Travel Guides to Canada

I have always been a proud Canadian and consider myself a seasoned trav- eller, but I am still continually amazed at the vast richness and diversity of travel experiences this great land has to offer. It gives me pleasure to share this information in the 2012 Travel Guide to Canada, so you too can learn and easily zero in on whatever piques your interest about this country. Whether you are a fel- low Canadian or an international visitor, you'll find Canada's ten provinces and three territories brimming with travel opportunities of a lifetime. Where else can you get up close and personal with majestic polar bears from the safety of a tundra vehicle and really have the opportunity to observe them in the wild? If it's a western fling and old- style fun you crave, then the annual Calgary Stampede may be just the ticket. You may instead wish to "touch" history, ambling through the quaint, narrow cob- blestone streets of old Québec City, North America's only walled city north of Mexico. Perhaps your dream might be chasing icebergs along Newfoundland's Iceberg Alley, or from a Zodiac plying the waters in remote Nunavut. This year is an ideal time to witness the mesmerizing northern lights (aurora borealis) as they dance across the northern skies, currently an intense spectacle because the 11-year auroral active cycle is about to reach its peak. You may want to partake in exhila- rating dogsledding in the territories, or make your own tracks donning truly Canadian snowshoes in our pristine win- try wonderlands. Since we take full advan- tage of our winters, you'll find outdoor skating rinks, including the world's largest one in our nation's capital along the Rideau Canal, as well as top-notch skiing and resorts from the Rocky Mountains to the Laurentians. Experience the sheer bliss of heli-skiing in the pure powdery, untouched mountain terrain of British Columbia. And if "cool" fishing is your passion, you can brave the chills or opt for some protective huts and go ice fishing. Whatever else you do in wintertime, join the fun-filled carnivals and sleigh rides and let the embracing joie de vivre wrap around you like a blanket. Watery forces like thunderous Niagara Falls and the surging Bay of Fundy with its incredibly high tides in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick are all natural wonders that will take your breath away. Whether you are interested in canoeing, kayaking or whitewater rafting you'll find fantastic opportunities ranging from tranquil to wildly, heart-pounding. Beaches galore line the west and east coasts with the charm- ing, tiny island province of Prince Edward Island tucked into the Atlantic Ocean, while countless lakes dot Canada's huge interior offering all kinds of water activi- ties and bountiful summer fishing. A diversity of wildlife abounds so either on guided park tours or through your own impromptu sightings along roadways, trails, waterways and sometimes even fairways you will thrill to the moose, bear, elk, caribou, and countless birds you may encounter. On Bonaventure Island in Québec, you can get so close to the amaz- ing gannet colony you can almost touch the birds. As well, whale watching off the west, east and northern coastal areas, the shoreline of Hudson Bay in Manitoba and the St. Lawrence River in Québec offers exhilarating viewing possibilities. Connecting to history is anything but "stuffy" here. Alberta holds the world's largest collection of complete dinosaur skeletons, and in fossil-rich Drumheller you can join special on-site digging pro- grams. Many of our national historic parks bring history to life with their colourful actors, authentic details and recreations that tell the stories while engaging and involving their visitors. Kings Landing Historical Settlement and Village Historique Acadien in New Brunswick are vibrant examples that encourage guests to really experience life as it was in those time periods. And to commemorate the 200 th anniversary of the War of 1812 this year, many special events and re-enact- ments are scheduled to take place. Canada's national parks, wilderness and varied landscapes reveal stunning beauty and infinite possibilities for mild or more strenuous adventure—camping, hik- ing, biking and mountain biking to name a few, while the cities lure guests with their own distinctive charms. Vancouver's laid- back style, temperate climate and incredi- ble setting, snow- capped mountains, and Pacific west coast beaches, are powerful magnets. Montréal and Québec City's French ambiance and old city areas teem with activity and fun, while Halifax's Atlantic harbour, hospitable spirit, pulsing music and bountiful seafood draws scores of people. Many more cities, including Toronto, our largest and most ethnically diverse, and Ottawa, our lovely capital, are filled with culture—museums, theatre, dance, all kinds of music, including sym- phonies and fabulous galleries. As you flip through the magazine starting with the special features, fol- lowed by the "core" provincial/territorial sections and lastly the reference charts, I hope you'll be inspired to see for yourself what this vast country has to offer and experience first-hand, a warm Canadian welcome. Julia Wall Canada rolls out the welcome mat - savour our rich diversity Editor's MEssagE 10 2012 TRAVEL GUIDE TO CANADA

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