Located at Canada’s southwestern border, the city of Vancouver boasts majestic mountains, sparkling ocean, rainforests and beautiful foliage in all four seasons. A vast multicultural population, endless activities, and excellent infrastructure ensure Vancouver is welcoming to all. While the city has excellent public transportation, it is a great walking city - easily accessible, clean, green and safe. Vancouver caters to almost any interest throughout the year; visitors can enjoy world-class shopping, gourmet meals, outstanding live entertainment, sporting events, theatre, outdoor adventure, a huge array of watersports, and spectacular sights and attractions. The city is also known for its easy access to Whistler, the Canadian Rockies, Victoria, and Vancouver Island. Don’t miss the opportunity to traverse the thrilling, famous Capilano Suspension Bridge and its new related activities, including palpitation-inducing cliff walks and historical tribal sites.
Situated on Alaska’s southeastern coast, on the island of Revillagigedo, the city of Ketchikan is known for its plentiful salmon, jaw-dropping scenery, and an incredibly rich First Nation culture. Ketchikan is idyllically positioned along a network of waterways known as the ‘Inside Passage’, which meander through some of the most jaw-droppingly beautiful wilderness in the world. Known as the ‘The Salmon Capital of the World', Ketchikan boasts a thriving century-old fishing culture and is home to the world’s largest collection of totem poles. Visitors can look forward to a variety of activities including: learning about Native Alaskan culture, visiting local art galleries, fishing on one of the many lakes and rivers, ziplining over misty fjords, or spotting whales, dolphins, and sea lions.
Set in the Gulf of Alaska, the picturesque city of Sitka is situated on part of Baranof Island, as well as Chichagof Island. This seaside community is known for its eclectic cultural heritage, incredibly scenic natural landscape and abundant wildlife. Sitka was part of Russia until 1867, which accounts for its rich Russian heritage and also boasts a rich blend of American, and indigenous Tlingit influences. Visitors can view traditional dancing, hike the totem-lined rainforest trail, and spot an array of wildlife such as sea lion, sea otter, and humpback whale, as well as bald eagles and coastal brown bears. Other highlights include: soaking up the views of impressive Mt Edgecumbe, a dormant volcano; visiting Tongass National Forest, the largest temperate rainforest in the world; and exploring the magnificent surrounding landscape featuring snow-capped mountains and forested islands. Other popular activities include: kayaking, quad biking, and fishing.
Sandwiched between the Gastineau Channel and alpine-forested mountains, Alaska’s remote capital, Juneau, features restored historic buildings, fascinating museums and vibrant nightlife. This geographically secluded city is the only state capital in America with no road system. It is a popular stopover for cruise ship visitors, who flock here for the spectacular natural surroundings and to view ancient calving glaciers. The area offers an excellent array of wildlife, including humpback whales, seals, eagles, and brown bears. Juneau offers visitors a cornucopia of exceptional wilderness attractions, including the Tracy Arm-Fords Terror Wilderness Area, the Glacier Bay National Park and Admiralty Island National Monument, featuring the largest national forest in America. Don’t miss the massive world-famous Mendenhall Glacier. Other popular activities include kayaking, fishing, hiking, and hunting.
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Straddling the confluence of the North and South Thompson Rivers, the sunny city of Kamloops is a thriving cosmopolitan hub set in the heart of British Columbia’s Southern Interior. Rugged mountains, verdant valleys, sagebrush-covered hills and unspoilt lakes confine historic buildings, numerous shopping and dining facilities as well as ebullient festivities. Lovers of the outdoors can hike Sugarloaf Mountain, the Hoodoos, Dewdrop Range, Tranquille River, Gibraltar Rock and Kenna Cartwright Park. For a paddle on a kayak or a canoe, try the 100 lakes and streams within an hour’s drive of Kamloops. During the mild winter, traverse the snowy slopes on skis, snowshoes, ice skates, and snowmobiles. Other must-see sites include Riverside Park, Kamloops Museum and Archives, Kamloops Art Gallery, Kamloops Heritage Railway and the wineries and breweries at Thompson Valley.
Jasper, set at the heart of Canada’s Jasper National Park in the awe-inspiring Canadian Rockies, retains its timeless appeal as a peaceful, unpretentious, and friendly former railway town. The landscapes here are majestic; numerous mirror lakes, dense and varied forests, breathtaking snowy slopes. A year-round gateway to the park’s pristine setting, Jasper is the perfect place to enjoy skiing, nature photography, a paddle through crystal clear waters, hiking (over 1200 km of trails await), spotting wildlife (including grizzly bears, moose, and elk), or simply enjoying the serenity of the area. Top itinerary items include lake tours; a soak in the warm, idyllic Miette Hot Springs; and a meander along the adrenaline-inducing Glacier Skywalk, where visitors are separated from a 280-metre drop by a glass floor - among others.
Nestled high in the Canadian Rockies, the resort town of Banff is the largest in the Banff National Park and is known for its breathtaking scenery, artsy and cosmopolitan atmosphere, and opportunities for skiing and outdoor activities. Three sublime ski areas are easily accessible from here, and the area famously boasts ‘Canada’s Best Snow’ making skiing, snowboarding, and all other snowsports a dream. The awe-inspiring Lake Louise and forested hillsides make for wonderful exploration in summer, with a massive network of excellent trails well suited to hiking, biking, and horse riding. Delve into the area’s unique heritage by visiting sites such as the Cave and Basin National Historic Site and the Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies, or visit purely for views and culinary pursuits by bar and restaurant hopping.
Lake Louise town is situated in Alberta in Canada, within the extraordinary Banff National Park and the Rocky Mountains. The lake's hamlet was named after Princess Louise Caroline Alberta, the fourth daughter of Queen Victoria, and is famous for its turquoise appearance, the Victoria Glacier, the soaring mountain backdrop, and enormous surrounding ski resorts. Hikers can enjoy a trek up to Lake Agnes Tea House for stunning panoramic views, rent canoes, or skate on the lake’s icy surface in winter. Other highlights include the Lake Louise Gondola, a cable car that crawls up the Whitehorn Mountain via an open ski lift or enclosed gondola, providing a better chance of spotting the area’s local grizzly bears. Several other viewpoints offer more magnificent spots to take in the sights.
Calgary is the natural base for those exploring Western Canada and the Canadian Rockies. But beyond the region's famed western flair and spectacular natural beauty, Calgary is emerging as a popular urban destination for its own sake – thanks in part to a young, educated population of over one million. The eco-friendly city is home to world-class attractions and festivals, and a culture of hospitality that welcomes visitors from all backgrounds. The Calgary Stampede, which draws a million visitors a year, is just one of many outstanding attractions. The region offers a striking variety of natural landscapes within easy day-tripping distance: Banff and Kananaskis are less than 90 minutes by bus, while the famed badlands and dinosaur beds of Drumheller are less than two hours away.
