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Rockies By Rail: Western Canada's Splendor |
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Program Number: |
3748RJ |
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| Start
and End Dates: |
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| Duration: |
11 nights |
| Location: |
Calgary, Alberta
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| Price starting at: |
$3,997.00 - Price may vary based on date, departure city |
| Program Type:
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Train Treks; On the Road; Independent City Discoveries
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| Meals: |
29;
11 Breakfasts, 10 Lunches, 8 Dinners |
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| Meal
Options: |
Vegetarian; Gluten Free |
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Experience the wonder of the rugged, beautiful Canadian Rockies in Alberta and British Columbia. Ride the Rocky Mountaineer train past the tallest mountains in the Rockies. Journey through the Valley of a Thousand Peaks to the “Gold Pan City” of Quesnel. Follow the banks of the Fraser River past stunning lakes and coastal rainforest to the legendary resort town of Whistler. Complete your adventure with three nights in the cosmopolitan coastal city of Vancouver.
Highlights
• Enjoy some of the world’s most magnificent stretches of railway aboard the Rocky Mountaineer.
• Ride a glass-enclosed gondola to the peak of Sulphur Mountain for spectacular, 360-degree views of the Rockies.
• Journey along the famed Icefields Parkway through the heart of the Canadian Rockies.
Activity Particulars
Walking up to two miles per day; some uneven terrain. Elevations of 4,500 feet.
Date Specific Information
6-13-2013, 7-18-2013, 8-22-2013, 9-5-2013, 9-12-2013, 5-22-2014, 6-19-2014
Enjoy the latest in hearing technology — listening devices — on this date.
Itinerary Summary
Arrival Calgary, 1 night; coach to Banff, 3 nights; coach to Jasper, 2 nights; train to Quesnel, 1 night; train to Whistler, 1 night; train to Vancouver, 3 nights; departure.
Coordinated by Routes to Learning Canada.
Calgary
A dynamic metropolis that blends big-city energy with outstanding outdoor adventures, Calgary offers a wealth of cultural and historical attractions, world-renowned festivals, and a prime location close to mountain trails, rolling foothills and the desert badlands.
Jasper
Located within a national park, the municipality of Jasper shares its governance with the Parks Canada Agency. Born as a fur-trade supply depot in the early 1800s, the 4,000-resident town benefits from the nearly 3 million visitors that pass through Jasper National Park annually.
Banff
A storied gateway to Banff National Park — with more than 25 mountain peaks towering over 8,000 feet — Banff welcomes adventurers and nature-lovers to take in the alpine wonders and colorful history of the Canadian Rockies.
Whistler
This resort town in the southern Pacific Ranges of British Columbia attracts more than 2 million visitors annually, nearly all of them drawn by the world-class skiing and snowboarding of Whistler Blackcomb. Annually ranked among North America’s best winter sports destinations, Whistler hosted most events of the highly praised 2010 Winter Olympics.
Vancouver (British Columbia)
Outdoor enthusiasts flock to Vancouver for its breathtaking hiking and biking trails and majestic views of the tree-lined waterway, the Strait of Georgia. With distinctive neighborhoods, top-rated restaurants and a thriving theater and arts scene, Vancouver is also a sophisticated destination. It is renowned as one of the world’s best cities.
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Accommodations
Calgary: Modern hotel. Banff: Family-owned hotel in Banff National Park. Jasper: Jasper National Park hotel. Quesnel: Comfortable hotel. Whistler: Eco-friendly hotel in Whistler Village. Vancouver: Hotel on English Bay.
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| Road Scholar Instructors | | These instructors are participating on at least one date of this program. Please note that changes may occur. | Anne Williams
| | Educated as a geologist, Anne Williams founded The Jasper Naturalist in 1998, and has been sharing the wonders of Jasper, Banff and Yoho national parks with curious learners ever since. Since making Jasper her home in 1989, Anne has built back-country trails, worked as a professional ski patroller and monitored wildlife movement. She has also aided in running Jasper’s MAPS bird banding station and the park’s caribou recovery strategy. | | | | Ben Gadd
| | Ben Gadd is one of Canada’s better-known naturalists and Rockies writers. Author of the ground-breaking “Handbook of the Canadian Rockies,” Ben has written eight other books and contributed to several more. His novel, “Raven’s End,” has become a prize-winning Canadian best-seller. Ben has received three Banff Mountain Book Festival awards for his work. Educated as a geologist, Ben has pursued a career mainly in natural history, including a stint as a Parks Canada naturalist. He has also taught writing at the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology and Grant MacEwan College. For nearly 30 years, he has worked in the summer as a freelance interpretive guide — he is one of only six master guides in Canada’s professional Interpretive Guides Association — and in the winter as a writer and sought-after lecturer on Rockies topics. Heard frequently on CBC radio, Ben has also appeared in many television items and several documentaries on the Rockies. | | | | John Atkin
| | John Atkin is an author, historian and heritage advocate who has been fascinated with Vancouver since moving to the city over 30 years ago. He if the co-founder of the Heritage Vancouver Society, has contributed to a documentary on the city, and has appeared regularly on television and radio, including CBC Television and CTV’s Canada AM. John is the author of four books on Vancouver, including “Strathcona: Vancouver’s First Neighborhood,” and is an editor for the B.C. Historical Federation. | | | |
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Meals and Lodgings |
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Best Western Plus Port O'Call Calgary Airport Hotel |
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Calgary, Alberta |
1 night
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Irwin's Mountain Inn |
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Banff, Alberta |
3 nights
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Amethyst Lodge |
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Jasper, Alberta |
2 nights
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Sandman Hotel Quesnel |
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Quesnel, British Columbia |
1 night
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Listel Whistler Hotel |
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Whistler, British Columbia |
1 night
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Best Western Sands by the Sea |
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Vancouver, BC |
3 nights
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| Best Western Plus Port O'Call Calgary Airport Hotel |
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Type: |
Full Service Hotel |
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Description: |
BEST WESTERN PLUS Port O' Call Calgary Airport Hotel is conveniently located only 3.72 miles (6 kms) from the Calgary International and also provides easy access to downtown Calgary, a number of Calgary attractions and Banff National Park. In addition, the hotel also features complimentary wireless Internet, an indoor pool, New Water Park featuring two slides, extensive fitness room, and several onsite restaurants for your convenience. |
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Contact
info: |
1935 McKnight Blvd N.E.
Calgary, AB T2E 6V4 Canada
phone: 403-291-4600
web: www.bwportocallhotel.com/
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Room amenities: |
All hotel rooms have cable television with in-room movies, voicemail, irons, coffee makers and hair dryers. High speed Internet is available upon request. |
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Facility amenities: |
• Complimentary shuttle to/from Calgary Airport
• Indoor pool
• Hot tub - Whirlpool
• Exercise facility
• Squash courts
• Barber/beauty shop
• Gift Shop
• Dry cleaning
• Guest laundry
• High-speed Internet access
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Smoking allowed: |
No |
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Elevators available: |
Yes |
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Additional nights prior: |
Call for availability & rates. Contact hotel directly. |
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Check in time: |
3:00 PM |
| Irwin's Mountain Inn |
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Type: |
Hotel |
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Description: |
Family owned and operated for over thirty years, Irwin's Mountain Inn was completely reconstructed by the fall of 1995 making the property one of Banff's newer accommodations. Originally built in 1967 by Paul and Elizabeth Irwin with their two sons, Arlen and Larry, Irwin's Motor Inn was recognized as one of the best values in Banff. With farming as their previous livelihood, the Irwins extended the same hospitality to their guests at the motel as was characteristic of the way they greeted and treated visitors and friends to their farm. A tradition of hospitality and friendliness was established in those early years and the Management to this day still endeavors to live up to Paul and Elizabeth's example in the service and quality of comfort they provide guests to Irwin's Mountain Inn. The name has changed and three times the motel has undergone major rebuilding phases, but the standard of excellence in hospitality that Paul and Elizabeth Irwin exemplified over thirty years ago still serves as the benchmark for the next generation of Irwins that share in the ownership and management of the Irwin's Mountain Inn. |
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Contact
info: |
429 Banff Avenue
Banff, AB T1L 1B2 Canada
phone: 403-762-4566
web: www.irwinsmountaininn.com
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Room amenities: |
Satellite TV and movie channel |
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Facility amenities: |
Fitness centre, coin laundry, small gift shop, sauna and steam room, 10 person jetted pool, games room, massage therapy and is located within walking distance of downtown. |
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Smoking allowed: |
No |
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Elevators available: |
Yes |
| Amethyst Lodge |
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Type: |
Lodge |
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Description: |
The Amethyst Lodge is close to the center of Jasper and just a short walk from rail and bus terminals, museums and art galleries. Enjoy amazing wildlife viewing and unspoiled wilderness within blocks of your Jasper home. |
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Contact
info: |
200 Connaught Drive
Jasper,, AB T0E 1E0 Canada
phone: 780-852-3394
web: www.mpljasper.com/hotels/amethyst_lodge/index.html
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Room amenities: |
Includes complimentary in-room coffee, hair dryers, cable television. |
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Facility amenities: |
The lodge offers a number of amenities for your convenience, including two outdoor hot tubs, high speed Internet access in Business Center, wheelchair accessible rooms are available, restaurant and lounge, and a coin-operated laundry facility nearby. |
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Smoking allowed: |
No |
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Elevators available: |
Yes |
| Sandman Hotel Quesnel |
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Type: |
Full Service Hotel |
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Description: |
The Sandman Hotel Quesnel is centrally located just off Hwy 97, just blocks from the town center. |
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Contact
info: |
940 Chew Road
Quesnel, BC V2J 6R8 Canada
phone: 250-747-3511
web: www.sandmanhotels.com/en/hotel/bc/quesnel
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Room amenities: |
Complimentary in-room coffee and tea, hairdryers, iron and ironing boards available. |
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Facility amenities: |
106 guest rooms, fitness facilities, indoor pool and whirlpool, high speed internet access available, business center, Denny's 24 hour Restaurant with room service, Shark Club Bar and Grill. |
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Smoking allowed: |
No |
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Elevators available: |
Yes |
| Listel Whistler Hotel |
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Type: |
Full Service Hotel |
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Description: |
Celebrating 20 years as one of Whistler’s favorite destinations. Less than 200 yards from the base of the mountains, we are a short walk away from skiing, shopping and dining. The Listel Hotel offers 98 deluxe non-smoking guest rooms. |
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Contact
info: |
4121 Village Green
Whistler, BC V0N 1B4 Canada
phone: 604-790-9043
web: www.listelhotel.com
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Room amenities: |
Luxurious down duvets, hairdryer, fridge, color TV, clock radio, coffee/tea, iron/ironing board, in room safe, Wireless-Wi-Fi Internet system available – minimal charge. High speed Ethernet Internet connections are available. |
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Facility amenities: |
Bistro and wine bar, outdoor open-air Jacuzzi, heated, outdoor pool, saunas, coin-operated laundry, fax & photocopy facilities (minimal charge), High speed Internet. Ethernet and Wi-Fi available. Minimal charges apply. |
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Smoking allowed: |
No |
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Elevators available: |
Yes |
| Best Western Sands by the Sea |
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Type: |
Full Service Hotel |
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Description: |
Best Western Sands by the Sea is conveniently located one half block from the beach at beautiful English Bay and three blocks from Stanley Park's 1,000 acres of trails and gardens. Three bus routes stop at the front door for easy access to other parts of town. |
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Contact
info: |
1755 Davie Street
Vancouver, BC V6G 1W5 Canada
phone: 604-682-1831
web: www.bestwesternsandshotelvancouver.com/
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Room amenities: |
In-room coffee makers, iron and ironing board, hair dryers. |
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Facility amenities: |
Hotel amenities include a sauna and exercise room. Same-day dry-cleaning and laundry service is available, and there is a laundromat six blocks from the hotel. Restaurant and 2 bars on site. |
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Smoking allowed: |
No |
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Elevators available: |
Yes |
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Additional nights after: |
Call for availability & rates. Please contact the hotel directly on your own OR if you require personal assistance contact Cleland Travel toll free at 1-888-905-5959. A service fee MAY apply. |
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Check out time: |
12:00 PM |
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The prices listed for commercial services and facilities that are not included in the program cost, such as airport shuttles or extra nights lodging, are subject to change without notice. Since Road Scholar cannot guarantee the accuracy of these prices, we strongly suggest contacting the companies directly for the most up-to-date information.
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Day 3: |
Geology of Banff Presentation/Cave and Basin National Historic Site/Sulphur Mountain Gondola
(Saturday, August 24)
Note: Please note, the elevation at the top of Sulphur Mountain is 8,041 ft (2,451m).
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| Breakfast: | Breakfast at your hotel. | | Morning: | PRESENTATION: Geology of Banff. During a presentation by an interpretive guide on the geology of the Banff area, you will learn what natural forces formed this rugged landscape and the differences between the Front Ranges and the Main Ranges. Between 100 and 150 million years ago, shifting tectonic plates caused western North America to buckle, break and bow upward, forming the Rocky Mountains. At the same time, the heavier and thinner Oceanic Plate was sliding beneath the Continental Plate. Some of it melted, surging back to the surface as volcanoes. This created the coastal ranges of British Columbia, Washington and Oregon. Geologists call this band of volcanic activity “The Ring of Fire,” and some believe that this uplift still continues today.
FIELD TRIP: Cave and Basin. For generations, warm waters percolating through Sulphur Mountain were used for ceremonial purposes. In 1883, the same hot springs were rediscovered by CPR railway workers, and the notion to protect natural and cultural treasures in Canada was born shortly thereafter. Meet with a Parks Canada expert and learn about the birthplace of Canada's National Park system. | | Lunch: | Lunch at a local restaurant. | | Afternoon: | EXCURSION: Sulphur Mountain Gondola. Before lunch, take an excursion up Sulphur Mountain in a four-passenger, glass-enclosed gondola (weather permitting). This activity will reinforce what you have learned during this morning's presentation. Please note: you will experience elevations above 10,000 feet. Along the way, you will have a 360-degree view of the breathtaking beauty of the Rockies. Bring your camera along, you will be amazed at the view from the top! | | Dinner: | Dinner on your own to explore local fare. | | Evening: | Explore Banff on your own, remain with the Group Leader or relax at your hotel or the Hot Springs. | |
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Day 5: |
Bow Lake/Athabasca Glacier and Falls/Columbia Icefield/Jasper
(Monday, August 26)
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| Breakfast: | Breakfast at your hotel. | | Morning: | FIELD TRIP & PRESENTATION: The Icefields Parkway and Glaciers.
Depart for Jasper. En route, a local interpretive guide will tell you about the glaciers of the Icefields Parkway. Learn how the remnants of the last Ice Age left behind this magnificent landscape, and discover the flora and fauna of this mountainous region. Continuing north along the Icefields Parkway, considered one of the most scenic highways in the world, you will visit Bow Lake, the Columbia Icefield and the Athabasca Glacier and Falls. At the Columbia Icefield Interpretive Centre, you will learn all about this impressive geological feature. The Icefields are the largest accumulation of ice and snow in the Canadian Rockies, covering an area of nearly 125 square miles (325 square km) and straddling the Continental Divide with an average elevation of 25,480 square kilometers (9,800 square miles). The Icefields feed eight major glaciers, including the Athabasca, Dome and Stutfield glaciers, all of which you will see along the way. The Icefields lie on the boundary between Banff and Jasper National Parks, and their meltwaters flow to three of Canada's largest river systems and eventually to three oceans: the Pacific, Atlantic and Arctic. There is only one other such watershed in the world, and that is in Siberia. | | Lunch: | Boxed lunch en route | | Afternoon: | Arrive in Jasper late afternoon; check into the hotel and freshen up before dinner.
Jasper lies in the center of Jasper National Park, deep in the heart of the Canadian Rockies, and it is known around the world for its rugged beauty. It is also a renowned, world-class resort town that has many attractions, yet it retains its small-town feel. Its distance from large urban centers and its relatively intact ecology give you a real sense of the early days in the Rockies. | | Dinner: | Dinner at your hotel | | Evening: | Free evening to rest after a long day of travelling. | |
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| Accommodations: |
Amethyst Lodge |
| Meals
Included: |
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner |
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Day 6: |
Pyramid Lake/Maligne Canyon/Yellowhead Museum/The History of Jasper
(Tuesday, August 27)
Note: Please note, the day's field trip may include up to 2 guided walks, no more than 1 mile (1.5 km) each in length on paved or improved/maintained trails.
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| Breakfast: | Breakfast at your hotel | | Morning: | FIELD TRIP & PRESENTATION: Jasper National Park.
Depart for a field trip in the nearby area, stopping at Pyramid Lake and Patricia Lake, and Maligne Canyon (weather permitting). En route, a Jasper naturalist will discuss the ecology of Jasper National Park. The Maligne Canyon trail is rich in natural history, with impressive geologic features and wildlife. Search for fossils and find out how this deep canyon formed during glacial ages and how Maligne Canyon may not be a true canyon! The tall pine covered forests of these wilderness areas are home to an abundance of mountain goats, elk, moose, and bears. Scenic trails let you explore the spectacular vantage points, flower meadows, and sapphire blue mountain lakes. | | Lunch: | Lunch at your hotel | | Afternoon: | OPTIONAL EXCURSION: Jasper - Yellowhead Museum.
Enjoy an optional excursion to the Jasper -Yellowhead Museum and Archives, where you can explore the history of the Jasper-Yellowhead corridor from its earliest visitors 10,000 years ago to the present day. The Historical Gallery includes exhibits on the fur trade, the pioneers, the railways, early tourism in Jasper National Park and the town of Jasper. Spend some free time exploring the town on your own or relaxing at your hotel. | | Dinner: | Dinner at your hotel. | | Evening: | PRESENTATION: The History of Jasper, presented by a Jasper naturalist. | |
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| Accommodations: |
Amethyst Lodge |
| Meals
Included: |
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner |
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Day 7: |
Rocky Mountaineer to Quesnel
(Wednesday, August 28)
Note: NOTE: Today you will travel by train from Jasper to Quesnel – Redleaf Service. Take only your small overnight bag on the train with you (it will be stored under your seat or overhead) and ensure that you carry all medications on board with you. Pack what you will need for the two full days and one night. You will not have access to your large luggage during this time; it will be checked through to Whistler. Small overnight bag not to exceed 23 cm x 92 cm x 46 cm or 9”x36”x18”.
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| Breakfast: | Breakfast served at your seat on the train. | | Morning: | Rocky Mountaineer Train to Quesnel.
Please note: Pack only what you will need for the next two full days and nights. Due to space limitations onboard the Rocky Mountaineer your main luggage will be checked through to Vancouver. You won't have access to your main luggage during this time.
Depart for the train station and board the Rocky Mountaineer, Red Leaf Service, bound for Quesnel. From the comfort of your roomy, reclining seat enjoy and experience the spectacular scenery through large picture windows. Train attendants will provide interpretive commentary. You will travel from Jasper to Quesnel through the Rocky Mountain Trench and past Mount Robson, at 13,000 feet (3,954 meters) the highest peak in the Canadian Rockies. The train will travel around the base of Mount Robson where the track is approximately 4,000 ft. above sea level. Other highlights will include Yellowhead Pass, Moose Lake and the Fraser River.
| | Lunch: | Cold lunch served at your seat | | Afternoon: | Arrive in Quesnel in the early evening. Transfer from the railway station to the hotel; check into the hotel.
Quesnel (pronounced /kwe-NELL) is a small city that is part of the Cariboo District of British Columbia, Canada. Quesnel is nestled in between the Fraser River and the Quesnel River just before they join and become the Fraser River. Located nearly evenly between the cities of Prince George and Williams Lake, it is on the main route to northern British Columbia and the Yukon. It is claimed to be home to one of the world's largest gold pans (disputed by Nome, Alaska and others). Quesnel is sister city to Shiraoi, Japan and Val-d'Or, Quebec. Quesnel hosted the 2000 British Columbia Winter Games, an annual provincial amateur sports competition. To the east of Quesnel lie Wells-Gray, Barkerville, and Bowron Lake Provincial Park, a popular canoeing destination in the Cariboo Mountains.
| | Dinner: | Dinner on your own in Quesnel | | Evening: | Free evening to explore Quesnel or relax at your hotel. | |
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Free Time Opportunities |
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| Calgary, Alberta |
Calgary Zoo
From the splendour of the Rocky Mountains to the heart of Destination Africa, The Calgary Zoo takes you to see over 1,000 animals from around the world. Trek through the gorilla’s rainforest, safari over the Savannah to watch the hippos swim, or climb the Canadian Wilds for a grizzly bear encounter! Finish your world tour with a trip back in time in the Prehistoric Park or soothe your senses in nearly 6 acres of our Botanical Gardens. Relax in the new ENMAX Conservatory and enjoy the butterflies and seasonal displays. For additional information, visit www.calgaryzoo.com/
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Canada Olympic Park/Sports Hall of Fame
No visit to the Calgary is complete without a visit to WinSport’s Canada Olympic Park, the most visible legacy from the 1988 Games. WinSport has taken the Olympic legacy to new heights with the goal of becoming a world-class Winter Sport Institute and helping Canadian athletes reach the podium at World Cup events and the Olympic Games.
In the summer, a visit to Canada Olympic Park is the perfect tonic for adrenaline junkies! Rush down North America’s fastest zipline, reaching speeds of up to 140 km/h from the top of the 90m Ski Jump Tower, or rumble down the sliding track at 100 km/h in a four-man summer bobsleigh. (Advance booking required, please call 403.247.5452).
Guests can also ride more than 25 km of mountain bike trails, enjoy a scenic round of 18 hole mini-golf, or strap on the skates at Calgary’s newest Ice Complex and home of Hockey Canada.
If you’re looking for a more relaxed visit at the Park, take a tour of the iconic 90 meter Ski Jump Tower, which has graced the Calgary skyline for 25 years. Or celebrate Canadian sports history with a visit to Canada’s Sports Hall of Fame, which features 520 inducted sports legends and more than 1,000 artifacts from a vast array of sports.
Canada Olympic Park has something for everyone, and with more than a dozen sports organizations making their home at WinSport Canada, you just never know when you’ll run into a past, present or future Olympian. For additional information, visit www.winsportcanada.ca/facilities/cop.cfm
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Fort Calgary
The heart of Calgary is red ...the scarlet red of the North West Mounted Police tunic. When the NWMP built their fort at the confluence of the Bow and Elbow Rivers in 1875, they laid the foundations for the city we enjoy today. They came to bring law and order to the west, to stamp out the whiskey trade, and to befriend the First Nations peoples in preparation for the treaties that would open the land for settlement. The hopes, dreams and values of that time are still evident in the city we enjoy today. Fort Calgary is located just east of downtown Calgary on a 40-acre site.
For additional information, visit www.fortcalgary.com/
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Heritage Park
Step back in time and experience hands-on history, visit with the friendly costumed townsfolk, tour 180 historical exhibits and relive the past through a huge collection of working antiques and artifacts. Explore the far corners of the Park and:
-Tour the Railway Car Shop- packed full of Canada’s rail treasures,
-Explore a replica of an 1860s Hudson’s Bay Company Fur Trading Fort,
-Make bannock in the Aboriginal Encampment,
-Visit the original home of Sam Livingston in the 1880s rustic pre-railway settlement,
-Churn old-fashioned ice cream on the porch of the Burnside Ranch House,
-Shop, eat and play in the bustling 1910 prairie railroad town.
-Ride an authentic steam train, cruise on Calgary’s only paddlewheeler and tour the Park on a horse-drawn wagon. For additional information, visit www.heritagepark.ca/index.php
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| Vancouver, BC |
Capilano Suspension Bridge
Voices from Vancouver’s past mingle with the sounds of nature, beautiful gardens skirt colourful totem poles, British Columbia First Nations artisans chisel legend into cedar and Capilano Suspension Bridge takes you to the serenity of a West Coast rainforest. Cross the suspension bridge, try out Canada’s award-winning tourist attraction, Treetops Adventure which offers a squirrel’s eye view of a thriving coastal rainforest in the mid-story of 1300-year-old old growth Douglas-firs; or take the Cliffwalk with a labyrinth-like series of narrow cantilevered bridges, stairs and platforms. For additional information, visit www.capbridge.com
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Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden
Step back in time to 15th Century China at the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden. The first of its kind outside of China, the Garden offers a glimpse into life as a Chinese scholar during the Ming dynasty. Scholars lived and worked in their gardens, sharing these enchanting spaces with friends and family of all ages. Like any home, a scholar's garden was filled with energy, but also offered quiet moments for contemplation.
As a bridge between cultures, the Garden offers lively demonstrations, Chinese festival celebrations and diverse art exhibitions. We also feature musical concerts such as the summer Enchanted Evenings Concert series.
For additional information, visit www.vancouverchinesegarden.com/
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Granville Island
Early in the morning, the first Aquabus of the day putters across False Creek, heading towards Granville Island. Home to 300 businesses, studios and facilities, the destination still retains an old-fashioned, timeless feeling. Craftsmen and artists take up residence here, and it's clear that the tradition of apprenticeship and mastery is alive and well. You can see it in the detail of a ceramic bowl or the gentle curve of a freshly blown glass vase, the intricacy of a piece of jewellery or the flick of a painter's brush.
Granville Island's charming public market overflows with fresh produce, breads, seafood and a bounty of other goods is reason enough to visit Granville Island. Be sure to also stroll the narrow lanes of the island to check out its unique shops and photo-worthy views of downtown across False Creek. Street music is one of the most distinctive characteristics of Granville Island. Singer/songwriters strum away in open courtyards, drum circles form out of nowhere, and a clear strain of a melody from violin or saxophone melody often seems to make its way to the ears of an unsuspecting visitor For additional information, visit www.granvilleisland.com/discover-island/visitors-guide
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Harbour Cruise
Vancouver's best sightseeing, dining and special event cruises. Join Vancouver's most popular Sunset Dinner Cruise, an amazing opportunity to enjoy the fabulous sunset view. Enjoy Vancouver's only authentic paddlewheeler and narrated tour of the inner harbour or relax with Indian Arm Luncheon Cruise through a secluded mountain fjord. A unique experience, since the area is only accessible by boat, in 4 hours you will pass Deep Cove to Indian Arm and finally reach Silver Falls. For additional information, visit www.boatcruises.com/
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Vancouver Museum
The Vancouver Museum houses permanent displays, exhibitions and educational programs about the natural, cultural and human history of the Vancouver region. Canada's largest civic museum moves into its second century, it continues to explore the human and natural history of the Vancouver region, the Pacific Northwest Coast and Pacific Rim with exciting, ever-changing new exhibitions. The Vancouver Museum continues to celebrate the rich legacy and heritage of our diverse multicultural society through varied programs. For additional information, visit www.vanmuseum.bc.ca/index.htm
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| Banff, Alberta |
Banff Hot Springs
All the amenities of a modern facility are featured in this splendid, historic spa and bath house – against a backdrop of spectacular alpine scenery. Luxuriate in the comfort of soothing hot water where travelers have come to “take the waters” for more than a century. For additional information, visit www.canadianrockies.net/hotpools.html
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Banff Park Museum
The Banff Park Museum is a national historic site because the museum's original exhibit collection reflect and commemorate an early approach to the interpretation of natural history in Canada. Also, the architectural style and detailing of the 1903 log building are characteristic examples of early federal buildings in the Park.
The museum displays an extensive collection of natural history specimens (more than 5,000) which are characteristic of early museum practices. The emphasis is on changes in attitudes toward natural resource management. Although the building, the collection, and the grounds have been modified over time in response to the demands of the day, the developments and treatments are "in keeping" with the historical significance of the building and collections themselves.
For additional information, visit www.pc.gc.ca/eng/lhn-nhs/ab/banff/natcul.aspx
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Lake Minnewanka Cruise
Lake Minnewanka (home of the 'Banff Crasher Squirrel') lies in the heart of the Canadian Rockies in Banff National Park, just a short 15 minute drive from the townsite of Banff. Banff Lake Cruise provides a unique sightseeing tour experience on one of two 43 passenger Lake Cruisers or the 65 passenger Alberta Explorer operating several times daily from mid-May to mid-October. This magnificent interpretive lake cruise of Minnewanka and the scenic Canadian Rockies is 1 hour and provides unique photo opportunities unavailable elsewhere. Our experienced crew will guide you through this rugged paradise richly steeped in history, native folklore and geology. The narration is intriguing, entertaining and informative. You will learn about the wildlife and vegetation that inhabit these mountains, the early explorers who named them and the tremendous forces that created them. The Lake Minnewanka valley offers some of the most interesting and spectacular scenery found anywhere in the Canadian Rockies For additional information, visit http://www.explorerockies.com/minnewanka/
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The Banff Centre
A globally respected arts, cultural, and educational institution and conference facility, The Banff Centre is a leader in the development and promotion of creative work in the arts, sciences, business, and the environment. It is the largest arts and creativity incubator on the planet. Over 8,000* artists, leaders, and researchers from across Canada and around the world participate in programs at The Banff Centre every year. Through its multidisciplinary programming, The Banff Centre provides them with the support they need to create, to develop solutions, and to make the impossible possible. For additional information, visit www.banffcentre.ca/
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