It was so impressive to look down at the Sunken Garden, view the various water fountains, step though the peaceful Japanese Garden, walk through the Rose Garden, and admire the hard work and passion that went into this 55 acre garden. Next, it was time to explore the island's wild side.
We started the adventure off in Port Renfrew, which in nestled between the famous West Coast Trail and Juan de Fuca Trail. Here, we hiked to Botanical Beach to see the beautiful tidal pools and to Sombrio Beach, where we found a small trail leading to a spectacular waterfall. The water may have been cold but that didn't stop us for taking the chance to go into the waterfall. I mean, it's a waterfall in the middle of the rainforest, how could you not https://uscasinosguide.com/best-online-casinos-for-usa-players/? Another thing Vancouver Island is known for is whale watching so we jumped on a boat, cruise out into the Pacific Ocean and had one of the best whale watching tours of our lives. First, we saw dozens of orca whales breaching the surface with their amazing black dorsal fins pointing out of the water to the backdrop of the mystic west coast. We even saw them jump off right out of the water, something we've never seen before. Then, as if that wasn't special enough, we came across a massive meeting of humpback whales. We must have seen between 50 to 70 of them, breaching the water, showing us their huge tails and swimming right next to the boat. What an unbelievable experience! Next on our island journey was Campbell River, and after visiting the beautiful Elk Falls, we went on a tour to see grizzly bears in their natural habitat. This started with a boat trip through beautiful mountain scenery where we saw humpbacks and orcas before arriving to the bute inlet and the home of the Homalco First Nations. Thanks to the salmon swimming up the inlet to their spawning grounds, grizzlies arrive here by dozens, eating salmon to fatten up for the winter. It was incredible how close we got to the bears and we even saw one catching a salmon right out of the river, an awesome experience we'll never forget! The next day we had the opportunity to go snorkelling with the salmon. First, we hiked to a nearby canyon where tens of thousands of them swam around us and then we went down the river with them, letting the current take us up and over rocks and back into town. This is truly a unique way to get into nature! Next, we drove to Tofino, stopping at a couple of beautiful waterfalls as well as Cathedral Grove to marvel at the massive 800 year old Douglas Furs. Standing over 250 feet tall with circumference of over 29 feet, we couldn't even come close to wrapping our arms around it. Walking through this ancient rainforest felt like we were in Jurassic Park and it's one of the things I loved most about the island. Once in Tofino, we could't leave without trying of the activities that makes it so famous...surfing! After a great lesson, we spent hours catching little waves and riding them back to shore. It was such an exhilarating experience to be able to stand up and feel the power of the waves push us forward. We surfed all the way until sunset before marvelling at the sky as it turned red, pink and orange.
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We're in British Columbia on our 11th stop on our 150-day road trip across Canada. Home to high mountains, dessert, rainforest, the Pacific Ocean, and world-class cities, British Columbia is one of Canada's most diverse and beautiful provinces. We started our trip in the north, making our way down from the Yukon to Liard Hot Springs, where we took a break in the second largest known hot springs in Canada. With steam rising off the water, it felt like we were walking through a jungle in a tropical paradise. It's impressive how hot the water gets and it was a great way to soothe our muscles before beginning the long drive to Vancouver.
Some of the things that make Vancouver one of the most beautiful cities in the world is the variety of parks, beaches, coast line, and natural attractions that can be found all over the city. The most famous park of them all is Stanley Park, a 400-hectare natural west coast rainforest in the heart of the city. We spent some time hiking through the forest admiring Beaver Lake and riding our bikes along the beautiful sea wall, a paved path that circles the perimeter of Stanley Park right next to the ocean. This is such a beautiful trail, we got to see incredible views of the city skyline, the Lionsgate Bridge, the Pacific Ocean, and a variety of sandy beaches. Next, we moved to north Vancouver to walk across Capilano Suspension Bridge. A 460-foot long suspension bridge that sits 230 feet over a scenic river. While the bridge itself is a major tourist attraction, there is a lot of things to do in the area as well, including a canopy walk and a cliff walk . After exploring some of Vancouver's natural attractions, we moved into the city to start exploring Robson Street and then Gas Town, Vancouver's oldest district. Here, we found an array of beautiful buildings, cobblestone streets, and even an old steam clock We also took a walking tour to learn about the days of prohibition, the opium riots, and some of Vancouver's darkest days. It was a great way to learn about the beginnings of this great city. The next day we continued to learn about the area by visiting the Museum of Anthropology, which houses thousands of artifacts from the Northwest coast First Nations as well as other cultures from all over the world. It was impressive to see the collections of the artwork and to go through some of the interactive exhibits that introduced us to various art forms such as Japanese calligraphy. After a couple of days in Vancouver, we took the ferry to Vancouver Island, an area known for its wilderness and adventure. We started in Victoria, BC's capital city. Named after Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom, Victoria is a beautiful coastal city with a variety of heritage homes, legislative buildings, and a vibrant food scene. To get a better taste of city, we took a walking food tour through the heart of the city, including the second oldest Chinatown in North America. Not only did we learn so much about Victoria's history but we got to try delicious food such as premium olive oils, perogies, meat balls, italian baked goods, and the famous Victoria cream chocolates, which are sent to the Queen of England every year. And in the evening we went to an in-house brewpub, where we got to try a beer and chocolate truffle pairing. It was delicious! Victoria is also known as the garden city, which is quite apparent as you are walking along the streets, however the most magnificent garden of them all is The Butchart Gardens, which is now a National Historic Site of Canada. With over 900 variety of plants, we could quickly see why this has become a world famous attraction. The city’s icon, the stunning Chateau Frontenac, is regarded as the most photographed hotel in North America and offers tours even without an overnight stay. Number 5. Toronto. The capital of Ontario, Toronto is the most populated city in Canada as well as one of the largest cities in North America. With a large number of ethnic districts like Chinatown, Little India and Little Italy, Toronto is also one of the world’s most culturally diverse cities. The city’s main tourist draws range from impressive landmarks such as the iconic CN Tower and the fairy tale castle of Casa Loma.
Additionally, the Toronto Islands are a popular destination with beaches and outdoor activities. Number 4. Montreal. The second largest city in Canada after Toronto, Montreal is the cultural and financial capital of the Quebec province. Boasting the largest French-speaking community outside of Paris, France, Montreal is a bustling metropolis comprised of a downtown district, a historic quarter, entertainment district and several distinctive neighborhoods. Montreal’s main sights include downtown skyscrapers like the Olympic Tower, the historic buildings of Old Montreal and several family attractions like theme and water parks. Number 3. Niagara Falls. Niagara Falls is a series of three awe-inspiring waterfalls situated on the border of Canada’s Ontario and the United States’ New York. The Ontario side of the Falls is called Horseshoe Falls and offers the best views and most attractions. The immediate area surrounding the Falls is a premier tourist spot teeming in observation towers, restaurants, souvenir shops, casinos and high-rise hotels. One of the best places to view the Niagara Falls on the Ontario side is from Queen Victoria Park where the Falls are illuminated and fireworks are displayed nightly during the summer. Number 2. Banff National Park. Located in the province of Alberta, the Banff National Park is not only Canada’s first national park, but also one of the nation’s largest and most visited national parks. The park’s breathtaking scenery and wildlife draw many tourists every year along the Trans-Canada Highway, which passes through the park. Banff National Parks large concentration of wildlife includes mammals like black bears, grizzly bears, bison, moose, wolves and bald eagles. Number 1. Vancouver. Situated between the Coast Mountains and the Pacific Ocean in British Columbia, Vancouver is favored for its majestic landscapes that present a natural playground where tourists can swim in the ocean, rollerblade through scenic parks and snow ski in the mountains all in one day. The third largest metropolitan area in the country, Vancouver is one of the most poplar places to visit in Canada. Vancouver’s star attraction is Stanley Park which covers a huge area of woodlands, gardens and green spaces. Some of the city’s other top sites include Granville Island’s remarkable food market and Chinatown’s vibrant array of shops. |
AuthorEva Dunlopd Archives
March 2019
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