Canada Travel

Visiting the Canadian Rockies by Train

December 17, 2012 by admin 1 Comment

As a Canadian that was born in Vancouver and have lived in Calgary now for 15 years I am a big fan and lover of the Canadian Rockies.

If you are looking for an exciting holiday adventure for your family this year, then why not consider visiting the spectacular ‘Canadian Rockies’ in beautiful Alberta, Canada. To top off this amazing trip, have you ever considered a holiday by train for something completely different?

Travelling the Rockies by Train

Canada has a wonderful selection of passenger rail holidays to choose from, especially those that journey through the Canadian Rockies. You simply cannot beat this unique experience traveling by rail through some of the most spectacular scenery to be found most anywhere in the world.

Choosing a Canadian train travel vacation will allow you and your family to sit back and relax without having to worry about driving. It is one of the best ways to holiday and perhaps the most relaxing way as well. Deciding to travel by train, especially if you want to take in all that you can possibly see while passing through the beautiful Canadian Rockies, simply cannot be beat!

You can select either from Canada’s premier public passenger rail service known as ‘Via Rail’ or choose a more luxurious form of travel on the world re-known ‘Rocky Mountaineer Railway’. You have many options and itineraries to choose from on this amazing rail journey!

The Rocky Mountaineer is Exciting and Famous

The Rocky Mountaineer Train service has been touted as one of the finest private railway companies in the world and they offer a terrific popular ‘two day tour’ through the Rockies originating either from Vancouver BC on the west coast of Canada or from the City of Calgary Alberta to the east. Both make their way through gorgeous scenic byways heading to the Rockies with stops in either towns of Banff or Jasper Alberta.

For those looking for ultimate luxury and taking you a step back into the past, there is the fully restored historic ‘Canadian Pacific Rail’ luxury passenger train. There are a number of itineraries to choose from with all of these fabulous rail services to suit your time, budget and travel plans.

Whether you choose to travel by private rail service or by Canada’s public service, you will enjoy this unique train experience through one of Canada’s most famous landmarks. The beauty is something to behold and never to be forgotten and what better and more relaxing way to see the Canadian Rockies then by rail. A tradition in Canada dating back to 1885 when the CPR completed rail construction coast to coast in Canada.

Start planning your train vacation to the Canadian Rockies today for an unforgettable holiday experience!

Robert Tellier – A passion for travel and with over 35 years experience in the Travel Industry, I now enjoy sharing travel information, tips, destinations, photos, videos and so much more, helping to make your family travel stress-free and enjoyable. Please visit: http://gr8traveltips.com and receive my Free Travel Tips eBook just for dropping by!

Victoria Butterfly Gardens

May 6, 2012 by admin Leave a Comment

Last week my family and I went to Victoria and saw and did lots. The Victoria Butterfly Gardens were a real highlight. We were looking for something to do at the end of our trip on the last day and found the Victoria Butterfly Gardens on the way to the Victoria airport.

So to set the place up, the indoor facility is just a few minutes from the World Famous Buchart Gardens (Victoria is quite the flower central) and after walking in to the front door you pay, see a video, and then go through some double doors and go into the most humid and warm area that you have been in indoors.

My son was a little scared of the butterflies for some reason but my daughter, wife, and I loved it and stayed probably for a couple hours.

What to see at the Victoria Butterfly Gardens

So inside the Victoria Butterfly Gardens there is loads of wildlife. There are butterflies of course, a couple of flamingos, lots of birds, lots of foliage including flowers, trees and shrubs, and a couple rivers going to a pond. It is really beautiful inside and not only do you get to see this wildlife but it feels very mystical like you are going to another place and altogether and you lose yourself in the experience.

There is an included guided tour if your are interested (we were) that lasts about 20 minutes or so led by a biologist. The guy was very friendly and told us a lot about the lifestyle of all the different kinds of butterflies, birds, and plants in the facility. After the tour we just spend a lot of time looking around, sitting on benches and seeing the butterflies and were in awe of the little ecosystem built indoors.

The cost for our visit was a bit more than we hoped to pay. Admission is $15 for adults and $5 for kids but the real trouble for us was the gift shop. The kids spent a lot of time browsing and finding things for us to buy 🙂

In the end I think we all felt that the Victoria Butterfly Gardens was well worth the time and money. As I said before this was a real highlight of our trip to Victoria.

Family Travel to the Yukon

June 12, 2011 by admin Leave a Comment

Have you ever thought about the idea of family travel to the Yukon?As a Canadian I have always loved the history of the Yukon. The upper parts of Canada and Alaska still seem to be mostly untouched, rugged, and pristine wildernesses to discover. Some of the best memories I have as a child are of camping with the family in some of the Great Canadian Parks so it only seems fitting to do the same with my kinds.

Well I saw an ad today on one of the websites that I went to for travel packages to the Yukon. I clicked through and although to me the packages seemed expensive I am sure they are not. I am a cheap traveller locally when we go camping but am spending $2700 dollars for a trip to Mexico next month so why would it be any different to travle to the Canadian North.

Family Travel to the Yukon

Travel Yukon has some great stuff and this is what they say:

The Yukon, and its towering mountains, boreal forests, sweeping tundra, rushing rivers, enormous glaciers and miles of Arctic coastline, will energize your soul.

You’ll sleep beneath the northern lights and dance under the midnight sun. You’ll discover the majesty of our national parks (Kluane, Ivvavik and Vuntut), territorial parks (Tombstone and Herschel Island) and Canadian Heritage Rivers (Thirty Mile―Yukon, Alsek, Tatshenshini, Bonnet Plume). You’ll gaze up at Mount Logan, Canada’s highest peak, and witness the migration of the Porcupine caribou herd.

Let history also come alive on your Yukon journey as you follow the trails of First Nation traders and gold strike prospectors, and visit Dawson City to relive the heady days of the Klondike Gold Rush. Listen to the stories of the First Nations Elders. Learn about ancient Beringian creatures that roamed the Yukon Territory 10,000 years ago.

There’s no limit to what you can do in the Yukon.

There is also a page on their website on travel packages in the Yukon and many of these would be great opportunities for family travel to the Yukon.

Things to See in Ottawa

July 13, 2010 by admin Leave a Comment

Although many people wouldn’t think of Ottawa as an interesting place to travel to, it really has a great many things to see in Ottawa.

There are so many things to see in Ottawa. It is a city rich in architecture, museums, history, is full of Canadian culture and is home to many sporting activities. If you are interested in a vacation that is more than just sitting around on the beach, Ottawa is definitely a place to put on your list of experiences.

Ottawa is Canada’s capital city and is the fourth largest city in the country. The population is approximately 859,704 (from 2005 figures). It is located in the province of Ontario on the banks of the Ottawa River, 400 kilometres (250 miles) north-east of Toronto and 190 kilometres (120 miles) west of Montreal.

Ottawa is where the country’s federal government sits. Ottawa has a significant Francophone population and by city government policy, all municipal services are available in French and English.

Things to see in Ottawa

Winterlude in Ottawa As said, some of the things to see in Ottawa are the large number of national museums, official residences, government buildings, memorials and heritage structures. Some of the museums/sites worth mentioning are: The Canadian War Museum, The National Gallery of Canada, The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, The Canada Science and Technology Museum, The Canada Aviation Museum and The Royal Canadian Mint. All are informative, interesting and should appeal to every traveller.

One of the things to see in Ottawa is Parliament Hill on Canada Day, July 1^st, where many activities take place, including street parties, live music, performing and athletic shows, an air show performing aerial manoeuvres over Parliament Hill, the RCMP Musical Ride, and a major fireworks event. There are children’s activities from face painting and crafts to poster competitions, as well as cooking demonstrations, art shows and comedy reviews. It is a fun grand event that is well worth attending.

So even if you are not politically inclined there are many things to see in Ottawa.

Calgary Stampede

July 9, 2010 by admin Leave a Comment

Well the Calgary Stampede starts today. Most people I would guess have heard of the Calgary Stampede but as a person that has lived in Calgary for 12 years I can tell you that the Stampede is the social and summer highlight in Calgary and most people in this city would agree that it is the event that makes Calgary most famous.

The Calgary Stampede is on this year from July 9th to the 18th and is an all day and evening event from start to finish. There are rides for the kids, there is a special indoor playground and crafts area free for kids and of course all the horses, cows, goats, and pigs that the kids can usually pet and have pictures taken with.

Calgary stampede History

The Calgary Stampede is a celebration of the farming and ranching culture of Alberta and because of this the city turns into Urban cowboys with cowboy boots and cowboy hats for two weeks. For adults there are lots of bands, both rock and country, at the Calgary Stampede itself as well as at all of the bars around town. So not only is there events at the stampede for kids but for adults as well.

The highlight of the Calgary Stampede has to be the rodeo. There is an afternoon session of the rodeo as well as a night session. The night session has the famous Chuck wagon races as well as lots of entertainment and is a highlight although it may be a bit long and late for the little kids. The afternoon rodeo is great for kids and they get to see bucking broncos, horses, and lassoing cows.

If it is too late for you to attend the Calgary Stamped this year then you should definitely make plans for next year to attend. The Calgary Stampede is billed as the Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth and it really is.