Canada

Canada is one of the most exciting travel destinations in the world. It has many interesting cities, like Toronto, North Vancouver, Montreal or Halifax. But also some of the most impressive nature, which is great for outdoor activities, like hiking, skiing, rafting and fishing.

Toronto
Toronto is the largest city in Canada and since the 1970s has been one of the fastest changing cities in North America, experiencing an enormous growth in foreign born residents. In 1998, the cities of Metropolitan Toronto (Toronto, York, East York, North York, Etobicoke, and Scarborough) were merged as Toronto, instantly becoming the continent's fifth largest city.

Ottawa
There is lots to see and do around Ottawa in the city. The city has a fascinating history. There are DOZENS of museums and historical sites, lots of parks and greenspace along the city's rivers and canals, and activities and sports to keep anybody busy (and happy). Not to mention the Rideau Canal (and winter Skateway) and the Ottawa River themselves and the popular bike paths than run along them.

Vancouver
Vancouver is a relaxed city with many diversions and easy access to outdoor activities such as hiking, cycling, boating, and skiing. There is a lively cultural scene. Some have called it a "city of neighbourhoods", each with its own distinctive character.

Quebec
As the oldest part of the city, this area comprises some of the main sights of interest, including the magnificent Citadelle. The Terrasse Dufferin is also worth a stroll to watch street entertainers, unproductive students or the views over the river, but it gets overcrowded in the evening.

Activities and Tours

Niagara Falls
Niagara Falls in the Niagara River, one of the most famous spectacles in North America. The falls are on the international line between the cities of Niagara Falls, N.Y., and Niagara Falls, Ont. The falls were formed c.10,000 years ago as the retreating glaciers exposed the Niagara escarpment, thus permitting the waters of Lake Erie to flow north, over the scarp, to Lake Ontario.

Lake Louise
Lake Louise is both an actual lake and a nearby village located in the Canadian province of Alberta in Banff National Park. The unique emerald colour of the lake comes from rock flour carried into the lake by melt water from the glaciers that overlook the lake. Recreational activities in the area include hiking, scrambling and exceptional down hill skiing.

Kelowna
Kelowna in British Columbia, Canada, on Okanagan Lake. Kelowna is a tourist resort and serves as a trade center for a fruit growing and lumbering area. Other industries include wine making and machine shop working.

8Manitoba and Saskatchewan*
The provinces of Manitoba and Saskatchewan , a vast tract bounded by the Ontario border to the east and the Rocky Mountains in Alberta to the west, together comprise a region commonly called "the prairies". In fact, flat treeless plains are confined to the southern part of central Canada and even then they are broken up by the occasional river valley and range of low lying hills, which gradually raise the elevation from sea level at Hudson Bay to nearly 1200m near the Rockies.

Banff and Jasper National Parks
It all seems almost too surreal to be true, so picture perfect you'll think you're dreaming. Mountains scrape the sky a jumble of colours and shapes. Cerulean blue meets snowcapped majesty. The sparkling lakes are emerald green or milky-turquoise you may have to blink a few times before your eyes can absorb their gloriously intense colours.

Activities and Tours

Niagara Falls
Niagara Falls in the Niagara River, one of the most famous spectacles in North America. The falls are on the international line between the cities of Niagara Falls, N.Y., and Niagara Falls, Ont. The falls were formed c.10,000 years ago as the retreating glaciers exposed the Niagara escarpment, thus permitting the waters of Lake Erie to flow north, over the scarp, to Lake Ontario.

Lake Louise
Lake Louise is both an actual lake and a nearby village located in the Canadian province of Alberta in Banff National Park. The unique emerald colour of the lake comes from rock flour carried into the lake by melt water from the glaciers that overlook the lake. Recreational activities in the area include hiking, scrambling and exceptional down hill skiing.

Kelowna
Kelowna in British Columbia, Canada, on Okanagan Lake. Kelowna is a tourist resort and serves as a trade center for a fruit growing and lumbering area. Other industries include wine making and machine shop working.

8Manitoba and Saskatchewan*
The provinces of Manitoba and Saskatchewan , a vast tract bounded by the Ontario border to the east and the Rocky Mountains in Alberta to the west, together comprise a region commonly called "the prairies". In fact, flat treeless plains are confined to the southern part of central Canada and even then they are broken up by the occasional river valley and range of low lying hills, which gradually raise the elevation from sea level at Hudson Bay to nearly 1200m near the Rockies.

Banff and Jasper National Parks
It all seems almost too surreal to be true, so picture perfect you'll think you're dreaming. Mountains scrape the sky a jumble of colours and shapes. Cerulean blue meets snowcapped majesty. The sparkling lakes are emerald green or milky turquoise you may have to blink a few times before your eyes can absorb their gloriously intense colours.

Travel Tip and useful information

Climate
Spring, summer and autumn are all ideal for touring, though if you want to ski you'll naturally have to come in winter or early spring. For campers and those who want to visit the far north, the summer months of July and August are best. Summer is also when many of the country's festivals take place.

Transport
VIA Rail Canada runs more than 480 trains per week over a 14,000 kilometre network linking more than 450 localities in Canada. Greyhound Canada is the largest provider of intercity bus transportation in Canada, serving nearly 1,100 locations.

Time Zone
Standard time zone: UTC/GMT 5 hours

Population
Canada is a geographically vast and ethnically diverse country. There are cultural variations and distinctions from province to province and region to region. Canadian culture has also been greatly influenced by immigration from all over the world. Many Canadians value multiculturalism, and see Canadian culture as being inherently multicultural.

Currency and credit cards
One of the quickest and easiest ways of obtaining money in Canada is through an ATM , particularly if your home bank ATM card is on the Cirrus or Delta networks. It's also virtually essential to have at least one credit card to reserve and prepay for hotels or car rental, where otherwise you're likely to be asked for a big cash deposit: Visa, MasterCard, American Express and Diners are widely accepted.

Safety and Security
Safety in Canada is not usually a problem, and some basic common sense will go a long way. Even in the largest cities, violent crime is not a serious problem, and very few people are ever armed. Firearm related violence is on the rise in southern Ontario, however, but this needn't worry the average traveller, as it is generally confined to particular neighbourhoods and is rarely a random crime.