As We Travel Abroad

At 505 square kilometres, Waterton Lakes National Park is the smallest National Park in the Canadian Rockies. It sits in the southwest corner of the province where the Rocky Mountains meet the prairies. The contrast of mountains and plains gives it that postcard look that often defines the prairies. It also means the park is home to an unusually diverse mix of plants and animals. It has more than half of Alberta’s native plants within its boundaries. The lake itself crosses over into the United States and in 1932 Waterton Lakes National Park combined with Glacier National Park in Montana to form Waterton Glacier International Peace Park, the first of its kind in the world. It’s also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The park may be small but it’s packed with things to do such has hiking, SUPing, windsurfing and boating on one of several lakes. It’s a prime location for spotting wildlife and wildflowers. After a busy day of outdoor adventures, the tiny village of Watert...

Within a two-mile radius of the San Diego International Airport and the Cruise Ship Terminal, dozens of exciting sights and attractions can be found, including museums, historic sites, great shopping, and vibrant neighborhoods. Balboa Park Located close to downtown—ten minutes by taxi from the airport or Cruise Ship Terminal—this urban park is the cultural heart of San Diego. It’s easy to spend an entire day discovering Balboa Park's many cultural delights. Encompassing 1,200 acres, Balboa Park is a magnificent cultural complex, often referred to as the “Smithsonian of the West". The Park is home to 85 cultural institutions, including 15 museums (ranging from anthropology to science, as well as classic and contemporary art), performing arts venues (such as the Tony Award®-winning Old Globe Theatre), art galleries, lush botanical gardens and the San Diego Zoo. Between museum visits, stroll along the Prado walkway surrounded by the grand Spanish Colonial-revival style...

This is a premier city tour that lets you explore the streets of San Francisco. This tour will feature views of San Francisco’s most popular landmarks, historic districts, and neighborhoods.  Day 1: Fisherman’s Wharf n route to your first stop, you’ll make your way down Columbus Street through North Beach and Little Italy. After making your way through Little Italy you’ll head to Chinatown, Nob Hill, Union Square and then arrive at your first stop on the tour, Civic Center/City Hall. Here at your first stop, you can explore City Hall and it’s Beaux-Arts monument to the City, which showcases the beautiful movement that epitomized the high-minded American Renaissance of the 1880s to 1917. Alamo Square Park At Alamo Square Park you’ll be able to view the bountiful lawns, flowerbeds, trees, and the world-famous “Painted Ladies” as seen in the opening credits on the show  Full House . Golden Gate Park From a vast, windswept expanse of sand dunes, park engineer...

As the official capital of the province of Quebec and one of the oldest settlements in North America, Quebec City requires very little presentation. In fact, I get a lot of emails about visitors planning a day trip to Quebec City from Montreal – but every time, my answer is the same: stay overnight. Not only are the train and bus schedules rather restrictive for day trips, but the city is just magical after nightfall and truly deserves a lot more than a rushed, quick-let’s-move-on-to-the-next-place few hours. Take the ferry to Lévis Go on a food tour in Old Quebec Walk on Dufferin Terrace Marvel at the Château Frontenac Go 400 years back in time at Place Royale Learn all about military history at Citadelle de Québec & Plaines d’Abraham Explore the quaint district of Petit-Champlain

Canada’s capital city, Ottawa sits on the south bank of the Ottawa River and is dissected by the Rideau River and the Rideau Canal. It is a bilingual city, with most locals speaking both English and French. It is also a city that is filled with cultures from all over the world, as well as being good at keeping Canada’s culture and heritage intact. Like many capital cities around the globe, Ottawa has numerous national attractions. It also has a plethora of other things to see and do, and you could easily spend days enjoying the city. Skate along the world’s largest outdoor skating rink In the winter months a section of the Rideau Canal is turned into a massive skating rink. The outdoor rink is the longest in the world, stretching for nearly eight kilometres. The skating rink is open 24-hours a day and is a great place to spend a romantic evening. In the day time, it is great for anyone; families, couples or even solo travellers. No skate along the Rideau Canal is compl...

Victoria, located on  Vancouver Island , is the capital of British Columbia. It’s a great place to visit for the day, a weekend, or a longer getaway. There’s plenty to keep everyone busy—from award-winning gardens and museums to the best fish and chips you will ever eat. Keep reading to discover the 12 best things to do and see in British Columbia’s capital. Butchart Gardens Over one million people visit the world-famous Butchart Gardens annually. The National Historic Site of Canada is home to five main gardens: the Rose, Japanese, Italian, Mediterranean, and Sunken Gardens. The latter was the first project that the Butcharts developed many years ago, as it was previously a quarry. One of the best things about Butchart Gardens is that it looks impressive in every season, even in winter when they decorate with thousands of twinkling lights. Royal BC Museum The  Royal BC Museum , established in Victoria in 1886, is home to British Columbia’...

About 75 million years ago, dinosaurs roamed the region around Drumheller, at one time a vast inland lake with a tropical climate and lush vegetation. In 1884, by sheer chance, geologist J. B. Tyrrell stumbled across some dinosaur bones lying among the cacti and stones of the  Alberta Badlands  while in the region searching for coal. Quite unwittingly, Tyrell started the "great Canadian dinosaur-rush," with paleontologists and collectors from around the world streaming into the Badlands in their horse-drawn wagons to catch a piece of the action. Many of the dinosaur remains they dug up can be seen today in numerous museums in the area, across Canada, and around the world. To find out where best to see these amazing dinosaur sites and remains, as well as countless other things to do, be sure to refer to our list of the top tourist attractions in Drumheller. 1. Royal Tyrrell Museum The Royal Tyrrell Museum displays hundreds of fossils from its vast collectio...

Vancouver is an unusual mix of big city culture and laid back West Coast style. Surrounded by towering evergreens and the North Shore Mountain range, the view alone makes flying into Vancouver International Airport worth the visit. Capilano Suspension Bridge There is nowhere else in the world you can see a First Nations performance following a walk 70 meters above the Capilano river. Take a shuttle to the  Capilano Suspension Bridge  from downtown for free. Canada Place Built to look like a ship,  Canada Place  is one of the city's most iconic buildings. Take in the view of the port and city skyline. Stanley Park Bike, run, or simply wander the winding trails of  Stanley Park , a natural paradise almost entirely surrounding by water right in the heart of the city. Save on parking and take public transit. Vancouver Art Gallery The  Vancouver Art Gallery  offers ever-changing exhibitions, lectures and public events, as well a...

Being an Albertan, Banff is a place that is top on my vacation list whenever I want a quick getaway. Nestled in the crook of the  Canadian Rocky Mountains  128 kms west of  Calgary  is the picturesque town of Banff, Alta. Surrounded by what many consider the most spectacular scenery in North America, it was named after Canada’s first national park, in which it is a municipality.  Now surrounded by five other parks—Glacier, Jasper, Yoho, Waterton Lakes and Mount Revelstoke—Banff National Park was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1984. The Town: Banff Banff is a resort town in the province of Alberta, located within Banff National Park. The peaks of Mt. Rundle and Mt. Cascade, part of the Rocky Mountains, dominate its skyline. On Banff Avenue, the main thoroughfare, boutiques and restaurants mix with château-style hotels and souvenir shops. The surrounding 6,500 square kilometres of parkland are home to wildlife including elk and...