Canada

Canada is an enormous country stretching from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean and the American border to the Arctic Ocean. It’s similar to America in many ways, but with stronger British ties and more French influence. It’s also a country with its own heritage and traditions and a robust Indigenous representation. You’ll find diverse and vibrant metropolitan areas and a vast array of outdoor recreation waiting to be discovered.

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Language(s)

English and French

Currency

The Canadian Dollar (CAD)

Reconsider Travel
Summer Winter
Vancouver 73 35
Toronto 78 17
Quebec City 78 6
Outlets
Type-A
Type-B

Best Time to Visit

The Canadian spring is when all the gardens burst into bloom. Summer is shorter and cooler than its southern neighbor, with days that seem to last forever (and north of the Arctic Circle they do). This is when most tourists visit, but the loveliest season might just be the fall. Autumn brings brilliant colors through vast deciduous forests as the north prepares for winter. Canada celebrates winter with snow carnivals and winter sports everywhere. Plus, there is usually at least one day every winter month when you can see the northern lights if the sky is dark and clear.

Fun Facts

  • Canada has ten provinces and three territories
  • Canada is a monarchy and part of the Commonwealth
  • Canada is the world’s second largest country
  • Canada’s national animal is the beaver
  • Canada has one of the highest immigration rates in the world
  • Canada only officially became independent from Britain in 1982
  • The US / Canada border is the world’s longest bi-national land border
  • The Fairmont Le Château Frontenac in Quebec City is the most photographed hotel in the world
  • 80% of Canadians live within 90 miles of the US
  • Canada has the longest coastline in the world

Bucket-List Activities

  • Driving the Cabot Trail (Nova Scotia)
  • Visiting Parliament Hill (Ottawa)
  • Go to the Calgary Stampede (Alberta)
  • Wine tasting (Okanagan)
  • Visit polar bears and beluga whales (Manitoba)
  • Experience French cuisine (Quebec City)

Natural Wonders

  • Moraine Lake (Alberta)
  • Cape Auguet (Nova Scotia)
  • Niagara Falls (Ontario)
  • Baffin Island (Nunavut)
  • Bruce Peninsula National Park (Ontario)
  • Iceline Trail (British Columbia)
  • Three Sisters Mountain Ranges (Alberta)

Major Attractions

  • Niagara Falls (Ontario)
  • Banff National Park (Alberta)
  • Toronto’s CN Tower (Toronto)
  • Whistler Mountain (British Columbia)
  • Ottawa’s Parliament Hill (Ottawa)

Native Foods

  • Poutine (french fries or cheese curd smothered in gravy)
  • Bannock (quick bread)
  • Butter Tarts (small pastry tarts  filled with butter, sugar, syrup, and egg)
  • Lobster Rolls
  • Saskatoon Berry Pie (Juneberry)
  • Beavertail (flat fried pastry)
  • Split Pea Soup
  • Maple Syrup

General Travel Tips

Common Phrases

  • Eh? – a simple word that makes any statement a question
  • Loonie – a Canadian dollar coin that happens to have a loon on it
  • Tuque – a knitted hat
  • Double Double – an oversized cup of coffee with two creams and two sugars (but can you get it animal style?)
  • Two-Four – a unit of beer, not surprisingly a 24-pack
  • May 2 – 4 Weekend – Queen Victoria’s Birthday and a beer celebration (imagine what would happen if she was born on April 20, Eh?)
  • Vancouver / Vancouver International Airport (YVR) – Canada’s answer to Seattle
  • Toronto / Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) – A diverse metropolis that’s home to the CN Tower
  • Halifax / Halifax Stanfield International Airport (YHZ) – Your gateway to Novia Scotia
  • Montreal / Montreal Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport (YUL) – Canada’s second-largest city filled with food, art, and festivals
  • Ottawa / Ottawa McDonald-Cartier International Airport (YOW) – Canada’s capital city
  • Québec City / Jean Lesage International Airport (YQB) – La Vieille Capitale, complete with castles, cobblestone, carriages, and croissants
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Meet Ed & Jenn

Hi! We are Jenn and Ed Coleman, and together we are Coleman Concierge. It is our goal to inspire you to get out, expand your world, and to seek adventure, even in your own backyard.

We deeply believe in the transformational power of travel. Our tagline is amazing adventures for ordinary people because we believe that you don’t have to be super rich, super fit or super anything to have an amazing adventure. Expanding your comfort zone and trying new things will pay huge dividends in both health and happiness.

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