Countless travellers see Canada as a kind of ‘home away from home’ – a comforting notion for first time travellers and reassuring to those constantly on the move. Though unlike your native land and anywhere else in the world, Canada has a few tricks up its sleeve to keep you feeling miles from anything familiar or within close reach!
As the second largest country in the world with 10 provinces and 3 territories, Canada is no hop-skip-and-a-jump. Taking weeks rather than days to explore the country’s massive 10 million square kilometres of land, you’ll have to embrace the Canadian ‘can-do’ attitude and conquer it one step at a time.
You’ve probably heard of the Rocky Mountains or the ‘Rockies’ that steal miles of the country’s undisturbed and undeveloped landscape. Locals living in the closest city, Calgary, Alberta, 180km northeast of these majestic mountains, are Banff-crazy for Banff National Park, the oldest national park in Canada, while equally breath taking, Jasper National Park is a four-hour drive north from Banff or a day trip from British Columbia’s capital city, Vancouver. Despite the time taken to trek to each park, these natural wonders are well worth the lengthy car or bus ride, especially during Canada’s winter months of October to March, when heli-skiing, snowboarding and tobogganing spring into action!
Though if you’re not alpine-savvy, there’s no need to feel like you’re missing out! Heaps of snow-free activities such as camping, boating, hiking, bike-riding or roller blading will keep you on your toes. A rewarding journey for the extremely patient or those with time on their hands is a wonderful train trip with Via Rail from Vancouver eastward towards the cities of Toronto and Ontario. Front row seats of slowly changing scenery will allow you to un-wind and relax. Chugging along the richness of this land is a delectable treat to savour with each click of the tracks below.