CANADA - OUR COOL NEIGHBOR
Written By Susan Antonelli, Certified Travel Counselor

It’s summertime in Galveston. Hot, Humid and Hurricane Season. This is just the time of year to think about our friendly neighbor to the north (no, not Oklahoma)… Canada!

Like the United States it’s big and can offer something for almost everyone. Here’s the countdown of the 10 best vacation spots Canada has to offer.

#10 – They have Polar Bears! Manitoba is the Polar Bear Capital of the world. You can even take Tundra buggy rides (with big enclosed windows) and view them up close. Fly or take a train to Churchill, Manitoba.

#9 – The best Fishing – really! From the Salmon in Campbell River to the Northern Pike and Lake Trout in Great Slave Lake, Canada if a veritable fishing paradise. They have small mouth Bass in Rainy Lake and Walleye are in Manitoba and Ontario and you can catch Lakers in Nunavut.

#8 – New Brunswick and the Bay of Fundy. Ocean tides move the height of a four-story building – twice a day! The Appalachian Range has great hiking trails not to mention over a 100 species of birds.

#7 – Toronto is a big city. They have parks, beaches, a huge financial district, and 2.7 million people. It’s ranked in the top five cultural cities to visit for history, art and entertainment. And summer’s the time to have a grand time in this “big city”.

#6 – Ontario’s Algonquin Park. 7,725 square kilometers of forest, lakes, and rivers. They have 250 bird species, 2,000 kilometers of canoe routes and roaming packs of wolves. The park rangers even lead “wolf howl expeditions” if a pack of wolves is sited.

#5 – Montreal – they are home to the International Fireworks Festival every summer. This year it lasts until August 22. Every Saturday night at La Ronde in Parc Jean-Drapeau, pyrotechnicians from nine countries vie for the coveted honors of best in the world. I was lucky enough to attend one Saturday night (stadium seating) and I could not believe the show. It makes our 4th of July shows look like practice sessions.

#4 – Niagara Falls Region. Yes there’s the Falls but did you know that Ontario has lots of wineries? Check out the latitude…even with some of the best wines of France! Niagara-on-the-Lake is one of the prettiest villages in Canada.

#3 – Quebec City – The first French settlement in North America, Quebec City is very European in layout and attractions. They have a daily summer “Changing of the Guard”, whale watching is nearby, the St. Lawrence is a step away, and shopping and fabulous restaurants are everywhere. You could stay here quite a while!
#2 Vancouver Island and Victoria. A few miles away by ferry or plane but an era away in time. Victoria beckons you to slow down and enjoy a milder pace and a true walk around city. Nearby Butchart Gardens is a vegetation starved Galvestonian’s dream come true.