000 http://www.thecircumference.org/experiences/winter-carnival http://www.thecircumference.org/experiences/winter-carnival As the silent bergs glide through the cold currents off the coasts of Labrador and Newfoundland, the soft sighs of ice melting can be lightly heard above laps of the Atlantic Ocean. This stunning side of Canada offers amazing views of beautiful ocean countryside paired with clean crisp glimpses of giant icebergs floating down the coast. Calved from glaciers off the western coast of Greenland, the icebergs float generally for over a year before reaching the northern shores of Newfoundland. Of the 40,000 some odd icebergs produced annually from Greenland, 1%-2% tend to make it down to Ice Berg Alley. Many local companies run boat tours out along the coast to catch a closer experience with the majestic ice mountains. The sheer size of the bergs is a complex nature, many over two and three stories high, hide approximately 87% of their mass below the water. For the daring adventurer these currents are also widely sought as some of the best kayaking spots in the world. The great iceberg migration provides paddlers with the ultimate close encounter with these grand and glorious ice sculptures, and if that wasn't enough to wet your pallet the common whale sightings usually seal the deal. Wed, 17 Sep 2008 18:09:09 +0000 http://www.thecircumference.org/experiences/iceberg-alley http://www.thecircumference.org/experiences/iceberg-alley When most people visit the Rocky Mountains in Alberta, they choose to visit the southern locations of Banff and Lake Louise. To the North is the less frequented mountain town of Jasper. The road connecting Banff and Jasper, called the Icefields Parkway, is one of the most breathtaking drives in the world. Nestled in amongst mountains and lakes, make sure to take the tram to Whistlers peak to survey the wilderness for miles around. Many big game call Jasper National Park home including mountain sheep, elk, deer, mountain goats, black bears, moose, and wolves, all of which are at hand as you explore in and around Jasper. Due to the protection the park offers, many of the animals are not scared of human contact and are easily approached. Be careful! On my last visit in 2007 I found myself five feet away from a fully grown black bear, a position that is not recommended. Be sure to practice responsible tourism and not approach, follow, or disturb the wildlife. Thu, 26 Jun 2008 22:12:59 +0000 http://www.thecircumference.org/experiences/jasper-national-park http://www.thecircumference.org/experiences/jasper-national-park