Wild Canada

Geraldine Martin 15 September 2007
Wild, Adventurous, fascinating Canada.

Canada is high on my list of favourite places to visit. I have been to the cities of the East Coast, the rugged ness of Nova Scotia and the wildness of the West.

On the east coast, Toronto, the gateway, is the largest city in Ontario. For shopping The Eaton centre is a must with its 320 stores and 17 cinemas. The CNN tower is amazing and the revolving restaurant left me quite dizzy. Toronto has 5 Chinatowns, Little Italy, Little Portugal and The Grand Indian Bazaar. Niagara Falls can be taken as a day trip from Toronto but personally I loved my overnight stay in the Sheraton on The Falls. The night views are lovely. The Maid of the Mist is fun, but be prepared to get wet. I felt that I was on a movie set, it was so stormy and wet, yet it all added to the enjoyment.

Ottawa is the capital city and the National Government sits here. I took a sight seeing tour and visited The Parliament Buildings, The Embassies, Universities and Museums. Luck might have you seeing the Changing of the Guards.

Montreal and Quebec are two of my favourite cities. Montreal is a blend of the old and new, with its cobblestone streets, trendy boutiques and The Underground City. Quebec is amazing, I love its quaintness and French feel. All in all the East coast has all of the ingredients for an amazing holiday.

Halifax in Nova Scotia is one of the safest and friendliest places I have ever visited. It is a bustling city with lots of visitors due to the fact that it is a naval town. My day spent whale watching has special memories for me, scanning the great ocean for a glimpse of the huge whales.

Finally for the icing on the cake and my visit to the west coast. Vancouver is the gateway to the great outdoors and after three days sampling the culture, shopping, Stanley Park and Chinatown I was ready for the more sedate Victoria Island. I have lovely memories of a lunch on the harbour. Victoria can be taken as a day trip from Vancouver or as an overnight.

Banff, Lake Lousie, Whistler and Jasper are all part of the mix in this fantastic location. This is the very heart of the great outdoors, with an abundance of National Parks, and fab lakes. The views of Lake Louise from The Fairmont Chateau would melt the hardest of hearts. I have a photograph taken on the edge of Lake Maligne, it is so amazing that you would not be mistaken to think that it is a postcard. The west coast of Canada is also a fantastic ski location, with Banff, Lake Lousie and Whistler all offering spectacular skiing.

Canada is so diverse; it has something to suit everyone. The Rocky Mountaineer gives the opportunity to travel long distances with ease and still see the beautiful country. Car rental, Camper van rental, rail or flights are all readily available. The one thing I would recommend is that you do as I have, one location at a time. It is to be savoured not rushed.