Canada Travelers Recommend

Are you looking for spectacular mountains, pristine snow, misty canyons or shopping til you drop into some natural hot springs? Banff is the place for you. Before throwing yourself into the wilds of nature, get to know Banff township – then you’ll have the perfect recovery plans after the next few days out adventuring. Banff has history, culture and plenty of places to shop and eat. For starters, those mountains create the most amazing backdrop while your stroll or dine. Take a city sightseeing tour to get oriented, then ride the gondolas – the Banff Gondola takes you to the top of Sulphur Mountain for incredible views, and the Lake Louise Gondola is a slightly longer ride with amazing panoramas. Meet the locals: grizzly bears. But best do it on a guided tour – these are wild and awesome animals. Or take an evening tour and see animals in the wild.

Since operating as a winter sports centre, some 40 years ago, Whistler has become one of the most popular ski resorts in North America. Travelling by train to Whistler? Step aboard the Whistler Mountaineer for one of Canada’s great train journeys: three-and-a-half hours of unparalleled scenery - Opt for the “Glacier Dome” to get a panorama view. Once there spend the day exploring Whistler’s Olympic Village, majestic forests of giant cedars and Shannon Falls – with a drop of over 335 meters – before returning to Vancouver by road. Or for a more tailored experience, take a private tour via the Sea to Sky Highway, part of Highway 99. Starting at the US border you’ll past the Lions Gate Bridge, Pacific coastline, Shannon Falls and Brandywine Falls before you reach Vancouver.

Not only is Toronto a fascinating destination in itself, it makes a great base for exploring Niagara Falls, just 80 miles (130 kilometers) away. This astonishing natural wonder straddling the US-Canadian border marks the dramatic halfway point of the Niagara River on its course from Lake Erie to Lake Ontario. A day trip takes you through scenic Niagara Peninsula before you arrive at the thundering waters. Take in this awe-inspiring sight over lunch before you get more intimately acquainted with the Horseshoe Falls. Depending on the time of year, you can take an exhilarating ride on the Maid of the Mist boat, with their famous blue raincoats ensuring you stay dry(ish). Otherwise, experience the roar and mist from a different angle on a walk behind the cascade. Or if you really want to get your heart racing, take the afternoon Whirlpool Jet Boat tour. After a panoramic view over Whirlpool Rapids, toast the formidable falls at a local winery on your way back to Toronto.

The capital of British Columbia is Victoria, a medium-size town of about 350,000 some 60 miles (100km) southwest of Vancouver. Best known for its lush gardens and ornate architecture, the city is an easy day trip from Vancouver. Cruise to Vancouver Island for a full day guided tour. Spend the day exploring Victoria including world-famous Butchart Gardens and one of the city's several excellent museums. Covering 55 acres (22 hectares) in a former limestone quarry, the Butchart Gardens are one of the world's premier floral show gardens. Take a scenic seaplane flight to the famous island for a leisurely day of sightseeing before returning to Vancouver by ferry. Enjoy panoramic views of the city and its surrounds as you get a birds eye view of from the sky. Splash down and spend the day exploring Victoria's quaint antique shops and cafes, as well as the historic alleys of the oldest China town in Canada.