Good Vacation, Eh? Top Places to Visit in Canada

Our neighbors to the North have some very beautiful places to visit, above and beyond the common ones that pop into mind when you say " Canada." Even for a dyed in the wool hockey fan like me can find so much more to see and do in this beautiful country than you could shake a hockey stick at!

Canada has many festivals, each celebrating a different aspect of their culture. First, there are the theatre festivals featuring some of the best in theatrical entertainment. There are three festivals featuring Shakespeare: In Stratford, Ontario, (which is a really well done one), Bard on the Beach in Vancouver, British Colombia, and Shakespeare on the Saskatchewan in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. The English Bard not your cup of tea? There are no less than thirteen other festivals, some available in both English and French, ranging from frothy comedy to dark drama.

If you want to do something more active or adventurous, Canada offers plenty of both as well. There are tours that take you out on a small boat right up close and personal to the humpback whales off the coast of Newfoundland, and other tours will take you to see other wildlife closer than you ever thought possible. You could spend part of your Canadian vacation face to face with a polar bear, a moose or a huge walrus!

Toronto is Canada's largest city, and has plenty to offer. Of course, I would have to give up my hockey fan status if I did not mention that the Hockey Hall of Fame is here, but trust me, it is only one of many, many things to do here. World class fine dining is available in the Distillery District as well as many art galleries to delight the senses. Toronto is also home to the Royal Ontario Museum and the world renowned Toronto Zoo. Oh, okay, it is also the home of the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Montreal is not only home to the NHL's Canadians, it is filled with some of the most beautiful cathedrals in all the world. It includes the Mary, Queen of the World Cathedral which is a 1/4 scale copy of St. Peter's in Rome. Montreal also has a Planetarium, a Biosphere and some of the most fabulous architecture anywhere.

Ottawa is Canada's fourth largest city, and home of the Ottawa Senators. Its top draw is Parliament Hill, but Ottawa has some of the finest collection of museums that any city could have. These include the Museum of Civilization, the Science and Technology Museum and the National Aviation Museum. Nature lovers will delight at Gatineau Park and there are many festivals year round, including the Jazz Fest in summer and Winterlude in winter.

Edmonton is home to the Oilers and has its own museums and parks to brag about, but if it is shopping that you want, Edmonton may just be your Canadian city. The West Edmonton Mall features 900 stores and has its own IMAX Theater and amusement park, including a separate water park for the kids right on site. See? It's not just moose and hockey players, is it?