Travelling Across Canada

When it comes to traveling, what type of accommodations do you prefer? The cheaper the better, or do you prefer a little nicer? Personally, I like nicer places to stay. I have never been camping, and I am happy to have a clean place to stay, but much prefer nice things when possible. I think staying at one of the many luxury cabins for rent in Canada would be perfect.

Anne of Green Gables was my favourite story when I was a child, and it continues to be my favourite to this day. When I was 10, my dad, brother and I flew from Ottawa to Halifax for a family reunion. My mom wasn’t able to join us, but she made sure that my dad knew he had to get me to PEI to see the house. There was no way she was going to have me that close and not make time for a visit. We took the ferry over to the island, and while we didn’t get to do much while we were there, we DID get to Green Gables. It is one of my most cherished memories to this day, even though it came with my brother and cousin complaining the whole time.

Anne's bedroom - photo credit: Shari Fisher

While we were in Halifax, we visited a few places (Peggy’s Cove, the waterfront and Citadel Hill), but there is so much more to see and do.  After seeing the beauty of the East coast on this trip, I knew that I wanted to see what the rest of Canada had to offer. It’s a big country (the 2^nd largest country in the world) and has such different landscapes across it.

Peggy's Cove - photo credit JPW

I still haven’t been to the prairies (my grandmothers family is from Saskatchewan) or to the west coast, however, I did make it back east again. As an adult, my mother and I drove out to Halifax for my aunt’s funeral. It wasn’t a great reason for a trip, but I can still picture the beauty that we saw on the drive from Ottawa.  I would love to be able to take time to explore New Brunswick, and also to see more of Nova Scotia.  The plan for next summer is to drive out East with the kids. I am really hoping that they enjoy the Maritime’s as much as I do.

I have planned so many different versions of my cross-Canada road trip over the years. Flying to BC and then taking the train from West to East (or vice versa); driving East and then flying West and taking the train back to Ottawa. Since I have driven East, I think the most likely thing to happen if I were to do the trip, would be to fly out to BC, take the train through the Rockies and then rent a car and drive back to Ottawa. This would give us the chance to explore Alberta (Banff and Lake Louise are on my list) and the prairies with the kids.

There are so many places that I would love to visit, and so many experiences I would love to have with my children. Did you know that Canada has 17 World Heritage Sites? This surprised me - I have only been to 1 (the Rideau Canal – living in Ottawa, I grew up skating on it pretty much every winter during winterlude). I don’t know that I will ever have the chance to visit them all, but sure would love to try.

Winterlude with the boys, 2012

Mr. K LOVES dinosaurs, and taking him Drumheller or to Dinosaur Provincial Park (a UNESCO world heritage site) would be absolutely perfect. Visiting Churchill, Manitoba and possibly seeing a polar bear, going whale watching in Quebec City. Taking the kids to Magnetic Hill, visiting Mont Tremblant and Niagara Falls. There really is so much to see and do in Canada.  Many people I know love to travel. They visit different resorts in Mexico, the Caribbean, or they make their way to Europe or Asia. I can see the appeal, and the culture of those places, but for me – I want to explore Canada.

My great-aunt lived in BC, and she was often inviting me out to visit when I was growing up. I was a home body though, and never took her up on that offer. Of course, I now regret that and wish I had gone when I had the chance. When I was young, I thought I would have lots of time to travel and see places that I wanted to see. After buying a house, getting married and having kids – finances and plans changed.  
 
I would love to start the journey in late summer (to get the most out of some of the beaches in BC) and finish in autumn. I absolutely LOVE to see all the leaves changing colour, watching them fall and line the streets.  There is something so wonderful about the sound of crunching leaves as you walk.

It’s so much fun to dream about traveling and the places that you want to visit. Have you ever taken a big trip like this? I would love to hear about it if you have. 

So far, out of the places I have visited – I would say that I have enjoyed Peggy’s Cove the most.  I would really like to see more of PEI though, and of course the beauty that the rest of Canada has to offer as well. I am not sure if I could handle the cold of going up north – my dad loved it there though.  What is your most favourite place in Canada to visit?