When I was a child, I enjoyed traveling to various locations throughout my home country of Canada. In addition, I sometimes crossed over the Canada-USA border to visit some of the northern USA. Of course, that was way before passports started being required to travel between the USA and Canada. In any case, those holidays, or vacations, meant a lot to me and my family. These days, as an adult, I find my time being able to go on a vacation much more limited. Many of my friends here in Canada, along with friends in the USA and Australia, are in a similar situation. Sometimes, I think of how much stress there is in this fast paced world we live in. It would be nice to be able to simply get away and relax. Really relax. I imagine a lot of people worldwide need to go on vacation.
As a proud Canadian, I willingly admit that Canada is a country that is best known for its cold weather and winter activities. However, it is important to note that Canada is not cold and snowy year round. I have met some people who actually believe Canada is simply a frozen tundra, but this is simply not the case. In truth, Canada gets all four seasons. Yes, it is much colder and snowier the farther north you travel into Canada, especially within the Arctic Circle, but I do not know anyone who actually lives in this region. I live in the northern half of Canada, so it does get cold and snowy here. However, this area also gets nice, warm summers. Obviously, not as warm as in the USA, but certainly nothing to complain about. I have friends in the USA, for example, who like to kid me about living in an igloo. Of course, this not true. I do not take offence to this, because I know they mean it in good fun.
The Canadian Death Race is as extreme as it gets – it’s no wonder it’s named Canada’s toughest race – taking the average extreme racer or racing team something like 14 hours and 45 minutes to complete. You have 24 hours to complete it.
Aid stations are far and in between.
At $350.00 per head, racers can compete solo or in relay teams of two to five people. There are no refunds for chickens thinking of backing out.
I have had the pleasure and privilege of traveling to various provinces here in Canada. One province I have yet to visit, but definitely want to, is Nova Scotia. I have a friend who lives there and she absolutely loves it. Recently, Nova Scotia became the home to a new national park.
Sable Island, a crescent-shaped spit of land fabled for its wild horses and sand dunes, will be designated a national park, the Canadian and Nova Scotia governments announced on 18th May, 2010.
I recently learned of this vegetarian guide, which I think is a great idea. Hopefully, these types of guides for other parts of Canada will follow soon.
A new vegetarian directory lists over 100 restaurants, businesses and organizations in the Vancouver, British Columbia area.
It is available online at www.earthsave.ca/vegdirectory and is also being distributed to local tourist outlets and hotels.
Restaurants range from Greens and Gourmet on West Broadway – described in the directory as the city’s oldest and largest vegetarian buffet (homemade desserts include vegan cheesecake) – to Radha on Main Street in the eastside, a centre for yoga as well as vegetarian food.
Like millions of other people worldwide, I have long enjoyed the literary works of Mark Twain. I learned a lot about small town life in the USA and about life along the Mississippi River, in large part because of the Twain’s God given talent of “painting a picture with his words.” I have not been to Hannibal, Missouri, but if I get the chance to, I would love to visit the attractions that honour Twain. With the 100th anniversary of Twain’s death coming up later this month, it is a certainty that Hannibal will have quite a celebration and continue to welcome guests from all over the world.
Many years ago, about 30 years actually, I learned Frank Sinatra had resort in Lake Tahoe, Nevada. I not give it much thought, until learning recently that the resort may actually be closed for good. While I am not much for gambling, I one day hope to visit Las Vegas and/or Lake Tahoe. Based on what I have learned lately, a lot of changes have affected the gambling industry recently. Unfortunately, the unlucky streak continues for Sinatra’s casino resort.
Before the Las Vegas Strip ruled the gambling world, Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Jr. helped make the Cal Neva Lodge one of Nevada’s coolest casinos in the early 1960s.
I am hoping to visit some dear friends in the United States sometime during the summer. In the past, these friends have traveled to my home in northeastern Ontario. I have only crossed just over the Canada-USA border and that was years ago. Back then, the entry requirements were much different from today. These new requirements, unfortunately, have led to a noticeable decline in tourism between the USA and Canada. I certainly hope this situation will one day rebound, but I think the entry requirements are confusing to some, and perhaps also resented by others. It is a shame that tourism is down because the citizens are not visiting their neighbouring countries. This not only hurts the economies of both countries, it also affects the image of each country as first hand opportunities to learn about either the USA or Canada directly have become less common.
Canada is blessed with many wonderful national parks. I have primarily visited national parks in the eastern provinces Canada, including Ontario, Quebec, and New Brunswick. I hope to visit the western provinces of Canada some day. A definite “wish list” location is Banff, Alberta.
To me, Parks Canada proudly represents these lovely locations nationwide and has done so for many years.
Parks Canada will mark the 125th anniversary of Canada’s national parks system this year with a freebie.
On July 17 people will be allowed to visit parks, national historic sites and national marine conservation areas without having to pay a fee.
This is a photograph taken at the border crossing between the province of Alberta and the Northwest Territories in Canada. It was taken at the 60th parallel north. Here in Canada, there was also a really good television show produced in the 1990’s calledNorth of 60. North of 60 is one of my favourite television shows. It is highly regarded by many Canadians. In addition, the program has been shown in numerous other countries as well. Of course, living in and traveling north of the 60th parallel is the best way to learn about this part of the world. One of the biggest attractions is Arctic golf, especially during the months of June and July. If golf brings to mind the snowbird-filled expanses in Arizona or the dulcet southern-accented courses in North Carolina, you may be missing out on one of Canada’s hidden golf delights: arctic sun. That’s right, in June and July golfers can golf around the clock in the land where summer daylight never gives way to night. And golf is popular – if eclectic – north of 60º, with more than 25 courses to delight sports fans. Of course you have to watch out for the ravens – they sometimes steal the balls. Here are some of the highlights of Canada’s arctic golf scene: The Yellowknife Golf Club This club, which celebrated its 60th anniversary in 2008, has to be imbued with the spirit of golf. Fifty golfers first brought the game to Yellowknife in 1948, with the boyish sense of adventure and innovation that settled the country: members hauled an old DC-3 fuselage onto the smooth Precambrian rock and used it as the first clubhouse. Legends surround the course – there are reports of ravens stealing balls, and visits by the occasional black bear over the years. But as its website reads, “We have yet to lose a golfer.” Visitors are welcomed at the club, whose most famous tournament is the Canadian North Midnight Classic, played on the June 21st weekend of each year. Golfers tee off at midnight and play as long as they can – in 1970, Sandy Hutchinson made club history with 171 holes of golf played during a 33.5 hour marathon. The course is carved out of the Canadian Shield: a sand golf course of eighteen holes, set among beautiful Jack pines and beside Long Lake. Mountain View Golf Course Mountain View Golf Course, located in the city of Whitehorse, offers an eighteen hole course containing three sets of tees, rolling tree-lined fairways, scenic views, and a variety of tournaments, including their own midnight sun event. Other events include the Peter Gzowski Invitational, the Klondike Cup (which includes the Meadow Lakes course), and the longest-running stroke play tournament in the Yukon – the Coca-Cola championship. Ulukhaktok Golf CourseUlukhaktok has one of the oldest golf histories in the North. In 1969 a trader for the Hudson’s Bay Company named Billy Joss brought the game to the community, playing out on the ice by himself. By 1983 golf had become popular enough that when the community received funding for recreational facilities, they spent the money on a golf course, establishing the world’s most northern course. Of course it brings its challenges – golfers sometimes have to putt around a muskox. The course is located right on the tundra, with specially crafted woven mats provided for teeing off. Each summer the Billy Joss Open Celebrity Golf Tournament is held in the third week of July, and has included participants from the Edmonton Oilers, and Alison Gzowski who continues her father’s tradition of participating in golf tournaments to raise funds for literacy programmes in the north. The three-day tournament includes both day and night golfing, again under the 24-hr sun. Hay River Golf and Country ClubThe Hay River golf course is the only grass course north of 60º. Hay River is located south of Yellowknife, across the Great Slave Lake. It is a nine-hole course and includes a clubhouse. If you have not had a chance to travel north of the 60th parallel, please do so. It is definitely a unique, worthwhile experience. Bon Voyage! Credit: 50plus.net
This is a photograph taken at the border crossing between the province of Alberta and the Northwest Territories in Canada. It was taken at the