As anyone who had a TV during the last Winter Olympics knows, Whistler can hold its own amongst the world's best ski areas. But there are more ways to see the mountains than just zooming down them in a snow suit. Here are four ways to get a whole new perspective.
Golf Cart The valley floor slumbers under dramatic snowy mountain peaks, emerging fresh and ready for play in the summer. Whistler's four signature golf courses welcome players of all levels, offering a more relaxed—though no less challenging—test of athletic skills. "Stay + Play" are golf packages offered through many local accommodations.
What’s the best way to get a stellar view of the great Niagara Falls? By soaring with the birds, of course. If there’s every a time you don’t want to forget your camera, boarding a helicopter bound for the peaks of the majestic falls is one of them. National Helicopters Inc. will also take you high above the Great Lakes Canal, Niagara vineyards, wineries, Botanical Gardens, the Niagara River Rapids, and the fascinating whirlpool. The 20-minute flight is an experience you won’t get from a paved walkway and a plastic raincoat.
With over 200 runs spread across two mountains, a virtually unanimous ranking as the best all-around skiing destination in North America, and praise from skiers of every level—from beginners to double-black-diamond experts—it's hard to trump British Columbia's Whistler/Blackcomb resort. The ambitious, however, should focus on an airborne assault of this alpine region. Canada is the North American forerunner in heli-ski facilities, and the Whistler/Blackcomb region is certainly at the top of its game. Helicopters whisk strong intermediate and expert skiers up into the surrounding Rocky Mountains for the endless untracked powder. The average run is 2,000 vertical feet, but can vary from 1,400 to 5,000 vertical feet.
Whistler Heli-skiing Ltd. has operated in the area for 20 years. The company operates two helicopters, one mainly for veteran heli-skiers or private parties, another for intermediate to advanced skiers and novice heli-skiers. Coast Range Heli-skiing also operates in the Whistler-Pemberton region, 25 minutes north of Whistler Ski Resort on Highway 99. If you can handle a blue (intermediate) run on the resort (you can cut parallel turns as a skier and handle deep powder as a snowboarder), you’re golden—your skills are strong enough for a heli-ski expedition.
With scenery as stunning as the three great waterfalls of Niagara, romance is never hard to come by—at least, if that's what you want. Here are ten romantic experiences waiting for you at Niagara Falls.
1. Wine taste along the Niagara Wine Trail, stopping for photo ops and maybe a picnic if the weather is nice.
2. Hunt for antiques and unique accents for your home in the shops of historic Lewiston, Olcott, and Lockport.
3. Soar in a helicopter above the falls—a ride like this is always better when you have someone else to hold onto.
Maybe it's the weather, maybe the inland location—whatever the case, Toronto gets a bad rap. It's sometimes thought of as a stodgy city, but Canadians can tell you, there's more culture here than almost anywhere in the Northwest. Toronto loves its filmmakers, musicians, artists, and chefs...and celebrates them as often as possible, with events and happenings like the highlighted ones below.
Toronto International Film Festival and the Toronto International Art Fair bring this city into the world spotlight, as celebrities, industry movers-and-shakers, and fans of all types flock to the festival sites...and the media follow. Every city has a film festival these days; the trick is convincing Hollywood to attend—and they do attend this one, in great numbers. However if you don't care about spotting Sandra Bullock or Michael Moore, and you've got kids, you may want to plan a trip around the Sprockets Toronto International Film Festival for Children—one of Toronto's top 30 events, and definitely not something you can find in every city.
In 1885, Banff National Park was named Canada’s first national park, and the world’s third. As the second largest national park in Canada behind Japer National Park, Banff’s rugged terrain consisting of 2,564 square miles (6,641 square kilometers) is a prime backdrop to an adventurous holiday. From snow-capped peaks to flowing rivers, visitors can go rafting, hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, or just simply take in the scenery.
Banff National Park's Bow Valley holds some of the continent's most spectacular scenery and treasured wildlife. It's also one of North America's few parks with a major freeway running through it. In the past decade, however, an innovative combo of highway fences and ecopassages have been put in place to help wildlife stay away from the highway and find food, mates, and safe haven through a series of tunnels and overpasses.
Photo Credit: Bow Valley, Banff National Park (courtesy, Travel Alberta)
Montréal, an island city on the St. Lawrence River, is bilingual (French and English), multicultural, and full of fun for families. For kids much of the spirit of the city is found outdoors. Start exploring in Old Montréal, where the town was founded in 1642. Stroll the narrow streets of this historic area lined with 19th-century buildings, many turned into art galleries and cafés. Jugglers, mimes, face painters, and other street performers enliven Place Jacques-Cartier, the area's central square.
