Happy 150th Birthday, Canada!
Originally published July 1, 2017 - foreveryoungwny.com - Jennifer Merrick
In honour of Canada’s sesquicentennial (just as hard to pronounce as it is to spell), I’d like to share with you seven places in Canada that hold a special place in my heart. I’ve deliberately left out some of the more common destinations. Of course, Vancouver is beautiful with its ocean and mountain views. Magnifique describes Montreal and Quebec City, known for their French flavours, festivals, and combination of old world and modern ambience. Our biggest metropolis, Toronto, and our cozy capital, Ottawa, offer a smorgasbord of cultural and culinary attractions. Banff and Jasper national parks in the Rockies are wilderness wonderlands, as are the rugged lakes and forests of Ontario’s Algonquin Park.
All attractive places to visit, but if you wander off the beaten track a little, you’ll be rewarded with beauty without crowds and a chance to discover a little more about the place us Canucks call home.
Golden, British Columbia
The small town of Golden, British Columbia, situated in the Columbia Valley between the Rockies to the east and the Columbia Mountains to the west has no fewer than six national parks within a two-hour drive: Banff, Jasper, Yoho, Kootenay, Glacier, and Mount Revelstoke. After a recent visit filled with hikes, wildlife sightings, friendly people, and, most of all, the ever-present mountains, it was hard to even think about getting on a plane home. Golden highlights included a visit to Glacier, Canada’s second largest national park and home to the historic Rogers Pass, a route discovered in 1881 through the “impenetrable peaks” that now connects our nation from coast to coast. Kayaking the Columbia Wetlands on water so still it reflected the mountains around us was an unforgettable moment, as was the view from the top of Kicking Horse Resort, which is also the location of Eagle’s Eye, Canada’s highest restaurant.
Lastly, don’t miss Yoho National Park with its natural attractions like Takakkaw Falls, one of the highest waterfalls in western Canada, and Lake O’Hara and Emerald Lake, famed for their shimmering jewel-like colours.