A new look at Canada
NICK DALTON discovers different ways to explore its rugged beauty
SET sail from Vancouver and you immediately see what makes Canada so special. The sun glints off the glass skyscrapers of the young, energetic city’s skyline behind you. To the front, and just about everywhere else are the jagged, snow-capped peaks of the North Shore Mountains.
Vancouver sits in Canada’s fjordland, a vast area of coastal passages that head north towards Alaska. Yet from the same exciting city – don’t miss the Victorian streets of Gastown – you can head inland on one of the world’s great rail journeys, the luxurious Rocky Mountaineer, reaching for the sky as panoramic glass-topped carriages snake through awesome scenery at times more than 5,000ft above the sea you’ve left behind.
Canada is a place where travel isn’t simply a way to get from A to B. This vast country, 3,000 miles across, is packed with a huge array of experiences. See the country in a different way again with a fly-drive, cruising past the rugged peaks and turquoise lakes of the Rockies or along the Pacific coast or the equally breathtaking eastern seaboard with its picturesque cities and iconic sights.
Take to the open road with a fly-drive holiday, knowing that you never have to worry about where to stop for the night – a different, booked hotel awaits at the end of each day providing a perfect mix of road time, sightseeing and relaxation.
Or head off into the distance in one of those RVs (recreational vehicles) that they do so well on the other side of the Atlantic. Drive wherever the will takes you or follow a planned itinerary, stopping at RV parks in some of the most beautiful locations in Canada – magical, rustic retreats where you can get the barbecue going under the setting sun.
And no one does the whole Canadian experience better than Canadian Affair, the UK’s leading tour operator to Canada with more than 25 years of experience. It’s also a great time to visit with Canada celebrating its 150th anniversary, with numerous celebrations taking place throughout the year, culminating in a huge party on July 1, Canada Day.
Canadian Affair is joining the party with a birthday sale (as well as early booking specials for next year).
Here are three great ways to see the best of Canada.
GO WEST
There’s a spectacular vista around every bend when you drive here. A great place to start is Calgary, a western city of the plains but on the edge of the mountains. Drive past the Olympic Park (where Eddie the Eagle leapt to fame in the 1988 Winter Games) and into the wilderness.
Marvel at the town of Banff – sample its hot springs and take a gondola ride up Sulphur Mountain for views and hikes. Take the Icefields Parkway, one of Canada’s most spectacular drives. Stop at the Athabasca glacier and take a ride on an Ice Explorer tracked vehicle.
Head to the little town of Jasper, where elk wander the streets, for the night and later see wonders such as Mount Robson, which at 12,972ft is the highest peak in the Rockies. Explore little towns that grew in Gold Rush times and gleaming lakes. Reach the town of Whistler, a modern mountain mecca, then cruise the Sea-To-Sky highway with its fjord views towards Vancouver. At Squamish take the Sea To Sky Gondola way above Howe Sound for walks, the Sky Pilot suspension bridge and a glorious restaurant.
GO EAST
The wide-open roads of Ontario are an easy place to enjoy with an RV. From the cosmopolitan city of Toronto (where you can stay a night or two and visit the CN Tower for the EdgeWalk, a strapped-in stroll around the outside more than 1,100ft up) it’s a simple drive to Niagara Falls where you can set up camp only a short stroll from the crashing waters.
There are plenty more options – drive east to Ottawa and Montreal, even ancient Quebec City where you can go whale watching on the St Lawrence River. Longer trips can take you as far as the wonderful coastal provinces of New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island.
TAKE THE TRAIN
The Rocky Mountaineer is one of the world’s great travel experiences. The train reaches spots you couldn’t imagine, at times looping around on itself as it conquers the steep gradients. The lively waterfront city of Vancouver is the hub – make sure you enjoy it to the full.
Take a cycle tour through the ancient trees of Stanley Park and along the stunning seawall, ride one of the tiny, toy-like ferries that ply the waterways and sample fantastic Pacific cuisine.
One route takes you up through the town of Kamloops in the lush Okanagan Valley and onward to Lake Louise. Here the shimmering glacial waters have a backdrop of the mighty Victoria glacier, while the castle-like Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise hotel is the place for a lakeside coffee. The train then heads on to the town of Banff with its Scottish roots. Another route parallels the Sea-to-Sky Highway up to the modern mountain resort of Whistler, snaking through breathtaking scenery to Jasper.