The natural wonders of Canada

Sierra, May-June, 2003 by Kris Radish

The dancing glow of the northern lights. Quiet days where time seems to stretch endlessly across open fields, past long, winding rivers. Mountains that kiss the clouds and beckon with welcoming whispers. Snorkeling excursions where whales brush against divers' hips. Historic festivals that sing of a past rich with adventure and passion. Ancient forests where a human voice is seldom heard.

It is hard to imagine destination that offers more than the scenic, wild, and wonderful lands of Canada. If adventure and natural beauty that is as breathtaking as it is awe-inspiring is your idea of paradise--your paradise is surely in Canada.

WILDERNESS ADVENTURES--A TOUCH OF THE PAST--A PARADISE FOR THE SENSES

Amazing Alberta offers travelers with an adventurous heart thousands of chances to explore a world where national parks, camping, bird-watching, water sports, car travel, and outdoor recreation abound. They are as accessible as the many benefits of its sophisticated cities whose indoor and outdoor attractions are world-class.

Free vacation guides and travel planning information for Alberta can be obtained via a simple phone call, 1-800-661-8888, or by tapping into an extensive and detailed Web site, www.TravelAlberta.com. Alberta travel experts can help you design a trip to Canada that is guaranteed to please.

Jim Stevens, an outdoor adventure expert from Eureka!, manufacturer of tents, packs, and outdoor gear, knows how to get intrepid travelers from one end of Alberta to the other in comfortable style. He says weather in Canada can be as extreme as the gorgeous scenery and it's best to be prepared.

"Canada offers the outdoor adventurer a myriad of experiences, from the rugged coastlines of the east, to the lakes and forests of the central Canadian Shield, from the spectacular mountains of the west to the pristine expanse of the arctic wilderness," explains Stevens, who outfits hundreds of Canada adventurers each year. "In Canada you can travel to destinations where you will feel as if you are the first human ever to visit the land--and maybe you are."

Alberta's wilderness opens the door to a rugged era where bold pioneers blazed remarkable trails. The flavor of an important part of Alberta's past and present can be found by traveling The Cowboy Trail, www.thecowboytrail.com. This unique trail, accessible by car, canoe, or foot, offers visitors a glimpse of cattle ranches where cowboys still work the herds, a place where bears, wolves and cougar still roam freely, and where campgrounds, cozy lodges, and historic sites beckon.

Five of Canada's World Heritage sites are in Alberta. Discover the stunning views of Banff-Jasper National Park, Waterton-Glacier National Park, Head-Smashed Buffalo-Jump, and Dinosaur Provincial Park by contacting Travel Alberta experts at 1-800-661-8888. There are also five national and 60 provincial parks for travelers who understand the importance of natural beauty and ecological preservation.

Stevens advises outdoor enthusiasts to check with regional travel and tourist associations, and especially with outfitters and retailers accustomed to Canada's terrain. "All Eureka![R] tents are constructed to be stable in wind and rain, and have multiple guy-line attachments to allow for added security in inclement weather," he says. "They are dry, tough, go up fast, and are designed to suit the Canadian landscape."

Alberta's cities and villages are not to be outdone by its wilderness regions. These Canadian gems offer a range of social, educational, and artistic experiences where fine dining, museums, and rich cultural heritage echo Canada's unique past and bright future.

In Manitoba, visitors will find diverse landscapes: The terrain varies from a scenic arctic coastline to inland forests, across desert dunes and into the gradual rise of hills that climb to the ledges of mountains.

Planning ahead with www.travelmanitoba.com and by calling 1-800-665-0040 can make your Canadian vacation a memorable adventure.

Snorkeling with beluga whales in the waters of Hudson Bay is a once-in-a-lifetime activity. It allows intrepid travelers the chance to swim with thousands of 900-pound whales who love to play with adventurous swimmers.

The art galleries, museums, zoos, and restaurants in cultured Winnipeg, www.tourism.winnipeg.mb.ca, have much to offer. The Winnipeg Art Gallery holds the largest collection of Inuit art in the world. Young travelers will enjoy touring the Assiniboine Park Zoo where a statue of Winnie-the-Pooh, named after Winnipeg, greets all animal lovers.

Anywhere away from the manmade lights in Manitoba is a perfect spot to watch the amazing northern lights. A slow hike close to Baldy Mountain at Duck Mountain Provincial Park, where glaciers receded 10,000 years ago, is a perfect way to end a day sampling Manitoba's natural wonders.

Water lovers will find a paradise in Manitoba, www.manitobaparks.com, where waterways like the Hayes River offer boaters views of historic campsites, forests, and fur trading outposts. Extreme wilderness lovers can venture onto the Seal River, north of Winnipeg, where 7,000-year-old artifacts have been discovered and where human faces are few and far between. Here is one place where Stevens's advice, a sturdy Camp Trails[R] backpack, that tough Eureka![R] tent, and a durable Old Town[R] canoe will quickly become your best friends.