Canadian Journey | Canadian travel, maps, plane tickets, deals, vacation packages in Canada, and what to see in Canada

Review: Maid of the Mist

Niagara Falls is one of the top vacation spots in all of Canada. There are numerous attractions for you to partake in while staying in Niagara Falls. With so many tourist attractions, it might be hard for you to get around to everything. So if you only get to try a handful of tourist attractions, at least make sure that the Maid of the Mist is one of the ones that you do get around to checking out.

When riding on the Maid of the Mist, you get the opportunity to fully feel the greatness of the waterfall. You get to hear the roaring of the water. Plus you get to feel the mist of the water. Furthermore, you get the chance to see the waterfall real up close.

Due to the popularity of the Maid of the Mist, you are almost guaranteed to have to wait in line. Luckily, you won’t have to wait all that long because the boats depart several times within an hour. So don’t get too worried about the wait.

Personally, I have had the fortunate chance to ride the Maid of the Mist. It was my most memorable experience while vacationing in the Niagara Falls area. The experience was nothing like anything else that I have ever experienced.

As expected, I did get a little wet while riding the Maid of the Mist. However, I did not get soaked. That’s all thanks to the complimentary poncho that was given to me prior to boarding the boat.

Niagara Falls’ Bird Kingdom

Niagara Falls is a place of endless fun. There is even something in Niagara Falls for animal lovers. That is the Bird Kingdom. It is a place where you can come to see exotic birds and more.

The Bird Kingdom has managed to win the title of Attraction of the Year for four consectuive years. People love coming there to see the great collection of birds. There are more than 400 birds there, and they are all allowed to fly with total freedom.

At the Bird Kingdom, there exists a small aviary that is preserved for the tiniest of birds. In fact, the birds are so small that you can actually fit a half dozen of them in the palm of your hand. These tiny birds are all very rare in nature, due to the fact that they are on the endangered list. Enjoy the opportunity to view them at the Bird Kingdom!

In the Encounter Room, exotic creatures are there for you to interact with. There are birds that can talk and snakes that are very large. Plus there are also tortoises and lizards.

Nocturnal animals are interesting creatures. In the wild, they only come out at night. So it is not easy to see them active in their natural habitat. However, at the Bird Kingdom, the nocturnal animals are always up and active during opening hours. That is because the Bird Kingdom has managed to reverse their internal clock. So be prepared to see bats and owls moving around actively.

Tour with the Vancouver Trolley City Tour

Are you looking for a way to get around the city of Vancouver without having to drive a car? Then you are in need of a ticket for the Hop-On, Hop-Off Tour from the Vancouver Trolley Company. Right now, you are in luck, because buying a 1-day ticket will get you the second day of riding the Vancouver Trolley for free.

The Vancouver Trolley makes it painless for you to tour Vancouver’s biggest tourist attractions. Just about all of Vancouver’s famed attractions are included as a stop on either the red or blue loop of the Hop-On, Hop-Off Tour. Plus there is free commentary about the attractions from your Vancouver Trolley guide, making it easy for you to understand and appreciate the various city attractions.

Both the red loop and the blue loop are included in your ticket for the Hop-On, Hop-Off Tour. The red loop starts at the iconic Canada Place. Then it goes to the beautiful Rose Gardens. Next is a stop at the Vancouver Aquarium. Ever seen Totem Poles? Well, you’ll definitely come across it on the red loop’s next stop. Want a great view of Vancouver? Get off at the Prospect Point stop. Want a quiet day at the beach? Try the stop at False Creek Ferries. Along the way, the red loop also makes stops at various hotels and restaurants like the Westin Bayshore, Fish House, Teahouse Restaurant, and Sutton Place Hotel.

The blue loop also starts at Canada Place, but then it goes on to an art gallery. Then it takes you to Vanier Park, Maritime Museum, Granville Island, Edgewater Casino, Chinatown, and the Police Museum. The blue line’s final stop is the Waterfront Station.

Tips for Visiting the Wineries in Wine Country

Ontario has a lot of wineries. However, that is to be expected, with a name like Wine Country Ontario. Wine Country is a good place to go to check out local wineries and sample new wines. But before you go on a tour of Ontario’s Wine Country, make sure you are aware of a couple of tips that pertain to Ontario Wine Country tours.

The most important tip to follow when visiting the wineries of Wine Country is to designate a safe driver before even stepping foot into a single winery. Wine tasting is meant to be fun, and being safe is very critical to having a fun trip. So make sure you have within your group a designated driver who is okay with not drinking during the wine tasting tour. If no one in your group is willing to be the safe designated driver, consider a bus or limo tour. It will allow everyone in your Wine Country tour group to safely do the tastings.

Another thing to do before heading to Wine Country is to decide beforehand which wineries you are going to visit on this particular touring. Once you have picked out the wineries in Wine Country that you are interested in touring, look at a map and see what type of route would make the most sense for your Wine Country tour. Also, consider paying for the individual winery tours before you go. It will help to save your tasting spot. Plus some of the wineries in Wine Country might even give you a discount for booking ahead.

See Grizzly Bears

Have you ever seen a grizzly bear in its natural habitat? It is nothing like seeing a bear at the zoo. Tired of seeing grizzly bears all caged up? Want to see the grizzly bears as they roam about? Then do a Grizzly Bear Tour while you are in Banff.

If you are booking the Grizzly Bear Tour through Viator, then you should be prepared to depart for your grizzly bear journey at 8:30 am. The guide will drive you from Banff to grizzly country. Along the way, you will see beautiful sights such as the Kicking Horse Canyon, Takakkaw Falls, and Lake Louise.

To ensure that you get to see all that is in grizzly country, the Grizzly Bear Tour will lead you onto a gondola ride that makes seeing all of grizzly country possible. Then once you are back on your feet again, the guide of the Grizzly Bear Tour will show you the way to the summit trails. Feel free to walk around on the trails to help build up an appetite, because you will be having lunch at the top of the mountain.

Do not feel let down even if you did not spot a grizzly bear during your time on the gondola or on the summit trails. That is because you will definitely see a grizzly bear at the Grizzly Bear Refuge. In fact, you will get very up close with Boo, one of the grizzly bears who call the Grizzly Bear Refuge home. Watch as Boo play before your eyes!

Walk on Ice at Grotto Canyon

Do you enjoy walking? How about seeing ice and snow? How about combining both by going on an ice walk at Grotto Canyon?

Grotto Canyon is in Banff. During your ice walk tour, you will get to walk right on top of a creek that’s frozen during the winter season. You will witness formations of rocks that are odd in design. You will also see art left on the rocks by the natives from ancient times. Plus you’ll see your share of icefalls. What is an icefall? It is more or less a frozen waterfall.

The tour at Grotto Canyon is lead by a guide with plenty of knowledge. During your tour, the guide will give you a quick lesson on the geology in the area of Grotto Canyon. Also, the guide will share the history of Grotto Canyon with you.

In the winter, many adventure seekers come to Grotto Canyon to climb the icefalls. If you are lucky, you might have the opportunity to see it. In fact, it might even cause you to want to give icefall climbing a try one day.

The Grotto Canyon tour is more than three hours long. It starts at 8:30 am, so you should be done by around noon time. This leaves you with plenty of time to participate in other activities during your day in Banff.

When going on an ice walk at Grotto Canyon, remember to dress warmly. Wear boots, hats, and mittens. Basically, dress as if you were going for a ski trip.

West Edmonton Mall

Looking for things to do in Alberta? How about having a blast at the West Edmonton Mall? This is one of those places where there actually is something for everyone to enjoy.

So what’s so spectacular about the West Edmonton Mall? To begin with, it is not just an ordinary shopping mall. Similar in fashion to the Mall of America in Minnesota, the West Edmonton Mall also is full of rides from their indoor amusement park. That fact alone might be enough for you to think about going to the West Edmonton Mall. However, there’s so much more.

At the West Edmonton Mall, you can play miniature golf in the dark since everything that is part of the game will glow in the dark. If you feel like splashing around, there is an indoor water park right inside of the West Edmonton Mall. Even more interesting is the fact that there is an actual indoor lake right at the mall.

Feel like learning how to shoot a gun? Well, you can do that at the West Edmonton Mall as well. Feel like bungee jumping? West Edmonton Mall can give you the thrills of bungee jumping right indoors.

If you’re an adult, you’ll have even more options to choose from. You can visit the nightclubs. Plus you can do a bit of a gamble at the casino inside of the West Edmonton Mall.

Feel like shopping? Then you’re in the right place. West Edmonton Mall is a mall after all. So you’ll have no problem finding something nice to buy.

Visit Banff National Park

A trip to Calgary requires a stop at Banff National Park. Located about 80 miles to the west of Calgary, the Banff National Park is one of Canada’s most beautiful national parks. That is the precise reason why millions of visitors travel to Banff National Park during a regular year.

When visiting the Banff National Park, you have got to see Moraine Lake. The water in the Moraine Lake comes from a glacier. Moraine Lake is crystal clear. It sits by the mountain, and looks absolutely gorgeous. So be sure to have an adequate amount of time reserved for taking pictures and simply taking in the brilliant view.

The lake is not the only thing worth seeing at Banff National Park. The Castleguard Caves are quite stunning as well. Plus they happen to be Canada’s biggest system of caves.

Once you are at the Banff National Park, you must tour the park’s Legacy Trail. Banff’s Legacy Trail has been in existence since the year 2010, and it is full of breathtaking views. The trail runs for about 16 miles, and can be used for things like walking, running, skating, or cycling.

If you a native of the United States, the easiest way to reach Banff National Park is to buy a flight into the city of Calgary. Once you have arrived at Calgary, you can opt to take a bus or drive to the Banff National Park. You can choose to go the park at any time of the year since Banff National Park is always open.

Season Passes Available Now for Canada’s Wonderland

Canada’s Wonderland does not open again until the month of May. However, you can start buying your season pass for 2012 today. You can pay for the season pass using an easy pay plan. Plus you can get an $18 discount, if you are renewing an old season pass.

Having a season pass at Canada’s Wonderland can provide you with many great perks. You can come as a VIP to the park’s sneak preview night. Plus you get to ride Canada’s Wonderland rides while it is still closed to the public. This will save you from having to stand and wait in the popular rides’ long lines. Another advantage to owning one of Canada’s Wonderland season passes is that you can save money on tickets to the park’s special events. Furthermore, you can qualify for discounts when buying tickets for your friends.

Canada’s Wonderland has more than 200 attractions for you to enjoy. They have approximately 70 rides of the thrilling variety. Plus they have the largest collection of roller coasters anywhere in North America.

Thrilling rides not your cup of tea? That is no problem, because you can still have fun with some of Canada’s Wonderland more leisurely rides. These rides are perfect for people of all ages. So if you plan on taking the kids, you do not have to worry about them not having something to partake in.

Want something besides rides? How about some live entertainment or a little shopping? You can enjoy both of these things at Canada’s Wonderland.

Dive into Fallsview Indoor Waterpark

Think Canada is too cold? Wishing it was warmer so you could go for a swim? No need to wish for warmer days, because you can just head on over to Fallsview Indoor Waterpark today.

Niagara Falls is a fun place to be, but the lower temperatures do have a way of causing you to miss hanging out at the beach. Luckily, there is the indoor waterpark. Inside Fallsview Indoor Waterpark, both the air and water temperatures are always perfect for going for a dive.

Fallsview Indoor Waterpark is the current largest indoor waterpark in the Niagara Falls area. The waterpark encompasses 125,000 square feet, and it offers a great multitude of slides and rides for you to find your thrill on. It is an excellent place to go with a group of friends or with your family. Just about anyone can find themselves getting in touch with their inner child when splashing and smiling inside an indoor waterpark as spectacular as this.

Inside Fallsview Indoor Waterpark, you will find all of the coolest water rides. There are the water slides, the water tubes, and the wave pool. Plus there is a Splash Park that is reserved for just the youngest waterpark guests.

If you are thinking about adding Fallsview Indoor Waterpark to your list of things to do in the Niagara Falls area, then consider paying for one of the hotel packages. Paying for the hotel and the waterpark together will qualify you for some great discounts. The money you save can then be used on lunch at the Planet Hollywood restaurant onsite.

Pages