Canada Day is however, for the benefit of those who aren’t entirely familiar with the day, is not an ‘independence day’ – Far from it in fact! It is the birthday of Canada. The commemoration of the 1st July 1867, when the enactment of the Constitution Act 1867 was brought into being – uniting three British colonies into one unified country; Canada. Originally the day was called Dominion Day, but when Canada gained its full independence from the United Kingdom in 1982, its name was changed to Canada Day.

If you’re lucky enough to be in Canada for today, you’ll be witness to patriotism we rarely ever see in the UK, and strangely we never seem to be given the opportunity to express. The Canadian patriotism is something that fills me with a happiness.. A country and its people, proud to be who they are and where they are – and for me at least, i believe the Canadian patriotism is at the perfect level – it’s loud and proud, but not offensive or overly in peoples faces – an example where a country in the world has simply got things right. But then, we are talking about the only country in the western world not to actually go into recession in the most recent financial crisis – so it’s not unfamiliar territory for Canada to be the ones who got it right!

So what if you aren’t in Canada? Well, you may jut be in luck. A couple of months ago you may remember me featuring this, as a heads up towards the event. Canada Day has come to the UK. Canada Day London is the biggest celebration for Canada Day outside of Canada, and like everything Canadian, 110% is put into ensuring the event is filled with a massive schedule of events, and Canadians and tourists who visit Canada will find some familiar logos around the place – one of the biggest being Tim Hortons! – Tim Hortons Coffee and Doughnuts are coming to London, so if you can get yourself there.. Make sure you do!

Canada Day London 2011 promises to be even bigger and better than ever before with more cultural activities, more food and drink from across Canada and a great new line-up of music and entertainment. Whether it’s watching the coveted Trafalgar Cup street hockey tournament, sampling uniquely Canadian food and drink or rocking out to some of Canada’s finest bands, this event is jam packed with exciting activities and performances for everyone.

Canada has no shortage of artistic greats like Joni Mitchell, Leonard Cohen, Neil Young, Celine Dion and Brian Adams. New waves of artists like Arcade Fire, The Dears, Nelly Furtado and Nickelback are taking the international stage by storm. Montreal has been heralded as the global epicentre of indie music by Spin and the New York Times.

As part of Canada Day in London, Canada on Stage is a live concert starting at 6pm in Trafalgar Square, showcasing a stellar line-up of Canadian music talent.

This year’s performers includes: Blue Rodeo, Karkwa, Alex Cuba, The Mahones, Lennie Gallant, Devon Sproule, Jill Barber, Oh My Darling, Justin Hines, Tammy Weis and James Bryan.

The Experience Canada Pavilion will be set up and opening at 10:30am for anyone wondering about visiting Canada. Drop by the Experience Canada Pavilion and learn about the excitement and adventure of traveling to Canada. Visit Canada’s provinces at the pavilion and get information on all the hot travel spots.

The whole event starts in just an hour’s time from this article being published, starting at 10:30am – and the celebrations go on until 10pm tonight – so don’t miss this if you can make it to the show, it’s something you’ll always remember being at!

Canadian Affair, the company we always recommend as having the lowest cost flights going to and from Canada will also be there at their own stall – so while you’re there, remember to call in and have a chat to see what offers they have at the moment to help you go from ‘little Canada’ in Trafalgar Square today – to the real thing!

Canada Day London will be tweeting from the event live today on Twitter @canadadaylondon

Canadian Affair will also be joining in on the live tweeting from the event, so if you want to have a look what theyre doing right now check them out @CanadianAffair .. AND dont miss out on your chance to enter Canadian Affair’s Competition for a pair of free flights at their Facebook Page – http://www.facebook.com/CanadianAffair

And of coarse, while you’re on twitter, why not follow us @canadatrip so that you’re always up to date with the most recent article!

So, i think there’s only one last thing to say – HAPPY CANADA DAY to Canadians everywhere, hope you all have a great time

View Larger Map

Share on Facebook

We have, since we set up almost two years ago, always recommended Canadian Affair for flights, where you can get return tickets to Canada for as little as £318 including taxes.

Canadian Affair charter Thomas Cook flights, as well as Air Transat so you you have the piece of mind when you book that you can choose flights by which ever company you’re most familiar with (though Air Transat is my personal favourite). There’s two reasons for us always recommending Canadian Affair. The first being we ALWAYS book our flights to Canada with them – and have now been on 18 flights over the last 7 years, so we have huge experience with them. The second being – they are simply, the cheapest place to book flights to Canada from the UK. I know.. i search every few weeks, always looking to book my next trip!

Thomas Cook 757 at Toronto

Even if you may have heard of Canadian Affair before, there are deals that many people miss, so I’d always recommend checking out their Special Offers page before you start entering dates – so you can ensure you get the best deal before you book your tickets.

With most people, and understandably, the biggest factor is getting the cheap flights to Canada, but there’s more to Canadian Affair than simply being the cheapest flights to Canada! They strive to give you the best customer service possible, for example in the numerous times i have needed to contact them via email, they have always responded the same day – and on a couple of occasions within 30 minutes of me actually submitting my query!

They also provide you with choice. If your closest airport is Manchester and you want to get flights from Manchester to Toronto or flights from Manchester to Ottawa, you can! Likewise you also have the choice of getting your flights from Gatwick to Toronto and flying back from Toronto to Liverpool if you wanted.

Canadian Affair offer flights from the following UK airports: Gatwick, Heathrow, Manchester, Birmingham, Glasgow, Newcastle and Exeter. Their destinations include Toronto, Ottawa, Halifax, Calgary, Vancouver, Montreal and Edmonton, but they also do package holidays to various resorts around these locations (such as Niagara Falls) in addition to their flights.

Remember to have a look at our full review from last year on Canadian Affair, details in it are for a trip we took in 2009 but service has only got better since then: Travelling to Canada with Canadian Affair in 2010

If you want to keep up to date on the latest offers we find, and our latest articles, be one of the first to find out by following us on Twitter!

Alternatively you could subscribe to our mailing list and choose what categories you want to be notified that a new review or article is out for it!

But a Holiday isn’t all about the flight right? And different people like different types of holidays. Some relaxing – taking the kids out to some of Canada’s best attractions, Some adventuring through types of wilderness that can only be found here, Some just looking to soak up the culture – or even go shopping. But whatever you want to do while on your Canada trip, we try to find places which you will love, and tag them to the locations you’re looking to Visit!

For example, if you’re heading out to have a drive round Ontario – check out our Ontario category. Or, if you’re planning on spending your time in a particular city or destination such as Toronto, then have a look at the places we’ve reviewed and featured in our Toronto Category. We are also building up a portfolio of Provincial Parks – The one we are focusing on at the moment is Algonquin Provincial Park which is easily accessible after landing in Toronto or Ottawa and you’re guaranteed to be able to spend your entire holiday camping, or staying in a hotel just outside the park – enjoying the unspoilt wilderness – and discovering everything the parks have to offer..

So, Reviews.. Where to start! We have 200 articles on Canada Trip.co.uk, all offering advice about where to go, what to see, how to save money and where to stay.. so when asked to pick out specific reviews, its a difficult choice to make! Below are some of the articles of places you absolutely must visit if you’re in the cities they’re located in..

Toronto

Toronto Zoo
Toronto zoo is one of the must see locations on your trip if you’re in the Toronto region – though remember to give yourself a whole day to look around this amazing place – When i visited in May, it was a beautiful sunny day, we got there in the morning and still didn’t quite get to see everything in the zoo… (more..)

Canada’s Wonderland, Toronto
While you’re in Toronto – why not take a day to visit Canada’s Premiere Themed Amusement Park! Whether you have kids young or old, or even if you don’t have any – Canada’s Wonderland is guaranteed to be a day you wont forget! (more..)

The CN Tower, Toronto
If you’re flying into Toronto Pearson International Airport, you may be lucky enough to be greeted to Canada with a beautiful cityscape of Toronto, set on the background of Lake Ontario – The city skyline of Toronto, no matter where you go in the world will always have a needle looking building to its centre – this is the truely world famous CN Tower Toronto. (more..)

more Toronto articles…

Ottawa

Parliament Buildings, Ottawa
Parliament Hill (colloquially The Hill, in French: Colline du Parlement) is an area of Crown land on the southern banks of the Ottawa River in downtown Ottawa, Ontario. Its Gothic revival suite of buildings — the parliament buildings — serves as the home of the Parliament of Canada and contains a number of architectural elements of national symbolic importance. Parliament Hill attracts approximately 3 million visitors each year… (more..)

Canada’s Wonderland, Toronto
The museum’s collection contains a wide variety of civilian and military aircraft, representing the history of Canadian aviation from the pioneer era before the First World War up to the present day. Particularly noteworthy is the collection of vintage bushplanes from the 1920s to the 1940s. The military aircraft represent aircraft flown by Canadians in the First World War, Second World War, and the Cold War. The museum’s best known exhibit is the surviving components of the Avro Arrow interceptor from the late 1950s. (more..)

more Ottawa articles…

Vancouver

Toronto Zoo
Back now to Vancouver – and one of the city’s key attractions – The Capilano Suspension Bridge. Not a place to go if you have a fear of heights, but if you’re clear of that – you’ll find the trip out to this attraction to be something special, and something you’ll remember for a long long time. The Capilano Suspension Bridge is a simple suspension bridge crossing the Capilano River in the District of North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada… (more..)

Vancouver Aquarium
Vancouver Aquarium is Canada’s largest Aquarium, and also a non-profit organisation! They dedicate their efforts to effect the conservation of aquatic life through display, interpretation, education, research, and direct action. You will experience all this and more when you go visit them! (more..)

Fort Langley National Historic Site
My personal thoughts are that if you truly want to get to know somewhere, then you should always go a little bit further to learn about how it came to be this way in the first place, hence my love for history! So, I’m shining the spot light on Fort Langly National Historic Site of Canada in Vancouver, BC… (more..)

more Vancouver articles…

Halifax

Halifax, NS
Another one of the cornerstones of places to visit in Canada would certainly be Halifax. Halifax was the site of the first British town in Canada, founded in 1749. Since then, the area has evolved to be home for a diverse mix of people. Charming fishing villages, farming communities and Atlantic Canada’s largest city are just some of the things which Halifax has to offer. (more..)

Halifax Citadel
Located within the centre of Halifax, this fort is easy to get to from wherever you may be staying in the city. Though a little word of warning – each day at noon a cannon is fired as a symbol of Halifax’s military history.. This often comes as a great shock, being so loud, to unsuspecting tourists – so now you wont be one of them! (more..)

York Redoubt, Halifax
York Redoubt as a place to visit is both an interesting historic site, as well as a fantastic spot to take pictures of the surrounding landscape, and not only that it’s only a very short drive from the city its self… (more..)

more Halifax articles…

Quebec / Montreal

The Citadelle, Quebec City
And I’m once again going to delve into the history of Canada. Anyone who happens to be a member of English Heritage or National Trust in the UK may be interested in Castles, and simply for its imposing position, significance and importance – The Citadelle in Quebec City I would probably most likely compare to Dover Castle, as far as visitor experience is concerned. (more..)

Montreal Biodome, Montreal
If you or your kids ever wanted to be able to visit a number of different places around the world within a few hours, the Montreal Biodome is the place you’ll want to take your family!… (more..)

Canadian Railway Museum
f you have kids, love history and or trains – this is one place that if you’re in Montreal in Quebec, you will not want to miss out of your trip! (more..)

more Quebec / Montreal articles…

Calgary / Edmonton

Calgary, Alberta
Nestled in the foothills of Canada’s Rocky Mountains, Calgary, Heart of the New West is a place where visitors come to explore the heritage of the Canadian West. This safe, clean and vibrant city offers the best of all worlds: a cosmopolitan city of over 1 million people and breathtaking outdoor adventure in pristine wilderness. Not only does it offer amazing wilderness, it has an immense number of activities for you and your family to head off to! (more..)

Edmonton, Alberta
Edmonton is the capital city of Alberta and is well known for its scenic river valley and a thriving music and art community. Located 294 km (183 mi) north of Calgary, Edmonton is home to North America’s largest shopping and entertainment complex, West Edmonton Mall. More than just a shopping centre, West Edmonton Mall also has a giant water park, a man-made lake, a skating rink, two mini-golf courses, 21 movie theatres, a Vegas-style casino and an amusement park with 25 rides and attractions. (more..)

The Calgary Tower
Officially opened June 30th 1968, the ‘Tower’ has become the City of Calgary’s most famous and identifiable physical landmark. One of the first Towers of its kind, the Calgary Tower offers the best view in Calgary and is a must-see on any tourist’s itinerary… (more..)

more Calgary / Edmonton articles…

Remember, you can check any of the categories on the left to specify if you’re looking for anywhere that isn’t listed here. For the latest articles, feel free to head back to the home page and have a look around!

Share on Facebook

Heritage Park Historical Village is a historical park located in Calgary, Alberta. The park is located on 127 acres of parkland on the banks of the Glenmore Reservoir, along the city’s southwestern edge. As Canada’s largest living history museum by number of exhibits, it is one of the city’s most visited tourist attractions. The park is branded as a living history museum since it features a village that was recreated to appear as it might have in late 19th and early 20th century Alberta. Many of the buildings are historical and were transported to the park to be placed on display. Others are re-creations of actual buildings. Most of the structures are furnished and decorated with genuine artifacts. Staff dress in historic costume, and antique automobiles and horse-drawn vehicles service the site. Calgary Transit provides regular shuttle service from Heritage C-Train station.

The park is divided into four distinct areas reflecting different time periods in Western Canadian history: the Hudson’s Bay Company Fur Trading Fort (although no Hudson’s Bay Company fort ever existed in Calgary), circa 1864; the Pre-Railway Settlement Village, circa 1880; the Railway Prairie Town, circa 1910; and the newly-opened (2009) Heritage Town Square, depicting the 1930′s to 1950′s.

Heritage Park Historical Village has over 100 exhibits including:

* A working steam locomotive and train that takes passengers around the park
* A streetcar from Calgary’s former streetcar system that shuttles passengers to and from the parking lot. This was taken out of service in 2006 in preparation for the park’s expansion, and returned to service in May 2010, taking passengers from the parking lot to the newly-built CPR replica station and front gate.
* A re-creation of a paddle steamer, S.S. Moyie, that traverses the Glenmore Reservoir
* An antique midway that features working historical amusement park rides
* An aboriginal encampment representing the First Peoples in southern Alberta in the 19th century
* A working smithy, bakery, hotel, and several shops and resaurants
* Horse-drawn wagons
* A Hudson’s Bay Company trading fort
* The 1913 Little Synagogue on the Prairie
* The Town Square, located in front of the park gates, contains Haskayne Mercantile Block, Selkirk Grille and Big Rock Interpretive Brewery flanked by the Bissett Wetlands. It was opened in 2009 and admission is free in this area of the park.

All year long you’re invited to explore Heritage Town Square , which includes restaurants, shopping and the world-class Gasoline Alley Museum. Discover how the introduction of the automobile changed our culture. The living history town is seasonal however so you will want to check their website out before your visit to make sure you get everything you want out of your visit!

View Larger Map

Share on Facebook

Officially opened June 30th 1968, the ‘Tower’ has become the City of Calgary’s most famous and identifiable physical landmark. One of the first Towers of its kind, the Calgary Tower offers the best view in Calgary and is a must-see on any tourist’s itinerary.

Throughout the 1988 Winter Olympic Games, a flame burned at the top of the Tower, making the Calgary Tower the World’s Largest Olympic Torch. The torch is still lit today for special occasions, like Canada Day and during the Calgary Flames race for the Stanley Cup, sparking fond memories as well as a certain civic pride in all Calgarians.

Dare to try something that will take your breath away?

Visitors to the Observation Deck are able to virtually “step out into” space on the glass floor experience. Imagine standing 525 feet above the ground in the heart of Calgary and being able to look straight down and directly out in front of you into the heart of the city. The experience is awe-inspiring and will challenge the emotions, but rest assured — the thrill will be worth it.

The glass floor is 36 feet long and more than four feet wide, the glass panes that make up the floor can each hold the weight of a couple Hippos! With only a glass wall in front, you will be treated to the unusual experience of literally being suspended in mid-air. And don’t forget to check out the optical illusion as the shaft on the Tower looks as though it bends away from you.

The Calgary Tower is a 191 metre (626 feet) free standing observation tower in Downtown Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Originally called the Husky Tower, it was conceived as a joint venture between Marathon Realty Company Limited and Husky Oil as part of an urban renewal plan and to celebrate Canada’s centennial of 1967.

And how about this for a funny story.. Upon completion, the Husky Tower stood 190.8 metres (626 ft) tall and was the tallest structure of its type in North America. It dominated the Calgary skyline, standing well over twice the height of the previous tallest structure in the city, Elveden House. Developers deliberately misled the public, claiming the tower would stand 187 metres (614 ft), in the hopes of preventing competing developers from surpassing the Husky Tower’s height record. Shortly after officials in San Antonio, Texas attempted to claim the record in announcing the completion of the 190 metres (620 ft) Tower of the Americas, developers revealed the Husky Tower’s true height!

The Calgary tower features a revolving restaurant, Sky 360, that rotates so as to give customers a scenic view of downtown Calgary.The restaurant does a complete rotation at noon. The base of the tower is connected through the +15 skyway network to One Palliser Square, Fairmont Palliser Hotel and EnCana Place. Stairs to the observation deck are not opened to the public, but have been used on occasions for publicity, as well as for an annual charity stair-climbing race. There are 762 steps.

In July 2006, the Official Tourism Calgary Information Centre moved to the base of the Calgary Tower, where a free Internet cafe and part of the Spirit of Calgary Boutique are also located. Here you can find valuable information on attractions, accommodations, entertainment and dining. The Tourism Calgary Visitor Centre is open every day except Christmas Day, Boxing Day, and New Years’ Day.

The tower also features a carillon that was presented to the city by the local Dutch community in 1975 as part of the city’s centennial celebrations. It was played daily at noon until removed in 1987 for storage. The carillon has since been refurbished and restored to operation.

The tower is open 364 days a year (not open on Christmas Day) but the observation deck is sometimes closed off for particular events so you will want to double check with their website to guarantee you don’t happen to stumble upon one of those particular days.

The admission prices at the time of writing this article are:

Adults(18-64): $14.75, Seniors(65+): $12.50 , Youth(13-17): $10.50, Children(4-12): $6.50

Children 3 & under are complimentary
There’s also a Family Pass: 2 Adults/Seniors with 2 Youth/Children: $40.00
Prices listed here are not including 5% GST tax which will be added on at the till
Click here for a list of up to date prices at their website

So, there you have it! The Calgary Tower, not something you’ll want to miss if you’re around Calgary, and whatever you do – don’t forget your camera!!

View Larger Map

Share on Facebook

If you haven’t been to Canada yet, you’ll almost certainly walk into restaurants and find something on the menu called Poutine. Now, don’t be scared of its particularly unique name! Poutine is actually something that most people in the UK can relate to.. We have all (well.. most of us) gone to the chip shop and got either Chips with Gravy, OR Chips with Cheese .. Well .. although technically it wouldn’t be technically correct – if you had cheese and gravy on the same tray of chips, that is almost poutine! Now, i say almost because for it to be truly poutine, the cheese needs to be cheese curds, not just your normal cheese.

As you can see from the picture, poutine is definitely not the most elegant looking of foods, but lets face it, it beats the looks of mushy peas now doesn’t it! Besides, Canadians have always been known for their no-nonsence approach, and food in my opinion should always be about flavour, and not looks.

The dish originated in rural Quebec, Canada, in the late 1950s. Several Québécois communities claim to be the birthplace of poutine, including Drummondville (by Jean-Paul Roy in 1964), Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, and Victoriaville. One often-cited tale is that of Fernand Lachance, from Warwick, Quebec, which claims that poutine was invented in 1957. Lachance is said to have exclaimed ça va faire une maudite poutine (“it will make a damn mess”), hence the name. The sauce was allegedly added later, to keep the fries warm longer.

So, since in the UK fresh cheese curds are difficult to find, how do you make poutine in the UK? If you were fancying making and trying your own poutine, it’s actually not too difficult. my suggestion if curds are hard to find, use a cheese like Mozzarella (torn into small ‘curds’) or Cheshire or Lancashire cut into small cubes, then pour your sauce over them.

You can either make your own real meat gravy from your Sunday roast, or use tinned gravy granules (OXO or that nice Bovril granule mix), a touch of tomato sauce and a dash of pepper (black), or if you like a touch of oregano and garlic that is fine, depending on were you go in Quebec the poutine sauce can change.

The most important thing you should know, is the chips are supposed to be soft in the middle and crispy on the outside, and to make sure they keep their texture for as long as possible, take the chips to the table and put the gravy on immediately before eating!

So when you’re in Canada next, you’ll see it on the menus. And sometimes, someof the best places to get it are at the chip trucks you’ll see in store carparks or by the road – so why not call off and try out the genuine stuff? Comments would be welcome for places to get the best Poutine!

Share on Facebook

The Calgary Zoo is located in Bridgeland, Calgary, Alberta, Canada, just east of the city’s downtown and adjacent to the Inglewood and East Village neighbourhoods. It is accessible via Calgary’s C-Train light rail system, by car via Memorial Drive and by bicycle and footpath via the Bow River pathway. A large portion of the zoo is located on St. George’s Island in the Bow River. So, yes, it is a Zoo which is located in the middle of a river!

Calgary Zoo was one of the very first zoos set up in Canada in 1929 and being Canada’s second largest zoo is home to over 1,000 animals (not including individual fish or insects of course!) and 290 different species.
Like all good zoos, the zoo is split into several themed areas, so that you can wander around – and rather than seeing a whole range of animals from all over the world at the same time, you can visit Africa, the Canadian Wilds, and Australia to name a couple.

Destination Africa

Opening in 2003, the Destination Africa project was among the zoo’s most ambitious expansions in its history. The complex of four buildings includes the TransAlta Rainforest and the African Savannah. The TransAlta Rainforest occupies 2,900 square metres (31,000 square feet) and features a collection of African rainforest flora and fauna. The African Savannah building is home to hippos, giraffes, Red River Hogs, and a baobab tree. A 340,000-litre (80,000-gallon) indoor pool for hippos offers view of the creatures underwater. In the warmer months, the doors lift to connect the building with the rest of the Savannah exhibit, home to zebras and ostriches. Many other animals of the grasslands, including African lions, also reside in the Savannah exhibit.

Canadian Wilds

The Canadian Wilds were built in the 1990s to house the majority of zoo’s collection of North American birds and mammals. The area includes outdoor enclosures in three zones: the Aspen Woodlands, the Northern Forest, and the Rocky Mountains. Animals in the enclosures include grizzly bears, moose, wood bison, and wolves.

Australia (or Creatures of the Night)

The Australia complex is among the smaller areas of the zoo and includes a number of mammals, reptiles, and birds from Oceania in both outdoor and indoor enclosures. Animals in this area include kangaroos, wallabies, and bearded dragons. In 2009, koalas will be exhibited at the zoo.[citation needed]

Botanical Gardens and Dorthy Harvie Conservatory

The outdoor gardens are among the zoo’s most popular attractions and include the Dorothy Harvie Gardens. The zoo’s sheltered location supports many marginally hardy plant species. The conservatory comprises the indoor component of the zoo’s gardens. It includes a number of “themed” areas such as the tropical garden, the rainforest, the arid garden, and the butterfly garden. A number of animals including birds and invertebrates are housed in the conservatory.

Arctic Shores and Antarctic Landing

A project planned at the current location of the north entry and will include the area of the Prehistoric Park. The project will hold King Penguins. The original plan was likely to involve both indoor and outdoor exhibits and a building the size of a football field. It will replace the zoo’s former Arctic complex, which was demolished in 2000. Beluga whales and polar bears had been a planned addition until the Calgary Zoo decided to remove those plans because of financial reasons in the fall of 2008.

Eurasia

The western portion of St. George’s Island is dedicated to Eurasian animals. Animals in this area include Amur (Siberian) tigers, snow leopards, alpine ibex, Japanese macaques, red pandas and Asian elephants housed in an enclosure named Elephant Crossing, which opened in June 2007.

Prehistoric Park

The Calgary Zoo’s Prehistoric Park features life-sized dinosaurs in their re-created geographical environment. This exhibit was renovated and reopened in 2010. Specimens depicted include: Albertosaurus, Allosaurus, Ankylosaurus, Apatosaurus, Baryonyx, Centrosaurus, Corythosaurus, Deinonychus, Dilophosaurus, Edmontosaurus, Elasmosaurus, Euoplocephalus, Iguanodon, Metriacanthosaurus, Nothosaurus, Omeisaurus, Pachyrhinosaurus, Parasaurolophus, Protoceratops, Pteranodon, Pterosaur, Stegosaurus, Struthiomimus, Styracosaurus, Tanystropheus, Triceratops, Tylosaurus, Tyrannosaurus Rex and Yangchuanosaurus.

South America

The South America pavilion is home to spider monkeys, pygmy marmosets, giant anteaters, Andean condors, two-toed sloths, cottontop tamarins, gibbons, and piranhas.

The zoo also hosts a range of activities and events throughout the year, and if you’re lucky enough to be visiting this month through to january 2nd next year – make sure you see Zoo Lights. Calgary Zoo’s website says

Zoolights at the Calgary Zoo is one of western Canada’s most spectacular and largest Holiday light shows. Surround your family with the beauty and splendour of over 1.5 million twinkling lights. This interactive light show immerses you in the spirit of the season and will tempt all five senses. Chat live with Santa direct from the North Pole with our exclusive SantaVision.

Our creamy hot chocolate will always hit the spot on a cool night, while our cracking fire pits will keep you toasty warm as you listen to the festive choirs singing holiday favourites.

Our kids play areas are ideal for Holiday fun with the likes of Snowball Alley, Snow Bowling, The Reindeer Stables or Snigloo, where you can make your own igloo! Our customer favourites Candy Cane Lane and the Tunnel of Love are always part of the show because where else will all the couples get engaged?

PLUS Dashers Dog Sled Races brought to you by Petland

* Visit this activity the first 10 nights of Zoolights to enter daily draws for $10 Petland gift certificates.
* Plus you will also be entered to win a FREE Pet photo with Santa that will be drawn for on Friday, December 3
* Dec. 6 -30 enter to win a $50 Petland gift certificate
* On Zoo Years Eve (Dec.31) a special draw will be made that night for $50 Petland gift certificate

Don’t forget we are taking non-perishable food bank donations at our north gate all throughout Zoolights! As a thank you, you will receive a 2 for 1 coupon for Zoo Admission in the spring time.

Zoolights at the Calgary Zoo has so much to offer. It epitomizes the holiday spirit that is why it’s Calgary’s Favourite Holiday Tradition! Don’t miss it!
Friday, Nov.26 2010 to Sunday, January 2, 2011 (CLOSED CHRISTMAS DAY & EXCLUDING ZOO YEARS EVE)

6:00 pm to 9:00 pm – Gates close at 8:30 pm

In addition to Zoo Lights, there’s also Zoo Year’s Eve on 31st December where with the lights you’ll also have entertainment and at 8:30 a spectacular fireworks display!

With so much to offer, and so much to do Calgary Zoo is not somewhere you will want to miss on your next trip to Calgary – and it’s so accessible – there’s no excuse! Get yourself and the family down to the zoo for the day! For more information about what’s on – as well as facilities and up to date admission prices – check out their website at http://www.calgaryzoo.com/

If you’re looking to fly out to Calgary – we reccommend Canadian Affair, they hands down offer the best prices for flights on an every day basis – so when they do offers, they really are special! Have a look at the offers they have on before booking, as some only spot them after they book

View Larger Map

Share on Facebook

Gray wolves are slender, powerfully built animals with large, deeply descending ribcages and sloping backs. Their abdomens are pulled in, and their necks heavily muscled. Their limbs are long and robust, with comparatively small paws. The front paws have five toes each, while the back paws have four. The forelimbs are seemingly pressed into the chest, with the elbows pointed inward, and the feet outward. Females tend to have narrower muzzles and foreheads, thinner necks, slightly shorter legs and less massive shoulders than males. Wolves are very strong for their size, possessing sufficient strength to turn over a frozen horse or moose carcass.

They are also capable of running at speeds of 34-38 miles (56–64 km) per hour, and can continue running for more than 20 minutes, though not necessarily at that speed. In cold climates, wolves can reduce the flow of blood near their skin to conserve body heat. The warmth of the footpads is regulated independently of the rest of the body, and is maintained at just above tissue-freezing point where the pads came in contact with ice and snow.

Their sense of smell is relatively weakly developed when compared to that of some hunting dog breeds, being able to detect carrion upwind no farther than 2–3 km. Because of this, they rarely capture hidden hares or birds, though they can easily follow fresh tracks. Captive wolves are known to be able to detect what foods their handlers have eaten by smell. Their hearing is sharp enough to register the fall of leaves in the autumn period. The legend that wolves fear the sound of string instruments may have a basis in fact, as captive wolves in the Regent’s Park Zoo were shown to exhibit signs of intense distress when hearing low minor chords. Their eyesight is not as powerful as that of dogs, though their night vision is the most advanced of the Canidae.

In popular literature, wolf packs are often portrayed as strictly hierarchical social structures with a breeding “alpha” pair which climbs the social ladder through fighting, followed by subordinate “beta” wolves and a low ranking “omega” which bears the brunt of the pack’s aggression. This terminology is based heavily on the behaviour of captive wolf packs composed of unrelated animals, which will fight and compete against each other for status. Also, as dispersal is impossible in captive situations, fights become more frequent than in natural settings. In the wild, wolf packs are little more than nuclear families whose basic social unit consists of a mated pair, followed by its offspring. Northern wolf packs tend not to be as compact or unified as those of African wild dogs and spotted hyenas, though they are not as unstable as those of coyotes. Southern wolves are more similar in social behaviour to coyotes and dingoes, living largely alone or in pairs. The average pack consists of 5–11 animals; 1–2 adults, 3–6 juveniles and 1–3 yearlings, though exceptionally large packs consisting of 42 wolves are known. Wolf packs rarely adopt other wolves into their fold, and typically kill them. In the rare cases where strange wolves are adopted, the adoptee is almost invariably a young animal of 1–3 years of age, while killed wolves are mostly fully grown. The adoption of a new member can be a lengthy process, and can consist of weeks of exploratory, non-fatal attacks in order to establish whether or not the newcomer is trustworthy. During times of ungulate abundance (migration, calving etc.), different wolf packs may temporarily join forces. Wolves as young as five months and as old as five years have been recorded to leave their packs to start their own families, though the average age is 11–24 months.

Wolves howl to assemble the pack (usually before and after hunts), to pass on an alarm (particularly at a den site), to locate each other during a storm or unfamiliar territory and to communicate across great distances.

Pups almost never howl, while yearling wolves produce howls ending in a series of dog-like yelps. Howls used for calling pack mates to a kill are long, smooth sounds similar to the beginning of the cry of a horned owl. When pursuing prey, they emit a higher pitched howl, vibrating on two notes. When closing in on their prey, they emit a combination of a short bark and a howl. When howling together, wolves harmonize rather than chorus on the same note, thus creating the illusion of there being more wolves than there actually are. Lone wolves typically avoid howling in areas where other packs are present.

Wolves appear prominently in the folklore and mythology of human cultures. In Norse and Japanese mythology, wolves were portrayed as almost god-like. In Japan (where wolves were known as ookami or “great god”) grain farmers worshiped wolves at shrines and left food offerings near their dens, beseeching them to protect their crops from wild boars and deer, while the wolf Fenrir of Norse mythology was depicted as the son of Loki. Certain cultures portrayed wolves as part of their foundation myths. In Roman mythology, the Capitoline Wolf nurses the future founders of Rome, Romulus and Remus. In the mythology of the Turks and Ainu, wolves were believed to be the ancestors of their race, while the Dena’ina believed wolves were once men, and viewed them as brothers.

So, what if you were wanting to see a wolf? Or hear the wolves howl? Well I can only really suggest places if you should be going to the Muskoka/Algonquin regions of Ontario, however if you search google for zoos or wildlife parks near where you will be staying – you’ll no doubt find a place which you can go visit!
Muskoka Wildlife Centre has a couple of wolves – these being the ones in my photos. They can often present extremely close encounters – and opportunities to capture photos similar to mine on this article. However if you’re looking to encounter wolves out in the wild, it’s probably best you go to one of the organised ‘Public Wolf Howls’ in Algonquin Park.

At post 6 on the Mizzy Lake Trail in Algonquin Park is Wolf Howl Pond. This pond was named in the early 1970s when the meadow at the far end of the pond was used by a pack of wolves for several summers as a ‘rendezvous site’. A wolf rendezvous site is a sort of temporary headquarters used by wolves when the pups have become too big for the den but are still too small to travel and hunt with the adults. Because wolves tend to occupy such places for long periods of time, the discovery of a rendezvous means that park staff can take visitors out to hear wild wolves howling with a rather high expectation of success. Back in the 1970s several thousand people participated in ‘Public Wolf Howls’ and heard at that very location the incomparable sound of wolves howling under starry skies, in response to the imitation howls given by park naturalists.

Public wolf howls are still held each August whenever a rendezvous site is found at an accessible location and they continue to have a high rate of success. If you get a chance to go on such an expedition, they highly recommend that you do! there are few ways better of making contact with Algonquin Park’s most famous animal and listening in on its family life, not in a zoo or on television, but in that animal’s true environment.

If you’re interested in going on these Wolf Howls, remember to ring up the park and find out if these are going on to arrange your visit.

More recently obviously, Canadian wolves have also been featured in the animated film Alpha and Omega – Wolves who live in Jasper Park in Alberta.

If you are looking at how to get to Canada to see wolves – remember to check out Canadian Affair. It’s the company i always book my flights with when i fly to Canada and it really is the provider of the lowest cost flights, and it doesnt cut back on quality of service – including 2 inflight meal services and using Thomas Cook as well as the Canadian Airline Air Transat (both of whom i have flown with!) so dont forget to have a look before booking with anyone else! And here’s a link to the Special offers that many miss, so you dont have to go looking!

So there you go! Wolves, one of the many fantastic animals who call Canada their home!

Share on Facebook

Banff is nestled in the heart of the Canadian Rockies in spectacular Banff National Park, which is a holiday experience on its own! Expect to be overwhelmed by the sheer beauty of this region, from the awesome mountain peaks to the wild elk roaming freely down Banff Avenue to the Buzzing town centre.

When you come to stay in Banff you can enjoy three incredible resorts aptly named “The Big 3″: Mount Norquay, Sunshine Village and Lake Louise Ski Area, offering a world of choice all within a short distance of each other and to the town. Each resort offers a different terrain and a totally different experience within the National Park, though staying in Banff you are more likely to spend more time in Sunshine Village but we recommend you try them all.. plus night skiing at Mount Norquay!

Canadian Affair has a wide choice of hotels in downtown Banff offering a range of accommodation needs to suit your holiday requirements, choose from hotel rooms, luxury loft suites, condo apartments to luxury townhouses for families and groups wanting more space.

Banff town offers a wide selection of shops, cafes bars and restaurants, so the none or occasional skiers will have just as much fun off piste as on piste!

Banff is also packed with top quality tourist attractions such as the Hot Springs, Banff Gondala, Canadian Ski Museum, Whyte Museum and many art galleries, theatres and a cinema.

At night time a different energy comes to town with a wide choice of bars kicking into fun mode. There’s a massive choice of places to eat from casual diners serving generous portions of ribs, burgers and Alberta Beef steaks, to the fine cuisine. You will easily eat your way around Banff!!

There isn’t ski in-ski out access from the village but there are dedicated ski shuttle buses from the town centre that take you directly to each individual ski resort.

If travelling with family or friends swap the coach transfer for a car and enjoy the flexibility of driving to and from each resort at the time you want. not only will you save money but you can also enjoy sightseeing and more of the visitor attractions when you have your own car!

Banff’s skiing mounts up as being 26% for Beginners, 37% for Intermediate and 37% for Expert skiers so there’s plenty for skiers of all ability.

Ski season is Mid November to Mid April, and it has over 80kms of cross country skiing. There’s also a Ski School should you want to take some lessons!

If you’re not so much wanting to do skiing – there are also a number of other activities you may want to have a look at! These include Snowmobiling (day trips), husky dog sledding, snowshoeing, wildlife walks, ice skating, natural hot springs, museums, and day trips to Icefield Parkway.

Getting there you’ll want to take Canadian Affair‘s flights from Gatwick and Manchester, if you want to go through their package deals you can set off either on Saturdays or Wednesdays – flying to Calgary on a direct flight.
The transfer time on coach is 2 hours, but again if you’re flying with Canadian Affair‘s package price, the coach transfer is included in your price – - though Canadian Affair do give you the opportunity to make extra savings by swapping the coach for a car.

Canadian Affair are also doing a great number of special offers right now for skiing trips to Banff at the moment, so why not take a look at their prices by heading to their website: by clicking here

View Larger Map

Share on Facebook

Canada Day (French: Fête du Canada), formerly Dominion Day, is Canada’s national day, a federal statutory holiday celebrating the anniversary of the July 1, 1867, enactment of the British North America Act (today called the Constitution Act, 1867), which united two British colonies and a province of the British Empire into a single country called Canada. Canada Day observances take place throughout Canada as well as internationally.

Frequently referred to as “Canada’s birthday”, particularly in the popular press, the occasion marks the joining of the British North American colonies of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and the Province of Canada into a federation of four provinces (the Province of Canada being divided, in the process, into Ontario and Quebec) on July 1, 1867. Although Canada is regarded as having become a kingdom in its own right on that date, the British Parliament kept limited rights of political control over the new country that were shed by stages over the years until the last vestiges were surrendered in 1982 when the Constitution Act patriated the Canadian constitution.

In London today, Canada Day in London is taking place in Trafalgar Square. The event will kick off at 10:30 am with the Singing of O Canada by the Canadian Tenors and dropping of the puck by His Excellency James Wright, High Commissioner for Canada. Put on some red and white to show your Canadian spirit and join them for the Trafalgar Street Hockey cup, traditional Canadian delicacies, beer and wine as well as live music and performers all day. Canada Day is a Free event and enjoyable for all ages, so if you can get there -its worth doing! There are events happening until it ends at 10:15pm so if you want to experience a bit of Canada in the UK, see if you can get yourself there!

For more information about Canada Day in London have a look at their website http://www.canadadaylondon.com/… or how about going crazy – booking a last minute flight out to Canada – 8 hour flight, 5 hour time difference, so you can take off just after lunch and be in Canada for dinner! .. Ah if it wasnt for work… and money hehe..

So finally, Happy 143rd Birthday Canada! And us at Canada trip wish all Canadians a Happy Canada Day!

View Larger Map

Share on Facebook

Action packaged 13 night Alberta adventure exploring the home of the Canadian Rockies.

The Wild West is a 13 night fly drive taking you on an exciting circular tour of Alberta. Starting and ending in Calgary, home to the marvellous Stampede, you’ll discover the wonders of Drumheller and the flatlands, onto Edmonton the provincial capital city and home to Canads’s largest shopping mall, before heading onwards to explore the wondrous National Parks of Jasper and Banff where you’ll have plenty of time to get outdoors and get active! This is an adventure not to be missed for all ages and all interests. Giddy up and get booking!

Price is 13 nights from £849pp fr £346 per child between 1 May – 12 Oct 2010. Going to Alberta, located on the western side of Canada between British Columbia and Manitoba. Home to the magnificent Canadian Rockies set amidst the wondrous National Parks – an adventure playground waiting to be explored.

Package Details:

* Package includes Car rental (Intermediate car- fully inclusive package)
* 13 nights standard accommodation Discover Banff & it’s wildlife tour (3.5 hrs)
* Spirit Island Cruise on Maligne Lake from Jasper (1.5 hrs)
* Athabasca River Raft/Float trip- Jasper (2.5 hr)
* a personalised Roadbook, maps, local information and trip planner
* Not included: meals other than those listed, Park entrance fees (payable locally), flights

For more information about this package as well as other related packages – check out Canada Travel’s website here

And of course don’t forget to check out Canadian Affair!

Share on Facebook