Canada Tourism

Whitehorse
Flowing green canyon rivers, eagles cruising above, beavers slapping their tails and you‘re walking along a hill colored with purple fireweed, only minutes away from Whitehorse, the Wilderness City. Nature rests on all sides and the Yukon River runs straight though town.
Whitehorse was settled in the traditional territory of two First Nations?the Kwanlin Dun and the Ta’an Kwach’an?and boasts a vibrant arts and cultural community.
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Yellowknife
Your face burns red from both the sting of frigid air against your face and the heat of bubbling hot tub waters enveloping your body. Just when you think to reach for your mug of apple cider you see it – a subtle, stripe of white light glowing against the pitch-black sky.
Gradually it bends and stretches into broad green streaks that reach high into the stratosphere. Before long, more colours appear – gold, red, purple – and the entire night sky comes alive with the mesmerizing brilliance of countless veils of undulating light. They exist for just a few moments and then disappear into the darkness. Hours seem to have passed in seconds.

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Churchill
A dozen polar bears roam the vicinity, blotches of creamy softness ambling along the flat white terrain. As fierce as you know they can be, you are more in awe of their relative tranquility. A pair of cubs wrestles playfully in the snow, their protective mother looking on. Two males spar briefly for dominance, then go their separate ways. Others snooze the day away on the open tundra.
A steady crunching of snow grows louder as one hefty bruin approaches. You hold your breath as he leans his front paws against the enormous tires of your tundra buggy, stretching out his long neck for a better view of the parka-clad audience gathered above him. You lean over the railing to meet his gaze. Your eyes lock, each of you searching the other’s face for answers to some unspoken question.

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Regina
Hidden behind the rocks and bushes on a protected island, a family of scruffy little goslings emerges from their shells for the first time. Mom seems quite proud. Cattails bristle in the spring breeze as you blow errant strands of hair from your face, compromising your balance for a moment as you ride along the water. You dismount by a handsome poplar tree and lean your bike against its sturdy trunk. The grass crunches as you plop down for a short rest. On the other side of the lake, ministers in dark suits stream down the steps of the legislature.

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Edmonton
The historic streets of Old Strathcona are lined with buskers, vendors and show posters. A silly song about forlorn cows drifts over from the outdoor stage. You hum along and review your options carefully. Absurdist physical theatre. A hip-hop musical comedy. Surreal clowns of horror. They all sound like fun.
Undecided, you head for the concession stand, where you hope to catch the buzz on the must-see shows of the festival. As you take your first sip of draught, a human chain bursts through the entrance. Led by the cast and crew, the entire audience from the venue next door has linked arms and is sidestepping around the tent shouting some incomprehensible mantra. One of the actors hooks his arm through yours and pulls you into the dancing swirl of bodies. Laughing and tripping, you ask, “So, when’s your next show?”

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Whistler
You lift your goggles as a brisk wind brushes your face. Jagged, snow-capped peaks surround you, stretching out as far as the eye can see. You could linger here at the top of the world, taking in the wondrous sights, but that’s not why you came. Goggles back in place, you push off.
The speed of your descent surprises you at first. Your heart races as you carve your way down, down and still further down. By the end of your first thousand feet, you’re pushing yourself to go even faster. You are the master of every turn, every jump. By the end of your second thousand, your thighs start to ache. At the end of your third, you can only begin to make out the roof of your hotel below. By now your thighs feel like rocks, but between breaths, you’re already thinking, “Tonight. Hot. Stone. Massage.
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Halifax
The fiddler rocks back and forth on his feet, instrument jammed under his chin, bow jerking at a frenetic pace, his face obscured by a bouncing curtain of blond hair. The tempo changes on a dime and the entire pub launches into the anthemic chorus that even you now know by heart. Singing at the top of your lungs, you link arms with your newfound mates at the bar and lose yourself in the sway of an old sea shanty.
Later, on your way back to the hotel you hear the same familiar tune – but it’s different somehow. You had always wondered what a Rock n’ Roll fiddle would sound like. Now you know.

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Quebec City
Spectacular fireworks illuminate the night skies as you explore the steep and narrow alleyways beneath the lofty ramparts and storied citadel of this historic walled city. The seductive charm of Old Europe is everywhere, and la belle provence’s photogenic capital has never looked so beautiful, or so festive.

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Montreal
The pasta tonight was superb, the wine a revelation. You nod your head to the music filtering out from inside the bar. You don’t even mind the jostle as more revelers arrive on your turf. A casual bump leads to casual conversation. It’s a jumble of English, French and whatever you can gesture.
Your second bottle arrives and you offer a glass to your newest friends. Soon, you’re at the centre of a party whose only reason for being is itself. Outside on the street, you’re certain the same scene will repeat itself over and over as stylish partygoers make their way into the night.

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Ottawa
The ceremonial music of bagpipes approaches with the heavy thumps of measured footsteps. Sidewalk spectators lean in to get a better look at the men in red coats and tall bearskin caps marching up the grand boulevard. As the neat rows of guardsmen pass, you notice they are being trailed by a loose group of ordinary people, faces beaming with delight. Spontaneously, you defect from your position on the sidelines and join them as they follow the guards up the Hill. An excited throng greets you when you reach the emerald lawns of Parliament. You’ve never been prouder to bring up the rear.

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