A look at Canada – that harmless, inoffensive giant among world nations – meanders on with three more towns that beckon tourists with a plethora of attractions. While one can jump around in Europe and tour a country in a matter of days, Canada, much like the United States and Australia, is impossible to digest in one fell swoop. Too immense and spread out, it would take over a week just to drive from St. John’s, Newfoundland to Vancouver, British Columbia, if one were crazy enough to even attempt the epic trip. As a result, those who plan to visit Canada have to choose a region with great care. With that in mind, here is the rest of our handy city guide.
The capital of Canada is a charismatic little city, which unlike many world capitals, has much more to offer than a staid central seat of government. The Parliament, ironically enough, is a wonderful attraction, not just in terms of architecture and historical import, but as the national symbol of this proud democracy. The best time to visit is July 1, when hundreds of thousands of proud patriots celebrate Canada Day with fireworks and a slew of top musical acts.
Ottawa also boasts some of the best museums in the country, from the National Art Gallery, with excellent permanent installations, to the Museum of Civilization, where exhibits of native indigenous art and culture reveal a side of Canada many overlook. A World Heritage Site, the Rideau Canal is a perfect place to spend an afternoon, whether for a skate in the winter or a summer stroll. Winter Carnival every February is a great excuse to book a stay at the historic Chateau Laurier and the spring season ushers in a world famous Tulip Festival.
With a former reputation as a Wild West frontier town, Calgary is now a dynamic city with the most rapid growth in Canada, thanks in no small part to the proliferation of rich oil and natural gas reserves in the province. While the capital of Alberta is Edmonton, Calgary is king when it comes to tourist allure. A Prairie town on the edge of the Rocky Mountains, the landscape around the city is simply awesome. A small cluster of downtown core skyscrapers stretch up within a backdrop of vast plains and massive peaks and illustrate why the area is still cowboy country. The Dallas, Texas of Canada in many respects, Calgary hosts the famous Stampede, which draws rodeo and livestock enthusiasts from around the world. It remains the premier annual event in Western Canada.
To get a taste of real cowboy life, one could book a visit or stay outside the city at a cattle farm and live that ranch lifestyle for a spell. If urban pursuits are more your style, Calgary features a slew of marvellous restaurants where beef is often the specialty of course, in addition to a legendary nightlife. While nightclubs are not so much the style in town, bars abound. For a taste of the authentic, try to visit one of the popular country music bars in the city to live it up Alberta style. If hockey season is in full swing, tickets to see the Calgary Flames is a must. The fans are among the best in professional sports in North America and although the team has not won the legendary Stanley Cup since 1989, support is no less rabid. Indeed, as Olympic host in 1988, Calgary is a sports haven in winter. For those who like to ski and snowboard, a litany of resorts and hills are well within proximity of the city.
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The most historic city in North America is also one of the most beautiful. Under UNESCO World Heritage protection, the Old Town of Quebec City plays tricks on visitors who believe they took a wrong turn somewhere and wound up in Europe. The city is rife with genuine Old World feel. The vibe is palpable from the architecture and the general pace of daily life from residents here, the vast majority for whom French is a mother tongue. As in Montreal, by far the most cosmopolitan city in Canada, the prevalence of French culture defines the pulse of Quebec City and provides a unique experience for tourists unavailable outside of La Belle Province. Although less frenetic than Montreal with a fraction of the population, Quebec City is replete with charm and enough attractions to make one week fly by.
The restaurants are among the most creative and progressive in North America and cull from a vast network of organic farmers just outside the city. Tourists should explore the Plains of Abraham and tour, if not stay, at the legendary Chateau Frontenac, the iconic structure on the city skyline. The best way to appreciate Quebec City, however, is to walk. Wonderful tour guides transport curious visitors to another time and bring the city alive in a manner no guidebook can match. Once the most important commercial port on the continent, the areas that straddle the St. Lawrence River still provide stellar views of the natural landscape that surrounds the city. Day trips to nearby countryside attractions of interest, from Montmorency Falls to farms that produce comestible goods endemic to the province of Quebec, such as fruit wines and maple syrup, are widely available.
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Photo credits: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
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July 8th, 2008 at 5:26 pm
Ottawa is really beautiful.
July 9th, 2008 at 10:41 pm
So is Calgary.