Family Vacations in Canada

The regal Château Frontenac has been a familiar sight in Old Quebec since the late 19th century. The legendary landmark has welcomed a wide variety of guests, including world leaders, royalty, and celebrities.

Canada's walled city, Old Quebec, is the only fortified city in North America. A three-mile-long wall of ancient stone surrounds Old Quebec, a designated World Heritage Site, and separates it from Quebec City. Historic Old Quebec features an abundance of 17th- and 18th-century buildings and is located on a steep hill, overlooking the St. Lawrence River.

老魁北克分为上下两层的城镇wn. The two sections are connected by a tram railway, or funicular, that travels between them. Another way to get from Upper to Lower Town is to use the old-fashioned route and climb the sharply angled Breakneck Stairs.

Lower Town is a captivating maze of winding streets, many of which have been restored to their romantic 18th-century appearance. The pedestrian-only Rue du Petit-Champlain is lined with quaint shops, cafes, and restaurants. In Place Royale, the restored main square, costumed fencers stage mock sword fights, blacksmiths pound at forges, and street performers entertain the crowds.

Within the thick ramparts of Upper Town are old stone houses, famous churches, and majestic historic buildings. Each structure is made of gray stone, a building material used widely throughout the old city. Above Old Quebec rises the distinctive Chateau Frontenac, a spire-topped hotel that is one of the signature buildings of the skyline.

Set aside some time to visit the impressive Museum of Civilization and its exhibits on civilization, art, and society. A recent permanent addition to the museum in Quebec City features a fascinating multimedia exhibit on growing up that your children are sure to enjoy. The exhibit's Memoires section displays items from the daily life of Quebec's residents through the generations.

Old Quebec Information

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Get away from the hustle and bustle with quiet countrysides and rolling hills. On the next page, learn about the sights and sounds of Prince Edward Island, Canada's smallest province.

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At Avonlea Village, visit the Anne of Green Gables Museum.

Pastoral Prince Edward Island isCanada's smallest province. Ringed by sandy beaches, the island's quiet countryside features gently rolling hills and scenic farms. It was home to author Lucy Maude Montgomery and served as the setting for her popular Anne of Green Gables book series.

米any tourists to the island are fans of the books, and local businesses have embraced this fan base by creating tourist attractions that are charming and fun and maintain the innocent appeal of the series.

First, pay a visit to Avonlea Village, which creates a turn-of-the-century island setting. The Anne of Green Gables Museum is a popular attraction, as is the musical based on the book. In August, the L. M. Montgomery Festival sponsors writing workshops for children ages 12 through 16. Ice-cream socials, horse-and-buggy rides, Victorian games, and a family barn dance are also part of the summer fun.

Even if you haven't read Anne of Green Gables, you'll still enjoy a visit to the island. Visitors seeking outdoor adventures can take harbor tours or go seal watching, kayaking, deep-sea fishing, or canoeing. There are trails to hike, clams to dig, lighthouses to climb, and beaches to explore.

Prince Edward Island Information

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You can't visit eastern Canada without a trip to the largest waterfall in the world. Keep reading to learn about visiting Niagara Falls.

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米ore than 12 million people visit Niagara Falls each year, and many board The Maid of the Mist to get a soggy perspective of the falls.

This famous wall of water at the border ofCanadaand the U.S. is the most powerful waterfall in North America. Once a popular honeymoon destination, Niagara Falls now attracts tourists and families from all over the world.

There are several exciting ways to get as close as possible to its thundering spray. In Ontario, on the Canadian side, don a raincoat and visit the Journey Behind the Falls observation deck. As you peer out, the river explodes in front of you after it free-falls more than 13 stories. The sound of the crashing water is deafening. Or take a boat ride on The Maid of the Mist tour, which has been in operation since 1846. These powerful boats take you through the churning waters around the American Falls to the foot of Horseshoe Falls, where millions of gallons of water plummet into a frothy, turbulent pool. The tour provides raingear, but you're still likely to get wet.

Don't miss seeing Niagara Falls after dark, when powerful spotlights bathe the water in ever-changing colors. The light catches the mist, giving the entire area an otherworldly glow. In summer, fireworks displays enhance the splendor of the setting.

Kids will love the interactive hockey exhibits at our next family vacation hotspot. On the next page, read about visiting the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto.

Niagara Falls Information

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Kids will love the interactive hockey exhibits at our next family vacation hotspot. On the next page, read about visiting the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto.

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©2007 Tony HoffmanAt the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto, you'll see the original 1893 Stanley Cup.

You'll need quick reflexes at the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto, Ontario,Canada-- that way, you can block the shots from a virtual Wayne Gretzky and Mark Messier. Put on the pads and step into the action as the two legends launch lightning-fast foam pucks in your direction. Next, grab a stick, step onto the plastic "ice," and go up against a video version of goalie Ed Belfour. A machine records your reaction time, accuracy, and speed.

Kids are certain to enjoy the many interactive exhibits at the Hall of Fame, but don't overlook the other interesting hockey displays. You'll see videos of big games and their highlights, goalie masks, skate and stick collections, jerseys that belonged to some of hockey's greatest stars, and a replica of the Montreal Canadiens' locker room. The original 1893 Stanley Cup resides at the Hall of Fame, along with other legendary hockey memorabilia.

The Calgary Stampede is the world's richest rodeo, drawing rodeo champions from around the world. On the next page, don your ten-gallon hat and read about the famous Calgary Stampede.

Hockey Hall of Fame Information

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The Chuck Wagon Race is the signature event at the Calgary Stampede.

The Calgary Stampede in Alberta isCanada's largest annual event. It's also the world's richest rodeo, awarding one million dollars in prize money to the winners of such daring competitions as bareback and bull riding, barrel racing, steer wrestling, roping, and chuck wagon racing. The event draws rodeo champions from all over the world.

During Stampede Week, everyone in the city of Calgary gets into the rodeo mood: Storefronts are decorated in a Western theme, and Calgary residents swap their regular clothes for boots, jeans, and ten-gallon hats. Most of the events take place in Stampede Park, a fairground that was specially built to accommodate the Stampede. Some of the attractions you'll find there are an amusement park, a petting zoo, a number of livestock barns, and musical entertainment on multiple stages. A Kid's Midway features rides and rodeo events for children ages 4 through 12.

But the main attractions are the rodeo events. Some of the best riders compete during Stampede Week. The world-famous Chuck Wagon Race is exactly that -- a race of old-fashioned wagons pulled by teams of horses thundering around the track. A nightly Grandstand Show features an extravaganza of entertainers.

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Be sure to visit the Alberta Rocky Mountains, a craggy landscape teeming with natural beauty. On the next page, learn about visiting these majestic mountains at Banff National Park.

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Azure lakes and rivers, dramatic mountain peaks, and dense forests are part of the scenic wonders of Banff National Park. You can hike, bike, or drive through the many different areas of the park.

Banff National Park in Alberta,Canadais an extraordinary landscape of craggy, snowcapped peaks that make up the Alberta Rocky Mountains. The park is known for its year-round recreational activities. During the summer, the most scenic areas can be reached on day hikes. Banff has more than 80 maintained trails that cover about 1,000 miles of park land, and they range from leisurely strolls to arduous long-distance treks. One especially lovely short hike from the town of Banff will take you past dramatic Bow Falls and along the scenic Bow River on easy-to-follow trails. You can also enjoy the scenery on bicycle, on horseback, or in a horse-drawn carriage.

Take a gondola ride to the top of Sulphur Mountain for a beautiful view of Banff's landscape. At the top, several hiking trails fan out along the mountain ridges; whichever you choose, you can't go wrong. If you're looking for something less strenuous than a mountain hike, you can find picturesque views from the lovely boardwalk trail.

Banff is a world-class ski resort and offers a wide variety of winter sports, including downhill skiing, cross-country skiing, snowshoe treks, toboggan rides, and dogsledding.

Banff National Park Information

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One of the most breathtaking views in Banff National Park is Lake Louise, with its emerald waters in a natural amphitheater. On the next page, learn more about visiting Lake Louise.

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Canoeing in the calm waters of Lake Louise is a great family outing. Don’t forget the binoculars -- you’ll see a variety of wildlife along the lake’s edge and in the surrounding mountains.

Snowcapped mountain peaks and formidable glaciers cradle Lake Louise's emerald depths in a natural, icy amphitheater. Situated in Banff National Park in Alberta,Canada, it offers one of the most breathtaking views in the world and is a popular vacation site. Lake Louise is a diamond in the wilderness, and its crystal clear waters, glaciers, and waterfalls make it Canada's most famous lake.

The Lake Louise area is known as one of Canada's premier hiking spots. The landscape is criss-crossed by trails that you can take through wooded areas and into high meadows, with stops at overlooks that offer breathtaking views. You can also rent horses for a leisurely ride around the lake or rent a rowboat or canoe to enjoy its mirrored waters.

Teatime amid the splendor of Banff National Park awaits those who hike the 4.5-mile round-trip along Lake Agnes Trail, which begins at the shores of Lake Louise. The trail leads you through a magnificent old-growth forest past Mirror Lake and Bridal Veil Falls before reaching the Lake Agnes Teahouse, where you can stop for refreshments. Farther up the trail, a longer and more arduous hike better suited for older children will take you to yet another teahouse, The Plain of Six Glaciers.

Lake Louise Information

Canadian Tourism Commission

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The West Edmonton Mall is packed full with an amusement park, a lagoon, and an ice rink -- but don't forget its 800 retail shops. Keep reading to learn about the West Edmonton Mall.

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West Edmonton Mall is much more than just a mall, with its indoor lagoon, ice rink, and amusement park.

Even though this mall in Alberta,Canada包含800家零售店和企业,密苏里州re reminiscent of a theme park than a shopping center. It features the world's largest indoor amusement park, a lagoon with a sea lion show, a professional-size ice rink, and 21 movie theaters -- and that's just for starters. The huge mall offers electric scooters for rent to help visitors get around.

Even in the dead of Canadian winter, kids can spend the day in their swimsuits at World Waterpark, which boasts North America's biggest wave pool. It has waterslides, rapids rides, play areas for young children, and all kinds of traditional water park fun. Galaxyland Amusement Park's 25 rides include Mindbender -- a 14-story, triple-loop roller coaster -- and Space Shot, a 120-foot, heart-pounding free fall.

The mall aquarium houses a shark exhibit as well as an assortment of other interesting creatures. Another popular attraction is an indoor lake where you can take scuba-diving lessons, go on a tour by self-propelled submarine, or rent a canoe. Compared to all these glitzy and elaborate entertainments, some of the mall's other amusements -- a 25-lane bowling alley, a miniature golf course, numerous video game arcades, a casino, and an exact replica of Christopher Columbus's ship the Santa Maria -- may seem like small change but are actually great fun.

West Edmonton Mall Information

Canadian Tourism Commission

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Hop a ferry to Vancouver Island to visit the capital of British Columbia. Keep reading to learn about visiting Victoria and Vancouver Island.

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上最拍摄景点温哥华岛nd, the Empress Hotel is famous for its afternoon teas, elegant affairs that attract 75,000 visitors each year. What better time for your kids to show off their very proper manners?

米ost visitors travel to the friendly capital of British Columbia,Canada, by ferry, and as they approach the town they see its beautiful Inner Harbour and the peaked roofline of the famous Empress Hotel. After leaving the ferry you may enjoy a spot of tea at the grand old Empress, where the dance scenes for the 1994 movie Little Women were filmed. The menu features tiny tea sandwiches, scones with fresh Jersey cream, ripe strawberries, and miniature pastries.

Victoria is also famous for its Butchart Gardens, 55 acres of internationally acclaimed botanical gardens. A favorite section for children is the Sunken Garden, where they descend a set of stairs into a valley of blooming flowers. On summer evenings, the gardens are alive with music, and their beauty is enhanced by the dramatic lighting that bathes each section.

Bicycling around the island is a popular family pastime and an ideal way to take in its many sights. During your excursion, stop at Miniature World, where younger children will enjoy the tiny landscapes. The British Columbia Museum has many fascinating exhibits and houses a world-renowned collection of totem poles carved by native peoples.

Victoria and Vancouver Island Information

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Canda's third largest city, Vancouver, offers urbane thrills, but it's also surrounded by parks and recreation areas. Keep reading to learn about family vacations to Vancouver.

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Day trips and city tours are plentiful in vibrant Vancouver.

Vancouver --Canada's third largest city -- is the urban cornerstone of British Columbia and the nation's gateway to the Pacific Rim. The city glistens where the mountains seem to vanish into the coastline and then rise again on Bowen and Vancouver islands. From a distance, the city can look like a diamond cluster rising from the Strait of Georgia to the rolling Coast Mountains and the Fraser Valley beyond.

As Canada's west coast counterculture capital, Vancouver is an urban explosion with an environmental-minded style. The metro area has more than two million residents. The city is also known for its urbane thrills, its acceptance of alternative lifestyles, and a vigorous club scene.

Great green forests surrounding Vancouver lead to getaways up the fjords and rivers to adventures in Pemberton; up the Chilliwack River; in Cypress Provincial Park; and the in the Skagit Valley Recreation Area. There are three ski resorts within a half-hour drive of downtown -- Mount Seymour, Grouse Mountain, and Cypress Mountain. And the Capilano River, Seymour River, and Lynn Creek provide whitewater thrills come spring meltdown.

Vancouver Information

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Canada's largest city, Toronto, is a world-class city with many ethnic neighborhoods. Keep reading to learn about the CN Tower and the kid-friendly Toronto zoo.

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Casa Loma, Canada's famous castle, features 98 rooms, decorated suites, secret passages, stately towers, estate gardens, and gift shops.

Toronto is Canada's largest city, with about five million people in its metropolitan area. The name Toronto actually comes from the Huron Indian word for "meeting place," and it rings true in this multicultural city. It is one of the most diverse cities in North America, with people from more than 100 cultures speaking more than 100 languages and dialects. After the official languages of French and English, the five most-spoken languages are Chinese, Italian, Portuguese, Punjabi, and Tamil.

The ethnic neighborhoods of Greektown, Little Italy, and Chinatown are a special treat. A must-see is the CN Tower; at 1,815 feet, it's the tallest freestanding structure above water in the world. The St. Lawrence Market in historic Old Town Toronto is one of the world's top 25 food markets. Tourists can explore Eaton Centre, a premier shopping destination with more than 320 shops, restaurants, and cinemas.

And there's the Toronto Zoo, which at 710 acres is one of the largest in the world. More than 5,000 animals representing 450-plus species inhabit the zoo, and six miles of trails wind among the exibits.

Toronto Information

Canadian Tourism Commission

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The Yukon covers a vast expanse of territory and boasts fantastic landscapes. Keep reading to learn about the national parks and ice fields that are abundant in the Yukon.

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Dry-docked on the banks of the Yukon River, the S.S. Klondike has been established as a National Historic Site in Whitehorse, Yukon Territory, Canada.

The population of the Yukon Territory inCanadais 30,000, give or take a few hardy souls. More than 23,000 of those people live in the capital city of Whitehorse, which was known as a prospector's paradise during the Klondike gold rush of the late 19th century. While once the source for legends and lore, Whitehorse is now home to the SS Klondike, the preserved sternwheeler boat that once ferried goods and people along the Yukon River.

Dawson City is a town of just 2,000 people, but nearly 60,000 visitors come each year to see the literary shrines, including the cabins of Jack London and Robert Service. London wrote more than 50 books based on his experiences in the Yukon, Alaska, California, and at sea.

Service was the author of volumes of verse, such as The Spell of the Yukon. He wrote of the northern land where he found, "The snows that are older than history/The woods where the weird shadows slant/The stillness, the moonlight, the mystery."

The fabled high mountains, vast ice fields, and lush valleys of Kluane National Park and Reserve in southwest Yukon are astounding. The park has one of the most extensive nonpolar ice fields in the world. It's also home to Canada's highest summit, Mount Logan, at 19,545 feet.

Ivvavik National Park in the northwestern part of the territory is known for its migratory herds of porcupine caribou. The mountains there were never covered by glaciers, and V-shaped valleys and isolated conical hills are part of the frigid landscape.

Yukon Information

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米ontreal, near a dormant volcano, boasts outdoor activities, as well as urban sites, such as the Notre-Dame Basilica. Keep reading to learn about the sites in Montreal.

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米ore than seven million people visit Old Montreal each year to enjoy the spectacular scenery or stroll the cobblestone streets on a sunny day.

米ontreal,Canadais one of the largest French-speaking metropolises in the world. Following Quebec's laws, all signs are posted in French, but services are available in English in the parts of the city most visited by tourists.Many visitors start in Old Montreal, the Vieux-Port, which contains a collection of historic buildings that rival most cities in North America.

The cobblestone streets lead to the great square, Place Jacques-Cartier. A promenade along quaint shops and fine restaurants takes you past Montreal City Hall. The Chateau Ramezay, built in the 1700s for the governor and now a museum, lies along rue Notre-Dame, the oldest street in the city. Nearby, don't miss the Place D'Armes square.

The Notre-Dame Basilica is one of the most stunning buildings in Montreal. The Neogothic-style church was built in 1829. The interior is lavishly beautiful, featuring stained glass windows, an elaborate altarpiece, a Casavant organ, and the largest bell on the continent, le Gros Bourdon.

游客寻求户外娱乐的运气。米ontreal's Mount Royal Park sits on a dormant volcano. (The mountain is the origin for the city's name: Jacques Cartier referred to Mont Royal on his voyage there in 1535. At that time, réal was a variation of royal, and the contraction yielded Montreal.) At 761 feet, the overlook gives a dazzling view of the city.

米ontreal Information

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Continue reading to find out about Canada's Compobello Island.

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The 34-room Roosevelt cottage is the highlight of the Roosevelt Campobello International Park.

Campobello Island inCanada谎言在th崎岖的东北缅因州海岸e mouth of the Bay of Fundy. Discovered by French explorers around 1607, the island's main industry today is fishing. Locals harvest lobster, scallops, sea urchins, clams, herring, cod, mackerel, and pen-raised salmon. The island has also enticed tourists. Beginning in the 1880s, Campobello Island was promoted as a summer resort and visited by many well-to-do families. In 1881, James Roosevelt and a group of New York and Boston businesspeople formed the Campobello Company, bought property on the island, and built luxury hotels. Roosevelt brought his wife, Sara, and infant son Franklin to Campobello in 1883.

Today the 2,800-acre Roosevelt Campobello International Park is administered by a joint U.S./Canadian Commission that welcomes more than 100,000 visitors each year. The Roosevelt summer home and four other historic summer cottages are on display. You can also enjoy walks along quiet trails through dazzling flower gardens, watch the harbor seals bask in the sun near the Mulholland Point Lighthouse, or stroll along the beaches at Herring Cove, Raccoon Beach, or Lower Duck Pond.

Campobello Island Information

Canadian Tourism Commission

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