Drink in the beautyof majestic Canada
WILLIAM and Kate’s wonderfully successful Royal tour of Canada has highlighted what exciting adventures await visitors to this spectacular land.
From clam-eating to canoe-paddling, the Royal couple and their children, George and Charlotte, had a blast amid jaw-dropping landscapes.
So if you fancy following them to Canada, what’s your best plan?
One excellent option is to touch down in Toronto, Ottawa or Vancouver and soak up the metropolitan cool of those cities before heading to a rural destination – a ‘city break-plus’. With ample direct flights and packages, it’s a great way to make memories in one of this year’s top destinations – and it’s a breeze to organise.
TORONTO
JUST a seven-hour 15-minute flight from the UK, this vibrant city on Lake Ontario is filled with Manhattanstyle skyscrapers, movie stars and some of Canada’s best shopping opportunities.
There are also galleries, green spaces, happening bars and clubs, and some of the world’s finest restaurants, with a thriving Chinatown, Little Italy and Greek Town. Brave the EdgeWalk around the roof of the CN Tower restaurant, 1,168ft above the city. Then see what’s cooking in arty Queen Street West or indulge in some retail therapy at the landmark Eaton Centre.
An easy one-hour 45-minute drive away, the roar of the water over romantic Niagara Falls is unforgettable – and you can join a cruise to the base of Horseshoe Falls to feel the spray on your face.
Stay in a glamorous hotel near the Falls and take a trip up the Skylon Tower. Dine as it revolves during your meal to unveil the glittering city, the Falls, and views over Buffalo in the US. Alternatively, drive north from Toronto to the serene beauty of Georgian Bay, voted Canada’s best hidden travel gem by Canadians. Think azure blue waters, windswept pines, waterfalls, majestic cliffs, 32 lighthouses, thousands of islands, glass-bottomed boat tours, caves and endless beaches.
OTTAWA
THERE’S way more to Canada’s historic hub than the towering spires of Parliament Hill, museums, annual events such as the Canadian Tulip Festival, and the splendour of Rideau Canal.
Discover the city’s incredible natural setting from the Peace Tower, kayak in the Mer Bleue wetlands, hike in Gatineau Park, and learn about the indigenous peoples who traded here at the Canadian Museum of Civilisation and at Aboriginal Experiences. Days are rounded off in the eclectic ByWard Market entertainment area. Next year is Canada’s 150th anniversary – and Ottawa will be in exuberant party mode with some fantastic events.
For a ‘plus’, do the lovely drive or train ride to the French elegance of Montreal. The country’s cultural juggernaut is home to theatres and festivals galore, and blessed with brilliant dining. Another rewarding loop is the Ontario Taster route, which takes in the historic city of Kingston, with its fort dating back to 1812, or head to Algonquin Provincial Park for canoe adventures and moosespotting amid maple hills.
VANCOUVER
CANADA’S coolest city boasts a hot food scene and even hotter skyline – and is the perfect base from which to combine inner-city chic with epic wilderness. Browse the Robson Street boutiques, board a seaplane for a bird’s-eye view of the city, or immerse yourself in the excellent museums, galleries and Pacific Rim dining. Work it off by sailing or hiking in Stanley Park.
Further afield, stunning Vancouver Island is quintessential Kate and Wills territory – they were based in the British Columbia capital of Victoria, at the southern end of the island.
Get your cameras at the ready for jaw-dropping vistas, whale-watching, quiet fishing villages, fantastic seafood, and glimpses of the Northern Lights.
Alternatively, escape like generations of Canadians have done to the peach and apricot orchards and wineries of the beautiful Okanagan Valley.
Or why not mix Vancouver with Whistler, the most chic of ski resorts. Keep your eyes open during the cablecar ride between two peaks and you’ll be rewarded with stupendous scenery.
Big-city cool, plus the most awesome of landscapes – it’s easy to see both on a Canadian city break-plus.
ENJOY the very best Canada has to offer, driving from coast to mountains to culture and cities, stopping where and when you please. Draw up your dream Canadian itinerary by visiting canadianflydrive.co.uk.