Travelrific® Travel Journal
Picture postcards in prose.™ Check out the blogroll on the front page for official merchandise and other resources!Archive for canada
Highest Inclined Tower in the World
By Linda Tancs
Built for the 1976 summer Olympic games, Montréal’s Tour de Montréal is the highest inclined tower in the world at 541 feet in height and angled at 45 degrees. The three-star rated Michelin attraction boasts three observation decks with panoramic views of the city’s scenic points accessible via funicular.
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The Gannets of St. Lawrence
By Linda Tancs
St. Lawrence River is one of the world’s longest rivers, dissecting Québec at its southern latitudes. Along the river are many island pearls, not the least of which is Île Bonaventure. Located at the tip of the Gaspé Peninsula, the island hosts the largest colony of northern gannets in North America. A haven for ecotourists, the island’s national park (one of 27 in Québec) features a five-million-ton monolith shaped by nature’s fury that is accessible at low tide.
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The Trembling Mountain
By Linda Tancs
The American Indians named Canada’s Mont Tremblant “Manitou Ewitchi Saga” after Manitou, the god of nature. Legend has it that Manitou could make the mountains tremble–hence the name “Mont Tremblant” (trembling mountain). Today the mountain trembles with the roar of skiers and hosts the premier ski resort in eastern North America. In keeping with the season, there are other outdoor activities, too: snowmobiling, sleigh riding and ice climbing, for starters.
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On Ice in Niagara
ByLinda Tancs
Sir Winston Churchill called Niagara River Parkway the prettiest drive in Canada. And that was before the series of orchards and vineyards that have graced their way from the parkway to the shores of Lake Ontario for 35 years now. In all, 28 wineries (the Wineries of Niagara-on-the-Lake) call this region home. Their show-stopper is icewine, a multi-course delight made from grapes frozen on the vine in winter. The Icewine Festival this month is one of four month-long events offered during winter in Niagara-on-the-Lake wine country. A weekend getaway offers you the festival experience, a wine tasting with leading insiders and an icewine-laden dinner.
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Snowshoeing in the Rockies
By Linda Tancs
Banff in Alberta, Canada is the hiking capital of the Canadian Rockies, its winter trails a winter wonderland. What could be more idyllic than exploring them in a pair of snow shoes? One of the area’s most traditional experiences, snowshoeing season is in full swing now until late March or so. Travel safely: be mindful of the trails marked for cross country skiing, avoid avalanche terrain and fresh animal tracks, and watch for slippery snow. If you’d rather not navigate on your own, guided snowshoeing (and shoe rentals) is available in Lake Louise and other locations in Banff National Park.
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An Amazing Ride in Canada
By Linda Tancs
Icefields Parkway in the Canadian Rockies is a gorgeous mountain highway between Banff and Jasper national parks. Aptly named, you will see ancient icefields, covering majestic peaks like Mount Chephren. Of course, you can simply enjoy the five-hour one-way ride, or stop and enjoy the hikes, glaciers or wildlife viewing including bears, moose and caribou. The road is open year round, but the service stations are closed from October to May from end to end. Don’t let that stop you. Try a short guided tour, like Lake Louise to Bow Summit, the highest point on the parkway.
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A Little Piece of France
By Linda Tancs
A little joie de vivre awaits you just south of the Canadian province of Newfoundland. There you’ll find Saint-Pierre and Miquelon, France’s smallest and oldest remaining overseas territory. Once a mecca for cod fishing, the area is now prized for its ancient trails drawing hikers and birdwatchers. Every spring, whales migrating towards Greenland are spotted off the coast of Saint-Pierre and Miquelon as well. You can reach the territory by air, ferry (at Fortune, Newfoundland) or set sail on your own. Bon voyage!
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Titantic Centennial Remembered in Halifax
By Linda Tancs
April 15 will mark 100 years since the luxury liner Titanic sank in the cold, dark waters of the North Atlantic after striking an iceberg on its maiden voyage from Southampton to New York. One of the greatest maritime disasters, it would be hard for anyone to ignore this seminal anniversary of the tragedy, least of all the folks in Halifax, Nova Scotia, where recovery operations were staged. The Titanic Memorial in the Fairview Cemetery in Halifax is the final resting place of 121 of the 1523 souls lost, and Ambassatours Gray Line will offer tours to the location to commemorate the event. Elsewhere, the Maritime Museum of the Atlantic will be featuring a special photographic exhibition through June 2012. Stay tuned to Twitter on 14 April, where a real-time account of the wireless messages of the distressed ship will take place. Also on 14 April is Night of the Bells, a free event in the Grand Parade square featuring performances expressing the story of the sinking of the ship, her passengers, and Halifax’s recovery efforts. A moment of silence will be held at 12:27 a.m., marking the time of the last wireless messages from Titanic. You can view a model of the liner’s position on the ocean floor at the Bedford Institute of Oceanography.
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A Titanic Cruise Fare
By Linda Tancs
Following the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic in April next year, Horizon & Co. will mark the occasion with a series of space-limited excursions to her final resting place. In July and August, the company will offer three opportunities to visit the wreck site and dive down in a deep sea submersible unit to explore the vessel close up on the ocean floor. For an experience like that, expect to pay a titanic sum–that is, from $66,257 for submarine divers or $12,498 for non-submarine divers. If those numbers give you pause, consider the effects of inflation. In 1912, a first class suite on Titanic was around $4300; that’s $50,000 or so in today’s money.
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Winterlude
By Linda Tancs
If wintertime pursuits are your passion, then head to Canada’s capital city, Ottowa, for Winterlude through 21 February. Taking place downtown, most events are free and include skating, snow and ice sculpture, concerts, sleigh rides and tobogganing. Events are held at Jacques Cartier Park, Festival Plaza at Ottawa City Hall, and Confederation Park, but the highlight is most certainly Rideau Canal, which transforms into a giant skating rink, the Rideau Canal Skateway. A skater’s paradise, this canal linking the Ottawa River with Lake Ontario is the oldest continuously operating canal in North America.
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