Canada Travel Guide
7/02/2008 at 9:30 AM
Tags: Music Travel, Hotels, Restaurants, Canada Travel, Summer Travel (all tags)
If you've never celebrated a quadricentennial before, get thee to Quebec City this weekend, because QC is turning 400.
Quebec has actually been celebrating all year long, but the big blowout is this Thursday through Sunday. To be honest, give the line-up of events, a three-day event may not have been necessary, let alone a whole year. There's the opening night party, featuring a show from Van Halen, ending with fireworks over the St. Lawrence River. After that, the offerings get a little less blockbuster, so you'll surely have a few hours to kill.
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by BS
7/01/2008 at 5:48 PM
Tags: Holidays, Canada Day, Canada Travel, Culture Travel (all tags)
We've been so focused on July 2 and July 4, we almost forgot that today's Canada Day. Happy 141st birthday!
To mark the day, Prime Minister Stephen Harper gave a speech at Peace Tower in Ottawa, and a formal flag-raising ceremony was also held on Parliament Hill.
There are some big things coming up for Canada this year: Quebec City will celebrate the 400th anniversary of its founding (two days from now!), British Columbia will turn 150 and Nova Scotia will celebrate 250 years of representative government. Parties: Always a good excuse for a visit!
Related Stories:
· Canada Day [Official Site]
· National Canada Day Celebrations Begin [CP, via Google]
· Parliament Hill Live Webcam [Official Site]
· Plan Your Canada Day [Ottawa Citizen]
· Canada Day [Wikipedia]
[Photo: etherflyer]
by pbb
6/23/2008 at 3:15 PM
Tags: Summer-Vacations-With-An-Edge, Active Travel, Outdoor Travel, Summer Travel, Canoing (all tags)
In these days of rampant global warming, the edgiest thing may be to head north and shun rising temps: Canoeing in the Quetico, Canada's side of Minnesota's Boundary Waters Canoe Area, is often chilly even at the height of summer. Luckily, the wildlife doesn't seem to mind.
You'll paddle alongside loons and moose instead of motorboats, which are banned in most areas of the park. Many of the park's lakes and rivers are not accessible by road, and carry-ins are tightly controlled to keep the backwoods pristine.
Shop around for an outfitter who has experience in getting the right permits to make sure no one bothers you as you live your voyageur dreams.
Related Stories
· Quetico Provincial Park [Ontario Parks]
· Switzerland by Bike. Or Foot. Or Canoe. [Jaunted]
· Summer Vacations with an Edge coverage [Jaunted]
[Photo: nothgierc]
by egw
6/17/2008 at 5:15 PM
Tags: Beaches, Crime, Canada Travel, Dangerous Travel (all tags)
Police are trying to figure out why human feet keep washing up on beaches along Canada's West Coast. Five severed feet have been found in an area south of Vancouver in the past year. The latest incident occurred on Monday at Westham Island.
The psycho responsible for the beached feet hasn't left many clues, and none of the body parts have been traced to their owners.
The foot that appeared on Monday was the first right foot to be involved in the mystery. The first four feet found were all chopped from people's left side. Perhaps there's a serial killer/performance artist out there in Canada who's trying to make some sort of political statement?
More likely, the foot-cutting psycho is probably a super-discerning foot fetishist with a beachfront condo. Either way, if you're visiting Vancouver any time soon it might be a good idea to wear closed toed shoes to avoid attracting any unwanted attention.
Related Stories
· Fifth Severed Foot Found on Canadian Coast [CNN]
· Canada Travel coverage [Jaunted]
[Foot photo: d-d-daisy]
by Hunter Walker
6/03/2008 at 4:00 PM
Tags: Gay Travel, Toronto, Toronto Pride, LGBT (all tags)
Looking to celebrate Pride Month out of town? Look into Pride Toronto, which is so much more than a march: Held June 20 to 29--that's right, over two weekends!--the citywide celebration includes such diverse events as a Mount Olympus-themed gala featuring comedian Sandra Bernhard, a party hosted by Limelight head honcho Peter Gatien and a ceremony to honor the Grand Marshal and co-chair of Jamaica's first LGBT organization.
As in many affairs of state, Canada has so far led the US as a whole in recognizing the rights of its gay and lesbian citizens, from a minister of justice's statement in 1969 that "the state has no place in the bedrooms of the nation" to legalizing same-sex marriage in 2005.
Toronto's first pride event was held in 1970, and the mayor himself will be in attendance this year.
Related Stories:
· Pride Toronto [Official Site]
· LGBT Travel coverage [Jaunted]
[Photo from Pride Toronto 2006: mangomargarita]
by egw
6/03/2008 at 12:00 PM
Tags: Celeb Travel, M.I.A., Rapper Travel, Music Travel (all tags)
Last week we asked someone, anyone, to marry British-Sri Lankan singer M.I.A. so she could stay in the US after her visa expires. And you came through! Ms. Arulpragasam is now engaged to rocker (and, we assume, Jaunted reader) Benjamin Brewer of the rock-reggae band The Exit.
Brewer's dad is the CEO of Warner Music Group, whose rival Universal put out M.I.A.'s last album. Should make for some awkward family dinners!
Catch M.I.A. in concert tonight in Montreal and later this month at Tennessee's Bonnaroo Music Festival. And sorry, scenesters, her Brooklyn show on Friday is already sold out.
Related stories:
· M.I.A.'s Eye-Bleedingly-Bright Page [MySpace]
· M.I.A. to Wed Bronfman Son [Canoe.ca]
· Deportation Travel: Marriage or Montreal For M.I.A. [Jaunted]
[Photo: ONTD]
by egw
5/30/2008 at 2:30 PM
Tags: Missed Connections, Museums, Restaurants, Bars (all tags)
Earlier this week we gently suggested that Tourisme Montreal provide an calendar for visitors to the Paris of Canada.
Hey, we here to help you out! If you want to find l'amour (ou le desir) over the border, our weekly picks for dating and mating avec Craigslist are good any day of the week. (Note: We browsed the listings in English because it's Friday... Désolé!)
Café Santropol :: A Guy Maddinesque interior sets off the sandwiches perfectly, while a girl or guy can see or be seen in the garden. 3990, St-Urbain
Museum of Contemporary Art :: Check out the Quebec Triennial in this boxy art plant, or catch an art-house flick. 185, Ste-Catherine Ouest
Foufs :: Don't be afraid to rock out alone at this "wild punk club." 87, Ste-Catherine Est
Related Stories:
· Missed Connections coverage [Jaunted]
· Montreal Hotels [HC]
[Photo: michelemarypeti]
by egw
5/29/2008 at 4:30 PM
Tags: Summer-Vacations-with-an-Edge, Ecotourism, Canada Travel, Adventure Travel, Summer Travel, Animals, Bears (all tags)
So checking out the wildlife at your local ski resort doesn't do it for you? That's where Great Bear Tours comes in.
The swanky outfit has its own floating wind-and-solar-powered lodge, which you can only reach via seaplane. On arrival, you'll be whisked away to your room--surprisingly complete with private bath. Depending on how much you want to see and how much you have to spend, you can stay for up to seven nights.
Each day you'll head out in a small group with a wildlife expert. You'll check out estuaries by kayak and inlets by boat, all in search of Yogi and friends. Best of all, when you return each night you'll be pampered with fine food and wine--no "pick-a-nick" basket meals here.
You have to get in touch for pricing info so you can bet your trip won't be cheap. But isn't it worth paying those professionals a little extra when wild animals are within striking distance? Better start listing your teddy bears on eBay now to fund your adventure.
Related Stories:
· Great Bear Tours [Official Site]
· Summer Vacations with an Edge coverage [Jaunted]
[Photo: chascar]
by kjb
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