The ultimate Canadian summer vacation awaits in Edmonton and Jasper. With 18 hours of daily sunlight in North America’s northernmost metropolis, you can pack your days with city fun before heading into the mountains for a restorative outdoor adventure in the spectacular Jasper National Park.
Day 1: Feed your belly and your soul
Plan to arrive in Edmonton feeling hungry (and maybe a little thirsty, too). It’s patio season in the city, so join the locals for a beverage and a tasty meal in the sunshine…
There’s a saying in Vancouver: the west coast is the best coast. Join the locals strolling along the city’s iconic seawall and you’ll soon agree. There’s a special kind of magic where the towering forests of Stanley Park meet the sparkling waters of English Bay and the North Shore Mountains beckon just beyond Alaska-bound cruise ships sailing under the Lions Gate Bridge.
Vancouver is a city of neighbourhoods, each with its own unique culture and feel, leaving you spoiled for choice as you craft your perfect summer holiday experience. With British Airways new summer flight to Vancouver, flying from London Gatwick up to six times per week, it’s easier than ever to escape to this Pacific Coast jewel nestled between the mountains and the sea.
Here’s the perfect plan for getting to know Vancouver’s diverse neighbourhoods, from cobblestones to coffee shops and everything in between…
As the snow melts and the country emerges from winter hibernation, festival season swings into gear from coast to coast. But here’s a little secret for the rest of Canada: In Edmonton, festival season lasts all year. There’s no settling in for a long winter’s nap here – there are more festivals in Alberta’s capital than there are weeks in the year, and the city’s been alive with festivals celebrating lights, arts, culture and sport all winter through…
The gold rush poet Robert W. Service is best known for tales of hardscrabble life in the Klondike. But like everyone who makes it to the Yukon, he was awed by the stark, stunning beauty of the land, writing:
“It’s the beauty that thrills me with wonder,
It’s the stillness that fills me with peace.”
As 2023 marks the 125th anniversary of the Klondike Gold Rush, there’s no better time to seek out the magic and mystery of these lands…
Air Canada welcomed Vancouver travel trade professionals to an event at the Fairmont Pacific Rim hotel that was packed with updates on Wednesday (April 12), including a restructuring at Air Canada Vacations (ACV) and the retirement of Lucie Guillemette, executive vice-president and chief commercial officer, after 36 years with the airline…
It was a pleasure to work with my long-time client Fresh Air Productions on the 2023 Harley Owners Group™ Membership Guide. In addition to copy-editing the full guide, I wrote the ride descriptions for 10 epic Canadian rides – one for each province – as recommended by local riding experts in the regions.
It’s a beautiful project and such a fun way to show off the landscapes of this country.
Perched at the top of Canada, the Yukon is well known as a prime destination for spotting the elusive Northern Lights. But there’s much more to this unique territory than its spectacular skies.
In this four-day itinerary, you’ll experience vibrant city life, explore the snowy backcountry and get to know the locals while making plenty of time to gaze into the spectacular depths of every northern winter night…
Fall has been a time for learning since we laced up our first back-to-school shoes. This year, Whistler’s Cornucopia invites you to open your mind – and your palate – to fresh ideas and inspiration at signature events, chef’s demonstrations, delicious winery dinners and educational drink seminars. Made for the epicurious, Whistler’s fall festival of food and drink takes place November 4 to 6, 10 to 20 and 25 to 27…
Don’t confuse Vancouver’s West End with the West Side (across False Creek) or West Vancouver (a different city altogether); you’ll find this trendy neighbourhood on the city’s downtown peninsula, just south of Coal Harbour. Once a quiet enclave for the elite, the West End is now boisterous. Davie Village serves as home base for the city’s LGBTQ+ community (be sure to pop into the historic Little Sister’s Book & Art Emporium for some queer lit) and you’ll find bars serving all types of folks along Davie Street. For restaurants and retail, you can’t beat Denman and Robson Streets. Robson skews high-end, while Denman is the place for hole-in-the-wall eats. But the real colour here is provided by mother nature in the form of 405-hectare Stanley Park and the aptly named Sunset Beach.
The perfect day Wake up at The Burrard, a ’50s motel converted into a hip boutique pad with a palm-filled courtyard. Grab a cruiser bike and head for the seawall, pausing at Tartine Bread and Pies for pastries. Ride all the way around Stanley Park, then make your way to Kingyo on Denman Street for fabulous Japanese small plates before dancing the night away at Celebrities: Vancouver’s biggest gay nightclub.
Plan your trip Don’t miss Vancouver’s annual Pride Festival, one of North America’s largest. Weeks of parties and events culminate in a Pride Parade that draws upwards of 100,000 people to the West End. As if that wasn’t enough, Pride overlaps with the Celebration of Light, the world’s longest-running offshore fireworks competition, held at the end of July at English Bay.
