Issue link: http://read.canadatravelguides.ca/i/1499370
Ride the Rails BY LIZ FLEMING 24 Built in the late 1800s, the railway soon enabled valuable freight to be moved, making our country a solid business proposition for all provinces. While freight was key for the growing economy, the railway was equally important for European tourists eager to see this vast country. Soon tourist travel rivalled freight, and exploring the exciting young country by train became ultra-fashionable. Capitalizing on a profitable trend, the Canadian Pacific Railway Company built glamorous, luxurious hotels designed to rival the most elegant European châteaux. Located conveniently near the train tracks, the CP hotels invited guests to relax at the end of a day of touring. The combination of elegant accommodation, and this magical manner of travel, fostered a thriving Canadian rail tourism industry. Rail travel still entices tourists with train journeys topping the list for sophisticated travellers from all over the world. Many areas of the Far North can still only be reached by train, and sitting in a comfortable railway car is by far the most inviting way to cross vast stretches of prairie, see the Rocky Mountains, and experience the wealth of natural beauty that is Canada. VIA RAIL VIA Rail connects over 400 Canadian communities from Halifax to Vancouver and Churchill. It offers some of Canada's best scenic travel experiences, including one of the world's most legendary and popular long- distance rail journeys—the Canadian—a cross-country service linking Toronto and Vancouver. This route offers breathtaking landscapes and cosy accommodations. The long-distance journey through Eastern Canada, also known as the Ocean, is as memorable: the charm and uniqueness of the Maritimes make it the perfect getaway. Day trippers love the Québec City-Windsor corridor as a means of experiencing some of the country's most vibrant cities. Every year, when the streets of Toronto, Ottawa, Montréal and Québec City explode with the energy of iconic festivals and events showcasing top talent from around the world, VIA Rail makes getting there part of the thrill. Festival-hop from city to city to experience some of Canada's many great events. If you're a nature lover, be sure to make the trip between Jasper National Park and the rugged North Pacific Coast of Prince Rupert, B.C. This two-day rail journey winds along the Skeena River where wild grizzlies, black bears, moose, bald eagles, elk and mountain sheep gaze as you pass. Visit the Khutzeymateen Grizzly Bear Sanctuary and explore Prince Rupert's remarkable Museum of Northern British Columbia, which houses the fascinating history, culture and art of the Northwest Coast in a traditional longhouse. You can also opt for the Winnipeg- Churchill train which travels through 1,697 km (1,055 mi.) of Canadian landscapes, from When negotiations to make Canada a country were underway, it was the promise of a railroad that would bind one coast to the other that clinched the deal. On that history-making day in 1867 in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, the concept of a permanent link between the West and the Maritimes convinced the Fathers of Confederation that our nation could become a reality. LONG HAUL CANADIAN, PRAIRIE SUNSET • VIA RAIL CANADA