Canadian Cuisine – Good Eats

What makes Canadian cuisine unique are its regional specialties: Alberta beef, goldeye fish in Manitoba, salmon from BC, Nova Scotia lobster, and Quebec French pies and pastries.

Game, including rabbit, caribou, and bison, which have been served in aboriginal homes for centuries, are now considered gourmet dishes at cosmopolitan restaurants. A tradition of French haute cuisine is evident in most of the country’s major cities, particularly in top hotels. However, as Canada is a nation of immigrants, ethnic restaurants are common everywhere.

German, Greek, Chinese, Thai, Indian, Ukrainian, African, and Italian cuisines, along with other international favorites, provide a wide range of choice at a price to suit every budget.

Regional specialties can be sampled in their place of origin, but most of the larger towns will also offer a choice of the country’s best local produce, and in some areas this includes Canadian wines and beers.

Types of Restaurants

Eating out in Canada is surprisingly easy on the pocket, particularly compared to European and American prices. This makes a trip to a top restaurant to sample international cuisine (often made with local produce) very worthwhile. Eating places are extremely varied, with the tearoom, bistro, brasserie, and theater café competing with the more usual café, restaurant, and fast food outlet. Many pubs also serve excellent bar food, at reasonable prices.

More unusual, but no less worthwhile, is the uniquely Canadian dining experience of the delicious lobster supper.

Held throughout the summer on Prince Edward Island, these lively gatherings usually take place in church grounds on wooden tables surrounded by local fishermen. Equally unique, though by no means public, are Inuit dinners.

Traveling through the Arctic north may result in an invitation to join an Inuit family for the evening meal. Traditional dishes might include sun dried caribou sweetened with berry sauces or smoked and dried local fish. These family dinners are usually alcohol free and very lively.

Canadian Accomodation Tips

As one might expect in a country of its size, Canada has a wide range of places in which to stay: from stately, world-famous hotels such as the Château Frontenac in Quebec City, to family-run bed-and-breakfasts in the countryside, the variety is immense. Canada offers excellent middle-range accommodations, and you will find rural inns, cottages to rent in scenic spots, elegant town apartments, hostels, houseboats, and the most popular choice of all, the convenient motel. Whether you need a mid-journey bed for the night or a seasonal rental, you can always find the right place and may not even need to book in advance.

Grading and Facilities

There is no government sponsored hotel grading system in Canada, but the voluntary program “Canada Select” is usually very accurate.

Each establishment is rated by numbers of stars. It is worth bearing in mind, however, that a 4-star hotel in a large city such as Toronto, for example, might not have the same level of facilities as one with the same rating in a small upscale resort with a château hotel. Read more

Exploring Montreal, Museums and Galleries

MONTREAL occupies a 50-kilometer (30-mile) long island at the confluence of the St. Lawrence and the Ottawa River. The city core, where many sights are found, is fairly compact and lies to the south and east of Montreal’s main landmark, Mont-Royal. Vieux Montréal, the old city, is nestled on the shore of the St. Lawrence, while the modern downtown lies between it and Mont-Royal. Streets follow a fairly consistent grid pattern making the city easy to navigate.

Museums and Galleries

Musée Marc-Aurèle Fortin

THIS MUSEUM, housed in an old stone warehouse belonging to an ancient order of nuns, has an extensive collection of Fortin’s work, and it also mounts exhibitions of new painting by local artists.

Marc-Aurèle Fortin transformed landscape painting in Canada. He was born in 1888, when European styles dominated North American art.

Fortin loved the light of his native province, and used many unusual techniques. To capture the ‘‘warm light of Quebec,’’ for example, he painted some of his pictures over gray backgrounds. By the time he died in 1970, he left behind not only a staggering amount of work but a whole new way of looking at nature, especially the various rural areas of his native Quebec. Read more

Via Rail Tours – Toronto to Vancouver

If you are looking for a unique and incredible family vacation in Canada, you might consider a train trip with Via Rail. The Canadian, an original flagship passenger train owned by Canadian Pacific Rail, began service on April 24, 1955. The original train route was a bit more southernly than what is used today, but the scenery and wildlife is just as spectacular.

The tour begins with an overnight stay in Toronto, Ontario. Spend your day taking in the sights and sounds of the biggest city in Canada. The next morning, your passenger train tour begins on its journey through Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia in 6 days. On your journey from Toronto to Vancouver, you’ll pass through Winnipeg, Saskatoon and then to Edmonton and Jasper, Alberta. Read more

Jasper National Park – Seasonal Sensations

Jasper Forest Park was established in 1907 on the Hudson’s Bay Company trade route from New Caledonia (Fort St. James) to Vancouver. 13,000 kilometers were set aside for the park at that time. It wasn’t until 1930 that Jasper National Park was established as a national park in Alberta. But since then it has included many wondrous sites for visitors to see; including the Icefield Parkway, Pyramid Mountain, The Jasper Tramway, Maligne Lake and canyon, the famous Spirit Island, Marmot Basin Ski Resort and many glacial fed emerald green lakes in the Athabasca River valley. Read more

Canada: the Affordable Vacation Destination

When people are planning their foreign vacation get away, there are many exotic locations that come to mind. The Bahamas and Europe are usually at the top of the list, but while they are exciting locations with plenty to do and see, they can also take a toll on your wallet. You may want to consider a location a little closer to home but still out of country. Let’s start with one that shares a border with our own. The northern part of Canada can be a wonderful location that offers exciting places to visit, friendly people and is much more inexpensive. In fact, Canada can be reached by airplane or car. And while it may take a lifetime, or a rich relation passing, to get to other exotic vacation spots, Canada can be visited without breaking your budget.

One of the best things about a Canadian vacation, besides the fact that everyone speaks English, is that you can drive to your location and save yourself the expense of a plane ticket. If you enjoy a plane ride, then that is definitely an option, but if you like the convenience and freedom of getting in your car and driving (think road trip) then this destination will fit the bill. Even though border security has tightened up in the last few years, it is still easy to get in to our Northern neighbors country. As long as you have nothing you are trying to hide, getting over to Canada and back again won’t be a problem.

When you compare the price of American lodging and entertainment to the Canadian prices, you may suffer from a little shock. But this can be changed if you are careful about the places that you stay and where you visit. The tourist traps will be in your bigger cities and, while these will be great places to visit while you are there, you might consider staying in a smaller city. Do your research and make a list of the places you want to visit. Check on the prices and then make an itinerary that fits your wants and your budget. The beauty of Canada is vast, so getting a chance to get out and enjoy the more remote areas of the country will be a treat. With a good mix of outdoor activities and other entertainments will create an even more budget friendly vacation.

While it may not be the first place you think of for a foreign vacation, you should definitely give Canada a try. With all it has to offer, it really is the perfect vacation destination for the whole family.  Do your research and with a little planning, you will have a vacation to travel Canada worth remembering.

Canadian Travel Tips

Choosing Canada as a vacation destination is a wonderful idea. With its varied landscapes, mountains, big cities and tourist locations, you will find a Canadian vacation has something to offer every member of your family. We’ve compiled a few tips if you plan on vacationing in Canada any time soon. If you are one of the lucky people that travel to Canada on a regular basis, you will still find something new in this list of tips for the Canadian traveler.

If you are visiting any new location, especially one in a foreign country, a travel guide is an invaluable tool for planning your travel itinerary before the trip. A travel guide is also helpful once you’ve made it to your destination, which is Canada in our case. A good travel guide will contain information on local attractions such as museums. A Canadian travel guide will also let you know what the good restaurants are, where you can lay your head at night as well as the hot spots for shopping. Invest in a quality travel guide on Canada, and your planning will go a lot smoother. Another good tip is to make sure you know the weather at the location you will spending time in. Try to get a good idea of what the high and low temperatures will be so you can pack clothing accordingly. Some spots in Canada will be more humid while your mountain ranges are going to be cool, if not downright cold, most of year.

To make your trip go smoothly from the beginning, be sure to investigate what paperwork you are going to need to cross the border in to Canada and be sure that you bring it. With the new, stricter laws on crossing borders you will have to have some sort of proof of identity in order to enter the Country. It isn’t a big deal, unless you try to get in without the proper paperwork. Because these laws are changing constantly, be sure to check the Canadian government website to know what you are going to need.

Do a little research and be sure that you understand the money that you will be using in Canada. They use the Canadian dollar, though some of your cities that border the USA will accept American money. It would be a good idea to carry money in the form of traveler’s checks in Canadian dollars. These will be accepted anywhere and will carry the same security as traveler’s checks in American dollars. To avoid offending your servers when you are in a Canadian restaurant, be sure you know the unspoken gratuity expectation.  If you are in a restaurant, you should tip 12% to 15% if the service was good. Tour guides as well as the bus drivers, are going to expect some tipping as well. $1 or $2 dollars will be fine. Follow these simple tips and your Canadian vacation will be one to remember.

Plan Your Family Vacation in Canada

If you are planning a fun trip to Canada with your family and children you should have some ideas already. Such ideas can guide you appropriately in your fun trip and family vacation to Canada. The country has some fabulous attractions for visitors. Unparalleled natural scenarios, natural beauty added with historical sites, culture al and heritage points of interest make it difficult to choose where to go first.

Many cities in Canada are modest in size by normal standards in the world.  Yet they provide you and your family with an environment that will continue to be relaxed and safe. Canada is also full of natural beauty.  Mountains, glaciers, lakes, forests, and untouched environments bring visitors from around the world globe.  Few vacation destinations in the world have such variations of excellent locations for the visitors and travelers.

Yet it is not the great outdoor locations that are the only attractions in Canada.  Clean, safe and friendly cosmopolitan cities are the attractions that make Canada a favored location for most travelers.  The country is also multicultural and is therefore one of the best diverse countries on the globe.

If your family contains some outdoors lovers then there are endless Provincial park choices for river rafting, water skiing, wind surfing, rock climbing, hiking, biking and several other adventurous outdoor activities.  For physical fitness lovers there are gyms and spa facilities and walking across the beautiful golden sandy beaches are some of the best memories that you will take back home. And if your family members have love for the cultural programs, there are several live theaters and concert halls where you can spend joyful evening with your family.

Some of the most popular family travel destinations in Canada are Vancouver, Toronto, Niagara Falls, Calgary, Quebec City, Victoria, Montreal, Ottawa, and Halifax.  Canada has something to offer from everybody.

Canada – Quick Travel Tips

Canada is one of the best travel destinations for the tourists and travelers coming from across the world.  Beautiful vistas, exotic wild animals, and exotic journey on the winding roads, and above all, the cosmopolitan cities make it the favored destination for millions of visitors coming from all around the world. While the first time visitors find the Canadian travels an exotic experience, regular visitors used to return time and again to various locations they have grown a liking for.

First time travelers however will require a good Canadian travel guide that would perfectly guide them through their journey in Canada.  It will give you the rare insight into your places of staying, shopping, eating, as well as driving. In addition Canada offers you great night life and also activities that are interesting and memorable experience for not only you but the whole family.

One of the major considerations in your travel to Canada should be the weather.  Maritime province have humid climate.  Western region on the other hand is somewhat drier in comparison.  And in Halifax, Nova Scotia, the climate could be real freezing in winter though it is temperate in summer. Quite a good deal of variations can be experienced in the mountain areas of Canada.

You may not overlook the new restrictions imposed on border crossing.  Documents require constant changes in Canada.  Hence please check these requirements before taking up Canadian travels. The information is available on the Canadian and US official websites.

Canada uses the Canadian dollar and also accepts the American dollar. The best exchange rates can be obtained in the Canadian Chartered Banks – whereas not every place of business will give you the most current exchage rate. It is also a bit of a learning curve when considering Provincial sales tax systems in Canada.  While there is no such tax in Alberta, Northwest Areas, Yukon, and Nunavut, 5% tax in Saskatchewan and 13% at New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Newfoundland. On top of the Provincial sales tax, there is also GST tax on goods and services.

Visit Victoria British Columbia: Canada’s Most Beautiful City

Victoria British Columbia is the garden city of Canada; its refreshing ocean climate is the reason why flowers grow here all year long.  The natural beauty it possesses lures several million tourists from all over to Victoria BC.

Although Victoria BC has so many wonderful features to share with the world, many people are simply unaware of where it is because of its location on the south tip of Vancouver Island, and just over an hour from Vancouver by ferry.  And, the people who do come to see Vancouver sometimes won’t go to Victoria BC because of how far they have to travel; however, they are really missing out on a lovely city that is safe enough to explore by walking.  And getting there is not as bad as it seems.  The three typical ways: if you are coming in by plane then fly to the International Airport, if you coming from Vancouver or Tsawwassen then take the BC Ferry, or if you are coming up from Washington State then take the Coho Ferry at Port Angeles.  Both the BC Ferry and the Coho Ferry take approximately and hour to cross over the Strait of Georgia. Read more

Next Page »