Fun Travels in Canada

NEWS (Please note: Cities and Towns follow the News in Alphabetical Order)

--------For Quebec's Latest Events scroll down to Quebec

-------Snowy Owl Sled Dog Tours Waiting for You

Sick of skiing the slopes? Want to experience the majesty of Alberta’s Canadian Rockies in a different way this winter? You’re in luck!  Snowy Owl Sled Dog Tours based in beautiful Banff, Alberta excels in offering the most unique dog sledding experience in the Canadian Rockies! Nestle with friends and family in the hand-crafted oak sleds, under beautiful blankets while you glide across the immaculate landscape. Experience the thrill and excitement of driving a team of Canadian Huskies while basking in the stunning mountain wilderness.

Snowy Owl Sled Dog Kennel was created in 1983 by Connie and Charles Arsenault whose passion for the sport has created a family legacy. Regrettably, Charles passed away in 2006 leaving Connie and her two children Jereme and Carlin to carry the traditions forward. Help celebrate the continuance of Snowy Owl’s legacy, as 2008 marks its 25th anniversary, commemorating decades of extensive, professional mountain dog sled racing and instructor experience! Let your mind drift as the dogs rhythmic breathing and perfect stride create an experience like never before with any of these unique packages (in USD):

The Powder Hound Express (2.0 hrs.) is tailored to suit visitors who may have a tight itinerary. Enjoy the panoramic views along the pristine trails of Goat Pond in Canmore while experiencing the most beautiful and unforgettable scenery. Follow knowledgeable guides over the wide bridges and small streams. The return part of the trip is great for the kids to experience driving with a parent or guide.
· Cost: $109.00 per adult; $76.00 per child (8yrs. & under); Gold package: $164.00 per person (This guarantees two people per sled.); Platinum Package: $329.00 per person (This guarantees one person per sled.)

The Sunfeather Winterlude (4.0 Hours) half-day excursion is the most popular!
Enjoy the exciting, enchanting and picturesque trails meandering through entwined forests of towering, wintry black spruce. Glide along whimsical trails adjacent to the mystic Goat Creek. En route find elk bedding sites and moose browsing areas. Stop to savor slow roasted deli smokies and other delicacies done up Canadian style and see the breathtaking beauty of the mountains.
· $313.00 per person; $232.00 per child (8yrs and under); Gold Package: $498.00 per person (This guarantees 2 people per sled.); Platinum Package: $998 per person (This guarantees 1 person per sled.)

The Ghosts of Fortune Mountain (2 days, 1 night) package is an exclusive experience you’ll never forget! Enjoy two full days of touring that includes exciting adventures, kennel visits and hearty meals. Begin with soft, gentle trails then progress to navigate intermediate terrain. Spend the night in a genuine, heated Sioux Indian Tipi. Discover beliefs and understandings of Alberta’s Native and Inuit cultures that have been overlooked for many generations, and learn the legend of the Tipi! This is an exclusive experience you'll have fond dreams of forever!
· Must reserve at least two weeks in advance. Exclusive tour, 2 guests minimum, 4 maximum. $962.00 per person. This tour is based on 2 people per sled. Runs through April.

More information on these packages and more can be found at www.snowyowltours.com or at 403-678-4369.

ALBERTA

About Travel Alberta International

Travel Alberta International (TAI) is the destination marketing organization for the Canadian Province of Alberta and is responsible for the effective investment of Alberta’s tourism Levy in marketing programs that grow the province’s $5 billion tourism industry. TAI is headquartered in Calgary with representative offices in British Columbia, Dallas, New York City, United Kingdom, Germany, Netherlands, Japan, Australia, Korea, and Taiwan. For details on upcoming special events, attractions and accommodations in Alberta visit the Travel Alberta Web site at www.travelalberta.com or call Travel Alberta at
1-800-ALBERTA (1-800-252-3782).

ALBERTA IS TOPS FOR WINTER SPORTS

Famous for its dry, powdery snow and uncrowded slopes, Alberta, Canada is a skiers’, snowboarders’ and winter sports heaven that slices through the Canadian Rockies, from the northern spires in Jasper National Park to the dramatic, pristine mountains of Banff and Lake Louise.

The fabled mountain towns of the Alberta Rockies: Jasper, Banff and Lake Louise, offer a wide range of charming accommodations, world-class resorts, fine restaurants, winter festivals, unique shopping opportunities and some of the best skiing and winter sports in the world. 

Optimal for skiers and boarders of all levels, Alberta’s most popular winter resorts include:

Jasper

Marmot Basin (www.skiingjasper.com)
Tucked into Jasper National Park, Marmot Basin offers over 1,675 acres of powder terrain, with 3,000 vertical feet of skiing and snowboarding on dry, Rocky Mountain powder. 

Castle Mountain (<www.skicastle.ca)
Castle was the only ski resort in all of North America that opened up an entire mountain last season - Mt. Haig is finally accessible to more than backcountry skiers. Castle is also known for its relentless fall-line skiing, 2,833 feet of vertical rise and 70 trails perfect for extreme skiers and snowboarders.

Banff/Lake Louise

Sunshine Village Ski and Snowboard Resort (www.skibanff.com)
For more than 80 years, Sunshine’s uncrowded slopes have offered 107 runs just 15 minutes from the town of Banff.  This year, the Sunshine Mountain Lodge has undergone a $6 million renovation featuring several luxurious lofts with floor-to-ceiling views overlooking the slopes, gas fireplaces and custom-made furniture. And starting this winter, overnight visitors eager to hit the slopes won’t have to get out of the bed to check out the conditions. TV channels at the Sunshine Mountain Lodge will allow guests to view the runs from high-res web cams live and in real time.

Ski Norquay (www.banffnorquay.com)
Widely considered to be Banff's best family ski resort and known as the ‘locals’ mountain in Banff, Ski Norquay boasts a family-friendly atmosphere and the only night skiing in the Bow Valley.

Lake Louise Mountain Resort (www.skilouise.com)
Consistently ranked No. 1 for scenery in North America, Lake Louise also snared “Best Steeps,” “Best Scenery,” “Best Terrain Park” and “Best New Off-Piste Tour” by Ski Canada Magazine in 2006. With over 4,000 acres of terrain covering four mountain faces, the resort is both vast and varied. 

Nakiska (www.skinakiska.com)
The site of the alpine events in the 1988 Winter Olympics, Nakiska is now most noted for its family friendly layout and programs. Its proximity to Calgary makes it a favorite half-day ski getaway and it is also known for its state-of-the-art grooming machines that keep slopes in buttery corduroy shape.

Any Way You Arrive in Alberta . . . .

Whether you arrive by train, car or plane, Alberta is also renowned for its other resorts and winter activities in and surrounding --Banff National Park.
Ranked in SKI magazine's "Top 50 Ski Resorts in North America" last October, the Lake Louise Mountain Resort hosted the 2006/7 World Cup ski races as well as its annual Winterstart Festival. In addition to great skiing and snowboarding, you can also enjoy other winter activities in and around Lake Louise, such as dog sledding. King Mik Dog Sled Tours features sledding tours pulled by Alaskan Huskies. Rates start at CDN$125 per sled that accommodates two adults and one small child for a 30-minute tour.

Castle Mountain Resort --

a popular resort in Southern Alberta has expanded its terrain for both intermediate and expert skiers. Intermediate skiers will discover a new chairlift and territory that have been opened for them, while expert skiers will be delighted by the newest terrain including steeper and deeper slopes.

For more information on Alberta visit web site www.TravelAlberta.com.

CALGARY, Alberta

Buffalo Mountain Lodge

Located on beautiful Tunnel Mountain, a few minutes from the heart of Banff Avenue, Buffalo Mountain lodge is an oasis among the mountains. You'll love the wood burning fireplaces, cherry furnishigs, and copper light fixtures in the lodge. Treat yourself to a glass of fine wine in the lounge, warm up in front of the fieldstone fireplace, and enjoy a gourmet meal in the dining room or - unwind in the outdoor hot tub.

Deer Lodge

Within walking distance from legendary Lake Louise, Deer Lodge is ideal for those seeking peace, quiet and breathtaking scenery. Relax in the rooftop hot tub overlooking the awe-inspiring Victoria Glacier, followed by a first class meal of Rocky Mountain Cuisine in the dining room. After a nightcap by the fire, the evening comes to a glorious conclusion when you slip under the feature comforter!

Emerald Lake Lodge

Follow in the footsteps of legendary guide Tom Wilson when you visit Emerald Lake. He discovered this wonderful location more than 100 years ago. With its century-old fireplaces and an oak bar salvaged from an 1890s Yukon saloon, there is no shortage of history here. And there's no shortage of comfort and good food, either.

CALGARY RESTAURANTS --

Cilantro

With its unconvential Californian-Southwestern flare, Cilantro is a casual dining restaurant specializing in flat bread style pizzas and homemade pastas in a cozy environment.

Divino

This Wine & Cheese Bistro offers a comforting, pure cuisine in an upscale, warm and energetic environment. Featuring an extensive international chesse and wine program, Divino has successfully integrated the distinctive bistro style into Western Canada.

The Ranche

Take a trip back in time and treat yourself to an elegant dining experience featuring Rocky Mountain Cuisine. Built more than 100 years ago as a gent's mansion, this sprawling ranch house is an excellent location for meetings, dinners, and weddings.

Velvet

Located in a restored historical building, it fuses the building's old architecture with a sleek contemporary design while featuring upscale cuisine and outstanding wine.

For more information on these resorts, contact Canadian Rocky Mountain resorts, Suite 900-600 6th Avenue S.W., Calgory, Alberta, Canada or sales at Buffalo Mountain Lodge, 800-661-1367; Deer Lodge, 800-661-1595; Emerald Lake Lodge, 800-663-6336, or e-mail info@crmr.com or check www.crmr.com.

BRITISH COLUMBIA

WHAT"S NEW IN BRITISH COLUMBIA?? PLENTY!

Canadian Rocky Mountain Ranch Store Open for Summer Season

Canadian Rocky Mountain Ranch is excited to announce the opening of its on-site store for its second summer season. The store will be open every Friday and Saturday from 10:00am to 3:00pm. Offerings in the store-opening for its second season- will include hormone and antibiotic free elk and bison, raised in a humane manner. 

New for this year, the store will be introducing a new line up of convenient ‘ready-to-eat’ elk and buffalo dishes, prepared by the renowned team of CRMR chefs led by executive chef Alistair Barnes. These family-friendly dishes will be a tasty complement to the existing product line of steaks, roasts, burgers, sausage, jerky and specialty items.

Canadian Rocky Mountain Ranch is part of the Canadian Rocky Mountain Resorts’ family of companies, and was originally developed because the lodges and restaurants that are a part of the company couldn’t find consistently high quality game meats to serve guests. As public demand for healthier options became more widespread, the idea to open a store to better serve guests outside CRMR’s lodges and restaurants developed. 

Elk and bison are both very low in fat and high in protein, and a healthy alternative to beef. Served as ribs, steak or sausage, the game meats are a fast-cooking, convenient dinner time solution. Due to the success of last year, the ranch has expanded the store hours to be open Friday as well as Saturday.

A visit out to the beautiful ranch is an excellent outing for families, or anyone looking to escape the hectic pace of the city, if only for a short time. The CRM Ranch is located just outside Calgary, AB.  Also look for the CRM Ranch’s booth, at the Millarville Market every weekend this summer, beginning June 13th, where they will be selling their signature bison products. 

For a map and more details, visit www.crmranch.com or call (403)256-1350.

***A ‘Branding Iron Chef’ Competition & Wine Pairing was held Saturday April 4th 2009 at the Acreage Lifestyle Show. Four chefs from the Calgary Stampede and Chicago Chophouse participated to present a gourmet creation using Alberta products. The Gold Medal dish was Elk Carpaccio, made with elk meat supplied by Canadian Rocky Mountain Ranch!

Canadian Rocky Mountain Resorts is a family of companies consisting of Emerald Lake Lodge in Field, British Columbia, Deer Lodge in Lake Louise, Alberta, Buffalo Mountain Lodge in Banff, Alberta, and Paitned Boat Resort on the Sunshine Coast of B.C.. CRMR also owns four Calgary restaurants: Cilantro, Velvet, The Ranche, and Divino Wine & Cheese Bistro, as well as a game ranch, The Canadian Rocky Mountain Ranch, a Calgary wine boutique, Bin 905, and Canmore bakery, Panino. Visitwww.crmr.com for more details about CRMR.

Resort guests are able to don their scientific lab coats and participate first hand in the research being conducted in Barnard Harbor and the surrounding waters by Cetacealab. During the day long outing, the lab's newest research assistants will receive an introduction to the acoustic traditions of resident and transient orca as well as humpback whales followed by a boat survey where guests will attempt to take ID photographs of whales and will also get a chance to listen to the whale's vocalizations. Guests will also take part in data gathering such as whale behavior, location, direction of travel, etc... Progress reports and sightings of the whales studied will be sent regularly to guests upon their arrival home. The exclusive Whale of an Experience Program, the first of its kind in British Columbia, is limited to two guests per day and available to only returning guests. Price: C$300 per person and C$500 per couple. (Reservations can be made at time of room booking; price and program offerings subject to change).

"King Pacific Lodge continues to set new standards as a private tourism operator supporting social and environmental sustainability,' said Janie Wray of the North Coast Cetacean Society. "Their support for the North Coast Cetacean Society has allowed our work to explore the complex social and physical relationships of humpbacks in the Great Bear Rainforest. Our new program in partnership with King Pacific Lodge, which is so much more than just "whale watching', will forge an enduring association between guests to the lodge and this remarkable wilderness,‰ continued Wray.

King Pacific Lodge's essential mission as a "triple bottom line" company emphasizes a deep respect for the land, for the people of the land, and an understanding that sustainable tourism in such a rare and special place can only flourish when guests from around the world share that same feeling. The bottom line for King Pacific Lodge is that all components must work together harmoniously for any one of them to succeed. It is something that imbues all that the lodge does.

About Cetacealab:
The Committee on the Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada (COSEWIC) placed orcas and humpback whales on the threatened list in November 2001.

The following year, whale researchers Janie and Hermann Meuter, built their research lab (and home) on remote Gill Island, in Taylor Bight and now conduct year-round research of these cetaceans along the north coast of BC. The name of this facility is Cetacealab. A network of hydrophone stations in strategic locations, 60-80 feet under water, transmits whale vocalizations back to Cetacealab where they are digitally recorded and analyzed.

About King Pacific Lodge: King Pacific, A Rosewood Resort, is a 17-room luxury wilderness lodge located in the heart of the Great Bear Rainforest in Gitga'at territory along the central coast of British Columbia. Three, four and seven night all-inclusive packages are available starting from $4,750 per guest. Visit www.kingpacificlodge.com or call 1-888-888-592-5464 for details.

Take advantage of this incredible getaway package offered only on Sundays. This special Vancouver Hotel Package includes overnight accommodation in Executive Room, or Suite, the Bacchus signature roast chicken dinner (pour deux) carved table side in Bacchus, continental buffet breakfast Monday morning, and valet parking.

Whistler ready for the world in 2010

With the Olympic flame extinguished in Beijing, the eyes of the world will now turn to Vancouver and Whistler as the Host Mountain Resort of the 2010 Winter Games, less than 18 months away.

And though it's already known as one of the world's top winter and summer resorts, Whistler - where more than half of the 2010 Winter Games medals will be won and awarded - is ready to give the thousands of visitors, athletes and officials an unforgettable shared experience, says Barrett Fisher, Tourism Whistler's President & CEO.

"The energy and excitement surrounding the 2010 Games has been building in Whistler for years, but it took a noticeable jump during the Beijing Olympics, because we know we're next," says Fisher. "All the hard work and effort put in by the Whistler community: The Resort Municipality of Whistler, Whistler Blackcomb, VANOC staff in Whistler, hotels, restaurants and other tourism operators, have put us in the position to walk onto the world stage confident that people who come here before and during the Games will have a memorable experience, immersed in the spirit and the pulse of the 2010 Winter Games in a beautiful mountain winter setting."

Whistler's three competition venues are complete: Whistler Creekside for alpine skiing events, the Whistler Sliding Centre for bobsleigh, luge and skeleton, and Whistler Olympic Park, for Nordic and cross-country skiing, biathlon, and ski jumping. Whistler Village's pedestrian stroll, already lined with restaurants, cafes and pubs, will be dotted with six Live Sites, where thousands of people will gather each day and evening to watch Games events on large outdoor screens, and to take in free entertainment including bands, performing artists, and theatre. Medal presentations will be held at Celebration Plaza each evening. Most of the Paralympic Games events a month later are also held in Whistler.

"We know that people want to attend the events, but people also have a tremendous desire to be with each other and to celebrate with people from around the world. If people are in Whistler Village during the Games, they'll be in the centre of the action as Whistler adds its own energy, spirit and history to the Olympic legend," says Arlene Schieven, Tourism Whistler's Vice President of Marketing. "And remember that throughout the Games period, more than 90 per cent of Whistler Blackcomb will remain open for skiing and snowboarding. Only a small part of the mountain will be affected by the events. As well, outside of the weeks leading up to and during the 2010 Winter Games, the 2009/ 2010 season will be business as usual."

For those who don't want to wait until February 2010, there are many ways to get a taste of Whistler before the Games. Tours of the Whistler Sliding Centre (whistlerslidingcentre.com) will continue next summer. Self-guided tours of Whistler Olympic Park (whistlerolympicpark.com) will also continue next summer. Both tours provide a close-up and hands-on experience of what those events look like. Skiers and snowboarders can experience the Dave Murray Downhill at Whistler Creekside, where the alpine skiing events will be held.

Another reason to visit Whistler before the Games is the new PEAK 2 PEAK Gondola, and will stretch from the top of Whistler Mountain to the top of Blackcomb Mountain and travel a distance of 4.4 kilometres (2.73 miles) in just 11 minutes. The PEAK 2 PEAK Gondola will be the longest, highest gondola of its type in the world and will let skiers and snowboarders easily move around to access the best weather and conditions on any given day at Whistler Blackcomb. It will run in summer too, giving visitors breathtaking alpine views.

Visit whistler.com or call 1-800-WHISTLER to book and for more information on Whistler accommodations, bookings, weather, activities, directions and more.

Whistler is a year-round leisure and meeting destination located in the Coast Mountains 120 kilometres (75 miles) north of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, and is site of the alpine, Nordic, and sliding events for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. Whistler has a range of accommodations totalling 3,200 hotel rooms, and more than 5,000 other tourist accommodation units including condos, B&Bs and chalets. Whistler offers a wide selection of restaurants, bars, spas, boutiques, and activities from world-renowned skiing and snowboarding, mountain biking and golf, to hiking, rock climbing, and watersports. Whistler Blackcomb Mountains feature 3,036 hectares (8,171 acres) of terrain and receive an average of 10.22 metres (33.5 feet) of snow annually. The Resort Municipality of Whistler is home to a diverse community of more than 10,000 permanent residents.

Tourism Whistler is the member-based marketing and sales organization representing Whistler, operating the TELUS Whistler Conference Centre, the Whistler Golf Club, the Whistler Visitor Centres and tourismwhistler.com, as well as 1-800-WHISTLER and whistler.com - Whistler's official source for visitor bookings and information. As the convention and visitors bureau for the Resort Municipality of Whistler, Tourism Whistler represents more than 7,000 members who own, manage and operate properties or businesses on resort lands including hotels, restaurants, activity operators and retail shops.

PEAK 2 PEAK Gondola Update
(Ongoing)

Whistler Blackcomb has had an extremely busy summer so far with construction for the PEAK 2 PEAK Gondola moving ahead at top speed. With four months left until the December opening, action on the mountain will not be slowing down any time soon. So far, all four towers have been erected, two terminal buildings on both Whistler and Blackcomb mountains are nearing completion, and four of the five cables have been strung across the 4.4km/2.73 mile span. This feat of engineering has taken nearly all summer to complete. Guests lucky enough to time their visit right may witness the current task of stringing the last and largest cable (the haul rope) across the valley. Only one man in North America knows how to splice the two ends of cable together to create a continuous loop. The splice will measure approximately 200 feet.

Whether you can stay for a week or just a weekend, summer offers excellent value, so find an accommodation package to suit you at www.whistler.com/summer_packages

Hummingbird Beach Resort, a beachfront resort on Mara Lake, is a new beachfront cabin and town home resort. A unique hybrid of cottage, cabin and town home, Hummingbird is a completely different approach to the now typical Okanagan multi-storey condominium.

According to rareEarth Project Marketing, the exclusive listing agent for Hummingbird Beach Resort, interest has been high in the beachfront cabin and townhome concept, particularly with young families. "Today's buyer wants to enjoy the resort life right now," says James Askew, president of rareEarth, "They don't want to wait and they can start enjoying the cabin at the lake experience right now."
Based on rareEarth's market research and client feedback, it was found that many of today's buyers are not as interested in the typical large scale resort amenities such as swim-up pool bars or multi-million dollar penthouse suites. Hummingbird Beach Resort instead chose to adhere to a simple, low-density development model, focused on celebrating the Mara Lake tradition of family, community and leisure.

Hummingbird has designed its beach resort to appeal to vacationers who are looking for an easy, uncomplicated holiday experience that emphasizes memorable family experiences on the Shuswap lakes. Tucked away from the busyness of life, it is located near the Town of Sicamous, the houseboating capital of Canada.

Hummingbird provides family vacationers with a reasonable entry cost recreational home option that was designed with high architectural integrity and quality to provide comfort and ease of access without having to break the bank of the buyer. The ultimate objective is for buyers to be able to invest in their family.

"Hummingbird is a very personal project for me" says George Crookshank, vice president of rareEarth Project Marketing. "My family has been a part of this community for over ten years now - we vacation here every summer. Hummingbird is exactly the type of development that my family, the Mara Lake community and the town of Sicamous have wanted to see developed for years.

"The people that holiday here are not about "appearances" as much as quality of experience. They don't want to take an elevator to get down to the lake - they want to walk out their front door, carrying a air mattress, not worrying about whether or not they are tracking sand in the hallway."

With its warm year-round climate, excellent fishing, horseback riding, water skiing and houseboating, Hummingbird Beach Resort offers families a quality alternative to the frenzy of activity commonly found at high-density resort properties. Hummingbird provides a quieter, simpler way of life for those wishing to escape and spend their summers with their family in quiet retreat from the busyness of the big city.

Hummingbird Beach Resort offers buyers a selection of:

. 12 Townhomes averaging 1,883 sq. ft.; ($975,000 - $1.3 Million)
. 31 Cabins averaging 1,071 sq.ft.; ($460,000 - $550,000)
. 33 Creekside Park Model Cottage sites averaging 2,400 sq.ft.; $325,000

Resort Amenities include:

. 500 Ft. Sandy Beachfront
. 81 slip Marina
. Pool & Hot Tub
. Hummingbird Creek
. Warm Lake
. South West Orientation

Mara Lake boasts:
. Hot summers, mild winters
. Sandy beaches and recreational trails
. An extended golf season
. Plentiful fruit orchards
. Warm Lake
. Hiking, horseback riding and water skiing

Background

Mara Lake Estates. Ltd
Hummingbird Beach Resort is being developed by Mara Lake Estates Ltd., a private company whose owners have strong roots in the Okanagan and a passion for quality real estate. Inspired by fond memories of spending summers by the lake as children, and deriving great joy from reliving the experience with their own children, is what shaped the developers' vision for Hummingbird Beach Resort. Great care is being taken to preserve the natural beauty of the site, to build townhomes and cabins of exceptional quality, and to transform Hummingbird Beach Resort into a valued family tradition. Local trades are doing the bulk of the building as part of the developers commitment to supporting the existing community.

rareEarth Project Marketing
rareEarth Project Marketing is a specialist in the marketing and sales of luxury recreational real estate throughout the Pacific Northwest. Based in Vancouver, B.C. rareEarth's professional and experienced team have sold over 1.25 billion dollars of prime real estate, bringing results and real value for its clients and partners. rareEarth's success is attributed to its ability to collaborate with its clients to both create a market for a property by understanding what prospects are looking for in exclusive luxury properties, and to ensure that the end result is a recreational community that offers many years of enjoyment for its owners.

WILD SEA GARDEN TEA

Victoria, BC is a city renowned for afternoon tea and Outer Coast Seaweeds has developed another innovative product in its line of fresh, hand-harvested seaweed and Seaflora spa and body care products - Wild Sea Garden Tea. As the most nutritional plant in the world, seaweed puts a new twist on both the tradition and health benefits of drinking tea. Nutritionally complete and mineral rich Alaria, Ulva and Macrocystis seaweeds hand-harvested from the cold, clean Canadian Pacific Ocean are blended with organic green tea and local mints to create a balancing, calming and revitalizing tea. Outer Coast Seaweeds and Seaflora were founded by Vancouver Island's Seaweed Lady, Diane Bernard, to harvest wild seaweeds for culinary use by some of the world's finest chefs and in spas and body care products. Wild Sea Garden Tea is available in select spas, online or by calling 1-877-713-7464.

For more information visit www.sea-flora.com.

Throughout the summer, Merridale Ciderworks, located 45 minutes north of Victoria, BC, not only offers a variety of award-winning ciders, but al fresco dining options including Friday jazz and Sunday pizza nights. On Fridays, the Bayside Jazz Band takes up residency while guests order from the al fresco menu on the outdoor deck overlooking the orchard. On Sundays, pizzas baked in an outdoor brick oven on sourdough crusts and topped with ingredients fresh from local markets. Perfect for the whole family, children are welcome to play in the orchard and encouraged to find the fairy doors. Merridale Ciderworks is Canada's largest producer of craft cider from English and French cider apples, but fit for the season also features cider sangria and Forbidden Fruit; the apple ale developed with local Victoria microbrewer, Matt Phillips of the Phillips Brewing Company. Weekend dining at Merridale Ciderworks is available from 5:00-9:00 pm.

It’s a fact: British Columbia will welcome the world during the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. Also fact: Vancouver and Whistler, host city and mountain resort, promise to see a lot of visitors (not to mention medals) during the 27 days of sport. But beyond the podium, there’s a bounty of hidden gems and lesser-known locales waiting to be unearthed – before, during and after the Games.

Let’s begin. In Vancouver, you can bed down beside a Beluga at the Vancouver Aquarium or peruse public art during a self-guided walking tour through the city streets. There’s even an outdoor “Enchanted Evening” concert series at the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden, promising moving presentations by a multitude of cultural performers. Enchanted, indeed.

For more information check web sites www.tourismvancouver.com; www.whistler.com; www.worca.com; www.lunawhistler.com

Eager for a Taste of the Fraser Valley? Try a Circle Farm Tour

Circle Around: Succulent jams and golden honey. Farm-aged cheeses and hand-crafted ice cream. If these tasty treats top your weekly grocery list, then perhaps it’s time to forgo the supermarket in favour of a far more earthy, out-of-doors experience. Think of it as seasonal shopping, BC-style. And thanks to an array of self-guided Circle Farm Tours of BC’s Fraser Valley, all that’s required is a full tank of gas, a Circle Farm Tours map and plenty of trunk space to gather your grabs. Where to start? A hop, skip and a jaunt away from Vancouver’s hub…and hello Vista D’oro Farms. Just east of the city in Langley, Vista D’oro has mastered the art of artisanal preserves, marrying in-season fruits with a variety of tasty flavours. Blueberry and Bourbon, anyone? Also in Langley, seek out scenic and scented excursions at Full-Bloom Farm (think: lavender treats for the senses). Keep travelling east to Abbotsford, and flourish amid lush Tanglebank Country Gardens, stop in for a few licks at Birchwood Dairy or indulge in a few chef creations at Restaurant 62. Nearby Chilliwack is all about choice; you could find yourself checking out the offerings at Greendale Pottery & Country Guest House, sampling the wares at Rustic Soap Co., or buzzing about at Honeyview Farm. And there’s plenty more by way of specialty farm-gate vendors, artisans, open air markets, charming eateries, heritage sites, fairs, and other special events (six Circle Farm Tours for a total of 61 stops, to be precise). Can’t make it to the farm? Drop by Edible British Columbia’s signature shop on Granville Island for a taste of all things BC. Time to set your GPS for the Fraser Valley. 

For more information check web site www.circlefarmtour.com

Want a Guest Ranch Experience in the Kootenay Rockies?

For a Guest Ranch Experience in the Kootenay Rockies, Think Three: Guest ranches seek to bring out the cowboy in just about everyone. With one foot in the stirrups, it’s so long status meetings and howdy Stetsons. And at Three Bars Guest Ranch, nestled in the picturesque Rocky Mountains, you’ll be banishing the BlackBerries before sunset. Situated near Cranbrook, Three Bars ropes up a rustic program ideal for city slickers – and their young ‘uns. Hailed for their stellar horse program run by professional horse train Jeff Beckley, a day in the saddle promises memorable views, varied terrain and plenty of lessons learned. Indeed, with some 40,000 acres to explore, there’ll be ample opportunity to rope and ride.

And for adventure minus the chaps, white water rafting, mountain biking, fly fishing, hiking and more will fill days, while evenings sidled next to the campfire promise toasted treats and a few shared stories. Add a post-adventure swim (pool) and soak (hot tub), and you have just the ticket for contemplating another day on the range. Come time to bunk down for the night, Three Bars offers comfy log cabins to rest the weary – after you’ve rustled up a ranch-inspired menu complete with the country trimmings. At lights out, zzzs might just be replaced with thoughts of threes…Three Bars, that is. 

For more information check web site www.threebarsranch.com

In BC’s Thompson Okanagan, you’ll find apples by the bushel - but only one worthy of five stars. Five stars from Canada Select, to be exact. As the only property in the Okanagan to receive this distinction, Apple d’or, overlooking orchards, vineyards and the oh-so blue Okanagan Lake, has made its mark since opening its doors in May 2007. And then some. Designed, decked out and operated by owners Holly Stevens and Colin Moores, the property’s name was plucked from a nearby branch…literally. Originally an orchard (the property still boasts apples throughout), the haute couture “log cabin” situated near Penticton in the Naramata Bench promises an intimate getaway, May through October. With just three guestrooms, each stylishly appointed with king beds, spa bathrooms, kitchens, fireplaces and even individual patios with views of the lake, the question is: Do we explore the surrounds or burrow deeper under those fluffy covers? With days that start bright and sunny, thanks to a decadent breakfast in bed or amid the splendour of the great room, you might just be tempted to continue the fun indoors. That is, until you realize the Naramata Bench awaits with wine-tasting, hiking and biking along the Kettle Valley Railway Trail. There’s also the promise of sand between the toes at nearby beaches, tasty market finds and a smattering of shops rife for exploration. And post excursion, a glass of wine awaits on the patio. Tip: In 2009, it’ll be a flute of the bubbly, as Apple d’or expects their first vintage of sparkling wine early next year. Raise a glass, with a nod to the orchard, and soak it all in. After all, this is one apple that is truly golden delicious.

 For more information check web site www.appledor.ca

VANCOUVER (British Columbia)

On April 5, 2008, Adrena Line Zipline Adventure Tours opened in Victoria, BC with thrill-seeking aerial rides and a new name. Opened last summer as Zipwest Eco-Adventure Tours, the zipline park will sling visitors above the treeline and mossy mountains on weekends throughout the month and open daily in May from 9:00 am to 9:00 pm. Adrena Line is situated on 100 acres of coastal temperate rainforest in the Sooke Hills, 45 minutes west of Victoria. The site features two suspension bridges and eight ziplines ranging from 150 to 1,000 ft. in length and 60 to 150 ft. off the ground. The company has added new equipment to increase its maximum weight to 275 lbs. allowing kids age five and up, and 40 to 60 lbs., to ride tandem with adults. Two new six-passenger ATVs will transport riders to the line launch pads. Zipline tours are fully guided and approximately two hours. Transportation from downtown Victoria is also available. After ziplining, visitors can relax over a pint or bite to eat in the historic 17 Mile Pub located at the base of the park.

For more information visit www.adrenalinezip.com.

Canoe Brewpub and Habit Café & Culture, two innovative local producers in Victoria, BC, have joined forces to launch a new locally crafted beer; Habit Espresso Stout. Canoe Brewmaster Sean Hoyne conceived the idea while participating in the Great Canadian Beer Festival held annually in Victoria and approached coffee maverick Shane Devereaux with the concept. With a healthy respect for each other's craft, a partnership was formed to create a dark, creamy and deliciously smooth beer with just the perfect hint of espresso. Recently opened in Victoria, Habit sources the best fair traded, organic coffees from around the world and has quickly become a local favourite famed for its "cuppings;" free public coffee tastings and seminars on Tuesdays at 2:00 pm. Canoe Brewpub is an award-winning microbrewery and restaurant and will celebrate its 10th anniversary in May 2008.

For more information visit www.canoebrewpub.com.

Long known as a home for trophy salmon fishing, coastal British Columbia is also Mecca for adventure activities. King Pacific Lodge, A Rosewood Resort, located in the Great Bear Rainforest offers a host of world-class eco-adventures from whale watching and glacier walks to fly fishing and the search for the rare Kermode “Spirit Bear.”

“More and more, our guests are seeking more and more,” says Michael Uehara, president and managing director of King Pacific. “There is a pronounced desire for a deeper understanding of the culture and eco-systems around the Lodge. The Great Bear Rainforest and Gitga’at First Nations territory inspire authentic engagement in both.”

This year, King Pacific is offering its guests the opportunity to vacation and be part of the solution – ‘playing for good’ rather than ‘playing for keeps’. The resort’s “Playing for Good” promotion will generate donations to local conservation, wildlife and cultural charities on behalf of guests.

“As our guests connect with their inner adventurer, they will be able to assist organizations that are fundamental in the sustainable stewardship of the land and sea here,” said Uehara.

Be warned, the activities the Lodge has in mind will ensure their guests will earn their donations. For example, only ardent kayakers should attempt the five-mile open water circumnavigation of Ashdown Island. Other adventures appeal to those interested the history and culture of the area, including mastering a Sm’algyax language guide of place and animal names on a cultural tour of the territory. Each endeavor earns the Hartley Bay School C$100.00.

“We have long viewed King Pacific Lodge as our partners in business, conservation and social equity” said Ernie Hill, principal of the Hartley Bay School and the Eagle Chief of the Gitga’at. “They are part of the community. They have stood beside the Gitga’at in so many ways. This new program allows their guests to be part of that—to belong in our territory.”

King Pacific’s relationship with the Gitga’at Nation is a story itself: The lodge was the first private operator to sign a working protocol with the Gitga’at Nation (2001). Since then, the two parties have worked together on a wide variety of programs including a student mentoring program, an elders’ breakfast program, joint educational initiatives and hospitality training. King Pacific Lodge also holds its annual staff training in Hartley Bay, home of the Gitga’at Nation, where staff are billeted at private homes in the community.

“King Pacific Lodge continues to set new standards as a private tourism operator supporting social and environmental sustainability,” said Janie Wray of the North Coast Cetacean Society. “Their support for the North Coast Cetacean Society has allowed our work to explore the complex social and physical relationships of humpbacks in the Great Bear Rainforest. The ‘Playing for Good’ donations generated by naming two humpback whales using the tail fin identification technique will forge an enduring association between guests to the Lodge and this remarkable wilderness and we are pleased to expand our partnership with King Pacific Lodge and its guests.”

Other adventures include photographing four marine or land mammals ($100 donation to North Coast Cetacean Society); releasing three salmon caught on self-tied flies ($100 donation to Hartley Bay School); photographing 2 of 3 bears of the Great Bear Rainforest ($100 donation to Gitga’at Cultural Centre) and summiting X Mountain and photographing three edible plant species ($100 donation to Gitga’at Cultural Centre). A special bonus donation of $1000 will be made to the Hartley Bay School on behalf of any guest that completes all 7 activities during their stay. Guests who master 3 activities will receive a complimentary spa treatment. All successful participants will receive a commemorative photograph and certificate as a memento of their contribution and lasting connection to the Great Bear Rainforest and its indigenous people.

King Pacific Lodge, A Rosewood Resort is a luxury wilderness lodge located in the heart of the Great Bear Rainforest in Gitga’at territory along the central coast of British Columbia. Three, four and seven night all-inclusive packages are available starting from $4,750 per guest.

Visit www.kingpacificlodge.com or call 1-888-987-5452 for details.

A longtime local favorite, this special sunset Mountain Top BBQ is the last of the summer season, featuring mouth watering BBQ chicken and pork, fresh corn on the cob, oven baked biscuits, and desserts - all enjoyed at 6,000 feet on Whistler Mountain. Watch the sunset and take in the views while listening to live country and blue grass music.

Tickets are available at Whistler Blackcomb Guest Relations or call reservations at 1-800-766-0449. Information: www.whistlerblackcomb.com/todo/summer/dine.htm

Lost Lake by Bike - Family Getaway Package

The Lost Lake by Bike package includes two nights in Whistler Village in a one-bedroom unit with a fully equipped kitchen where kids under 12 stay for free. Spend your first day at Lost Lake Park on your bikes as your guide shows you the stunning trail options which are suitable for all riding abilities and an excellent choice for families with small children. Spend the rest of the weekend at your leisure, at the hotel pool or visiting one of Whistler's fabulous parks. Package price of $174 CDN ($152 USD) per person* includes two nights accommodations, and a one-hour bike tour including bike and helmet rentals**. Call 1.800.WHISTLER or visit www.tourismwhistler.com.

* Package prices based on 2 people sharing a 1 bedroom (kids under 12 stay free with parents)
** Equipment rentals: Cost of children's bike tour not included in the package price. Some conditions apply.

Hilton Whistler Resort & Spa

Described as “an earth-toned oasis of casual chic” by the New York Times, the Hilton Whistler Resort & Spa is just a 2-hour scenic drive North from Vancouver and the ideal base from which to explore nature’s spectacular playground.

Enjoy ski-in-ski out access to the mountains, easy access to championship golf courses, plus spectacular hiking and biking trails. Whistler’s vibrant village also offers food lovers and party goers some 90+ restaurants, bars and clubs to explore and retail therapy enthusiasts won’t be disappointed – Whistler is home to some 200+ shops and boutique stores.

Within the newly renovated Hilton Whistler Resort & Spa, discover spacious and elegantly appointed guest rooms (many with wood burning fireplaces, kitchenettes and balconies), luxury Spa facilities, innovative Pacific Rim fare at the Cinnamon Bear Bar & Grille, as well as indoor and outdoor pools and hot-tubs, sauna and health club for year round enjoyment.

Rockwater Tenthouse Suites in British Columbia

If the thought of drifting off to sleep in a treetop tent excites your inner child but surfaces fears of ‘roughing it’, look no further than the Rockwater Tenthouse Suites. Inspired by nature, this luxurious new development at Rockwater Secret Cove Resort on BC's Sunshine Coast offers guests the pristine views and natural surroundings that only tent camping can offer, without the need to sacrifice comfort or luxury.

Accessed from a 1500’ treetop boardwalk, the seven private Tenthouse Suites bring a new meaning to the term ‘high class’. Nestled among the Arbutus trees with a clear view of the Pacific Ocean, these penthouse-style tents are built with luxury and comfort in mind. Each suite features heated slate floors, hydrotherapy tubs, private fireplaces, Japanese-inspired shoji screens, and king-size beds. A private balcony completes the tenthouses, each furnished with quality loungers from which to soak in the pristine sunsets or starry nights.

At present, seven Tenthouse Suites are completed, and a second phase of nine units will be constructed by Spring 2007. For guests who want to keep their feet closer to the ground, additional accommodations are available in one, two and three bedroom oceanside cabins, along with rooms in the main lodge.

While guests may be happy to laze away their holidays inside their treetop sanctuaries, a resort full of activities and amenities awaits on the ground. From beachcombing the shoreline to strolling through old growth cedar forests, choices for places to explore are abundant. More active pursuits available onsite (or nearby) include kayaking, mountain biking, horseback riding, and golfing. Rockwater’s guest amenities include a spa, swimming pool, meeting facilities, outdoor sun decks, library, and lounge. A restaurant featuring West Coast dishes caters to guests’ culinary desires, with dinners highlighted by sunsets over Malaspina Strait.

Rockwater is open year round, and can be accessed via floatplane directly to the dock or by BC Ferry service to Langdale followed by a 60-minute scenic drive along the coastal highway. Guests arriving by yacht are welcome to moor at Secret Cove Marina, a full service deep-water marina with 150 berths, located a short drive from the Resort. Reservations for moorage are required, and the Resort offers a shuttle service.

Room rates for the Tenthouse Suites begin at $299CDN per night including breakfast, while rates in the oceanview rooms start at $99CDN per night including breakfast. A variety of special packages are is offered, including a Princess Louisa Inlet Tour Package, which features a six-hour marine tour to the renowned inlet and a gourmet picnic shore lunch.

For more information on Rockwater Secret Cove Resort, call 1-877-296-4593 or check web site www.rockwatersecretcoveresort.com.

BC’s Kootenay Rockies is Rife with Sacred Rides:

For those seeking a holiday which requires grit, determination and the desire to traverse terrain on two wheels, Sacred Rides Mountain Bike Holidays is one adventure geared up for a wild Rocky Mountain ride. Known as a trailblazer, Sacred Rides (formerly Fernie Fat-Tire Adventures) is not only the province’s first locally-operated mountain bike tour operator in BC, but they were also first to offer multi-day, singletrack excursions as well as women-only skill camps. Enough incentive to load up your two-wheeled steed?

Strap your Rocky Mountain Slayer to the bumper and head out for the Ultimate BC Holiday – a 13-day singletrack mammoth journey which features plenty of opportunity to ride classic trails throughout the region, including the famous Seven Summits trail. Not enough time to take on this terrain? Then load up for a Rocky Mountain Singletrack eight-day excursion which offers world-class trails and stunning canyon rides in Invermere and Golden. The Weekend Getaway also supplies a quick fix with two to three days of tackling the tracks in Elk Valley (near Fernie). And, of course, there are those getaways just for the gals with one week of instruction, led by former national downhill champion Cassandra Boon.

Climbing, steeps and obstacle riding will be but a few of the skills one will acquire during this challenging and inspiring women-only pedal. As a bonus, each adventure is led by a local guide – those intimate with the terrain who share a love of the landscape. With a pedigree for providing a premium adventure, Sacred Rides also demonstrates a dedication to responsible, sustainable mountain bike tourism, ensuring that two per cent of their proceeds in BC go to Wildsight, an environmental organization dedicated to preserving wild spaces in the BC Rockies. Let Sacred Rides showcase the very best of BC’s terrain. Braking is optional. 

For more information check www.sacredrides.com

Relais & Chateaux Wedgewood Hotel & Spa's Bacchus Restaurant and Lounge Receives Top Honors

Already recognized as Vancouver's leading luxury boutique hotel, the Relais & Chateaux Wedgewood Hotel & Spa just added a little more gold to its collection.

The 19th Annual Vancouver Restaurant Awards were handed out April 20, 2008 in downtown Vancouver and Bacchus Restaurant & Lounge was recognized with Gold for Best Bar /Lounge, Gold for Best Hotel Dining, Silver for Best Formal French & Finalist in Best Last Course in Vancouver.

Critics saluted Bacchus Restaurant & Lounge as "A room that gets better with age. Forget the Hotel Dining part. It may be some of the best dining Vancouver has to offer, period, as supported by its recent Relais & Chateaux designation."

Wedgewood Hotel Executive Chef Lee Parsons has solved the complexities of serving three meals, room service and banqueting everyday of the year. "Dinners at Bacchus are a cause to celebrate from salmon lox pizzas in the lounge, to wild local fish and game and the ultimate in comfort food, succulent free range organic whole roast chicken. Parsons has taken Bacchus to the top of this category and somehow made it look easy"

For the ninth consecutive year Bacchus Bar/ Lounge was awarded the coveted title of Best Bar & Lounge in the City. "Bacchus Lounge continues to raise the bar with solid drinks well served in an atmosphere where many versions of deal-making excite the night." said one critic. Another critic suggested that Bacchus is "the only place in Vancouver to truly unwind. It's dark enough, comfortable enough, the tunes work well enough and the service is excellent."

Wedgewood Hotel Owner, Eleni Skalbania, whose personal touch continues to define Bacchus and the Wedgewood Hotel, was delighted "One very important characteristic of a great hotel is having a place where people can relax, feel comfortable and welcome. Bacchus is that place at the Wedgewood" Skalbania explained.

For Additional Information Contact Joanna Tsaparas-Piché, Director of Public Relations, Wedgewood Hotel & Spa, 845 Hornby Street, Vancouver, BC V6Z 1V1
Tel: 604 608 5309 Fax: 604 608 5349, or e-mail jtsaparas@wedgewoodhotel.com

VICTORIA (British Columbia)

Lots happening in Victoria -----

AN APPLE A DAY
With the mildest climate in Canada, Victoria, BC boasts beautiful gardens, rich agricultural land and a cornucopia of fruit trees. However, much of the fruit grown in back yards is not harvested. This led to the creation of the Fruit Tree Project by LifeCycles; a non-profit group promoting awareness of food, health and sustainability in Greater Victoria. The project connects willing homeowners with volunteers who harvest the fruit and donate a portion to food banks and community organizations. Local businesses such as Spinnakers Gastro Brewpub, Sea Cider Farm & Cidery, Salt Spring Island Gelato and several caterers participate by processing some of the fruit into products such as jam, vinegar, cider and ice cream. They pay over-market prices or donate the proceeds of their products back to the project. The 2007 harvest saw over 70 volunteers pick more than 14,515 kg (32,000 lbs.) of fruit that would have otherwise gone to waste.

For more information visit www.lifecyclesproject.ca.

For more information visit www.discoverthepast.com.

WILDLIFE VIEWING SPAWNS IN VICTORIA
Every autumn, visitors to Goldstream Provincial Park in Victoria, BC can witness an amazing spectacle of nature as the spawning salmon make their annual return to the Goldstream River. Located only 20 minutes north of downtown, Goldstream Provincial Park is easily accessible to visitors and the river is steps from the park entrance. The salmon begin to appear in October and are seen for approximately nine weeks. Of the five kinds of North American Pacific salmon, it is Chum that is most abundant in this river. Come December, Goldstream's Eagle Extravaganza begins. Over 250 bald eagles and other birds of prey move into the park until February to feast on the salmon. The newly renovated Freedom King Visitor Centre, nestled at the mouth of the river overlooking the Goldstream Estuary, offers educational programs, wildlife viewing and children's activities.

For more information visit www.goldstreampark.com.

SPA IN SEASON
Haven Spa at The Sidney Pier Hotel & Spa, located 25 minutes north of Victoria, BC, has created a signature Spa in Season program inspired by its natural surroundings on Vancouver Island. Available exclusively at Haven Spa, the series utilizes the fragrant, healing benefits of local plants, herbs and wildflowers at their seasonal peak of freshness combined with a mineral-based skin care line to rejuvenate the skin. Situated on the agriculturally rich Saanich Peninsula, Haven Spa uses such local ingredients as lavender, honey, cucumber and pumpkin. Each signature fresh recipe is blended daily to capture the natural benefits each ingredient offers, while customizing the overall blend for each guest's needs. Customized Spa in Season treatments are available for manicures, pedicures, body wraps and facials and range from $65.00 to $125.00 CDN. Guests can also opt for the Signature Spa in Season Package which features an exfoliating body scrub, mini-facial, essential oil body wrap and half hour massage for $225.00 CDN.

For more information visit www.sidneypier.com/haven.

THE ART OF AFTERNOON TEA
Afternoon tea and eye-popping art have come together under one roof at Mela's Tearoom in Victoria, BC. Situated in the booming Humboldt Valley neighbourhood, the new tearoom is a shared business venture in a shared space between Winchester Galleries and Café Mela. Gunter Heinrich, a partner in Winchester Galleries, acquired the space for his new, and third, gallery location and would sit in the expansive plaza out front drinking coffee from Café Mela, a European-style coffee house located next door. That's when he and Café Mela owner Elizabeth Levinson, a well-known local foodie and author, hatched the idea of a combination tearoom-gallery. The gallery provides a beautiful, elegant setting to have tea and drinking tea gives visitors time to linger over the art. The tea menu features 14 varieties of tea, a fruit cup, scone, sweet and sandwiches. A light lunch is also available. Winchester Galleries features Canadian and contemporary art.

For more information contact (250) 382-8528 or visit www.winchestergalleriesltd.com.

NEW VICTORIA GALLERY GUIDE
A new, self-guided tour of the art galleries in downtown Victoria, BC has been developed by the Downtown Victoria Business Association. The free gallery guide and map features 18 galleries and is designed to showcase the vibrant local gallery scene as well as Victoria's reputation as one of the country's most walkable cities. Anchored by the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria, all galleries are within walking distance and feature a variety of work including painting, sculpture, ceramics, photography, crafts and First Nations art. The tour includes: Alcheringa Gallery, Art Gallery of Greater Victoria, Dales Gallery, Eagle Feather Gallery, Gull Circle Studio Arts, Gallery of Artisans (GOA), Legacy Art Gallery and Café, Lighthouse Gallery, Martin Batchelor Gallery, Mercurio Gallery, On Canvas, Out of the Mist Gallery, Pacific Editions Limited, Studio 16 1/2 Art Emporium, View Art Gallery, West End Gallery, and the two downtown locations of Winchester Galleries.

The gallery guide is available at all participating galleries and the Tourism Victoria Visitor Centre (812 Wharf Street, 1-800-663-3883).

WINCHESTER CELLARS IN VICTORIA HAS LAUNCED GIN -- A FIRST FOR VANCOUVER ISLAND

Ken Winchester of Winchester Cellars in Victoria, BC has launched British Columbia's only handcrafted gin. Winchester's Victoria Gin has already won gold at the Northwest Wine Summit amongst more than 1,000 wines and spirits. Victoria Gin blends 10 locally grown organic botanicals from juniper berries to rose petals and is distilled in small batches in a gleaming handmade wood-fired copper pot still. A secret 11th ingredient is known only to the distiller. Barking Dog Vineyard, the first and only certified organic vineyard on Vancouver Island, produces the organically grown fruit and botanicals for Winchester Cellars. A renowned Victoria winemaker in Canada's fastest growing wine region, Ken Winchester travelled to Scotland to learn the art of distilling from the masters at Bruichladdich Distillery. The first licensed distillery on Vancouver Island, Winchester Cellars will now turn its attention to single malt whisky. For more information visit www.winchestercellars.com.

GET FRESH AT FAIRBURN FARM CULINARY RETREAT

Fairburn Farm Culinary Retreat and Guesthouse, located 45 minutes north of Victoria, BC in the Cowichan Valley, has refreshed its 1930's caretaker's cottage. This charming, two and a half bedroom cottage is self-contained and perfect for Fairburn's week-long culinary boot camps, summer family vacations, wine enthusiasts, weekend cyclists or a girls' getaway. The bathroom and kitchen have been renovated and a new front porch added for guests to watch the world (and water buffalo!) go by.

Fairburn Farm is home to North America's only herd of genuine European River Water Buffalo. Fairburn Farm Culinary Retreat and Guesthouse, recently listed as one of the 45 most memorable cooking vacations in the world by Gourmet Magazine (May 2008), offers field to table cooking classes featuring fresh garden ingredients, buffalo mozzarella, locally raised meats and seafood. For more information visit www.fairburnfarm.bc.ca.

TOUR THE CYCLING CAPITAL OF CANADA

Victoria, BC is rated the cycling capital of Canada (Statistics Canada 2006) and visitors can experience the city on two wheels with a new tour from Cycle Treks called the Seaside Touring Route. This guided, full-day tour (approximately 6 hours), follows some of Victoria's best cycling routes along Victoria's stunningly beautiful waterfront. Cyclists will ride through the historic neighbourhoods of James Bay and Oak Bay, and Beacon Hill and Mount Douglas Parks. The tour stops for lunch in the Village of Cadboro Bay before connecting with the Galloping Goose Trail to take cyclists back to downtown Victoria through local farms, past bird sanctuaries and over trestle bridges. The seaside tour is offered daily through October and costs $99.00 CDN including lunch. Cycle Treks also offers Victoria City, Cowichan Valley Winery, The Butchart Gardens, Port of Sidney and West Coast Adventure (Sooke Hills) cycle tours as well as multi-day tours of Southern Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands. For more information visit www.cycletreks.com.

VILLA MARCO POLO'S NEW SPA

In March 2008, the Villa Marco Polo Bed and Breakfast Inn in Victoria, BC will open a spa for the exclusive use of guests. The only Condé Nast Johansens recommended Bed and Breakfast in Victoria, the Villa Marco Polo has always offered spa treatments to guests in the privacy of their rooms, but the new spa will now provide a dedicated, indulgent space for these treatments.

Foot reflexology, aromatherapy facials, massage of various types including hot stone massage, manicures and pedicures will be offered.Built in 1923 as a gift to a young bride, the Villa Marco Polo Bed and Breakfast Inn is an Italian Renaissance mansion that continues to be a romantic setting for getaways and celebrations; especially weddings and honeymoons. Guest suites feature double soakers, fireplaces, fine linens, luxurious beds, down pillows, hardwood floors and Persian carpets. Generous gourmet breakfasts featuring locally grown produce are served each morning. For more information visit www.villamarcopolo.com.

HATLEY CASTLE -- 100 YEARS CELEBRATION

Hatley Castle, located 25 minutes west of Victoria, BC in Hatley Park National Historic Site, will celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2008. Built in 1908, Hatley Castle was the home of James Dunsmuir; former British Columbia Premier and son of coal baron Robert Dunsmuir who built Victoria's Craigdarroch Castle and the E&N Railway on Vancouver Island. The castle is situated on a 565-acre Edwardian estate surrounded by 10 heritage gardens, old-growth forests and spectacular vistas overlooking the Esquimalt Lagoon and Juan de Fuca Strait to the Olympic Mountains in Washington State. Hatley Park has also recently restored its greenhouse - the only building on site that has continually been used for its original purpose. Hatley Castle is now home to Royal Roads University, but offers daily tours to visitors of the castle, museum and gardens. Hatley Park also offers a number of visitor programs from geocaching to birding and Hatley Castle is a popular site for meetings, retreats, conferences, corporate team building, motion picture films, weddings and special events. 

For more information visit www.hatleypark.ca.

SHERATON SCORES FOUR POINTS IN VICTORIA

The Four Points by Sheraton Victoria Gateway openws in Victoria, BC on March 31, 2008. The hotel has 119 rooms, an on-site restaurant, the Araina Day Spa, indoor swimming pool and fitness centre, and over 5,100 sq. ft. of meeting space. Comfortable contemporary guest rooms include choice of such features as free high speed internet, a 42" flat screen TV, Jacuzzi tub, kitchenette, gas fireplace, connecting room or balcony. Located 20 minutes north of downtown Victoria, the hotel's gateway location was chosen for its proximity to the Trans-Canada Highway providing convenient access to a variety of recreation and shopping. The Four Points by Sheraton Victoria Gateway is situated between Bear Mountain Resort and Olympic View Golf Course and minutes from Goldstream Provincial Park and Hatley Park National Historic Site. For more information visit www.fourpoints.com/victoriagateway.

For more information, please contact Tourism Victoria, 4th Floor, 31 Bastion Square, Victoria, BC Canada V8W 1J1 or check web site www.tourismvictoria.com

Vancouver Island’s Paradise Found Tempts You to Swim with the Fishes

There are few opportunities where one can immerse themselves wholly with nature. That is, unless, you’ve experienced the exhilaration of swimming with the fishes off Vancouver Island…and no, we’re not talking about an outing with Tony Soprano. At Paradise Found Adventure Tours, situated in Campbell River, guests can suit up for a once in a lifetime opportunity to snorkel with salmon. Imagine floating along the shallow pools and running waters of Campbell River, mere inches from coho, steelhead, chum, chinook and pink salmon.

These remarkable creatures ebb and flow, engulfing those there to witness their mighty migration and spawning habits. For your outing, each adventurist is guaranteed two floats downstream for a combined excursion of four kilometres, promising plenty of face time with your new fish friends. And Campbell River is sure to provide an ideal backdrop for your adventure. Enveloped by more than 31,000 square kilometres (12,000 square miles) of wilderness, the scenery is bound to be breathtaking – that is if you can tear your goggles away from the view down below the watery surface.

Lauded as the “Salmon Capital of the World,” the destination is certain to provide plenty of watery fun – and Paradise Founds owners and operators Brad and Jennifer Brock showcase other soft adventure tours which include fishing, whale watching and diving. This salmon run is available to the end of October, and with Paradise Found at the helm, all you’ll need to do is take in the silvery scenery (equipment, instruction and guide are provided for guests). Time to suit up and submerge into the watery depths. This is indeed paradise found.

For more information contact www.paradisefound.bc.ca

WalkAbouts Tours

WalkAbouts Tours offers year-round historical tours of The Fairmont Empress and this year will present a new Festival of Trees Tour and Tea. Visitors will enjoy a guided tour of the hotel hearing stories of Christmas past and present followed by the world famous ritural of afternoon tea at The Fairmont Empress. Offered Wednesdays, tours are at 10:30 am and tea at 12:15 pm for $49.00 CDN ($5.00 supports the Christmas Children's Hospital Fund).

Reservations are recommended and can be made by calling 250-995-4688 or 250-592-9255. For more information visit www.fairmont.com/empress and www.bcchf.ca/getinvolved/events/festivaloftrees/victoria.

VILLA MARCO POLO INN: TAKE THE SILK ROAD TO VICTORIA, BC

A leisurely game of bocce, a glass of Amarone della Valpolicella Classico, a stroll past the reflecting pool and fountains in an Italian Renaissance garden, and a tranquil sleep in a lavish suite filled with antiques and fine art. Tuscany or Umbria perhaps? In fact, the exotic Villa Marco Polo Inn is located in Victoria’s elegant Rockland quarter, just blocks from Craigdarroch Castle and Government House. This classically designed Heritage mansion was built in 1923 as a gift to a young bride, and is now one of Victoria’s most sumptuous inns.

Italian by design, the Villa Marco Polo keeps true to its well-traveled namesake and features an exquisite collection of Silk Road keepsakes. The Inn’s proprietor, Eliza Livingston, has lived in the Middle East, and showcases her fascination for these rich cultures by decorating the Inn with oriental rugs, objets d’art, collectables, and décor acquired on her travels.

From the moment you enter the Italian Renaissance-style Villa, with its four enchanting suites and generous public spaces filled with art and antiques, you’ll want to take life at a gentler pace. From the Tuscan Room with its exquisite Persian carpet, to the formal dining room with its Italian crystal chandelier, or the sun-splashed Orangerie, this is a place where time stands still. The Renaissance-style gardens filled with flowers lure guests outside to a lush lawn, often used to host fairy-tale style wedding receptions. In cooler weather, guests retreat indoors to the wood-paneled Library, a cozy space complete with wood-burning fireplace, and stocked with books, magazines, and board games, as well as an iMac for guest use.

The spacious bedrooms -- the Silk Road Suite, the Zanzibar Suite, the Persia Suite and the Alexandria Suite -- each offer their own special charm. Double soaker tubs and separate tiled showers, romantic fireplaces, desks, fine European linens, hardwood floors, and premium king-size beds are found in every room. Special touches are the hand-made books, classical works of art, and antiques from the owner’s family collections. With a nod to the 21st century, each suite features pre-loaded iPods and docking stations, wireless Internet and private telephones.

Guests awaken each morning to the aroma of freshly baked breads wafting through the halls. Breakfast is a memorable affair, with four inspired courses changing daily. Freshly baked muffins, such as Buttermilk Ten-Grain Muffins are served with butter and preserves made from Island fruits. A savoury course follows, such as Baked Eggs Florentine. A sweet finale rounds off the meal, treating guests to Caramelized Pineapple Pecan Cakes, or Piping Hot Lemon Lavender Soufflés. Ingredients are locally sourced, organic whenever possible, and of the freshest quality imaginable.

This 5-Star Canada Select Inn is endorsed by Condé Nast Johansens, and by Select Registry, the North American Guide to Distinguished Inns.

Rates for the Villa Marco Polo Inn start from $280 CAD for bed and breakfast during the summer season, and $190 CAD in winter.

To experience the enchantment of the Villa Marco Polo Inn, contact proprietor Eliza Livingston or Associate Manager, Liam Morton at (877) 601-1524.

SALT SPRING ISLAND (British Columbia)

SALT SPRING ISLAND'S SATURDAY MARKET

A walk around Salt Spring Island’s famed Saturday market is an epicurean’s delight: freshly baked organic breads, locally made chèvre topped with basil leaves and olive oil, organic ‘just-picked’ apples of all varieties, and island-smoked salmon are just a few of the treats to be found. Long renowned as a culinary epicenter, Salt Spring Island has reached a new peak and is attracting visitors from around the world interested in tasting and learning from the best. While a stroll through the Market is a must-do for those lucky enough to visit on a Saturday, there are plenty of epicurean delights to explore every day, both at Hastings House, and further afield on the Island.

For guests staying at Hastings House Country House Hotel, a deluxe waterfront hotel situated on Ganges Harbour, the culinary adventure begins upon arrival. Guests are welcomed to their deluxe suite accommodations to find a welcome treat waiting, specially prepared by Executive Chef Marcel Kauer. Each afternoon, a selection of freshly baked treats is offered in the Snug, providing guests with a rejeuvenating break before embarking on afternoon activities.

For the ultimate ‘foodie’ day out, take an Island Gourmet Safari tour, with local Salt Spring resident Wendy Hartnett. These custom designed tours visit a wide variety of vendors right at the source, guided by Wendy’s knowledge of the local growers and farmers, and her evident love of the Island. Take a tour of David Wood’s famed Salt Spring Island Cheese Company, where you’ll observe the variety of goat’s milk cheeses being made before your eyes. Taste test the variety of cheeses, before purchasing a selection of travel-friendly samples to take home. Wendy will take you high atop a scenic lookout to visit “The Bread Lady”, a true artisan who bakes hundreds of loaves of organic breads daily in her wood-fired oven. A stop at one of several local wineries offers the chance to sample and purchase some of Salt Spring’s award-winning vintages, whereas a stop at local organic apple orchard will present a chance to sample countless varieties of crispy fruits bursting with flavour. Arrive hungry, as there are plenty of tastes along the way, as well as a full lunch stop complete with local beer tasting.

No gourmet visit to Salt Spring Island is complete without a meal in Hastings House renowned dining room. The Zagat-rated restaurant, managed by Chef Kauer, is rated as one of the best restaurants in the world. The menu changes daily to reflect the freshest local ingredients, but is always sure to include a selection of locally caught seafood and Salt Spring lamb, as well as Island-grown herbs, greens and fruits. A daily 4-course Chef’s Tasting Menu is offered, as well as a full à la carte menu. The culinary experience at Hastings House extends far beyond the dining room. Guests are encouraged to stroll through the fragrant kitchen gardens, where a wide variety of greens, vegetables, fruit and herbs are grown for use in the dining room. If you’re feeling more adventurous, Hastings House can even arrange for you to spend an afternoon with a local crab fisherman, where you’ll learn how to catch Dungeness crab, one of the signature dishes. After a full day of gastronomic adventures and a restful sleep, you’ll awaken to the scent of fresh coffee and homebaked muffins resting just outside your door - a delicious start to another day on Salt Spring Island.

About Hastings House

A member of Small Luxury Hotels, Hastings House is located in Ganges Harbour on Salt Spring Island, British Columbia. Accolades include the “Best Canadian Resort” vote from Zagat and a Grand Award from Andrew Harper’s Hideaway. Built between 1900 and 1940 as a working farm on 22 lush acres of gardens, meadowland and forest, the property reflects the charm and elegance of an English country manor, making it an ideal choice for romantic getaways and weddings.

For more information contact:

Canada and Western USA:

Jayne Lloyd-Jones
(604) 925 8187
jayne@spectacularink.com

Eastern USA:

Meryl Pearlstein
(917) 359-3512
meryl@mdppublicity.com

ESCAPING TO SALT SPRING ISLAND HAS NEVER BEEN EASIER

No need to wait until check-in to let the allure of Hastings House Country House Hotel refresh your spirit. With the new Salt Spring Island Escape Packages, planning your getaway to Hastings House has just become effortless. Imagine setting off on a delightful getaway, confident that every indulgence has been considered, and every detail arranged. All you need to do is pack your bags, and look forward to the most relaxing vacation of your life.

The new Salt Spring Island Escape packages offer guests all the elements of a peaceful getaway:

Two nights in an elegant room, a four-course Chef’s menu dinner, a picnic lunch, continental breakfast both mornings, a $100 spa credit, and a choice of transportation from Vancouver or Seattle. Each package includes all of these indulgences, plus the following options for transportation:

• Gold Level Package

Experience the ultimate in luxury, with private round trip air charter, from either Vancouver International Airport (starting at $812.50 per person) or Seattle (starting at $1837.50).

• Silver Level Package

Discover how close Salt Spring Island truly is when you travel by floatplane on a round trip scheduled flight from Vancouver International Airport (starting at $587.50 per person) or from Seattle (starting at $825.00 per person).

• Bronze Level Package

Perfect for guests who want the freedom to explore Salt Spring Island with their own vehicle, this package includes gift vouchers for return ferry services for 2 passengers plus vehicle from Tsawwassen (near Vancouver), starting at $512.50 per person.

Room rates are based on Hayloft/Sealoft/Woodland rooms. Upgrades to suites are available. All prices are based on double occupancy, exclusive of taxes.

Optional add-on services include:

• Additional nights: summer rates from $345.00 per night (5% off) and spring/fall rates from $235.00 per night (20% off).
• For guests who fly to Salt Spring Island, compact car rentals can be arranged for $49.00 per day.
• Gourmet safari tour with driver (up to four guests): $300.00 for half day excursion, or $500.00 for full day excursion.

For more information contact:

Canada and Western USA
Jayne Lloyd-Jones , (604) 925 8187; jayne@spectacularink.com

Eastern USA
Meryl Pearlstein, (917) 359-3512; meryl@mdppublicity.com

TOFINO

Pacific Sands Beach Resort Celebrates 35th Anniversary

The Pacific Sands Beach Resort has been owned and operated by the Pettinger Family for the past 35 years, and over that time has welcomed countless families and guests who have made Pacific Sands Beach Resort a tradition of their own.

The 1 bedroom beachfront suites are newly renovated, and the perfect size for a couple. The two bedroom villas are the ultimate in luxury, with fully equipped kitchen and dining room, living room with leather furniture, heated slate floors, two fireplaces, and master bedroom featuring a king size bed and oceanview soaker tub. These luxurious villas are perfect for a family, or two couples travelling together.


About the Pacific Sands

This four-season resort, located south of Tofino, is a favorite with families as well as couples. Pacific Sands sits beside world-renown Pacific Rim National Park with its white sand beaches and old-growth coastal temperate rainforest. The grey whale migration each spring, along with the arrival of thousands of shorebirds are nature’s highlights. New beachside villas, with fireplaces, soaker tubs in the master bedroom, and slate and cedar accents, were built from standing dead wood, and are heated by a Geo-Exchange system. At over 1300 square feet, the villas offer the ultimate home-away-from home, each offering plenty of space for 2 couples sharing, or a family wanting to get away together. Rain forest walks, beach combing, surfing and kayaking are some of the activities awaiting guests. Surf Camps, Whale Watching and the winter storm watching offer tempting escapes year round. Pacific Sands Beach Resort has been in the Pettinger family for the past 35 years.

CANADIAN ROCKIES

Canadian Rockies Walk, Wheel, and Whitewater Rafting Tours

Imagine walking, wheeling, and whitewater rafting through the most scenic parts of the Canadian Rocky Mountains this summer. Guests of Rocky Mountain Cycle Tours’ Rockies Adventure Sampler begin their five night/six day adventure in Banff, Alberta. From there, they coast down the Continental Divide into British Columbia on top- quality 27-speed Rocky Mountain Bicycles. Hiking in Yoho National Park the next day offers fantastic wilderness discoveries. By day three, they’re on a rollercoaster rafting ride on the Kickinghorse River. The wide variety of activities makes this trip a popular choice for families with children aged nine and up as no day is the same and there’s never a dull moment. Passionate, certified guides bring the history and folklore of the region alive and a support van ensures comfort and safety throughout the trip.
 
Since 1977, family owned and operated Rocky Mountain Cycle Tours has been providing first-class guided tours in Western Canada—no other tour company has a longer track record of guided cycling vacations in the Canadian Rockies. These trips include all accommodations and necessary equipment, most meals, support vehicle and luggage transport and all applicable National Park fees and permits. Bike rental is available, or bring your own. Professional guides lead each tour and are part chef, part naturalist, trained in wilderness first-aid and professionally certified. Passionate about their work and delighted to share their background in natural history, geology, anthropology and folklore, these guides add an element of enjoyment to the tour.
 
For more information view the Rocky Mountain Cycle Tour web site at www.rockymountaincycle.com, e-mail res@rockymountaincycle.com, or call 800-661-BIKE(2453).  

LAURENTIANS

Capacity of 4 people

$149 per night, per yurt.

Ready or Not—

LET'S GO CAMPING!

For visitors wishing to discover the joys of camping: the park will be offering a series of ready-to-camp sites with a tent-trailer tent. The package includes the campsite, the tent or tent-trailer for four, a propane burner, a lantern, and dishware. All you need to bring are your sleeping bags and toothbrushes!

Starting at

$88 per night, per site.

Exclusive!

Did you know that the park is offering special activities with a park warden/naturalist? For a different way to discover the meandering Diable, enjoy a unique day with loons, hear a wolf story or learn more about the via ferrata secrets.

Agricultural Tourism A Treat in the Laurentians

As you know, agrotourism is a mild form of sustainable tourist development and multi-activity in rural areas through which the visitor has the opportunity to get acquainted with agricultural areas, local products, traditional cuisine and the daily life of the people, as well as the cultural elements and the authentic features of the area, while showing respect for the environment and tradition. This activity brings visitors closer to nature and rural activities in which they can participate, be entertained and feel the pleasure of touring, learning and discovering.

Here are some products in this wonderful region:

Maple

Available in the sugar shacks and different boutiques: syrup, sugar, butter, taffy and pies.

Exceptional maple alcohols from early and late sap, available at L’Ambroisie in Mirabel. Check web site www.lambroisie.com

Honey

All goodies from the beehive. A panoply of different honey flavours, candies, candles and mead.

To get a sample of all of these a visit at Intermiel in Mirabel  web site www.intermiel.com and Apicole Desrochers in Ferme-Neuve (certified organic honey) www.fermeapicoledesrochers.com is a must.

Apple

From picking to tasting, especially in Oka and St-Joseph du Lac, orchards await.  In their boutiwues, pies, jellies, butter and different ciders, including the famous ice cider. Check web sites www.lesveregerslafrance.com  www.vergerlamarche.com

Pumpkins & squashes

In St-Jospeh du Lac. Numerous varieties of pumpkins and squashes at this cucurbitaceae interpretation centre.

Learn all the savours and the multiple uses. Homage is paid in full on the culinary, artistic and touristic levels. You can pick yourself and get some recipes.

Ostrich farm

In St-Eustache. Grain-fed ostrich. Visit the gift shop, go on a safari, enjoy country style meals, look at ostrich races and try meat samplings (sausages, brochettes, steaks, etc). May and June open Saturday and Sunday. August and July, daily.    

Vineyards and wineries

In St-Eustache and St-Joseph-du- Lac. Red, white, rose, organic wines and the “must”, the fortified wine ( ice wine).  Everywhere, a heartfelt greeting and marvellous sites. Check web site www.rochedesbrises.com

Flour

MoluinLégaré in St-Eustache is Canada’s oldest water-driven flour mill still in operation. Built in 1762 the miller produces wheat and buckwheat flour the old fashion way.

Cheese

In Brownsburg-Chatham the Vierge Marie Monastery offers to consumers different products, including goat and sheep’s cheese.

In Mirabel, Fromagerie Mirabel has been making cheddar since 1916. Check web site www.fromageriemirabel.qc.aira

Organic farms                                                                                                                                                        Medicinal Plants in La Conception-(web site www.millefeuille.ca) First inn and gardens certified organic.                      

Morgan Farm in Montcalm (web site www.fermemorgan.com)  produces a variety of organic meats (beef, boar, calf, lamb, Barbary duck, guinea fowl, wild turkey) as well as transformed products (tourtieres, a variety of sausages, confits) and fresh eggs.

Ferme Picadier in  Brébeuf produces, year-round, organic chicken and beef. Their chickens are free-range (during the summer) and their cows are fed a diet with the emphasis on grains and hay produced at the farm.

Some Laurentian’s bakeries are still making bread the old-fashion way.

Summer outdoor markets with fresh produce

And numerous food festivals.

For more infos, check web site: www.laurentians.com

Go To The Extreme --- In The Laurentians!

What is an extreme sport?

An extreme sport (also called action sport, adventure sport, and adventurous sport) is any sport featuring speed, height, danger, a high level of physical exertion, highly specialized gear, or spectacular stunts. A feature of such activities in the view of some is their alleged capacity to induce a so-called adrenaline rush in participants or increased levels of dopamine endorphins and serotonin. This definition was designed to separate the marketing hype from the activity. Another characteristic of activities so labeled is they tend to be individual rather than team sports. Extreme sports can include both competitive and non-competitive activities.

Adventure Racing - In adventure racing, you will learn more than you ever wanted to know about yourself and your team mates. Adventure racing is the most addictive sport you will ever try, and once you get sucked in, there's no going back. 

Some sports considered Xtreme:   

Aerial Corridor-  (branch to branch)                                                                            Free fall with stimulator

Gliding

Ice Climbing

Motorcross

Motorsports     

Mountain Biking

Mountaineering

Paragliding

Parachuting

Skiing - (jump, kite, etc.)

Skydiving   

Snowboarding

Whitewater Rafting                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

All these can be found in different parts of the Laurentian region. The Laurentians, a vast and welcoming region, a fascinating land, North of Montreal and of course a palette of different emotions. For more information, check web site  www.laurentians.com

Laurentians News On Events/Lodging/Restaurants              

LODGING

Wyndham Cap-Tremblan

This establishment now has its own Country Club. In this luxurious four million dollar setting, we find the domain’s reception bureau, an Italian restaurant, “Il Pinnacolo,” a conference centre and an interior practice room for golf “Golf-O-Max”. This service is offered to both guests and owners. Two interactive screens are also available for golfers either for a game among friends or to just simply practice and perfect their swing. For more information, check web site www.captremblant.com

Village Windigo -- a new establishment underthe wing of  Hôtellerie Champêtre

The Hôtellerie Champêtre chain has just announced the addition of a new member to their group for the year 2007-2008 : The Village Windigo. Added feature to this banner, it has endowed as a deluxe establishment in a very wild environment. With this special feature, the Villlage Windigo reaffirms Hôtellerie Champêtre’s engagement to please and answer to the demands of the outdoor fans and furthermore to win over followers who enjoy bucolic comfort. For more information , check web site www.hotelleriechampetre.com

Le Relais Saint-Denis

The Relais Saint-Denis is renovating and will eventually change all their rooms to suites which all have double whirlpool baths. Also, in the very near future, a solarium, including a swimming pool which will always be accessible and directly linked to the hotel. For more information, check web site http:/www.relaisstdenis.com/relais.html

Impéria Hôtel and Suites in Saint-Eustache

The Hôtel Imperia is set to open next summer. The four-star hotel establishment will be situated on 25^th Avenue and rue Dubois, next to the autoroute 640. It will notably have 129 rooms and great comfort suites, a reception and banquet room able to accommodate 20 to 300 guests. It is a 12 million dollar investment.

Manoir Saint-Sauveur  New Pavilion

Manoir Saint-Sauveur has inaugurated its new pavilion. Pursuing its tradition in naming their pavilions with renowned mountain names, Manoir Saint-Sauveur named it Pavilion Avoraz, after the high-scaled resort in the French Alps.. This new pavilion wears its name well as it has luxurious executive mezzanine suites, 14 junior executive suites together with the Avoriaz suite which can accommodate groups of up to 25 people for receptions. It is an investment of over 3 million dollars.

Gïte La Petite ïle

This Inn is very well laid out to welcome its precious clientele. A small island in full nature with a certain tranquility and peace and is situated at only fifteen minutes from Saint-Sauveur. It has a private lake with a cascade, water jet, a lakeside terrace which has access to the charming small island where one can rest, read and take advantage of the spa. For more information, check web site www.gitelapetiteile.com

Oasis de l’ïle – New bed and breakfast and spa

L’Oasis de l’ïle is situated on a private island, broadside the Mille-Ïles River. The country style bed and breakfast has 23 luxurious rooms, a living room, two meeting rooms, relaxation room and a dining room offering health food which will satisfy your taste buds. Outside, the visitors will be charmed by the magnificent site: pools, falls, hot baths, sauna, vapour bath and rest areas. Furthermore, l’Oasis de l’Ile offers a complete scale of corporal and aesthetic care. For more information, check web site www.oasisdelile.com

SPA Le Finlandais

Situated in full nature at the heart of the wildlife reserve of the Mille-Ïles River, the Spa Finlandais proposes a very unique experience. This is one of the nicest thermal stations in North America. For more information, check web site www.spalefinlandais.com

L'Auberge du Lac Rémi B&B

L’auberge du lac Rémi has now become a health center. Care is offered by qualified therapists who hold diplomas from renowned schools. They offer massotherapy, reflexology, therapeutic touch, flotation tank, pressotherapy, exfoliation with salt water, turquoise clay wrap, exterior spa, etc. For more information, check web site www.aubergedulacremi.ca

Manoir Saint-Andrews Spa and relaxation

The Manoir Saint-Andrews domain offers you a very unique experience, a voyage towards a universe of relaxation. Intimate ultra-comfort suites with therapeutic baths, double treatment rooms, and private salon.  The exterior treatment and relaxation stations are situated in the exhilarating energy of the forest. Private lake so you can enjoy the pleasures of swimming, fishing and other water activities. Exotic care offered on site, whether it be winetherapy, chocolatetherapy, or truffletherapy as well as a complete selection of massages and body care. For more information, check web site www.manoirstandrews.com

RESTAURANTS

Restaurant de l’Auberge Caribou                                                                

Completely restored, L’Auberge Caribou restaurant proposes a most refine cuisine which features homegrown product from here and abroad. Suzanne Boulianne, the young chef, harmoniously weds the classic values of French cuisine with exotic regional savours. Her specialty is small game and she excels in the way she prepares it. Gastronomy and homegrown product : a happy marriage which produces an original and colourful “table d’hote,” with much savour. The restaurant which is classified four-star, is open every morning for breakfast and every evening for supper. For more information, check web site www.aubergelecaribou.

Restaurant le TRE MONTI Chantecler Hotel                                      

In operation since 1938, this hotel of 200 rooms and suites is quite an institution as noticed by its classic architecture and its rustic décor while still offering a most contemporary service. We invite you to  try out the brand new TRE MONTI restaurant and its fine Italian cuisine. You will discover a mixture of different savours combines with a  refined cuisine that is sure to tickle your taste buds. For more information, check web site www.lechantecler.com

Nid’Otruche; Ostrich products in a country style setting                       

Come discover the country style table setting during one of the exotic safari lunches from 10 am to 2 pm. You will have the occasion to sample typical ostrich products. Situated in the Lower Laurentians, ten  minutes from Laval and 25 minutes from Montreal.  Reservations  for the country style setting requires a minimum of six people. For more information, check web site www.nidotruche.com

SPAS

Looking for a great spa with accommodations or just a day spa? Here are many in the Laurentians to choose from -- along with web sites for additional information. For general information, check web site www.laurentians.com.

WITH ACCOMMODATIONS:

• Auberge Comte de Watel in Ste-Agathe-des-Monts www.watel.ca

• Auberge Santé Le Relais des Monts in Piedmont : www.relaisdesmonts.com

• Auberge & Spa Le Refuge in Morin Heights : www.aubergelerefuge.ca

• Centre de Santé Calumet route 148 Grenville-sur-laRouge www.centresantecalumet.com

• Hotel-Spa Excelsior in Sainte-Adele www.spaexcelsior.com

• Spa du Manoir in Saint-Sauveur www.manoir-saint-sauveur.com

• Le Spa L’Eau in Sainte-Adele www.leaualabouche

• Manoir sous les Arbres in Ivry-sur-le-Lac www.manoirsouslesarbres.qc.ca

• Manoir St-Andrews in Saint-Jerôme www.manoirsa.com

• Oasis de l’Ile in Saint-Eustache www.oasisdelile.com

• Le Finlandais in Rosemere www.lefinlandais.com

• Spa-Hotel Beaux Rêves in Saint-Adele www.beauxreves.com

• Synovia Spa in Saint-Hippolite www.lacmorency.com

• ThalaSpa in Saint-Adele www.thalaspa.ca

• Westin Resort& Spa in Mont Tremblant www.westin.com/tremblant

• Amerispa/Fairmont in Mont-Tremblant www.fairmont.com

  Spa-sur-le-Lac In Mont-Tremblant www.hoteldulac.ca

DAY SPA:

• Beautherium in Saint-Sauveur www.beautherium.com

• Les Bains du Lac Louise in Lac Saint-Paul

• Ofuro Spa in Saint-Adolphe www.spaofuro.com

• Polar Bear’s Club in Piedmont www.polarbearsclub.ca

• Le Spa d’Howard in Saint-Adolphe d’Howard www.spadhoward1835.com

• Spa Manon Durand in Saint-Jerôme www.spamanondurand.com

• Spa Le Scandinave in Mont-Tremblant www.scandinave.com

• Station Santé Bagni in Sainte-Adele www.spabagni.com

The Insectarium and Botanical Garden are open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily from May 15 to September 6.

Information: 514 872-1400 / www.museumsnature.ca
On-site services: gift shops, cafeteria, mini-train (in summer)

***************

MONTREAL PLANETARIUM

A New Multimedia Show at the Montréal Planetarium-- Extinctions!

More and more these days, we are told that the Earth is going through its sixth great wave of extinctions. But what exactly does "massive extinction" mean? The Montréal Planetarium's new multimedia show, Extinctions!, for ages 12 and up, invites audiences to learn about the hows and whys of a phenomenon that could affect a very recently emerged species: our own!

The show written by Marc Jobin, an astronomer at the Montréal Planetarium, is packed with fascinating - and disturbing - information. The narrator first takes us far, far back into our planet's past, looking for fossils that allow paleontologists to painstakingly reconstruct the very turbulent history of life on Earth. We learn that fossilization isn't for everyone! We also see how the five massive extinctions that have already occurred didn't all happen at the same pace or for the same reasons.

The second part of the show explores phenomena in space that could affect our biosphere and its fragile ozone layer. There are some chilling possibilities, from an interstellar cloud to a supernova or even a hypernova, or a huge meteorite that could disrupt our entire climate if it collided with the Earth. But don't give up hope! The good news is that since human actions are to blame for what's happening at the moment, each of us can do our part to avoid this sixth wave of extinction. The show is sure to interest everyone looking to get a broader perspective on the global environmental situation and prepared to take action to change what can be changed!

Schedule for Extinctions:

The Planetarium will be closed from January 22 to May 10, 2009: Tuesday to Sunday, 2:30 p.m.

Admission to the Planetarium: Adults: $8 Seniors/Students: $6 Ages
5-17: $4 Ages 4 and under, free. Discounts for Accès Montréal cardholders.

General information: 514 872-4530

Montréal Planetarium: 1000, rue Saint-Jacques (Bonaventure metro station). Tel.: 514 872-4530
Check web site www.museumsnature.ca for show times

The Hydro-Québec Celebration of Light – the festive and free outdoor program

The Hydro-Québec Celebration of Light has definitively made itself at home in Old Montréal and on the Quays of the Old Port! Like a comfortable old coat you pull un and never want to take off, they’re a perfect fit, confirmed by each visit: the thrilling 120-metre Milk Ice Slide entirely made of ice, the artistic illumination of De la Commune St., whose coloured lights still twinkle in the mind’s eye, the stunning 20-metre GiveItYourMinimum AXA Sphere, a heated, inflatable pleasure zone, as well as the Milk Jumpaï, the braziers, the Bistro SAQ and the new 15-metre giant LED screen, where fans could project the designs they’d created at the interactive console at the Hydro-Québec Stage. And while Loto-Québec Fireworks lit up the scene, the Hydro-Québec Concerts warmed up the masses, who danced, sang and cheered along madly to performances by Les Respectables and Antoine Gratton, Taktika, Numéro#, and CEA! The wildly popular GiveItYourMinimum AXA Sphere, the evening home to super-contemporary DJ and VJ sets, found an afternoon purpose as well, welcoming the Little Winter Circus by Milk, thrilling all the kids. And let’s not leave out the brave bathers of Quebec City and Montreal who, wearing nothing but bathing suits and cheered on by the Bonhomme Carnaval, plunged into the Snow Bath presented in collaboration with the Office du tourisme de Québec and the Société du 400e anniversaire de Québec. Long story short—every day offered different, dynamic, uninterrupted programming that thrilled our discerning crowd of High Lighters!

New Attractions in this area include:

A Treetop Trek in the Heart of Foret de l'Aigle -- After the aerial trek, outdoor enthusiasts can rise to the challenge of a course of 10 zip lines overlooking the Hibou River. For more information, check web site www.cgfa.ca.

Guided Walks -- The National Capital Commission offers three new guided walks through downtown Ottawa to introduce visitors to Canada's capital. Choose one of three 60 to 90 minute tours. For more information, check web site www.canadascapital.ca.

Stay in a Yurt -- These traditional shelters from the steppes of central Asia offer a convenient and comfortable 'turnkey' camping experience. Located in the heart of Plaisance Provincial Park, these two waterside yurts are round canvas tent structures with hardwood floors and plenty of windows. For more information, check web site www.sepaq.com/plaisance.

Events and Shows:

Theatre du Casino -- Experience distinctive entertainment in the comfort of a sumptuous performance hall where no seat is more than 25 metres from the stage. For more information, check web site www.casino-du-lac-leamy.com.

A Zip Line Traverse Right in the Heart of Forêt de l’Aigle!

Outdoor enthusiasts can do more than cross the aerial trek—they can pit their wits against a brand new vertigo-defying trail composed of 10 giant Tyrolean traverses high above the Hibou River! What a way to discover the majestic pine forest! Also available: 3 luxury cottages for rent at Lac Mary, cross country skiing, snowshoeing, horse riding, and more... For more information, contact Claudia Meloche at 819-449-7111, or check web site www.cgfa.ca

New! Chocolate Economuseum

Introducing the Outaouais’ first economuseum—the new Chocomotive chocolate factory, opening in a heritage railway station. The sky’s the limit for its owners, who plan to offer customers a whole range of products for every occasion, use the finest local ingredients in their chocolate, and enter into partnerships with other economuseums. For more information, contact Gaëtan Tessier at 819-522-6063, or check web site www.chocomotive.ca

NEW BRUNSWICK

Events

ONGOING 

PRESCHOOL STORYTIME. Wednesdays and Saturdays from 10:30-11:00 am. Theme-based stories, songs, fingerplays, and lots of crayons, too! Ages 3-5;
younger children welcome with an adult.

FAMILY DROP-IN PROGRAM. Children and their parents/caregivers can enjoy books and activity sheets based on a different theme every week. Available any time the library is open.

YOUNG VOLUNTEERS. If you are at least 12 years old, friendly, and would like experience with tasks such as shelving books and preparing children's programs, please pick up a Young Volunteer application in the Children‚s Dept. Wednesdays from 4:00-5:00 pm.

ADULT PUBLIC SKATING.  8:30 pm to 10 pm most Mondays and Wednesdays. Harbour Station, 99 Station Street. Skate to live music! Schedules available at the door. For more information, call (506) 652-5732. 

MEDITATION IN MOVEMENT.  Every Saturday. 10:30 am to 11:30 am. Church of St. Andrew & St. David, 164 Germain Street (side door entrance, upstairs gym). Fee: $6. Let go and let loose as you release youself to the beat of the music! Relish in the freedom of the movement and dance as though nobody is watching. (506) 657-1595 

OTTAWA

CANADIAN WAR MUSEUM

Note: The Canadian War Museum (in Ottawa, Ontario, and the Canadian Museum of Civilization (in Gatineau, Quebec) are both operated by The Canadian Museum of Civilization Corporation.

MORE ACTIVITIES

Canadian War Museum acquires art by Tom Thomson, Louis-Philippe Hébert

The Canadian War Museum has acquired two significant works of Canadian war-related art: a painted illustration by Tom Thomson and a sculpture by Louis-Philippe Hébert, two of the country’s best-known twentieth-century artists. Both pieces were purchased November 23 at an auction in Toronto, with the help of the Museum’s National Collection Fund. They will be added to the Museum’s Beaverbrook Collection of War Art.

Thomson’s The Foot Path of Peace, painted circa 1915, was purchased for $48,875. It is the first Thomson work to be accessioned to the Museum’s collection. Hébert’s Mademoiselle de Verchères was sculpted in 1905 and purchased by the Museum for $8,050.  

“As these two pieces illustrate, artworks can bring to life people and events from long ago, and they can challenge us to look at war and conflict from new perspectives,” said Mark O’Neill, Director-General of the Canadian War Museum. “That is why the Museum continues to build its national collection of war art, which it holds in perpetuity for all Canadians.”

To create The Foot Path of Peace, Thomson hand-lettered the text of a poem by American Henry Van Dyke and illustrated the work with watercolour pines and an idyllic, pastoral landscape. The poem speaks of a path to personal and spiritual peace. However, Thomson painted the work during the First World War, in which he did not enlist. One theory suggests that he embraced the words of Van Dyke as a pacifist statement. Although Thomson’s true motivation remains unknown, the painting is a unique catalyst for a Canadian discussion about war and peace.

Mademoiselle de Verchères is one of the most famous of Hébert’s smaller sculptures. It honours the French-Canadian heroine Marie-Madeleine Jarret de Verchères. As a 14-year-old in 1692, say contemporary accounts, she led the successful defence of her community’s fort during an eight-day siege by Iroquois attackers when most of the men were away or had been captured. The statue brings her story to life, providing a striking example of a woman’s courage in time of war.    

The National Collection Fund campaign was launched in 2006 by the Canadian Museum of Civilization Corporation to support the acquisition of artifacts by its two museums: the Canadian Museum of Civilization and the Canadian War Museum. Donations to the Fund help ensure that important pieces of our national heritage are not lost or dispersed. 

“These are important works of art and wonderful additions to our national collection,” said Francine Brousseau, Vice-President, Development. “We are grateful for the support of generous donors who are helping the Museum achieve its fundamental goal: to present Canada's military history and how it shaped the country and affected its people.”

The Canadian War Museum houses one of the world’s premier collections of war art. The 13,000 pieces offer a unique chronicle of Canada’s military history from pre-Confederation times to the present day. 

OUTAOUAIS REGION

Parc Oméga-

From the seat of your car, visit the unique animal park of the Outaouais region and meet its 400 or so animals, including buffaloes, moose, deer, wild boars, wapitis, ibexes, wolves and coyotes. A wonderful, beautiful 1500 acres pen where prairies, lakes, valleys, forests and rocky hills can be admired as you drive along. During winter, rent snowshoes and discover with the entire family, both the “Truite” and “Chevreuils” trails! 819-423-5487, www.parcomega.com

Three new Aerofil (zip lines courses) for a soft landing!

Forêt de l’Aigle-

Adding to its Aerotrek and Aerofil, the Forêt de l’Aigle has just inaugurated three new zip lines which will allow the altitude aficionados to land gently on the patio of Pavilion Black Rollway! Five new comfortable cottages, will accommodate snowmobilers and guests. 819-449-7111, 1-866-449-7111, www.cgfa.ca

For more information contact Outaouais Tourism, 819-778-2222 / 1-800-265-7822 -- or check web site www.outaouaistourism.com

Observe black bears in their natural habitat!

Fairmont Kenauk at Chateau Montebello Resort

Souvenirs sauvages- Spend a couple of hours with a certified guide on a safari-bus and ride into the world of the black bear at Fairmont Kenauk at Château Montebello resort. Observe them up close in their natural habitat, in complete safety… only a few feet away! 819-986-6877, www.souvenirssauvages.com

For more information on this great region, contact Outaouais Tourism, 819-778-2222 / 1-800-265-7822; www.outaouaistourism.com

A new lakeside chalet!

Birla Center for Hast Jyotish-

This holistic health and training center on the shores of Lake Dumouchel now features a new chalet with four bedrooms, living room, dining room, stone fireplace, fully-equipped kitchen, cathedral ceiling, large screened porch, and private beach. Also available are Ayurvedic message, palm readings, far infrared sauna, yoga, a modern gym, and more.

For more information call 819-428-4298, 1-866-428-3799, or check web site www.palmistry.com

Yurts in Parc national de Plaisance!

Parc national de Plaisance-

The Park is offering a new concept in accommodation—yurts. These traditional shelters from the steppes of central Asia are a convenient and comfortable "turnkey" camping alternative. Located in the heart of the park, by the waters of Baie de la Pentecôte, these two yurts feature a round canvas tent, a hardwood floor, and plenty of windows.

819-427-5334, 1-800-665-6527, www.parcsquebec.com

Steam locomotive celebrates 100th birthday!

Hull-Chelsea-Wakefield Steam Train-

Discover the most beautiful rail route in Quebec on board one of the oldest operational steam locomotives in Canada! The Hull-Chelsea-Wakefield Steam Train follows the Gatineau River to the picturesque village of Wakefield. Tour guides, musicians, and singers accompany you on your journey, and the “Sunset Dinner Train” excursion is also available.

819-778-7246, 1-800-871-7246, www.steamtrain.ca

Birla Center for Hast Jyotish - A new lakeside chalet!

Birla Center for Hast Jyotish-

This holistic health and training center on the shores of Lake Dumouchel now features a new chalet with four bedrooms, living room, dining room, stone fireplace, fully-equipped kitchen, cathedral ceiling, large screened porch, and private beach. Also available are Ayurvedic message, palm readings, far infrared sauna, yoga, a modern gym, and more.

For more information, call 819-428-4298, 1-866-428-3799, or check web site www.palmistry.com

Bungee: Experience the thrill

Great Canadian Bungee-

Come to Morrison’s Quarry for the big leap! The jumping platform towers 200 feet above the sparkling waters of a spring-fed lagoon—one of the world’s most beautiful bungee sites. Your 160 ft rebound surpasses the entire height of any other bungee jump in Canada or the U.S.!

819-459-3714, 1-877-828-8170, www.bungee.ca

For more information, contact Outaouais Tourism, 819-778-2222 / 1-800-265-7822 -- www.outaouais-tourism.ca

10 Museums, 7 days and 50% off!!

Canada’s Capital Museums Passport-

Explore Canada’s cultural treasures, its national museums, with this Museums Passport. Ottawa-Gatineau provides a uniquely capital experience through its national attractions. With your Passport, you will travel through major civilizations, the history of art and photography, and all the sciences: nature, physics, and space. You can also discover Canada's aviation history, better understand Canada's military history, learn how currency is made and visit the residence of Sir Wilfrid Laurier.

For information, check web site www.virtualmuseum.ca/passport/index.html
More information is available by calling 819-778-2222 / 1-800-265-7822
or check web site www.outaouais-tourism.ca

Complex Lac-Leamy-

A novelty is offered exclusively at the 5-star Hilton Lac- Leamy hotel; how about a customized bubble bath right in your own room! The “Bath Butler” will propose a luxurious bath menu to pamper yourself during your next getaway. Choose from Cleopatra’s Bath, Awakening Senses for 2, Tutti Frutti, Gentlemen’s Retreat.

For more information call 819-790-6444, 1-866-488-7888, or check web site www.casino-du-lac-leamy.com

For more information about this region, contact Outaouais Tourism
819-778-2222 / 1-800-265-7822, web site www.outaouaistourism.com

QUEBEC / QUEBEC CITY / QUEBEC PROVINCE (THE OUTAOUAIS REGION )

For a great adventure, plan a fall or winter vacation in Quebec City. Go sea kayaking with whales in the St. Lawrence River, hike in the valleys and mountains of the Hautes-Gorges national Park, canoe through the habitats of moose, beavers and blue herons in the Jacques-Cartier National Park, take an archery class, hit the trails at the Duchesnay Ecotourism Station, or zipline across a 900-million-year old canyon! Nearby Charlevoix owes its magnificent geography to a 15-billion-ton meteorite that fell to earth 350 million years ago. See the dramatic shifts between the 'seascapes' and 'mountainscapes' that have drawn artists to this area for centuries. The outskirts of Quebec City are great, too. Just a few minutes from the cobblestoned streets of the historic walled city, you'll find yourself deep in the countryside or in the heart of one of the largest natural parks in the area.

If you're here during the Christmas season, there are sensational shopping opportunities, decorated Christmas trees, twinkling lights, caroliers, concerts, nativity scenes and sparkling snow. Learn new ways of preparing meals with local produce and game to create dishes that represent the best of Quebec cuisine. Or, go in time for the Quebec Carnival where you can join locals right in the heart of Quebec City as they celebrate winter. This year the Carnival will feaure athletic competitions and spectacular shows on snow to a wide range of participatory activities for carnival-goers.

Winter is also an opportunity to experience the Ice Hotel, the largest structure of ice and snow in North America. Engage in various sports, including skiing, dogsledding, snowshoeing, tobogganing, and much more.

For further information, contact Tourisme Quebec, 51 East 42nd Street, Suite 500, New York 10017; 212-599-1340, or check web site www.bonjourquebec.com. For Carnival information, check website www.carnaval.qc.ca.

SLEEPING IN A HUTTOPIA TENT -- THE NEW READY-TO-CAMP FACILITIES
OF QUEBEC'S NATIONAL PARKS

Constantly seeking to play a leadership role and to innovate through the tourism products and services that it offers in a natural setting, Sépaq was introduced in the summer of 2008 an entirely new ready-to-camp concept, Huttopia tents.

Developed and marketed by the French firm Huttopia, the biggest European firm in the nature camping field, this modern product meets the criteria of space, comfort and authenticity sought by outdoor enthusiasts wishing to live a camping experience, without having to worry about bringing along all the necessary material. Moreover, the partnership that Sépaq is developing with the Huttopia firm is making it possible to reach, by way of the firm’s marketing plan, the clienteles of  France, England, Belgium, Germany and Holland who may be interested in experiencing an overseas Huttopia adventure.

60 Huttopia tents have been added to the 37 tent-trailers already in place in the 13 national parks since the summer of 2007, thereby increasing the supply of ready-to-camp facilities. Indeed, the occupation rate for tent trailers has shown beyond a doubt that “turn-key” camping is meeting a growing demand on the part of visitors who are looking for a higher level of comfort while simplifying the planning arrangements associated with their stay. This summer, it will cost $99/night to rent a Huttopia tent that can accommodate 2 adults and their children under 18 years of age. The progressive integration of Huttopia tents in the network of national parks will span a period of three years, at the end of which 150 units will have been set up.

Thirteen national parks will offer this possibility to discover Québec outdoor life in the heart of nature, while respecting the environment and enjoying the comfort of a well thought out accommodation unit: wooden platform (13 ft x 23 ft), canvas walls and roof, two rooms separated by a canvas curtain, common areas located inside and outside under a canopy, all this entirely furnished and equipped with camping in mind. Campers will have access to washroom facilities located near their site. In addition, Huttopia tents will be equipped with electric or gas heating, which should help to extend the camping season and allow outdoor enthusiasts to go camping in June, September and October, months when Europeans visit Québec in significant numbers.

All of the wooden structures and the floors will be manufactured in Québec. It is a Gaspé firm, Contact Signature, who will make all of these elements, using cedar locally produced according to a sustainable development approach. This choice is entirely in keeping with the development philosophy of the French firm, whose environmental concerns, like those of Sépaq, remain a fundamental consideration. With the Huttopia tents, Sépaq is extending an invitation to all those visitors who wish to discover exceptional protected territories, while respecting nature.

For more details about Huttopia tents, consult the Sepaq web site www.sepaq.com or call the Sales and Reservations Department at 1 800 665-6527.

Capacity of 4 people

$149 per night, per yurt.

Ready or Not—

LET'S GO CAMPING!

For visitors wishing to discover the joys of camping: the park will be offering a series of ready-to-camp sites with a tent-trailer tent. The package includes the campsite, the tent or tent-trailer for four, a propane burner, a lantern, and dishware. All you need to bring are your sleeping bags and toothbrushes!

Starting at

$88 per night, per site.

Exclusive!

Did you know that the park is offering special activities with a park warden/naturalist? For a different way to discover the meandering Diable, enjoy a unique day with loons, hear a wolf story or learn more about the via ferrata secrets.

SAINT JOHN

Saint John's Bay of Fundy --

has lots to offer -- unspoiled natural parks with views carved by the Bay. Steep, history-lined streets bustling with maritime charm, along with uptown arts, dining and entertainment inspired by the passion of the region. Cruise, drive, fly to Saint John, on the Bay of Fundy at the mouth of the St. John River. It is a 90-minute drive from the U.S. border at Calais, Maine; a 3-hour drive from Bangor, Main; a 6-hour drive from Portland, Maine, or a 3-hour ferry crossing from Saint John to Digby, Nova Scotia.

Check out top attractions, such as:

Reversing Falls -

Where the Bay of Fundy's highest tides in the world meet with the St. John River forcing it to flow backwards, twice daily. There are two restaurants overlooking the water, a gift shop, observation decks, trails along the waer, a theatre and harbour cruises. For information and the tide tables, call 506-658-2855. For restaurants, theatre and the boat tour, call 506-635-1999, or check web site www.TourismSaintJohn.com.

Saint John City Market -

Experience Canada's oldest continuing farmers' market, where the roof, built like a ship's inverted hull, reflects the shipbuilding past. Visit merchants at colorful stalls displaying local produce, meat, fresh seafood, and handcrafted items. See artists at work or have a bite to eat in one of the any eateries featuring local and ethnic foods. For information call 506-658-2820 or check web site www.sjcitymarket.ca

The New Brunswick Museum -

Whales, ships, fossils and fine art surround you at the New Brunswick Museum, located in Market Sqare. Treasures from New Brunswick and the world are interpreted in stunning world-class exhibits. Visit the 'Hall of the Great Whales," the Fundy tidal tower, or the family discovery gallery, unique gift shop, and try one of the uided tours. For more information call 506-643-2300 or check web site www.nbm-mnb.ca.

More things to do at Saint John on the Bay of Fundy --

Visit the Carleton Martello Tower National Historic Site (506-636-4011 or check web site www.pc.gc.ca.

Fundy Trail - A spectacular tour along the Bay of Fundy in St. martins. Call 506-833-2019 or check web site www.fundytrailparkway.com

Harbour Passage - A walking trail along Saint John's Inner Harbour. (Call 506-658-2855 or check web site www.sjwaterfront.com

M.V. Voyageur II Riverboat - Cruise the St. John and Kennebecasis Rivers. 506-738-8484 or web site www.saintjohnmarina.com

Reversing Falls Jet Boat & Harbour Tour - Witness the phenomenon of the Reversing Falls. 1-888-364-8987 or check web site www.jetboatrides.com

Water Street Dinner Theatre - Music, fun and great food - 506-648-2325 or web site www.waterstreetdinnerthreatre.com

Phoenix Dinner Theatre - A lively, ineractive evening of great food and music. Call 506-693-8720 or check web site www.phoenixdinnertheatre.com.

Princess of Acadia Ferry - Saint John to Digby Nova Scotia. Call 1-888-249-7245 or check web site wwwbayferries.com.

SASKATCHEWAN

Lots Going on in Saskatchewan

New Tourism Saskatchewan Website

New look, amazing images, simplified navigation. Have a look around at www.sasktourism.com.

News & Notes

The Cirque de Soleil, hot Saskatoon blues, Craven Country Jamboree, Canadian Women's curling and pro indoor soccer - www.sasktourism.com

Joe Fafard: Retrospective

A retrospective of the work of Pense sculptor Joe Fafard is currently on display at the MacKenzie Art Gallery in Regina. Internationally renowned for his unique portrayals of animal and human subjects, Fafard has produced a remarkable body of work over a career that has spanned 40 years.

The retrospective is a joint presentation of the MacKenzie Art Gallery and the National Gallery of Canada. Curated by Terrence Heath, the exhibition includes 70 pieces ranging from small clay figures to large bronze and steel works. His trademark human portraits, including those of friends, family and public figures, are featured in one section of the exhibition. Animals, including his signature cows and laser-cut horses, also feature prominently. Fafard’s art, universally recognized and resonant with collectors worldwide, is firmly rooted in and connected to life in rural Saskatchewan.

Joe Fafard was born in tiny Ste. Marthe, Saskatchewan, obtained a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree from the University of Manitoba and a Masters of Fine Arts degree from Pennsylvania State University. After instructing sculpture at the University of Saskatchewan from 1968 to 1974, Joe embarked upon a highly successful career. He has won numerous awards, including the Order of Canada and the Saskatchewan Order of Merit. Joe’s work can be enjoyed as part of the permanent collections of galleries across Canada, as well as part of numerous public installations.

Joe Fafard: Retrospective will be at the MacKenzie Art Gallery in Regina until January 6, 2008, after which time it will tour galleries across Canada.

For more information, visit the MacKenzie Art Gallery web site.    

Saskatchewan Boats World-Record Rainbow Trout

Saskatchewan’s status as a premier North American destination for fresh water fishing was reaffirmed by the recent catch of a world record-sized rainbow trout in Lake Diefenbaker, located in the province’s southwest.

Caught by Adam Konrad of Saskatoon, the record breaker weighed in at 43.6 pounds, with a length of 38.75 inches and a girth measurement of 34 inches. The previous world record holder, weighing 43 pounds, 2 ounces, was caught in Alaska in 1970.

Adam Konrad and his twin brother Sean have made past news headlines, breaking the provincial rainbow trout record three times last July with catches weighing 28.39 pounds, 30 pounds and 33.3 pounds. By fall, the brothers smashed their own record with a 34.5 pound catch. In the past two fishing seasons, the Konrads have reportedly caught and released back into Lake Diefenbaker more than 200 rainbow trout exceeding 20 pounds and at least a dozen more weighing over 30 pounds.

Recreational anglers spend an estimated $200 million annually in Saskatchewan. The province is home to 100,000 lakes, boasts an abundance of species and offers some of the most unique fishing environments in Canada.

TORONTO

Hilton Toronto

This holiday season, Hilton Toronto wraps up its Signature Suites in premium holiday packages. The suites honor Canada's unique history and set a new standard for modern luxury with exotic woods, sleek metals, sumptuous fabrics, and a palette inspired by Canada's natural grandeur. Avoid the holiday hustle and bustle in the Hudson's Bay Company Suite ($4100 CDN), a two-bedroom sanctuary of modern comfort set amidst nature's raw beauty. Shop in the privacy of your suite with the assistance of a personal shopper, the Hbc catalogue, and a custom gift-wrapping service. End your day with a private Chef's Table dinner in the Suite.

For more information, check web site www.cl.exct.net or e-mail to barbara.mccully@hilton.com.

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