Attractions

Want to go on an icy ride in the heart of Canada’s glacier country? Would you like to walk on a glacier? I did  both on a Columbia Icefield Glacier Experience near Jasper National Park in Alberta, Canada.

The Ice Explorer lurched onto Athabasca Glacier as the giant Terra tires gripped the ice. When the 56-passenger snow vehicle stopped, I walked out onto the glacial ice to discover an uneven surface that revealed a living, breathing sheet of frozen water.

There are plenty of places in the world where you can view glaciers. In Alaska, travelers observe the frozen fingers of ice from the deck of a cruise ship. Seeing the Franz Josef and Fox Glacier in New Zealand requries a hike that ends close to the terminus of the glacial sheets of ice. But in Canada, the easy journey to Athabasca Glacier via Ice Explorer takes you directly onto the glacier’s surface.

When I boarded the Ice Explorer at the Columbia Icefield Visitor’s Center, I looked across at Athabasca Glacier as it flowed like an icy tongue from the Columbia Icefield. During the 90-minute ride, a driver-guide told me that the 8 glaciers of the Columbia Icefield provide meltwater that eventually flows into three oceans—Arctic, Atlantic and Pacific. But the highlight was slip-sliding on the glacier’s ancient surface with my own two feet.

That early October afternoon, I felt like a child riding on a giant bouncy bus. The real children on my tour enjoyed it too. And the photographers snapped away at the glacier’s white expanse reflected against a deep blue sky.

After a day of sight-seeing on the Icefields Parkway by car or bus, the journey up Athabasca Glacier provided a fun break.

If you go:
Columbia Icefield Glacier Experience
Tour operates every 15-30 minutes from April to October
2010 rates: Adult (16+) $49.00 and Child (6-15) $24.00

Review by Donna L. Hull, My Itchy Travel Feet

All photos by Donna L. Hull

I visited Montreal, Quebec, Canada, recently. I was only there for one night which was painful because I know that the city offers so much to see and do. Whether you’re into the arts, restaurants, music, museums or nature, Montreal truly has something for everyone – and that’s not me being cliche and cheesy.

Check out the following things to do in Montreal – we’ve gathered the best of the best!

1. Montreal Botanical Gardens

Huge and beautiful – and you don’t have to be a plant lover to enjoy the gorgeous landscaped grounds!

Montreal Botanical Gardens

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Olympic Countdown Clock

With less than three months to go before the 2010 Winter Olympics begin in Vancouver, British Columbia, excitement is high in Canada. If you are considering a trip to Vancouver for the 2010 Winter Games, here are some tips to help you plan your adventure:

Buying Winter Games Tickets:

Check out Tourism Vancouver for information on purchasing event tickets. If you are not Canadian, you will need to purchase event tickets through your country’s National Olympic Committee or official ticket agent – International Ticket Sales.

Accommodations during the Winter Games:

Again, Tourism Vancouver has a great page devoted to information about booking accommodations during the Olympics. Events are held in Vancouver, as well as Whistler, so be sure you know what you would like to see and plan your accommodations accordingly.

Attractions outside the Olympics:

Yes, it is possible, you might go to Vancouver and decide you need a little time away from the games! Rest assured, there are loads of attractions in Vancouver, especially in the winter. Tourism Vancouver offers information on many of the different things to do in Vancouver, including sports, entertainment and cultural attractions.

Related posts:

Butchart Gardens, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada
Sutton Place, Family Friendly Hotel in Downtown Vancouver
Exploring Granville Island, Vancouver, Canada

Photo courtesy of Gudrun Enger, Kitchen Gadget Girl Cooks.

CN Tower in Toronto, Canada

I visited Toronto, Canada last week, and I was so busy with work that I didn’t actually have a chance to go up the CN Tower. The view from the ground was impressive though! I’ll definitely go up the tower on my next trip, especially since it’s not as expensive as I thought. It’s $28 to go up the tower, test out your fear of heights on the glass floor and then zoom up 34 more stories in Sky Pod to the tallest level on the tower – yikes. It’s only $23 if you want to skip the Sky Pod. (Don’t worry about that glass floor – it can apparently take on 14 large hippos without breaking. Good to know!)

And, if you’re in the mood to spend some money on a lovely lunch or dinner, check out 360 The Restaurant, which offers, as you might guess, 360 degree views of Toronto – and the restaurant revolves, too!  The site says that “elevation is complimentary with the purchase of a main course,” which I assume means that your ticket price is comped.

If you’ve got kids with you, they might enjoy seeing one of the movies offered or the Himalamazon motion theater ride.

Be sure to check out the tower at night – it’s beautifully lit up!

Photo: Jenny Bengen

Fanshawe Pioneer Village in London, Ontario, Canada

London, Ontario is one of Canada’s most charming destinations. London has many worthwhile attractions and things to do year-round; the challenge is choosing between activities if you’re short on time! London, Ontario is smack in the middle of Ontario’s Shakespeare County, and as the name implies, you will find lovely, old-world style streets, quaint shops and a thriving performing arts and cultural scene. The next time you’re in London, Ontario, be sure to check out some of the following – if you’re a history buff, you’ll be especially thrilled:

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West Edmonton Mall Wave Pool - The World's Largest Indoor Wave Pool

West Edmonton Mall in Alberta, Canada, is absolutely huge. It’s the largest in North America and the fifth largest in the world. At 3.8 million square feet, this mall has everything you might ever need for a trip to the mall: two  hotels in case you’re too tired to drive back home after shopping  (Fantasy Land Hotel and the West Edmonton Mall Inn), a water park complete with a gigantic wave pool (the world’s largest), the world’s largest indoor amusement park, an ice skating rink,  a marine life exhibit and a theme park with roller coasters.

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Of course, the major draw of Granville Island, at least for my kids, was the opportunity to take a water taxi from downtown ($3 for adults, kids 1/2 price). For me, the major draw was the opportunity to visit the Public Market.

Taking the Water Taxi to Granville Island

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Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

Nestled between two of Canada’s most beautiful national Parks, Jasper National Park and Elk Island, Edmonton Canada’s sixth-largest metropolitan city and is the second largest city in Albert, second only to Calgary. Just over 780,000 people call this beautiful city home, and it’s no surprise why – there is plenty to see and do in Edmonton! Whether you’re stopping by for a weekend or a week, check out some of the following sights to get a flavor of what Edmonton has to offer.

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One of the best days on our recent trip was spent biking along the seawall and through Stanley Park. We rented bikes from Reckless Bikes in Yale Town and rode up along Sunset Beach and English Bay, into Stanley Park, and back around along Coal Harbor.

Riding around Coal Harbour Quay

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Manitoba Children's Museum

Once upon a time, we had four preschoolers and decided that a vacation to Canada (Winnipeg, to be exact) was a good way to spend some family time together, not too far away from home.

Our first stop upon arriving in the fair city was the Manitoba Children’s Museum.  With four kids, how could it not be at the top of our list?  It was the first children’s museum we’d visited beyond the walls of the Minnesota Children’s Museum in St. Paul, and we had a grand time there.

The Manitoba Children’s Museum is located in The Forks area of Winnipeg.  The Forks is a gathering place at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers, and has a visitor center, restaurants, and shops as well as the children’s museum and outdoor activities. Read More »