Canada Holidays
Canada Luxury Hotels and Resorts
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Resorts in Canada
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Alberta
British Columbia
Nova Scotia
Ontario
Quebec
About Canada
Canada is the world's second largest nation geographically, separating the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Home to the jaw-dropping and beautiful Rockies,
high-rise cities, fascinating wildlife and the purest air one can ever breathe. Canada is officially bilingual, blending both the languages and cultures
of Britain and France, and the well-established native cultures, reflected in the cuisine and warmth of your welcome.
Guide to Canada
Beaches in Canada
The best beaches are to be found in Vancouver, of which they are 11 miles to choose from! You'll find quiet beaches at Locarno, Spanish Bank West
and Sunset Beach. Over at Kits (Kitsilano) Beach you'll be able to see the health-conscious put themselves through their paces by jogging, cycling,
and outdoor fitness classes or just sit back and enjoy the sandy beach. Third Beach has the advantage of a beautiful beach area as well as the
stunning Stanley Park.
Sports
Take part or simply watch; Lacrosse and ice hockey are popular weekend sports. For a slice of the action, water sports are on offer everywhere in Canada,
with 60% if the world's lakes and plenty of marine exploits available on the nation's rivers. There are lots of activities on land too, including
hiking and cycling in the Rockies in the west and around the lakes in the east.
Local tastes
When visiting East Canada the ice-wine and ice-cider is a must. Visit the large wine region in Ontario, where you can uncover the secrets of winemaking.
Being French-influenced, the cuisine in Quebec is outstanding and there are lots of food markets to tempt your taste buds. The food in the west is more
Asian influenced due to the old immigration routes. Vancouver's Chinatown is second largest to San Francisco in North America, and here you'll find
markets with all kinds of fresh, dried seafood and mushrooms. For those who favour some good red meat, try the prime Alberta beef.
Evening flavour
You'll find plenty of bars restaurants in all the main towns and cities, which offer a variety of nightlife experiences.
In Toronto, reserve a place at 360, the restaurant at the top of CN Tower, and get jaw-dropping panoramic views of the city whilst you enjoy an award
winning wine selection and fine regional cuisine. Try the Entertainment district with its theatres, restaurants and nightspots to keep you out and about
into the wee small hours!
The neighbourhood of Plateau Mont-Royal in Montreal, is a trendy place of curious architecture and shops, clubs, bars and restaurants.
In Quebec City, like the French, the Quebecois have a plethora of delicious eateries and many innovative new restaurants have been established in the
last few years. You'll find everything from Grill restaurants to seafood specialities and lots more. For classic French-Canadian fare, try the Restaurant
Panache on the St Lawrence River or La Fenouilliere, with a superb wine list.
British Columbia's seafood and local produce mean fantastic dining wherever you go, from typical Canadian to world ranging cuisine. Savour freshly caught
Pacific salmon while gazing over the ocean. Vancouver's Chinese, Indian and Japanese restaurants are wonderful. Head to historic Gastown, stroll the cobbled
streets and find some mouth-watering cuisine in modern urban surroundings.
In Calgary you'll find restaurants to suit all tastes. The River Cafe at Prince's Island Park is a beautiful setting for great, seasonal cuisine.
Best buys
Shopping is easy in Toronto, with a wealth of department stores, markets, boutiques and bazaars for you to choose from. Not only above ground either,
underneath downtown Toronto you can find PATH; 16 miles of underground shopping with over a thousand stores, restaurants and cades that connects to five
subway stations. The Fashion district in Chinatown, Yorkville, Kensington Market, the House of Spice and Queen Street West are popular options for picking
up a bargain.
In Ottawa, visit the historical Byward Market, the centre of boutique shopping, with stalls and shops selling food, flowers, clothes, books, art and more.
The Rideau Centre in downtown has over 180 stores and is the most popular destination for shippers but there are also the smaller Bayshore Shopping Centre
and Sparks Street Mall.
No trip to Eastern Canada would be complete without a wine tasting at one of the gorgeous vineyards in Ontario. The renowned Ice wine is worth every penny!
Experience the 'Underground' in a totally novel way in Montreal. You'll find the largest collection of subterranean shops and restaurants in the world - miles
and miles of them! They also connect to metro stations and give access to theatres, museums, galleries restaurants and cinemas. The downtown of Montreal is a
hub of shops and districts; the long Sainte-Catherine Street is a main attraction with its numerous places to eat, dance and shop across nearly the whole city.
Sherbrooke Street has many designer boutiques, whilst Chinatown offers authentic food and handmade goods.
In Quebec City, head to Lower Town where the area, once all but abandoned to shipping, is now home to antiques shops, boutiques all housed in converted 18th and 19th century buildings.
Vancouver's Robson Street has a huge mix of stores whilst Metropolis at Metrotown is the largest shopping centre in British Columbia. For the more unusual buys, try Granville Island.
Pedestrian only Whistler Village has a Farmer's Market every Sunday in the Upper Village where you can buy food, gifts and artwork. Look out for some First Nation's artwork, which takes
its influences from the nature around us.
There's no provincial sales tax in Alberta - so shop till you drop in Calgary and the other towns! In Calgary, Stephen Avenue Walk is a historic area of shops near to a major shopping
complex. Willow Park Village mall is a great little spot for boutique shopping, whilst the Chinook Centre is Calgary's largest shopping centre and includes an IMAX theatre. 'The Core'
consists of the Calgary Eaton Centre and TD Square, and mixes speciality stores with high street names.
Live the Experience
Toronto is a city of more than 100 languages and dialects so you're guaranteed a world-class experience. Every place you go there are new discoveries to be made. For those
with nerves of steel and head for heights, take a walk on the glass floor of the CN Tower and stare straight down to concrete pavements, 1,122ft directly below!
See Niagara Falls from a different perspective aboard the 'Maid of the Mist' boast ride available in the summer months, or go behind the Falls through a series of
tunnels for a wet and exhilarating experience.
One thing not to miss in Montreal is Mount Royal, 'The Mountain' that this city is named from. It can be found in the centre of the city and is surrounded with
beautiful grounds at the foot of the mountain with spectacular views from the top as well as St Joseph's Oratory.
In Quebec City, visit the oldest cathedral in North America, the Notre Dame de Quebec Basilica Cathedral. Spend time at one of the outdoor cafes simply watching the world go by;
try Place d'Armes in Upper Town, in the Quartier du Petit-Champlain in Lower Town, and along the Grande-Allee. Try some of the regional specialities at one of the eateries
- there's something for all tastes in Quebec!
Experience the real Canadian 'wild west' with a trip to the world famous Calgary Stampede and see the Grandstand show, the Rodeo and the Chuckwagon races.
Bear watching is truly a once in a lifetime experience. You can have the chance of seeing these legendary creatures during a holiday in British Columbia and Alberta. But don't get too close!
Search the majestic orca whales in the waters off Victoria on Vancouver Island. Get you cameras ready because you'll not want to miss out on this trip! Whilst in Victoria,
stop at the beautiful and historic Fairmont Empress hotel for a full tea service - you can't get more British!
Drive the route between Banff and Jasper - you won't be disappointed with the stunning views of the mountains and lakes. Watch the Athabasca Falls crashing through its tiny
gorge and see the natural ice sculptures at Sunwapta Falls. Take a snocoach over the Columbia Icefield Parkway.
When to go: The summer months are the best time to visit Canada when you are not hindered by snowfall, unless you're hitting the mountains for skiing and snow-boarding action!
GMT: Varies from -5 hours (Eastern) to -8 hours (Pacific).
Language: English
Currency: Canadian Dollars
Dates for the diary:
Victoria Day 19 May 08 and 09; Canada Day 1 July 08 and 09; Civic Holiday 4 Aug 08 and 3 Aug 09; Labour Day 1 Sep 08 and 7 Sep 09; Thanksgiving Day 13 Oct 08 and 12 Oct 09; Remembrance Day 11 Nov 08 and 09.
To check availability and view all Canada holidays, please use the Holiday Search.
