Oh Canada! From Vancouver Island to the mountains and plains, Canada is simply breathtaking. The scenery alone makes it worth a visit. Then there’s so much more. Indigenous people and culture, remote wilderness, sophisticated cities and everything in between. We’ve loved every visit to Canada. It’s been a while since we visited and our photo files are not comprehensive, so would love to hear your impressions and experience. Send us a short story and a photo of your visit to Canada at ideas@travelsampler.world
This must be how the world began. The natural environment at it’s best. Go to the link below for breathtaking photos, or Google it if you have not yet visited. Just looking at the photos brings back a palpable sense of being immersed in the elements, breathing crisp cold air, feeling the spray of a restless ocean and being a small insignificant creature in magnificent ecosystem far greater than ourselves. Our photos don’t do it justice! Vancouver Island is one place where we, as travellers, had a deep sense of connection with the majesty of nature. The towns and settlements offer a glimpse of what it is to live in this very special place.
The Vancouver Island website encourages travellers to:
Discover an ocean-carved land of extremes ranging from mild to wild, cultured to life-affirmingly raw. Backpack in majestic wilderness parks. Marvel at orcas, black bears and the sheer abundance of furred, feathered and finned wildlife. Gaze at distant snowcapped mountains while splashing barefoot along softly curving beaches. Relax, restore and recharge yourself in the region’s cosmopolitan centres, small towns and snug harbours.
That’s Vancouver Island.
Vancouver Island is also home to the world famous Butchart Gardens. Once a quarry, now more than 50 acres of incredibly well presented and cared for gardens. Check out the website for occasional special performances and events. Different experience to the wild nature of much of the island, and definitely worth a visit.
Vancouver perches on the shores of the Straits of Georgia and is protected from the open Pacific Ocean. This major west coast city is the stepping off point for many visitors to Canada. Cruises to Alaska leave here, and many skiers pass through on their way to the many resorts located throughout British Columbia. Migrants to Canada have made Vancouver a cosmopolitan city. We are interested to know what you have done and enjoyed in Vancouver? Let us know at ideas@travelsampler.world
We once spent a white Christmas in Whistler. Such a magical experience for those of us who have lived mostly in the southern hemisphere! Whistler is of course one of the premier ski resorts in Canada, and offers all levels of skiing across Whistler and Blackcomb mountains. You can ski all day and not take the same run twice. Perfect way to work up an appetite to enjoy the many apres options in the village and locally. Plenty here for the non-skiers too. The Audain Art Museum is a masterpiece of a building, let alone the works on display. With a strong emphasis on First Nations, the Museum offers a sample of the history of the Pacific Northwest through an art lens. Lovely.
There are places in the world where nature collides in striking, unexpected ways. Emerald Lake situated in Yoho National Park in the Canadian Rockies is one of those places. This fresh water lake is a most extraordinary (you guessed it) emerald green. Over on Trip Advisor reviewers report ‘The beautiful blue-green colour of Emerald Lake is created by sunlight reflecting off a white layer of “marl” on the lake bed. Marl is a white calcium carbonate (CaCO3) clay that forms in the water and then settles, often unevenly, onto the lake bottom’.
There’s an easy (approximately) 5km hike around the lake which is great way to enjoy the lake, and the surrounding mountain scenery.
If Calgary is famous for one thing, it’s the Calgary Stampede. Held annually this event is much more than a celebration of the rodeo way of life! It permeates the culture and attitude of Calgary, and attracts millions of visitors every year (the website suggests 4 million visitors annually!). If you enjoy rodeo, this is a must visit. Even if rodeo is not your thing, a visit is eye opening and provides a look at the passion that drives people and animals to partake in what are often highly dangerous events. The aesthetic is all hats, chaps and boots around what is a major sport in these parts. Check out the night show for fireworks and cracking entertainment. Program each year and tickets can be found on the website.
