Why Canada trumps America
As a lover of the US and Canada, Ben Groundwater doesn’t usually like to play favourites. However, travellers concerned about the politics in the US have a great excuse to check out Canada.
Both countries are very popular tourism destinations filled with natural beauty and cultural wonder, huge in physical size and worldwide reputation, the sort of places you could return to over and over again.
And yet right now things have slightly changed. Despite the open-hearted kindness of so many of its citizens, the US is going through troubled times on the global stage. It’s not that we don’t love America, and Americans. It’s just that, right now, things seem a little calmer and more predictable north of the border.
Instead of Donald Trump as leader, Canada has Justin Trudeau, the puppy-hugging, baby-kissing, equal-opportunity-loving liberal who many Americans are probably wishing right now was born south of the border. Instead of screams of ‘‘Make America great again’’, Canada has a whole lot of people apologising all the time.
And besides, many of the things that really do make America great can also be found in the friendly north.
In 2017, there’s another good reason to visit Canada: this year marks the country’s 150th birthday, and celebrations are planned for throughout the year.
New York… or Montreal
If it’s a buzzing, culture-soaked metropolis you crave, then you could certainly plump for New York – however, Montreal is an artsy, multicultural haven that’s also sure to please.
Tell me more This Quebecois hub does all of the good things in life well: the food is amazing (check out the smoked meat sandwiches at Schwartz’s, or bagels at Fairmount), the cafe culture is friendly and fun, the music scene is great, and there’s never a shortage of other live entertainment. Montreal isn’t as large as the Big Apple, but there’s plenty of it to love.
Don’t miss Montreal’s famous comedy festival, which in 2017 takes place from July 14 to July 30. See hahaha.com
Get there Montreal is mild in summer and the shoulder seasons, but extremely cold in winter. Qantas has daily flights from Sydney to Vancouver, with connections to Montreal. See tourisme-montreal.org
Yellowstone… or Banff National Park
In Yellowstone, the US can boast one of the world’s great national parks, but Canada isn’t exactly short of natural beauty.
Tell me more You could take your pick of dozens of reserves in Canada that boast unique and stunning features – from the Cape Breton Highlands National Park to Gros Morne, Auyuittuq, and Kluane – but perhaps the most spectacular is the country’s oldest: Banff National Park in Alberta.
It’s here you’ll find rugged snow-capped peaks, dense cedar forests, and flawless mountain lakes, all of which can be hiked, biked, paddled, or camped on.
Don’t miss The Icefields Parkway is a stunningly beautiful 268km drive between the towns of Jasper and Banff, a road that takes in vistas of rugged mountains, glaciers, lakes, and streams.
Get there Banff National Park is accessible to travellers yearround, with each season bringing different flora and fauna.
To get there, Qantas flies to Vancouver, with connections to Calgary – it’s then a 90-minute drive to Banff. See banffnationalpark.com
Colorado… or British Columbia
This is no secret to snow bunnies. While Colorado boasts worldfamous resorts such as Aspen, Vail, Breckenridge and Steamboat, British Columbia boasts… Whistler Blackcomb.
Tell me more You may have heard of Whistler, but there’s more to the BC ski scene, however, than this incredibly popular resort, including Silverstar, Big White, Kicking Horse, and Revelstoke. All have world-class terrain and reliable snowfalls. During the warmer months, BC also boasts highcountry hiking in the Kootenays, fly fishing in the province’s north, and wineries in the Okanagan.
Don’t miss Whistler Blackcomb (whistler.com/au) is famous for a reason, with more than 8000 hectares of skiable, snow-covered terrain.
Get there British Columbia is a great year-round destination – provided you bring the right clothes. Both Qantas and Air Canada fly daily from the east coast of Australia to Vancouver. See hellobc.com.au
Alaska… or the Yukon
Those with a thirst for wide-open spaces, for mountain ranges that go on forever, for rivers, plains, and a silent, brooding wilderness that’s devoid of man or politician, could plump for Alaska, or they could head to the Yukon – the Canadian territory right next door.
Tell me more The Yukon is all about the great outdoors, from fishing to hiking, canoeing to dogsledding. The territory’s classic journey is a canoe trip on the Yukon River, an adventure spanning up to 800km of almost untouched waterway through some of the globe’s most spectacular highland scenery. There’s culture in the Yukon, too, in the First Nations people who inhabit this part of the world.
Don’t miss Budding fishermen should head to Inconnu Lodge (inconnulodge.com), a wilderness getaway accessible only via seaplane.
Get there The best time to experience the Yukon is from April to September, when roads are open and water is thawed. To get there, fly to Vancouver before transferring to Whitehorse. See travelyukon.com
New England… or Nova Scotia
Here’s a neat bit of symmetry: just as, in the post-Brexit world, people may prefer to visit
Scotland instead of England, those uncomfortable with Trump can visit ‘‘New Scotland’’ instead of New England.
Tell me more Nova Scotia boasts plenty that its southern neighbours such as Maine, Vermont, and New Hampshire also claim. For starters, the ocean is cold and lobster-rich, which makes for great eating at restaurants in Halifax, Lunenburg, and Baddeck. The province is also ringed by rugged coastline, and its forests burst into a spectacular array of colours during autumn.
Don’t miss The Cabot Trail is a 300km road trip through Nova Scotia’s best scenery, taking in the national parks and small towns that hug the northern coastline.
Get there The best time to visit is autumn – September to November – when the leaves change colour. Qantas flies from the east coast of Australia to Vancouver, with onward connections to Halifax. See novascotia.com What’s great about America’s Chitown? The music, definitely. Chicago is a hub of jazz and blues. Plus there are all the sports teams, and the lakeside location. In fact, it sounds a lot like Toronto.
Tell me more Toronto, the Ontarian capital, not only has the best music scene in Canada – it’s the home of bands City and Color, Death From Above 1979, Barenaked Ladies, deadmau5, Crystal Castles, and more – but it’s also home to the Maple Leafs (icehockey), the Blue Jays (baseball), and the Raptors (basketball). The city is also perched on the edge of Lake Ontario, making it a watersports hub in summer.
Don’t miss The best way to get your bearings, plus take in great views of the city and its surrounds, is by going to the top of CN Tower (cntower.ca).
Get there Toronto can be bitterly cold in winter, so it’s best to visit from April to October. Qantas and Air Canada fly from the east coast of Australia to Toronto via Vancouver. See seetorontonow.com
Nashville… or Winnipeg
It’s a surprise to find that Winnipeg, in the middle of prairie country, is actually a cultural hotspot in much the same way as Nashville in the US.
Tell me more Thanks to some targeted tax breaks for musicians and artists, Winnipeg has a great live music scene. There’s also an uber-arty fringe theatre culture in venues throughout the city, as well as excellent food and friendly local bars.
Don’t miss Winnipeg hosts plenty of festivals throughout the year, including some world-class
musical events, but perhaps the best is the Festival du Voyageur (festivalvoyageur.mb.ca), western Canada’s largest winter celebration.
Get there Don’t even think about visiting ‘‘Winterpeg’’ in the colder months. This is a town to see from April to October. To get there, fly to Vancouver, and connect to Winnipeg. See tourismwinnipeg.com
Route 66… or the Trans-Canada Highway
Sure, Route 66 is great. But on the Trans-Canada Highway you get to drive more than 8000km through every one of Canada’s 10 provinces.
Tell me more On this spectacular journey, best taken in a big RV, you’ll see snow-capped mountains in BC and Alberta, endless flat prairies in Saskatchewan and Manitoba, forests and lakes in Ontario, cities in Quebec, small towns and villages in Newfoundland and Nova Scotia, and everything and everyone in between. There’s no better way to understand this great country.
Don’t miss While Saskatchewan doesn’t get a lot of love from tourists, it’s here you’ll experience the true enormity of Canada, as the prairie lands stretch as far as the eye can see.
Get there This is a journey you’ll want to do in summer, when you don’t have to tangle with ice and snow. Begin in Vancouver or Halifax, and give yourself plenty of time to enjoy. See canada.travel
Texas… or Alberta
So, it’s cowboy culture you want: belt buckles and boots, big hats, hardy stockmen and women, horse-riding, and cattle-herding. You could go to the Lone Star State, or head to Alberta.
Tell me more It’s home to the famous Calgary Stampede, an annual rodeo and festival, which takes over the city for 10 days every July. The cowboys who pour into town come from nearby working cattle ranches, many of which allow guests to stay and experience true cowboy culture.
Don’t miss There’s plenty of variety to Alberta’s offerings, from Rocky Mountains to cowboycountry prairies, but for a little luxury, spend a night at the Fairmont Springs Hotel in Banff (fairmont.com/banff-springs).
Get there While Alberta’s ski towns are popular in winter, if you want to experience cowboy culture it’s best to go in the warmer months. Qantas and Air Canada fly from the east coast of Australia to Vancouver, with connections to Edmonton and Banff. See travelalberta.com
Portland… or Vancouver Island
Portland – and indeed most of the US’ Pacific North-West – is becoming well known for its craft beer scene, and that appreciation for a tasty brew has crossed the border into Canada.
Tell me more Head to Vancouver Island, a small but beautiful area that is home to more than 20 craft breweries. Even if you’re not a beer drinker, the natural beauty of the island will keep you happy, with hiking, mountain-biking, canoeing, sailing and even scuba-diving.
Don’t miss On the northern end of Vancouver Island you can experience one of Canada’s great wildlife encounters: kayaking with orcas. See kayakbc.ca
Get there The array of activities on offer is larger in the warmer months. To get there, fly from the east coast of Australia to Vancouver, then catch a flight or ferry to the town of Victoria. See hellobc.com.au – Traveller