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

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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!

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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!

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Its just over a month now until spring. So on that prospect, i thought it was about time to start thinking of the summer and what kind of places would be nice to simply relax around Canada… As you can imagine.. that’s practically the whole country, but i decided that I’d go for an easily accessible park for anyone visiting Halifax!

Point Pleasant Park is a large, partially forested municipal park at the southern tip of the Halifax peninsula. It once hosted several artillery batteries, and a well-preserved 18th century Martello tower can be found there. The park hosts forest walks and affords views across the harbour and out toward the Atlantic.

Shakespearean plays are performed in the park every summer by the Shakespeare by the Sea theatre company.

About 2 miles from the downtown, it’s a great place to relax after a long day shopping or enjoying other attractions! Or, why not head on down for a picnic? If you’re into running, running in the park is fantastic as there’s lots of variety. Flats, woodland circuits, challenging hills if you want them, amazing views of the ocean, islands, and harbour… And after your healthy run, if you like icecream, you can get some amazing icecream here!

Halifax has always been an important Naval city through history and still remains important for the Royal Canadian Navy. My Granddad when in the Royal Navy was there frequently. Point Pleasant is the location to numerous monuments associated with the heritage of Halifax and the sea. The largest is the Halifax Monument, better known as the Sailor’s Memorial, which commemorates members of the Royal Canadian Navy, the Canadian Merchant Navy and Canadian Army who were lost at sea. The ship’s anchor from the aircraft carrier HMCS Bonaventure serves a a monument to the men and women who died while serving the Canadian Navy during Peacetime. A cairn marks the lives lost in the sinking of the Canadian Merchant Navy ship SS Point Pleasant in 1945. A monument facing the Northwest Arm honour Walter Hose, a naval commander who helped build the Royal Canadian Navy while another honours the families who ran the Northwest Arm ferry and performed many rescues. National Historic Site plaques in the park commemorate the role of Halifax as Naval Port and the Battle between HMS Shannon and USS Chesapeake in 1813.

So, to sum Point Pleasant Park up.. whether you’re there to just relax, enjoy and learn it’s history, or looking for somewhere to run – This park is a hugely enjoyable place to stop off while you’re in Halifax – and somewhere i’d highly recommend!

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Since the trees are beginning to turn, and the temperature in the UK has definitely started dropping over recent weeks, an autumn article is just what we need, so I’ve decided to include the Metro’s article here, just in case you didn’t see it in the paper yesterday. And at the bottom of the article is a link to the digital edition of the paper which it’s featured in. So Here it is:

”
I’m confused. I order a glass of ice-cold Keith’s – the local ale, first brewed by a Scot – to toast my new-found friends: a Halifax resident and drunken Italo-Finn in a floppish hatl. A Latvian chap tells us about the time he lived in Bahrain, while from across the bar Irish accents discuss the arrival in Canadian waters of a boat of Sri Lankan refugees. My head might physically be in the Carleton pub in the city of Halifax – capital of Canada’s east coast Nova Scotia province – but I feel like I’m roaming the globe.

This shouldn’t be a surprise. Canada is a country of immigrants and Halifax acted as a gateway for many of them. Between the 1920s and 1970s, a million incoming souls disembarked on to Pier 21 (now a slick museum) on their way to a new life. And that’s on top of the English, French and Celts – Nova Scotia means New Scotland – who ventured here centuries before.

‘Nova Schcosha .. sa good-living kinda playsch,’ slurs my part-Finnish companion. ‘Yup, friendliest people in Canada,’ pitches a Torontonian, which is high praise indeed: you’d never catch a Londoner saying that of someone from Yorkshire.

Throughout this cosmopolitan conversation, a guitar-playing singer strums on a stage. He’s good and one onlooker seems particularly rapt. ‘See that guy?’ the local asks me. ‘That’s Mike, the bar owner. He used to have a show on the Canadian version of MTV. Infact, he opened this place so he could book bands he likes.’

But Music is life in Halifax. and that’s what i wanted to hear. There are free recitals in the churches and concerts at the Public Gardens’ Victorian bandstand. Gigs pop up in car parks and a medley of warblers serenade along bustling Spring Garden Road. And by the waterfront, eclectic entertainment is present. The annual Busker Festival is in full flow, a wonderful ragbag of flame-throwers, acrobats and stunt comics. I sit down with a lobster roll and watch an Aussie called Wally keep an appreciative audience enthralled.

The waterfront is the heart of Halifax – this is a city that exists because of the sea. The indigenous Mi’Kmaq people called it Jipugtug, ‘the great long harbour’, and when the British were looking for a base in the region in the 1740s, they concurred. Founded in 1749, Halifax has since housed a Canadian naval dock, sheltered transatlantic convoys from German U-boats and played its part in the Titanic tragedy – more than 200 bodies from the ‘unsinkable’ ship are buried here, including one young man called J Dawson. Though James Cameron insists he dreamed up Leo DiCaprio’s character, this is now one of the most viewed headstones in Fairview Cemetery.

To get a better feel for this maritime city, I take the ferry to Dartmouth. For C$2.25 (£1.40), you get the best ‘tour’ in town: deck-level views of Halifax’s parked-up submarines, waterfront cafés, skyscrapers and 18th-century Citadel Hill.
I explore Dartmouth a little part of the municipality of Halifax, and almost as old, it has its own historic buildings plus an air of cool as younger people are drawn to its more affordable homes. I get a taste of this at Two If By Sea, where three patrons are wearing ‘I <3 Dartmouth’ T-shirts. This Café is famed for its large croissants and I’m afraid of the pastries – I’ve never seen voluminous folds of golden dough like them.

Tempting though they are, I have to sail back to meet RockCityFire, my new couchsurfing.com buddy, who’s promised me a night of Halifax fun. ‘There’s usually a good band at the Seahorse Tavern,’ he’s emailed me, ‘but, whatever, we’ll find something, somewhere.’ I don’t doubt it for a minute.

”

Have a look at the issue of the Metro here, the article above is on pages 18 and 19.

If you’re looking for flights to Halifax, Nova Scotia from the UK, make sure you have a look at Canadian Affair. Canadian Affair runs flights through well known and popular Thomas Cook, so you’ll be flying Thomas Cook or well known (in Canada) Canadian airline Air Transat. In 2009 Canadian Affair was voted ‘Consumer Favourite Tour Operator’ and ‘Consumer Favourite Ski Operator’ by the Canadian Tourism Commission. And with my experience in flying with them, every time i have been i will recommend them over and over as the one stop shop you should be looking at should you want to fly to Canada.
Oh and yes, my two trips out this year, are already booked with them!

A lot of people don’t realise that Canadian Affair always run a large number of offers ESPECIALLY to Halifax - so take a quick look at the offers most people miss by clicking here for their special offers like flights from £139!

Halifax is one of the most popular places to visit in Canada by tourists from the UK, so why not head out and see it for yourself!

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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!

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Yes, they really do get that red!

When you ask most people, think of some colours you’d see as representing autumn.. Most say Brown, Yellow or Orange.. In Canada, you get a whole variety of these colours, as well as Reds. Sometimes reds so vivid, you would seriously wonder how it is possible for a tree, a thing from nature to paint its leaves such brilliant red! Of coarse, there are other places you may see red leaves, but Canada truly is the best place on earth you will ever get to see this in such a quantity.

No doubt you may have even came to look at this article because you may be interested in actually seeing this for yourself, so i don’t really think i need to ‘big up’ this firework display of colour too much, but one thing i will say – is this is one of those things you MUST do before you die! So better sooner than later!..

Interestingly there are particular places in Canada you’d be best to go to should you really want to catch nature in its full glory when in Canada and so if your main reason for visiting Canada is to see the leaves Ontario, Quebec or the Maritime provinces are probably your best destinations! Here are the best places, within those provinces – and just as important – the times in which you’ll want to plan your trips.

Algonquin Provincial Park, Ontario: Somewhere we have already featured on Canada Trip, and happy to feature once more. The size, beauty and proximity to Toronto of this 7,725 square kilometre park make it one of the most popular parks in Ontario. The forests, lakes, and rivers that comprise Algonquin Park can only be explored by foot or canoe.
The maple trees are at their best at the end of September or early October. The aspens, tamaracks and red oaks reach their peak in the middle or end of October. Consult the Algonquin Fall Colour Report for fall colour activity and specific viewing spots. For more information on Algonquin park, check out our Algonquin park catagory!

Niagara Parkway, Ontario: The historic Niagara Parkway, or “River Road,” is the route that Winston Churchill called “the prettiest Sunday afternoon drive in the world,” and follows the winding curves of the Niagara River, which divides Canada and the US. The loveliest stretch in autumn is between the small towns of Queenston and Niagara-on-the-Lake and reaches its pinnacle of colour in early October. Finish your day with by tilting back a glass of Niagara Wine.

The Bruce Peninsula, Ontario: The Bruce Peninsula features one of the best portions of the Bruce Trail – an 800 km (almost 500 mile) hiking trail – that features splendid Ontario flora, fauna and water vistas. Some of the trees are more than 1000 years old and in the autumn, especially the end of September to beginning of October, the colours are something to behold.
Check the Ontario Parks Fall Colour Report for autumn colour activity and great viewing spot suggestions.

The Laurentian Mountains, Quebec: Québec is famous for its autumn colours because of the sugar maple trees. Also prevalant are the provincial yellow birch and the American beech. Try the Laurentian Mountains for one of the most beautiful displays of fall foliage in North America. Colours begin their peak at the end of September and continue until mid- to late-October in lower elevations and more southern locations. Celebrate the season by visiting resort town Mont-Tremblant for its annual Symphony of Colours festival.

Prince Edward Island: PEI forests have an exceptional range of colours in autumn. The warm waters of the Gulf of St. Lawrence and the Northumberland Strait moderate PEI’s climate and help to create one of the longest fall foliage periods in northeastern North America. PEI’s forests are bear-free, providing year-round safety for visitors. As well, there are no deer or moose in Island forests, providing a safe viewing experience without large game hunting. Consult the PEI Fall Foliage Website for details.

The Cabot Trail, Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia: Hailed as one of the world’s most beautiful drives, the Cabot Trail winds around Cape Breton’s northern shore and rewards fall colour seekers in a spectacular way. Fiery reds, oranges, crimsons and golds blanket the highlands and reach their peak the first or second week of October. Try visiting Cape Breton Highlands National Park or Kejimkujik National Park and National Historic Site. Consult the Nova Scotia Fall Foliage Report for detailed autumn colour activity.

Fundy Coastal Drive, New Brunswick: Like the Cabot Trail, the Fundy Coastal Drive is another outstanding maritime journey. See some of the highest tides in the world and enjoy the vivacious reds and deep pumpkin oranges, which are at their best the first two weeks of October during Canada’s Thanksgiving Weekend. Tree variety and colours are similar to New England’s, yet crowds are minimal in New Brunswick by comparison.

ALSO here’s a little factoid!
Autumn or Fall?

The word autumn comes from the Old French word autompne (automne in modern French), and was later normalized to the original Latin word autumnus. There are rare examples of its use as early as the 12th century, but it became common by the 16th century.

Before the 16th century, harvest was the term usually used to refer to the season. However, as more people gradually moved from working the land to living in towns (especially those who could read and write, the only people whose use of language we now know), the word harvest lost its reference to the time of year and came to refer only to the actual activity of reaping, and fall, as well as autumn, began to replace it as a reference to the season.

The alternative word fall is now mostly a North American English word for the season. It traces its origins to old Germanic languages. The exact derivation is unclear, the Old English fiæll or feallan and the Old Norse fall all being possible candidates. However, these words all have the meaning “to fall from a height” and are clearly derived either from a common root or from each other. The term came to denote the season in the 16th century, a contraction of Middle English expressions like “fall of the leaf” and “fall of the year”.

During the 17th century, English immigration to the colonies in North America was at its peak, and the new settlers took their language with them. While the term fall gradually became obsolescent in Britain, it became the more common term in North America, where autumn is nonetheless preferred in scientific and often in literary contexts.

Source: wikipedia

So, now you know!

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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!

The current star-shaped fortress, or citadel, is formally known as Fort George and was completed in 1856, following twenty-eight years of construction. This massive masonry-construction fort was designed to repel a land-based attack by United States forces and was inspired by the designs of Louis XIV’s commissary of fortifications Sébastien Le Prestre, Seigneur de Vauban – a star-shaped hillock fortress with internal courtyard and clear harbour view from armoured ramparts.

Fort George was constructed to defend against smoothbore weaponry; it became obsolete following the introduction of more powerful rifled guns in the 1860s. British forces upgraded Fort George’s armaments to permit it to defend the harbour as well as land approaches, using heavier and more accurate long-range artillery. The role of Fort George in the defense of Halifax Harbour had evolved by the turn of the 20th century to becoming a command centre for other, more distant harbour defensive works, as well as providing barrack accommodations.

Although never attacked, Citadel Hill’s various fortifications were garrisoned by the British Army until 1906 and afterward by the Canadian Army throughout the First and Second World Wars; Fort George having been used as temporary barracks during 1939-1940 and as the coordinating point for the city’s anti-aircraft defences.

According to the historian and novelist Thomas Head Raddall, Citadel Hill was “like Vesuvius over Pompeii, a smiling monster with havoc in its belly”. Following World War II, the hill and fortifications were designated a National Historic Site and today is under the responsibility of Parks Canada. Fort George has been restored to the mid-Victorian period.

Halifax Citadel Parade Ground

Fort George has a living history program featuring animators portraying life in the fort where soldiers of the 78th Highland Regiment, the Third Brigade of the Royal Artillery, soldiers wives, and civilian tradespersons re-enact life in 1869.

There are guided and self-guided tours available as well as an army museum, audio-visual presentations and exhibits which serve to communicate the Citadel’s role in shaping Halifax’s and North America’s history.
Approaching the Christmas season, Citadel Hill annually hosts a “Victorian Christmas”. Visitors are treated to crafts, carolers and games.

When visiting the Halifax Citadel, if you are in need for some refreshment, stop at the Citadel’s Coffee Bar. The Coffee Bar is located in the historic Cavalier Building and is sure to be a pleasant experience as you eat in the unique military surroundings. The Coffee Bar is open from May 7 to October 31 during the same hours as the Site
Within the Citadel visitors will be pleased to find a unique shopping experience in the Regimental Shop. Choose from a variety of military souvenirs, T-shirts, ornaments, books, postcards and much more. The Regimental Shop carries something for all tastes and budgets. Come in and chat with our friendly and knowledgeable staff who will be glad to assist with your selection.

The fort has a Paid Parking car park ($3.25 per visit) for 80 cars which is inside the Fort’s West Ditch

For more information about how much it costs to get in check out the citadel’s official website which will give you more information about the living history and events that will be taking place here.

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So with so much to see and do at this place its not worth missing!

Remember if you’re flying to Halifax from the UK, the best value flights are available at our reccomended company Canadian Affair, check out the link below to have a look at the latest offers:

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photo © 1977-2009 Olga Zhaxybayeva http://carrot.mcb.uconn.edu/~olgazh/

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.

York Redoubt was the heart of the defences protecting the outer harbour approaches to Halifax. Begun in 1793 on a bluff overlooking the harbour entrance, it was enlarged by the Duke of Kent who constructed a Martello tower there in 1798.
The redoubt became an essential link in the communications system protecting the city against suprise attack. Its strategic importance was such that it was rebuilt in the 1860s and 1880s to mount more powerful guns.

photo © 1977-2009 Olga Zhaxybayeva http://carrot.mcb.uconn.edu/~olgazh/

In the twentieth century York Redoubt became the tactical command centre for all harbour defences. It was a command centre for harbour defences in World War II , which included observation posts, gun placements and an anti-submarine net which stretched across the harbour’s entrance from Fort McNab on McNabs Island. It remained active until it was finally closed from miliatary use in 1956.

With expansion and rebuilds going on throughout the centuries there are a variety of different buildings on the site, from the martello tower in the 1700s, the fortifications in the 1800s and the world war two buildings from the 1900s.

From the redoubt walls as you walk round you may see a path, if you find a way onto this path you will be able to follow it all the way down to the ocean and there are quite a few opportunities to snap some truly great photos.

So don’t miss this great historic site where you can take in some history and enjoy the scenic views of the harbour mouth and adjacent coastline.

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Tim Hortons

Tim Hortons is a coffee shop, doughnut shop and a place to eat all rolled into one – and on top of that it’s Canadian! These places are dotted absolutely everywhere, so stop off, relax and enjoy their hot chocolate with a doughnut or two. Or, try their timbits, which are doughnut holes – you can either choose what flavours you want or you can ask for a random variety. The other fantastic thing about Tim Hortons, other than everything tastes so good – is the price. While we were out a couple of weeks ago, we got two extra large Tim Hortons Hot Chocolates (1pt cups), and a box of 10 timbits – and it came to exactly $5!

Doughnuts are a big thing at Tim Hortons, and they’re always fresh – as their slogan says – and there is a huge variety to choose from – one which I’d recommend if you like sweet is the Blueberry Bloom Doughnut – which is out right now, quite possibly for a limited time, so look out for it if you’re heading out to Canada in the next month or so!

So, that’s coffee, hot chocolate and doughnuts.. how about the food? Well, although i have meant to on two separate trips now, i have yet to try the BLT from Tim Hortons.. i have talked to a lot of people and everyone says these are fantastic sandwiches – so although i haven’t had one – I’m going to mention it anyway! .. And get out of bed early one morning and make your way to Tim Hortons for breakfast. Something very normal in north American food – is a Biscuit. And no i’m not talking about your average digestive. A biscuit in this context is effectively a savoury scone – and this is what i’m reccomending you get.. it is absolutely my all time favourite takeaway breakfast… The Tim Hortons Hot Breakfast Sandwich.

You can have it a couple of different ways – my favourite is the Sausage Egg and Cheese hot breakfast sandwich – although you can also swap the sausage for strips of streaky bacon – or if you’re a veggy they’ll keep the meat off and you can have their egg and cheese option. If you get the combo / meal you also get a hot drink and a home made style hash brown which truly puts McDonald’s Hashbrowns to shame! – They’re potato, onion and herbs all made into a neat and crispy hash brown. OH and while we’re talking about the breakfast..
The sausage in the sandwich is herbed – which puts it head and shoulders over its McDonalds rival the sausage and egg McMuffin patty, since in Canada the Canadian sausage patty is not herbed like the UK one.. so Although McDonalds has a secret weapon up their sleve when it comes to breakfast [which i'll cover in another article in the future] – i still think Tim Hortons beats it hands down!

I’ll give you the google map to the restaurant we’ve visited, but trust me – there really is a Tim Hortons nearly everywhere

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To get to this Tim Hortons, if you’re driving North on Highway 12, at the crossroads which you can see (which has traffic lights) turn right, and there’s an immediate left turn to take you into Tim Hortons.

So, Tim Hortons – do not leave Canada without visiting at least once.. or twice! And if you like their Hot Chocolate you can buy a tub of it to bring back with you!.. Oh and if you try the BLT before me – leave us a comment and tell us what you think to it!

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