Canada

Icefields Parkway:

Winding along the Continental Divide, the Icefields Parkway is one of Canada’s national treasures and a favourite destination for many. It will take you past waterfalls, rushing rivers, glacial peaks, imposing cliffs and snowcapped mountains. Be sure you bring your camera. You’ll want to take lots of pictures to capture the incredible sights to share with family and friends back home. This is a journey through natural history and captivating landscapes that will change you forever. You will revisit this close encounter with nature’s grandeur over and over again in your dreams as long as you live.

Trains (VIA Rail):

Aboard VIA Rail’s The Canadian, admire the majestic beauty of the Rockies and experience train travel like it used to be in your private cabin. Listen to the peaceful sounds of the train while natural beauty dances to life before your eyes in a scenic wonderland; it’s a veritable journey back in time as you travel from Vancouver to Jasper. Enjoy first-class meals and awe-inspiring vistas during the day. Spend the night in the comfort of your private sleeping room that includes a private washroom. From the moment you board The Canadian, you’ll embrace the nostalgia of a golden era; rail lines trace history while whisking travellers through scenery far removed from the highway.

Niagara Falls:

Behold Niagara Falls, an incredible natural wonder where a staggering four to six million cubic feet of water flows over the falls every minute. Straddling the international border of Canada and New York State are the three waterfalls known as Niagara Falls. They’re called Bridal Veil, Horseshoe and American and have a vertical drop of over 165 feet. Providing hydro-electric power and majestic beauty, the Falls are best viewed from one of the many cruise boats operating on the river below, or from the new zip line that borders the Falls. Also, if given the chance, go see the falls at night. They are lit up and look incredible in the night sky. You may even see fireworks.

Old Québec City:

Take a trip back in time and explore Old Québec, North America’s only walled city north of Mexico. Here you’ll find colonial architecture, unique shops and restaurants, and plenty of old-world European charm. Visit the Place Royal where Samuel de Champlain built what became the first permanent French settlement in North America. See the neoclassical façade and stained glass of the oldest church in Canada, the Notre-Dame de Québec Basilica-Cathedral. Explore the antique shops, cafés, and art galleries of the Old Port and stroll along the St. Lawrence River. Visit Parliament Hill, see the iconic Château Frontenac, and discover over 400 years of history in this cultural heart of Québec City.

One of the best parts of travelling is coming back home with souvenirs that really reflect the place you’ve just been. In the Canadian Rockies, native handcrafts such as wood carvings and artwork by aboriginals are very popular. Look for jewellery made from Canadian materials such as ammonite (a rare fossil that produces a precious gem stone) and jade in British Columbia.

Please be sure to pack a warm sweater and jacket as well as gloves and a hat, as temperatures at higher elevations can change very quickly. Summer temperatures can also vary greatly when in the mountains. It is suggested that you bring a pair of sunglasses, especially while visiting the Icefields — it can be very bright.