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Lights, camera ... vacation!
| FEATURE: Peak Pleasures |
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Mountain Makeover
In less than four decades, Whistler Blackcomb has been transformed from rugged, inaccessible backcountry to the largest ski resort in North America. Soon to host the 2010 Winter Games, the “village” now offers everything from downhill skiing, ziplining and dog sledding to snowmobiling and skate-skiing. And that’s just outdoors. With lattés and sushi, wine and food and the Whistler Film Festival, the peak once known as London Mountain has a rich indoor life as well. |
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| TASTETRIP: Canada’s culinary destinations |
Edible BC’s Chef for a Day
Savour a day learning the secrets of the chef trade from one of Vancouver’s top talents. Join chef Brian Fowke as he shows you how to rule the kitchen, from menu planning to shopping for the best local seasonal ingredients. Then, with Chef Fowke as the lead, you’ll take part in an interactive cooking lesson in a working kitchen, preparing and enjoying a meal with your classmates. This hands-on tutorial is sure to be a delectable memory.
Visit: www.edible-britishcolumbia.com |
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| METRO PASS: Your key to all things urban |
It’s Hockey Night in Victoria!
From Jan. 29-30, B.C.’s capital city plays host to 30 street hockey teams from across Canada, all vying for national supremacy in CBC's Play on! Four-on-four teams from all skill levels and all ages take to the pavement in Victoria's Inner Harbour for the chance to hoist the tournament’s Redwood Cup. Free seating on a first-come basis.
Visit: www.playon.ca |
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Toronto’s Cavalcade of Lights
Toronto’s 43rd annual Cavalcade of Lights festival returns to Nathan Phillips Square from Nov. 28–Dec. 31. The free weekly event features live concerts, fireworks, lighting displays, skating parties and more every Saturday night until the end of December. Soak up the holiday cheer while you glide to the beats of DJs in the heart of the city.
Visit: www.toronto.ca
(Photo: www.TorontoWide.com) |
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Winnipeg’s Canad Inns Winter Wonderland
Celebrate the magic of the season’s holiday lights from the comfort of your car. Now in its 10th year, Canad Inns Winter Wonderland at Red River Exhibition Park is a drive-through light show animated by three million watts of brilliant outdoor entertainment. Enjoy skating and weekend horse-drawn sleigh rides. From Nov. 27–Jan. 3, 2010, 6–10 p.m. Visit: www.redriverex.com |
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| ADVENTURE ZONE: Your travel guide to Canada’s wild side |
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Ontario
The 2010 Great Ontario Outdoor Adventure Calendar
Whether you’re drawn to high adventure or solitude, the photographs in the 2010 Great Ontario Outdoor Adventure calendar have something to inspire you. Proudly showcasing images of our national and provincial parks and conservation areas, this calendar also includes exciting event and getaway ideas. To order free copy, call 1-800-ONTARIO or
visit: www.ontariotravel.net |
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Ontario
Win Seven Days on Georgian Bay
The 2010 Great Ontario Outdoor Adventure of a Lifetime Contest kicks off on December 7. Be one of four lucky adventurers who’ll spend seven days on a fully guided tour exploring the spectacular landscape and culture of Georgian Bay. Value approximately $20,000. Enter online to win. Visit: www.ontariotravel.net/outdoor
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Ontario
Bruce County
Voted Explore Canada’s number-one snowshoe destination, the Grotto in Bruce Peninsula National Park is an easy 4-km adventure for all ages. Take the family to Tobermory for a weekend getaway, try winter camping, and experience the Bruce Trail’s breathtaking vistas overlooking the Niagara Escarpment. Call 1-800-268-3838 or or visit: www.explorethebruce.com
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British Columbia
Okanagan’s Big White
Share the Christmas spirit with your family at North America’s most popular holiday getaway. At Big White Ski Resort, the whole mountain anxiously awaits a very special visit from the man in red. Don’t miss the annual parade in the village, complete with an indoor interdenominational church service, caroling, hot chocolate, chestnuts, fireworks and more.
Visit: www.bigwhite.com |
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Quebec
Quebec City’s Petit Champlain
Once November draws to a close, Christmas decorations appear across the Petit Champlain District. From Dec. 18–Jan. 1, choirs stroll the streets each day from noon until the shops close. Petit Champlain is magical year-round, but it’s especially enchanting during the holiday season, when the atmosphere delights both the young and the young at heart.
Visit: quartierpetitchamplain.com |
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Yukon
Great River Journey
The Great River Journey combines a lavish wilderness safari with a journey of personal discovery. Following the Yukon River route of the First Nations, Gold Rush stampeders and traders from Whitehorse to Dawson City, the trip unfolds over 600 km of wilderness. New for 2010, 5-day/4-night and 7-day/6-night excursions.
Visit: www.greatriverjourney.com |
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| DO NOT DISTURB: Spas, lodges and inns |
Sooke Harbour House, B.C.: A Coastal Christmas
Enjoy an unforgettable holiday vacation with spectacular views combined with warm hospitality and world-class cuisine. Add a decorated tree and some Christmas magic, and it’s an ideal home away from home this festive season. Only 40 km from Victoria, Sooke Harbour House is one of Vancouver Island’s most unique luxury hotels and resorts — voted 29th best luxury boutique hotel in the world by Condé Naste in 2009.
Visit: www.sookeharbourhouse.com
(Photo: Andrei Fedorov) |
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LUGGAGE
RACK:
Gear up with great tools and products |
LowePro Versapack 200 AW
A lightweight, versatile backpack perfect for travel, this LowePro pack has a dual-compartment design that has an ideal spot for your D-SLR camera and lets you pack your personal gear separately. It offers convenient access even when you’re wearing it. Comes with LowePro’s patented All Weather Cover™ for protection against the elements. |
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REQUIRED
READING:
Travel and adventure books |
Unforgettable Canada: 100 Destinations
by George Fischer and Noel Hudson
This beautifully photographed and engagingly written guide explores 100 of Canada's most remarkable destinations, from the adventurous to the more familiar. Some represent dream excursions to the far reaches of the land, while others are easily accessible from major centres. Each offers unforgettable vistas and a rare glimpse into Canada's history and spirit. From Boston Mills. |
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| INTERNATIONAL AGENDA:
Your passport to world travel |
Jerry Van Dyke
European Christmas Markets Cruise
Sail along the romantic Rhine River and learn about the traditions and customs of the towns that line its banks. European Christmas markets have been admired since the first holiday market opened in Dresden in 1434. On this river cruise, you’ll experience traditional markets, from Dusseldorf, Cologne, Bonn, Koblenz, Rudesheim, Heidelburg, Speyer and Strasbourg to Gengenbach, Baden Baden and, most beautiful of all, Stuttgart.
Visit: www.jerryvandyke.com |
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Visit Florida
Top Trips on Two Wheels
Ecosystems teeming with wildlife. Breathtaking beachfronts and blue water as far as the eye can see: The abundance of natural spaces and recreation sites make Florida one of the world’s most bike-friendly destinations. Panama City Beach boasts some 40 km of trails custom-made for eco-adventure and Daytona Beach’s iconic oceanfront welcomes cyclists year-round, while the Florida Keys Heritage Trail offers cyclists a pathway over the sparkling Gulf waters.
Visit: visitflorida.com |
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