Page 38 - Travel Guide to Canada 2019
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MISCOU ISLAND, NB • DESTINATION CANADA/TOURISM NB
of hikers and bikers. The marquee one is cousins including Nova Scotia’s Annapolis BEACHES
The Great Trail, which is the longest of its Royal Historic Gardens (www.historicgar If beach bums had to pick a single province,
kind in the world (www.thegreattrail.ca). dens.com) and New Brunswick’s Kingsbrae it would probably be P.E.I. Boasting over
P.E.I.’s pastoral section—the gently graded Garden (www.kingsbraegarden.com). 800 km (500 mi.) of sand and saltwater
Confederation Trail—follows a converted temperatures that can reach 25°C (77°F), the
rail bed across the Island from tip to tip smallest province is a summer paradise.
(www.islandtrails.ca). If that sounds SUMMER From the sandy expanses of Cavendish and
daunting, city systems such as Saskatoon’s Summer—when the weather is warmest, Greenwich—both part of Prince Edward
Meewasin Valley Trail (www.meewasin.com ) the days are longest and the tour options Island National Park (www.parkscanada.
or the Grand Concourse in St. John’s, NL, are broadest—is the peak period for gc.ca/princeedwardisland)—to the “singing
give urbanites a taste of the country vacationers. Landlubbers have plenty to do sands” of Basin Head (www.tourismpei.
(www.grandconcourse.ca). and warmed-up water beckons, making this com/provincial-park/basin-head), there is
the time for a true surf-and-turf experience. a beach to suit every taste. Tourists continu-
FLOURISHING FLORA ing cross-country, though, don’t have to
The maple leaf is our national symbol, yet LAND-BASED ACTIVITIES wait until they hit the Pacifi c to take the
this time of year the tree’s sap matters just The number of hiking and cycling enthusi- plunge again.
as much because making syrup from it is a asts enjoying recreational trails continues Witness Wasaga Beach on Georgian Bay
rite of spring. Over 70 percent of all maple to multiply in summer. Towering mountains, (www.wasagabeach.com), the world’s longest
syrup comes from Canada and, as the sap moreover, tempt an increasing number of freshwater strand; or Lake Winnipeg’s aptly-
rises, producers from Ontario to the Atlantic climbers. With the Coast Mountains and named Grand Beach (www.grandbeachtourism.
kick into high gear for “sugaring off .” Québec Rocky Mountains to the west, the Appala- com ), complete with 12-m-high (39-ft.) sand
alone has several hundred cabanes à sucre chians to the east, the Canadian Shield in dunes. Then there are the beaches of
(sugar shacks), so there are lots of places between, and the heart-stopping St. Elias Saskatchewan’s Little Manitou Lake where it’s
where you can see the sweet treat made, Range to the north, the choices are endless never a case of sink or swim—the water has a
then sample it poured on pancakes or poured for intrepid types who have set their sights high saline content that allows you to fl oat
over snow to create taff y-like la tire. high (www.alpineclubofcanada.ca). eff ortlessly (www.manitoubeach.ca). Based
Blooming fl owers are another sure sign When something more down to earth is on the destination, activities can range from
of spring. Residents of Victoria do a blossom in order, Canada’s National Parks deliver swimming and sandcastle-building to organ-
count in early March, gleefully broadcasting (www.parkscanada.gc.ca). During July and ized entertainment and educational programs.
the results (www.fl owercount.com ); and August they put together a full roster of
before long the city’s acclaimed Butchart programs, enabling visitors to participate in BOATING
Gardens are awash with colour (www.butchart scheduled events that run the gamut from Visitors who would rather be on the water
gardens.com). But it takes the rest of the horseback riding and birdwatching to than in it are spoiled for choice as well.
country time to catch up. The University of interpretive walks and nighttime stargazing Canoeing, a quintessentially Canadian
Alberta Botanic Garden outside Edmonton sessions. The fact that many of these are pastime, is popular, especially in Ontario
doesn’t open until May (botanicgarden. aff ordable or free, and geared toward where the longest network of interconnect-
ualberta.ca ); ditto for notable Maritime families, is a welcome bonus. ing canoe routes on earth awaits. Ready to
