Canada
Canada stretches north of the USA over almost 10 million km² from the Arctic Ocean to the subtropical Sycamore forests in the south. The wealth of flora and fauna with more than 30 national parks invites visitors to a fascinating experience.
"Woods Buffalo" alone is already larger than Switzerland and is pure, untouched wilderness. Only 11 percent of the second largest country in the world has been developed to date. This makes every adventurer's heart beat faster. The almost 33 million Canadians live almost exclusively in the 200 km wide "bacon belt" on the border with North America.
The capital Ottawa is officially the only bilingual city in Canada. However, all Canadians grow up bilingual. In addition to the provincial capital of Ontario, Toronto, Vancouver, Montréal and Québec City with its French flair are among Canada's well-known metropolitan areas. Vancouver in the district of British Columbia is located on the narrow coastal strip between the Pacific Ocean and the Coast Mountains. Stanley Park with its green spaces, the colorful stores, Chinatown and the friendly, smiling inhabitants make the city something very special.
National festival of superlatives
Canada - the superlative is a constant companion on a trip through this extraordinary country. The starting point of the east-west round trip is Toronto, which means "meeting place" in the language of the early Indians (First Nations).
Toronto
Canada's largest and most multicultural city today is Toronto. Speaking of culture: the Toronto International Film Festival and the Harbourfront Literary Festival (www.harbourfrontcentre.com) are particularly popular with the public. Next to the trendy Kensington Market (the British heritage can be seen in the regional favorite Peameal Bacon Sandwich: ham in cornmeal) is Toronto's landmark, the CN Tower, which is one of the "seven wonders of the modern world". A treat at any time of day: Java coffee at Jet Fuel Coffee, home to Canada's first cycling team. Toronto's special flair is certainly also due to its love of art - one of the most original designers is Virginia Johnson: in her store on Ossington Street, with its original restaurants, bars and second-hand stores, she sells screen-printed dresses, scarves and bags - all unique pieces. Injected with new energy, she heads to Canada's capital.
Ottawa
The capital of Canada is home to prestigious buildings such as Parliament and the National Gallery. The Civilization Corporation, the country's largest and most popular cultural institution, manages the Canadian Museum of Civilization and the Canadian War Museum. After a sightseeing tour, you have to try the specialty Beaver Tail in Ottawa: This is a beaver tail-shaped pastry that Ottawans also enjoy while ice skating on the Rideau Canal. Low's Lake is a man-made lake near the canal - a beautiful park landscape in the middle of the city that is not only loved by joggers and cyclists. This is also where the colorful tulips come from, which are presented every year at the Canadian Tulip Festival during the spring bloom: More than one million tulips make Ottawa the city of the world's largest tulip show. When you cross the Ontario River, you not only leave Ottawa, but also the province of Ontario in the direction of the French-influenced province of Québec.
Montréal
The stylish engine of "La belle province" is Montréal - the largest French-speaking city in the world after Paris. The old town Vieux Montréal is easy to explore on foot, the blue-green play of light inside the Basilique de Notre-Dame is beautiful. It is the "Joie de Vivre", the carefree lifestyle that characterizes the city and is also reflected in the festival programming: The Festival International de Jazz de Montréal and the Juste pour Rire (Just for Laughs) are unrivaled worldwide.
The northern regions of the province are untouched wilderness - in the habitat of the Mooses, the moose, the maple groves awaken in spring. As is well known, the "one-leaf" - the symbol of Canada - can be found in the Maple Leaf Flag. During the maple season, there is a sweet called "maple syrup on snow" as well as maple-based cakes and even wine! If you don't prefer the smoked meat sandwich at Schwartz's (www.schwartzsdeli.com), the "Club Chasse et Pêche" is a particularly good place to eat. Invigorated and full of joie de vivre, the Canada tourer heads west - to the province of Alberta.
Calgary
Canada's largest prairie city is also known as the most American city in the nation due to its shirt-sleeved charm. In 2012, the Calgary Stampede, "The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth", celebrated its 100th anniversary: Indian ceremonies, covered wagon races and square dancing provide hearty entertainment. The Alberta Boot Company, which also supplies Hollywood with first-class cowboy boots, provides the right footwear for the Stampede. There are thousands of boots in the showroom, tailor-made from the skins of pythons, eels and stingrays. The lively cowboy life is also reflected in the cuisine: buffalo meat is a typical dish, which can be enjoyed in the "NOtaBLE" restaurant - truly an event-style dinner. Calgary also sees itself as the gateway to the Rocky Mountains. Wood Buffalo, the country's largest national park, is one of ten Canadian UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Within Alberta, the Canadian tour leads to the provincial capital Edmonton.
Edmonton
There is an old and deep-seated rivalry between the sister cities: Edmontonians consider themselves more progressive than Calgarians, and North America's northernmost city has a famous indoor attraction, the West Edmonton Mall: more than 800 stores and around 100 restaurants are spread over 5.3 million square feet - WEM is the largest entertainment complex in the world and even includes a zoo. Edmonton has no shortage of great summer festivals either: Canada's biggest theater event is the International Fringe Theatre Festival.
The picturesque bars on Whyte Avenue, Edmonton's liveliest promenade with live music, dance and theater, also promise an upscale party atmosphere. Having crossed Canada from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean, the traveler arrives in the province of British Columbia.
Vancouver
The special Vancouver vibe sets in during afternoon tea. Like everywhere on the West Coast, Vancouver has a mixture of relaxed and cosmopolitan lifestyle. Most to-dos revolve around the sea: Tojo's for sushi, a walk along the Seawall in Stanley Park, and then a visit to the Aquarium, which is just a stone's throw from the colorful Granville Island Market on the Aquabus. The coastal towns are fishing communities, and BC is known for red, silver and king salmon, Atlantic halibut and - a rarity: environmentally sustainable deep-sea shrimp.
The best, award-winning wines - especially Pinot Gris, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir - come from the Okanagan region, which stretches north-south along a vast lake district. The town of Vernon, located in northern British Columbia, also has an Austrian tangent: the Sparkling Hill Resort, the only Swarovski resort in the world, is a unique luxury sensation. Venture into the enchanting mountain world around Lake Okanagan with Eagle Pass Heliskiing! Welcome to the land of natural and cultural superlatives - a nation celebrates itself as a festival of joie de vivre: Canada!
www.keepexploring.ca www.sparklinghill.com
Canada is known for having one festival after another throughout the year, one event trumping the last. Go on a journey of discovery in one of the most diverse vacation destinations in the world.
Food in Canada - Experience the tradition
Canadian cuisine varies greatly from region to region. The food here still harbors the colonial influences of England and France.
France within itself. In general, the traditional cuisine of English Canada
is closely related to British and American cuisine,
while the traditional cuisine of French Canada has its origins in
French cuisine.
Both groups are traditionally based on seasonal and fresh ingredients. The food
includes a variety of baked foods and game.
For a long time, ready meals were a novelty in rural areas
and for older generations. Nowadays they are very popular and
dominate the diet in many places.
Nightlife Montreal - pure pleasure
Montreal's abundance of festivals, nightclubs and
performances means that once night falls, you'll find an unlimited
unlimited offer. Get into the fun!
Vancouver, in particular, has a very strong nightlife scene. In addition to the officially known sights, Vancouver also has a number of insider tips
to offer. These include culinary experiences of a special kind.
of a special kind. For example, visitors can go on a wine tour or a voyage of discovery through the various restaurants. Vancouver also has a lot to offer in terms of nightlife. A popular meeting place, for example, is the Cellar Nightclub. This is located in the heart of the city's entertainment center and is one of the hippest nightclubs in Canada.
The Edgewater Casino, which is located just a few meters from BS Place and is also well-known throughout Canada, is recommended for tourists who prefer to gamble.
Shopping in Canada - A lucrative affair The tourists who travel to Canada every year often fly away from home with empty suitcases and return with full ones.
leave home with empty suitcases and return with full suitcases. The
shopping in Canada has been very popular with insiders for many years
insiders for many years, as it can be extremely profitable.
The heart of Montreal is particularly well suited for "Canadian shopping".
is particularly suitable. Rue St. Catherine is a shopping street over 3,500 meters long.
shopping mile. With more than 4,000 stores, everyone can find what they need here. And if you still haven't had enough, you can go underground
can continue to explore the stores in an underground shopping center.
It is best to find out about clothing sizes in Europe,
as these do not correspond to European sizes. But not only for clothes
shopping in Canada can be worthwhile, even high-quality furniture and
even vehicles may be cheaper.
