Issue link: http://read.canadatravelguides.ca/i/651528
TRAVEL GUIDE TO CANADA HERITAGE SITES Royal Nova Scotia International Tattoo is a two-and-a-half hour spectacle packed with world-class entertainment, including bands, gymnastics, dancers, bagpipes, choirs, military traditions and more. You won't be bored watching these performers who are the best at what they do and come from around the globe. Each set lasts about 3-6 minutes, so there is always something new, whether trampoline routines, modern music or cutting-edge videos. This year's event takes place daily from June 30 to July 7, at the Scotiabank Centre in downtown Halifax. The Tattoo Festival also includes a series of free noon-time concerts, parades and performances in various locations around the city ( www.nstattoo.ca ). THAR SHE BLOWS Few wildlife spectacles can compare to the one that occurs every year off Vancouver Island's west coast in early March. That's when some 20,000 grey whales arrive from Mexico, passing British Columbia on their way to their summer feeding grounds in the Bering Sea—about a 20,000-km (12,427- mi.) round trip journey. What is believed to be the longest migration of any mammal on the planet is celebrated every year at the Pacifi c Rim Whale Festival, which marks its 30 th anniversary this year. The festival includes more than 90 cultural, culinary, musical and educational activities for visitors of all ages and takes place in Tofi no, Ucluelet and the Pacifi c Rim National Park. Look for the grey whales from land or on a boat tour, and keep an eye out for acrobatic humpbacks, orcas, and the occasional minke that can be seen here at any time of year ( www. pacifi crimwhalefestival.com ). WAS THAT JOHNNY DEPP? In September, when line-ups form outside Toronto cinemas and groupies begin gathering near upscale hotels, it can only mean one thing—the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) is underway. The buzz of excitement in the air every September is palpable. The fest is often compared to the prestigious Cannes Film Festival, and has attracted countless stars such as Matt Damon, Johnny Depp and Ellen Page. While celebrities might turn heads, the fi lms— more than 350 from 70 countries—are the main reason 480,000 people fl ocked to the festival last year. Many fi lms that were fi rst screened here went on to win big at the Oscars; among them are American Beauty, The King's Speech, and Slumdog Millionaire. But high profi le premieres and red carpet galas are just part of the fun. Programs include: Discovery—directors to watch, Reel Talk: Contemporary World Cinema, TIFF Docs—documentaries, Platform—artistic and ambitious fi lmmakers, and Midnight Madness—best in action, horror, shock and fantasy cinema ( www.tiff.net). PaCifiC riM WHaLe feStiVaL • SUrfLine/KoreSKi roYaL noVa SCotia internationaL tattoo • DeStination HaLifaX