Top 6 Summer Holidays in Canada
Canada is a dream destination for many! Why should it not be? This second largest country in the world is blessed with the world’s longest coastline, the amazing tundra region, the wonder called Niagara and a whole bunch of diverse and amazingly breath taking landscapes that can blow anyone’s mind away. Be it going on a road trip, taking that gorgeous hike, exploring the wine growing regions, getting close to amazing wildlife like the Polar bears and the beluga whales, there is no better time to plan a holiday to Canada then this summer. From May through August, you can make use of the long hours of daylight and bright sunshine to embark on so many Canadian summer adventures. Here are my favorite 6 experiences for those looking at a Canada holiday this summer.
Get Closer to the Polar Bears and Beluga Whales of Manitoba
The wildlife lover in me goes into overdrive mode when he thinks of the mighty creatures called Polar Bears and Beluga Whales. Cometh the summer months and cometh the ideal time to explore the wildlife of the Arctic region of Canada. It is here that polar bears roam amongst the tundra berries and wildflowers. Churchill, dubbed as the polar bear capital is the best place to see these amazing creatures without going too much into the tundra. With fishes migrating to the Hudson bay and the Churchill river estuaries in huge numbers during summer, this is the best place and time to sight the snow white beluga whales who are attracted to this abundant source of food. In addition to these two magnificent wild species, the Manitoba region is also home to stunning flora and fauna that are super active during the summer months.
Experience the Rocky Mountaineer Train Journey
Canada’s flagship train journey and one of the most spectacular and unforgettable train experiences in the world, the summer months are possibly the only time to experience this journey. And this train trip is ideal for all those people who want to experience the raw nature of Canada, but who wish to do so from the comforts of a cozy train during the day and the comfortable space of a hotel room in the night. The Rocky Mountaineer will take you from snow capped mountains to canyons and from rivers to glaciers. This luxurious train ride takes you through the natural wonders of Canada’s West, especially the British Columbia and the Alberta regions and gets you to experience the majestic Canadian Rockies like no other. The summer months are also the best time to the top train rides in Canada.
Go Alpine Hiking to Lake O’Hara
A popular ski destination during winters, British Columbia’s Lake O’Hara offers great alpine hiking opportunities in the summer months. Located at an elevation of 6,627 feet deep within the alpine area of Yoho National Park, this region offers spectacular scenery and pristine wilderness. In addition to Lake O’Hara, hikers can also experience other high altitude lakes like Lake Oesa and Opabin lake. If hiking and camping in the remote mountain wilderness is your thing, then this hike has to be in your Canada summer bucket-list.
The Alaska Highway Road Trip
If you feel like going on a road trip through some of the remotest and most beautiful terrain on the planet, the Alaska highway is just for you. From Dawson Creek to Delta Junction, this Alaska highway of Canada presents those thrilling roads with sharp curves and spectacular scenery at every turn. The Rocky mountains, the peace river, the coal river, Kluane Lake, Muncho Lake, Iron Creek and many more such natural wonders offer the best road trip experience between British Columbia and Yukon. There is minimal accommodation and facilities enroute and hence be prepared to camp out in the open.
Explore the BackCountry of Banff National Park
With the arrival of summer, the subarctic Banff National Park becomes like a backcountry hotspot. Located in the Rocky Mountains, Canada’s oldest national park, offers many stunning attractions that include a 27-hole golf course, ski resorts and plenty of backcountry campgrounds. One can indulge in Nordic skiing, horseback riding, hiking, camping, hiking and wildlife watching here. This part of the Canadian Rockies is home to some amazing creations of Mother Nature. The famous ones include Moraine Lake, Valley of the Ten Peaks, Castle Mountain, Bow River, Lake Louise, Lower Consolation Lake, Two Jack Lake, Mount Rundle, Parker Ridge, Peyto Lakea and Lake Minnewanka.
Go on a Scenic Drive through Icefields Parkway
One more summer highlight of the Canadian Rockies, Icefields Parkway is a scenic road in Alberta that traverses the rugged landscape through Banff and Jasper National Park. This scenic route takes you through the gorgeous Columbia Icefield, the Mistaya Canyon, the Parker ridge, the Saskatchewan River crossing, the Sunwapta Falls and the glimmering Peyto lake. Depending on your thirst for adventure, you can explore this route on four wheels, on a motorcycle or on a bicycle. Campgrounds are available all over the route for a true wild experience. However, do watch out for wildlife crossings and for bears near campgrounds.
Note: The photographs in this article have been borrowed from wikipedia.org under the Creative Commons license. Each photograph has been linked to its host page on wikipedia.
Get Closer to the Polar Bears and Beluga Whales of Manitoba
The wildlife lover in me goes into overdrive mode when he thinks of the mighty creatures called Polar Bears and Beluga Whales. Cometh the summer months and cometh the ideal time to explore the wildlife of the Arctic region of Canada. It is here that polar bears roam amongst the tundra berries and wildflowers. Churchill, dubbed as the polar bear capital is the best place to see these amazing creatures without going too much into the tundra. With fishes migrating to the Hudson bay and the Churchill river estuaries in huge numbers during summer, this is the best place and time to sight the snow white beluga whales who are attracted to this abundant source of food. In addition to these two magnificent wild species, the Manitoba region is also home to stunning flora and fauna that are super active during the summer months.
Experience the Rocky Mountaineer Train Journey
Canada’s flagship train journey and one of the most spectacular and unforgettable train experiences in the world, the summer months are possibly the only time to experience this journey. And this train trip is ideal for all those people who want to experience the raw nature of Canada, but who wish to do so from the comforts of a cozy train during the day and the comfortable space of a hotel room in the night. The Rocky Mountaineer will take you from snow capped mountains to canyons and from rivers to glaciers. This luxurious train ride takes you through the natural wonders of Canada’s West, especially the British Columbia and the Alberta regions and gets you to experience the majestic Canadian Rockies like no other. The summer months are also the best time to the top train rides in Canada.
Go Alpine Hiking to Lake O’Hara
A popular ski destination during winters, British Columbia’s Lake O’Hara offers great alpine hiking opportunities in the summer months. Located at an elevation of 6,627 feet deep within the alpine area of Yoho National Park, this region offers spectacular scenery and pristine wilderness. In addition to Lake O’Hara, hikers can also experience other high altitude lakes like Lake Oesa and Opabin lake. If hiking and camping in the remote mountain wilderness is your thing, then this hike has to be in your Canada summer bucket-list.
The Alaska Highway Road Trip
.jpg "Alaska Highwaya, Canada")
If you feel like going on a road trip through some of the remotest and most beautiful terrain on the planet, the Alaska highway is just for you. From Dawson Creek to Delta Junction, this Alaska highway of Canada presents those thrilling roads with sharp curves and spectacular scenery at every turn. The Rocky mountains, the peace river, the coal river, Kluane Lake, Muncho Lake, Iron Creek and many more such natural wonders offer the best road trip experience between British Columbia and Yukon. There is minimal accommodation and facilities enroute and hence be prepared to camp out in the open.
Explore the BackCountry of Banff National Park
With the arrival of summer, the subarctic Banff National Park becomes like a backcountry hotspot. Located in the Rocky Mountains, Canada’s oldest national park, offers many stunning attractions that include a 27-hole golf course, ski resorts and plenty of backcountry campgrounds. One can indulge in Nordic skiing, horseback riding, hiking, camping, hiking and wildlife watching here. This part of the Canadian Rockies is home to some amazing creations of Mother Nature. The famous ones include Moraine Lake, Valley of the Ten Peaks, Castle Mountain, Bow River, Lake Louise, Lower Consolation Lake, Two Jack Lake, Mount Rundle, Parker Ridge, Peyto Lakea and Lake Minnewanka.
Go on a Scenic Drive through Icefields Parkway
One more summer highlight of the Canadian Rockies, Icefields Parkway is a scenic road in Alberta that traverses the rugged landscape through Banff and Jasper National Park. This scenic route takes you through the gorgeous Columbia Icefield, the Mistaya Canyon, the Parker ridge, the Saskatchewan River crossing, the Sunwapta Falls and the glimmering Peyto lake. Depending on your thirst for adventure, you can explore this route on four wheels, on a motorcycle or on a bicycle. Campgrounds are available all over the route for a true wild experience. However, do watch out for wildlife crossings and for bears near campgrounds.
Note: The photographs in this article have been borrowed from wikipedia.org under the Creative Commons license. Each photograph has been linked to its host page on wikipedia.
