Page 13 - Carrier Magazine in partnership with Full Circle Travel

12 Inspiration Spotlight on Canada 13

River spills out into a majestic fjord. Just 20 ROCKY ROAD
Clockwise from left
tents with wooden floors, wood burning stoves The Canadian Rockies need little introduction.
Vancouver skyline; American black bear; and viewing decks rock a rustic-chic vibe. Solo Spanning British Colombia and Alberta, their
tents at Clayoquot Wilderness
travellers, couples and families all love this tented four national parks (Banff, Yoho, Kootenay and
eco safari that wholeheartedly embraces the great Jasper) offer up gasp-inducing scenery. This is
outdoors. Set out on a wilderness adventure and destination road trip: pick up a car, put on the
go fishing, horse riding and mountain biking, tunes, turn them up and put your foot on the gas.
or witness the post-card perfect views from the Explore the high alpine meadows, jade lakes and
comfort of a kayak. Explore the deserted islands weird and wonderful rock formations. Climb
on Clayoquot Sound and see eagles soar. Get mountains, paddle rivers and gawp at glaciers. At
acquainted with the rest of Clayoquot’s rural the heart of Banff National Park is the turquoise-
residents by watching the sea lions bask and tinted, almost ethereal Lake Louise. Known
perhaps if you’re lucky, spot a black bear and its as the ‘Jewel of the Rockies’ it stands in an
cub. Knight Inlet Lodge has also lucked out on amphitheatre of rugged mountains, reflected on
location, a floating haven of outback experiences its surface. Bedding down at Fairmont Chateau
and wildlife spotting. Only accessible by Lake Louise is a no brainer. Ultra-luxe in every
floatplane, it’s considered one of the best places way, it is also brilliantly situated for hiking.
in the world to see grizzly bears in action. In peak Alpine-style teahouses surround Lake Louise,
season it’s not uncommon for up to 40 bears to perfect for refueling trekkers with scones and
be within 10 kilometres of the hotel, so there are steaming mugs of tea and hot chocolate. There’s
photo opportunities worth a thousand souvenirs. a brilliant trek starting just behind the Fairmont
Whale watching from the lodge is another that climbs 3.5 kilometres up to the secluded
popular pursuit worth ticking off your bucket Lake Agnes Tea House. The path winds through
list, as well as sea kayaking, inlet cruising and thick forest and opens out into spectacular vistas
hiking the rainforests. If that’s not wild enough, a of snow-capped peaks. Take a breather at the
brilliant add-on to any western Canadian journey shimmering Mirror Lake before making the
Celebrating is an Alaskan cruise. There are a host of options final ascent. The views are worth the effort. For
150 years including Silversea’s remote itineraries taking the less energetic you can hop on a gondola up
This year the Canadian you far into the Inside Passage. 2017 also sees Mount Whitehorn to gaze over mountains, lakes
calendar is jam-packed Seabourn return to Alaska after a 15-year break. and forests or for total wow factor explore by
with cool events. Here’s a Seabourn Soujourn is offering 11, 12 and 14 day helicopter and reach places few others ever get
handful of 2017 highlights. all-inclusive itineraries from Vancouver, through to. Drive on to Jasper National Park (bigger and
the Queen Charlotte Sound, Misty Fjords and less crowded than Banff), it offers superb hiking,
Calgary Stampede Rodeo
is dubbed ‘the greatest Behm Narrows: simply awe-inspiring. riding, rock climbing and rafting
The world’s second-biggest country, spread on ‘the world’s best places to live’ lists. If you’re outdoor show on earth’
across six time zones, Canada has a blow-your- not about to emigrate anytime soon, it’s also up and it won’t disappoint.
mind vastness and mind-boggling diversity. there on best places to visit. Mountains meet sea A brilliant family affair it’s
There’s not just an enormity of landmass, there’s meet skyscrapers meet nature: Vancouver has a on from 07 to 16 July.
an enormity of landscape: sky-high mountains, little bit of everything. Throw in nine beaches, Montreal Jazz Festival
glinting glaciers, ancient forests of pine, cedar a buzzing cultural scene and a reputation as is one of the best in the
and spruce, remote beaches, gin-clear lakes, Canada’s flourishing foodie destination, you’d world. There are more than
undulating prairies, eerily silent fjords and be mad not to hang out here for a couple of 500 shows (many free).
crashing surf – in a word, Canada’s scenery is days. Vancouver is also gateway to Vancouver Catch some tunes between
epic. This is one of the world’s great wildernesses, Island, a mini Canada in the Pacific Ocean, 28 June and 08 July.
where nature is at its most forceful, a place rugged with a perspective-changing nature. Don some oversized
that provides once-in-a-lifetime adventures. Explore remote beaches backed by forests of sunnies and go celeb
The wildlife viewing is memory bank material: moss-covered maple trees; listen to the surf spotting at Toronto’s star-
polar bears, grizzlies, whales and moose, bald crashing; breathe in the salty air and if you’re studded Film Festival
eagles, elk and dolphins in their podfuls. From visiting during March, witness the migration of (07 to 17 September).
the Canadian Rockies and countless national thousands of grey whales heading north. Inland Shakespeare and general
parks (all free for 2017) to remote islands home you’ll stumble across crystal-clear streams that theatre lovers should
to dreamy eco lodges; from the jaw-dropping tumble into waterfalls and mountains rising up head to Toronto for the
Niagara Falls to the windswept eastern coast and above sapphire lakes. Quiet and unhurried, this Stratford Festival. The
some of the world’s best ski resorts, we step inside island is quite simply, good for the soul. Over the season runs between April
this beguiling land to bring you a snapshot of years, brilliant eco lodges have understatedly and October.
destination Canada. appeared, with some of the best wildlife viewing Cape Breton Island
on their doorsteps. Book into either Clayoquot comes alive with events
GO WEST Wilderness Resort or Knight Inlet Lodge for and activities during
Canada is made for road tripping and where best once-in-a-lifetime adventures. Clayoquot is 45 Celtic Colours (06 to 14 Above & right
to start than vibrant Vancouver? A ten hour flight minutes by floatplane from Vancouver and has October); a brilliant time Spotting whales; Moraine Lake
from the UK, this west coast city is a regular nabbed a jaw-dropping spot where the Bedwell to visit Nova Scotia. surrounded by the Rocky Mountains

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