Favorite tourist places in Canada - 2

Stratford, Ontario: Stratford is home to the Stratford Festival which is like nirvana for theater fans like me. During the festival which stages everything from Shakespeare to Sondheim to new Canadian plays you can stay in theater themed B and Bs hang out with actors post show at local bars like Down the Street go on backstage tours and attend dozens of other events with other theater mad folk. Stratford itself is the type  walkable wholesome town Rodgers and Hammerstein might write a musical about. Evangeline Trail, Nova Scotia: Longfellow' s epic poem Evangeline evokes the story of two lovers who were wrenched apart during the 1755 expulsion of Nova Scotia' s French Acadians. The tragic tale unfolded along Nova Scotia' s northern shore where the Acadians eked out a living as farmers along the famous Bay of Fundy tidal bore. One of my favorite bike rides is through this bucolic region past the picturesque fields and through the historic villages between Annapolis Royal and Wolfville. The scenery is absolutely stunning but Evangeline' s story gives it an added touch of romance and a haunting sense of loss.

Favorite tourist places in Canada - 1

Banff, Alberta: Natural hot springs inspired a luxury spa culture in Banff but for me it's all about the Rocky Mountain high. On a recent visit I couldn' t bear to waste a moment out of sight of those craggy peaks forgoing sleep for sunrise hikes and late drinks alfresco. Even Marilyn Monroe who shot River of No Return here in 1953 could scarcely compete with its scenic splendor (in the words of critics of the day). The beauty here is panoramic whether from the banks of Bow Falls between downtown and the castle like Fairmont Banff Springs hotel or from the top of Tunnel Mountain the littlest summit in Banff with its trailhead just a few blocks from the town' s main drag ( a heart thumping 853 feet up 1.5 miles of switchbacks just don' t look for a tunnel the name is a misnomer). A day trip away is Lake Louise its deep emerald magic best taken in along a hike to the rustic teahouses of the surrounding mountains and old growth forest. Tip: After a day of soaking up Alberta's free beauty splurge on dinner at Eden inside Banff' s Rimrock Resort Hotel where eye filling window views rival the regional specialties and Canadian wine pairings of the chef' s tasting menu.

Popular tourist attractions in Great Bear Rainforest, Canada

When to go: From late August to the middle of October thousands of returning salmon draw wildlife to the local rivers making this the best time to view grizzly bears and the elusive Kermode bear. Trut fishing is in season year round and different Pacific salmon species run the rivers from April through October. Where to stay: Built in 1929 as a hunting lodge Tweedsmuir Lodge has 11 chalets and cabins (most facing a central lawn) on 60 wilderness acres in Tweedsmuir Provincial Park. From late August to mid September guests can take guided grizzly bear viewing float trips on the bordering Atnarko River. King Pacific Lodge is a luxurious floating 17 room resort anchored in Barnard Habour along the shores of Prince Royal Island. Open June to September the lodge is accessible only by floatplane. Rates include transportation gourmet meals and guided tours.

Popular tourist attractions in Gulf and Bowen Islands, Canada

When to go: The southern Gulf Islands are a year round destination though June through early October is the dry warm season. Noteworthy events include Salt Spring Island's Saturday Market from April through October where local artists and farmers sell organic food fine woodwork pottery crafts and jewelry August's Galiano wine Festival and on the third weekend of September the classic Salt Spring Annual Fall Fair which has celebrated the harvest since 1896 with traditional favorites like fresh pressed apple juice lives tock competitions and an apple sting contest. How to get around: Take a BC Ferry from Vancouver Island or the mainland to bigger islands (Galiano Mayne Pender Salt Spring and Saturna) and a private boat or floatplane to smaller islands. Through not technically a Gulf Island is close enough to Vancouver that many residents commute downtown via ferry. On the smaller Gulf Islands it' s easy to walk or bike wherever you want to go. On Salt Spring the largest and most visid of the southern Gulf Islands rent a car or use public transit.