Issue link: http://read.canadatravelguides.ca/i/809166
SUMMER Summer—when the weather is warmest, the days are longest and the tour options are broadest—is the peak period for vacationers. Landlubbers have plenty to do and warmed-up water beckons, making this the time for a true surf-and-turf experience. LAND-BASED ACTIVITIES The number of hiking and cycling enthusi- asts enjoying recreational trails continues to multiply in summer. Towering mountains, moreover, tempt an increasing number of climbers. With the Coast Mountains and Rocky Mountains to the west, the Appalachians to the east, the Canadian Shield in between, and the heart-stopping St. Elias Range to the north, the choices are endless for intrepid types who have set their sights high ( www.alpineclubofcanada.ca). When something more down to earth is in order, Canada's National Parks deliver ( www.pc.gc.ca). During July and August they put together a full roster of programs, enabling visitors to participate in scheduled events that run the gamut from horseback riding and birdwatching to interpretive walks and nighttime stargazing sessions. The fact that many of these are aff ordable or free, and geared toward families, is a welcome bonus. BEACHES If beach bums had to pick a single province, it would probably be P.E.I. Boasting over 800 km (500 mi.) of sand and saltwater temperatures that can reach 21º C (70º F), the smallest province is a summer paradise. From the sandy expanses of Cavendish and Greenwich—both part of Prince Edward Island National Park ( www.parkscanada. gc.ca/princeedwardisland)—to the "singing sands" of Basin Head (www.tourismpei. com/provincial-park/basin-head), there is a beach to suit every taste. Tourists continu- ing cross-country, though, don't have to wait until they hit the Pacifi c to take the plunge again. Witness Wasaga Beach on Georgian Bay ( www.wasagabeach.com ), the world's longest freshwater strand; or Lake Winnipeg's aptly-named Grand Beach ( www.grandbeachtourism.com ), complete with 12-m-high (39-ft.) sand dunes. Then there are the beaches of Saskatchewan's Little Manitou Lake where it's never a case of sink or swim—the water has a high saline content that allows you to fl oat eff ortlessly ( www.manitoubeach.ca ). Based on the destination, activities can range from swimming and sandcastle-building to organized entertainment and educational programs. BOATING Visitors who would rather be on the water than in it are spoiled for choice as well. Canoeing, a quintessentially Canadian pastime, is popular, especially in Ontario where the longest network of interconnect- ing canoe routes on earth awaits. Ready to amp things up? Whether you brave waves generated by Fundy's record-smashing tides in the far east or churning whitewater rapids in the wild west, rafting is a rush. For the ultimate adventure, soak in the scenery— and get plain soaked—on an extended rafting expedition down a challenging river in the Yukon or Northwest Territories. If fi shing is your idea of fun, boat operators—both on oceans and interior waterways—will happily hook you up. Multi-taskers will be pleased to hear that it's also easy to combine boating with world- class wildlife watching. From the seat of a tour vessel or your own kayak, you can admire beluga whales in northern Manitoba, ogle bowhead whales and tusked narwhals in Nunavut, or commune with the orcas in Johnstone Strait off Vancouver Island. Newfoundland's Notre Dame Bay promises a double delight; whales there, humpbacks among them, often come with a side order of icebergs. PEI NATIONAL PARK • PARKS CANADA/DALE WILSON KILDONAN PARK, MB • TOURISM WINNIPEG/JOHN SLIPEC 38