Canada: a world of possibilities

Canada--it's a world of possibilities and a breath of fresh air. It used to be a place to visit that part of the family who had long ago taken off for pastures new and meet up with those fast-growing grandchildren before they had completely grown up. Not any more...air fares have never been cheaper, and charters have opened up a whole continent for those adventurous enough to try something new. I went to Canada, invited and escorted by the Canadian Tourist Office and Air Canada and I experienced the real Canada. Ontario, with thousands of lakes, has one of the world's most spectacular natural wonders--Niagara Falls and the CN Tower in Toronto is the world's tallest free standing building. Toronto itself is an accumulation of glass skyscrapers, underground shopping centres and tram lines--an architect's paradise. And all set on a lake--the size of an ocean complete with marinas and waterfronts. Where else will you find the world's largest outdoor stadium with a dome that moves to cover the whole thing if it rains?

Just a couple of hours away from the metropolis you can relax at some of the most beautiful resorts. Play golf, sail, go fishing or just laze around in the sunshine. For the more energetic, you can get back to nature. There are lodges and camps for horseback riding or mountain biking. Or how about a canoe safari in Algonquin Park for a spell of moose spotting? My most thrilling experience was white-water river rafting. I've lived to tell the tale, with a photograph to prove it.

Turning west to Alberta, we flew across wheatfields and plains which span thousands of miles and two time changes. Calgary, the wild west of Canada and host of the world's biggest rodeo show, the Stampede, all set against a backdrop of the snow-capped Rocky Mountains. We hired a car and headed west for British Columbia. It was like being in another country--we were surrounded by snow-topped mountains, glaciers and lakes of all colours, formed thousands of years ago during a remote ice age. We drove through misty passes and each time we turned a bend the next view was more spectacular than the last.

We spent a night in Kamloops in the heart of the Rocky Mountains, a convergence of train lines, highways, rivers and people. At journey's end we found Vancouver. We came in following the Frazer River and stopped where Canada meets the Pacific Ocean. A city of bridges, a melting pot of nationalities and cultures, but some say British Columbia is more British than Britain itself.

So if you are thinking of visiting Auntie in Canada, don't just leave it at that, come and share our experience of Canada...we'll help you make that visit more memorable, enjoyable and exciting than you ever dreamed.

It can all begin here at Hallmark Travel.

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Animals, Adventure and Activities

Straight afterwards I was kitted out with a yellow coat, trousers and welly boots and was given instructions on how to drive an ATV (All Terrain Vehicle) for a tour on Whistler Mountain. The ATV was great, and when we soon met three friendly bears, it was even more wonderful.

A short ferry ride away, Vancouver Island is renowned for its wildlife and outdoor activities. I discovered a family of bears scouring the rocky pools looking for a quick snack. I tried sea kayaking here, even though I had never done it before. At Victoria I went in search of Orca Whales and suddenly I was surrounded by over eighty! Gently blowing and diving into the deep water, oblivious to us and our clicking cameras.

Victoria’s sophistication was welcome after all that ‘outdoors’, and I would recommend afternoon tea at the Fairmont Empress Hotel--very civilised! Another must is a visit to Butchart Gardens. You can easily while away a quiet afternoon, enjoying the stunning displays of colourful flower beds and plants in these world famous gardens.

My verdict on the West Coast? As in my title: A, A and A!

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French Flavours and the Fall

The first thing I noticed on arrival was the amazing colours of the trees, every tone of red, orange, yellow and brown--an artist’s paradise! The mountains appeared to be on fire, but it was the magic of the Fall colours playing tricks on my eyes. My first two nights were spent at the Chateau Le Chancelor in the Laurentian Mountains, a romantic hideaway, with spectacular views over the lake. In winter the lake is for ice skating and you can learn to ski here too.

The food was the start of many mouth-watering meals of the week. Like everything else in Quebec, the food has a French influence and is to be taken seriously--the locals are extremely passionate about it.

We ventured to Mont Tremblant to seek out the attractions on offer. We rode on the cable cars and chairlifts to the mountain top and luged part of the way down. Luging is dry tobogganing at great speeds down a winding track--so crash helmets are a must!

Next was Quebec City, an historic walled city, and we travelled there from Montreal by Via Rail. I was very impressed with the high level of service, comfort and cleanliness of the train. Travelling first class we enjoyed the first class lounge and a hot breakfast during the three-hour journey. The scenery en route was charming. It was Thanksgiving weekend and Halloween, so te imaginative and decorative displays of the houses and gardens on view along the rail track kept us amused!

We stayed at the Hilton hotel, which has superb views over the city. Some rooms have views of the famous Chateau Frontenac, which is the well known landmark of Quebec. I treated myself to a rooftop swim in the heated pool--open air and invigorating--but lovely if you stayed under water!

Quebec is great for strolling as it has lots of cobbled streets to explore, with many shops, bars and quaint restaurants.

Finally, Montreal! Known as the city that never sleeps. Our route took us through the Eastern Townships. We stayed at the Grosvenor Hotel which has direct links to the underground shopping tunnels--Montreal has a huge underground city to keep you out of the weather.

There is so much to do here for all ages and tastes. The Bio Dome, with its local wildlife, is full of history about the area and even has real penguins; the Grand Prix race track, the Casino, Olympic Stadium, Museums, Art Galleries and theatres are a list of just a few.

This part of Canada is completely different from the Wild West and Rocky Mountains--but its charm and beauty are just as captivating. And that’s how I feel, captivated!

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Canadian Contrasts

I have always thought I wouldn’t enjoy a coach tour or ‘escorted holiday’ as Titan Tours prefer to call them. But having just returned from a seven-day tour of the Canadian Rockies, I have completely changed my mind.

My escorted holiday started here in East Grinstead where I was picked up in one of Titan’s MPVs--you’ve probably seen them travelling up and down the motorway. This is a service offered on all Titan Holidays and is free of charge. On arrival at Heathrow my suitcase was loaded on to a porter’s trolley (free of charge) and taken to a special groups check-in desk. With 20 minutes of arriving at Heathrow I had my own boarding card in one hand and my credit card in the other, while I headed off towards the duty free shop.

We flew with Air Canada to Calgary. It was a very comfortable flight and even in economy class I was surprised by the amount of legroom. On arrival we were given a brief tour of Calgary and taken in our Brewsters motorcoach to Banff where we stayed for two nights. Located in the National Park, Banff is a thriving four-season resort which combines alpine beauty with every modern convenience.

There is a good range of shops, plenty of sightseeing, and the surrounding mountains make it a very beautiful place to stay. Two or three nights would give you time to explore the town’s museums, take a trip in the Gondola to the top of Sulphur Mountain or a soak in the Sulphur springs. Banff is also home to the famous Banff Springs Hotel, and the Rocky Mountaineer Railway. Just half an hour away is the beautiful and much photographed Lake Louise and Chateau.

Travelling from Banff along the Icefields Parkway towards Jasper is one of Canada’s most spectacular roadways. If the M25 looked like this, I would enjoy the traffic jams! The road runs along a chain of massive icefields which straddle the Continental Divide and the views are just amazing. Along this route you will come across the Columbia Icefields and the Athabasca Glacier. The enormous icesheet which covers 150 square miles carves the landforms that you see throughout the Rocky Mountains today. The melt water from the Athabasca Glacier is unusual in that it flows into three oceans: the Arctic to the north, the Pacific to the west and the Atlantic to the east.

A snowcoach will take you on to the glacier and it is worth paying extra to do this. Further along the Icefields Parkway are the Athabasca Falls the river is funnelled into a narrow canyon. This is a beautiful spot, so have a break, walk around, enjoy the scenery.

On to Jasper which is located in Canada’s largest mountain park. Jasper is smaller than Banff and is surrounded by a necklace of lakes and waterfalls. The elk wander freely through the town here. As in all national park towns the land belongs to the wildlife and we, the visitor, have to fit in with them. Maligne Lake is the second largest Glacial Lake in the world and is easily visited from Jasper.

We left Jasper and travelled along the Yellowhead Pass (where we saw our first bear) towards Kamloops, the gateway to the interior of British Columbia and where the Rocky Mountaineer journey makes its overnight stop. From Kamloops we journeyed through changing scenery, now not so mountainous but green and rolling, to Vancouver where we arrived late afternoon. Between the Ocean and Mountains, Vancouver is able to cater to a variety of interests and activities. I could live here. Just imagine being able to ski, sail and play golf all in the same day! Shops and restaurants, a large colourful Chinatown, historic Gastown and beautiful Stanley Park, Vancouver buzzes with excitement--not least at the harbour, the gateway to Alaska via the sheltered waters of the Inside Passage. There are many places to visit too. The lookout tower for spectacular 360-degree views over the city. The Capilano bridge at 450 feet long is the world’s longest pedestrian suspension bridge. If you’re brave enough to cross it, don’t look down--it’s a 230-foot drop into the Capilano river below! While you’re here, if you’re missing a really good cup of tea, I can recommend the high tea (served all day) in the lovely gardens of the Tea Rooms. Also worth a visit is Grouse Mountain. Travel to the top by cable car to visit the Grizzly Bear Sanctuary where you can watch the bears in their natural habitat.

This trip has provided everything, from snow in Calgary to dazzling sunshine in Vancouver, from remote mountains to lively cities. Canada is indeed a place of contrasts. Sad to leave, I departed Vancouver for the 9-hour nonstop flight home. But Titan didn’t leave it there. Tired and weary, I was met and delivered to my doorstep. It’s all part of the service!

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Getting wet in Ontario

I was really looking forward to my first trip to Canada when I set off to catch my Air Transat flight, which very conveniently left from Gatwick direct to Toronto. After an excellent night’s sleep at the Comfort Suites, armed with our ‘Passport to Toronto Attractions’, we boarded the Gray Line Hop On-Hop Off sightseeing bus. The stops were interesting and informative and included the Art Gallery of Ontario, Toronto Zoo, Science Centre, Museum and Royal Botanical Gardens. We ‘hopped off’ at the Eaton Centre which has over 300 shops and was only a short walk back to the hotel.

This evening we were dining at the world famous CN Tower, which is the world’s tallest free-standing building. We were really surprised when our transportation arrived, as it was a Hippo! This Hippo is a bus that floats, and after driving some of the way by road it nipped into the Harbour for a quick cruise! Having arrived in style we were whisked to the top of the tower in the glass fronted lift that runs up on the outside. We enjoyed a fabulous meal in the revolving 360-degree restaurant with breathtaking views over the city and Lake Ontario. We had a walk on the glass floor and a trip up to the Skypod, the highest point, neither of which are for the faint hearted!

After another day of sightseeing in Toronto we left to visit the most famous falls in the world... Niagara! On the way we stopped at Niagara-on-the-Lake, a beautiful ‘old world’ town. However, we didn’t have time to submerge ourselves in its charm as we were going to be submerged in its lake instead! After donning jumpers, wet suits and sou’westers we boarded the Whirlpool Jet Boat and set off across the river to the whirlpools. The boat skimmed across the water then dipped in and out of the rapids and I was soaked to the skin as the first wave of emerald green water crashed over our heads... totally exhilarating!

Just ten minutes from here we reached our destination: Niagara Falls. The Falls, Niagara and the American Falls, are a truly magnificent sight, and the sound of the roaring water cascading down is tremendous. There are some ‘must do’s’ in Niagara and I think I did them all! First of all we walked to Table Rock for photo opportunities, then donned plastic ponchos to observe the thundering power of the falls from behind and below at ‘Journey Behind the Falls’. Finally we took the unforgettable boat ride to the base of the falls on the world famous Maid of the Mist. Although you are cloaked by the mist and spray, the power of the torrent of water ahead fills your every sense. A short ride back along the Parkway we boarded a helicopter and flew over the top of the falls to enjoy an awe-inspiring view of the whole region from the ultimate vantage point. Our visit would not have been complete without a stop at the wineries in the area. There are over 45 wineries here. We toured and tasted the Reif Estate winery. Mmmm!

As I sat back on the flight to Gatwick, I mused on these last few days, the vibrant city of Toronto nestling on the shore of huge Lake Ontario, the magnificent Niagara Falls and the vast wine growing regions surrounding it... I loved it all!

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Winter Wonderland in Whistler

I flew Canadian Airlines from Heathrow, and, although there is a direct service straight to Vancouver, I flew to Calgary for a plane change. This makes clearing customs a little bit easier, and it gave me a chance to stretch my legs after a long nine-hour flight.

My first stop in Vancouver was my hotel, the Canadian Pacific. A five-star hotel in the centre of the city, just around the corner from Robson Street, the Rodeo Drive of Vancouver--perfect!

After a very comfortable night at the hotel, I took a tour of the city, incorporating Gastown, China Town and Stanley Park. I then headed up to the North Shore for the Capilano Suspension Bridge and Park, a 450-foot bridge suspended 230 feet above the Capliano river. After all that excitement, the only place to spend the afternoon was in the underground shopping mall!

My third day in Canada, and it was time to move up to Whistler. After a two-hour drive along the sea to sky highway, I checked into another Canadian Pacific hotel, the Chateau Whistler, which is situated between the two mountains (Whistler and Blackcombe), and is the perfect base for exploring all that both of these resorts has to offer.

The following morning I was taken to the top of Whistler mountain for breakfast before getting my first ski lesson. Unfortunately, I sprained my ankle during the snowplough so I missed the afternoon lesson and the following morning's cross-country skiing run. I managed to survive this tragedy by consoling myself with the hotel's facilities, which included a half-inside-half-outside swimming pool! Sounds strange, I know--but believe me, it was fantastic! After a very relaxing morning, I found myself heading back to the slopes. Although this time, rather than skiing, I would be snowmobiling. I highly recommend this, and found it the perfect way to end my stay in the number one ski resort in North America.

The last hotel on this trip was the CP Waterfront Centre Hotel, situated at the harbour, within walking distance of Gastown and The Lookout at Harbour Centre Tower. The hotel is a triangular shape and so can offer three different views of the city: Stanley Park, the harbour and the city centre. My final evening in Canada was spent on a Christmas cruise along False Creek, watching the parade of ferries all with their Christmas lights trailing behind.

Vancouver is such a fantastic and clean city (especially since January 2000, when the entire city turned non-smoking) with so much to offer, that three nights were just not enough! So needless to say I shall be planning a return trip soon. Why not let me help to plan yours?

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Elk-O-Seltzer

We had enjoyed a wonderful family holiday in Canada, starting with a trip to the Calgary Stampede, followed by visits to the beautiful lakes in the Canadian Rockies, mountain biking in Jasper and whitewater rafting on the Sunwapta River (twice, it was so good!).

On the night before we had to leave for the airport, we had dinner in Jasper and left town at about 10pm to get back to Becker's Chalets. Just leaving the town in our brand new Ford Windstar people carrier, Brenda said, "I expect that this will be a good time to see wildlife," whereupon a mature elk ran out of the woods, decided to cross the road, then saw the car. The elk made a valiant attempt to jump over the vehicle, but instead crashed against the windscreen (windshield, for Canadian readers), rolled over the bonnet (hood), and lay quite still on the far side of the road. The Budget rental car was in a mess, but we managed to get it back to town and called the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. A park ranger was quickly on the scene, but the elk--with no more than a split lip--jumped up and ran away, apparently unharmed, although I did wonder if it needed an elk-o-seltzer! The Mounty (imagine Frasier from TV's "Due South") was very understanding, filled out the accident forms and told us, "It happens a lot around here."

Budget replaced the car the next morning with no charge because thankfully we'd ticked the box on the insurance form for Collision Damage Waiver--apparently, elks are included!

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• Canada: a world of possibilities
• Animals, Adventure and Activities
• French Flavours and the Fall
• Canadian Contrasts
• Getting wet in Ontario
• Winter Wonderland in Whistler
• Elk-O-Seltzer

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