Canadian attractions - DPChallenge Forums

07/10/2009 05:47:30 AM · #1

As I announced in this thread here my daughter will be traveling to Canada next year as part of a NZ contingent to attend a jamboree in Guleph.
We have been fundraising hard ( cheeck out our blog here very amateurish but you get the idea ;) )and now some ideas have been thrown around amongst the group as to where to travel within Canada before and after.
What do you think are some good attractions anywhere in Canada for a bunch of teenage girls from NZ?
In particular I am keen for them to travel to PEI,Nova Scotia and the Arctic Circle but dont really have any suggestions as to what would be good to go to, any ideas?
Links would be helpful :)

07/10/2009 05:50:44 AM · #2

wow.

That's a pretty tall order. Canada is the second largest country in the world and there is more than anyone can see in a life time. I guess the question is: are you limited to the eastern half of Canada? What time of year will they be going?

eta: Oops! July you say in the other thread. I guess that just leaves the other question I posed.

Message edited by author 2009-07-10 05:51:58.

Pentax DA 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AF

07/10/2009 05:57:24 AM · #3

There is no limits at this point as to where in Canada, just want ideas initially so they can decide on an itinerary but remember this is a bunch of teenage girls!

faidoi

Pentax K10D

07/10/2009 06:25:25 AM · #4

Too late for Vancouver Olympics .

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 USM

07/10/2009 07:07:53 AM · #5

I'd recommend the Canadian rockies. They could fly to Calgary and then head out to Banff then head north to Jasper. Once there they would head to Edmonton to fly to their next destination. (of course they could do the reverse loop too) There are tours that can accommodate such a trip. What do you get to see? Mountains, beautiful landscapes, wild life.

Linkies:
Official site for the town of Banff
//www.banff.ca/home.htm
//www.pc.gc.ca/pn-np/ab/banff/index_E.asp
And of course pictures from your fellow DPCers! :)
//www.dpchallenge.com/photo_search.php?IMAGE_SEARCH_ID=798003

Jasper
//www.jaspercanadianrockies.com/
Parks Canada website for the park
//www.pc.gc.ca/pn-np/ab/jasper/index_e.asp
Jasper the dog is apparently the main subject when searching for Jasper here at DPC.
here's some Google image results:
//images.google.ca/images?hl=en&um=1&sa=1&q=jasper+national+park&btnG=Search+images&aq=0&oq=jasper+nat

Sample tour company (you'd want to shop around)
//www.ultimaterockies.com/activities/sightseeing.html

One thing to note about Banff and to a lesser extent Jasper: A lot of people from Australia and New Zealand work in the parks. Sometimes I wonder if they almost outnumber the actual residents. :)

KarenNfld

07/10/2009 07:48:06 AM · #6

Are they familiar with the Anne of Green Gables books? If so, they could visit Green Gables in PEI.

//www.gov.pe.ca/greengables/

RayEthier

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

07/10/2009 08:21:14 AM · #7

Originally posted by joynim:

What do you think are some good attractions anywhere in Canada for a bunch of teenage girls from NZ?

...Teenage girls eh... well shopping malls come to mind. :O)

Ray

07/10/2009 09:06:01 AM · #8

Originally posted by RayEthier:

Originally posted by joynim:
What do you think are some good attractions anywhere in Canada for a bunch of teenage girls from NZ?

...Teenage girls eh... well shopping malls come to mind. :O)

Ray

West Edmonton Mall was the largest mall in the world for a number of years...until that REALLY big one in China was built. I think West Ed might even be number 3 now

edit:

Wow...number 7????
//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_largest_buildings_in_the_world#List_of_the_world.27s_largest_shopping_malls

oh yeah: West Edmonton Mall link
//www.westedmall.com/home/default.asp

Message edited by author 2009-07-10 09:09:09.

07/10/2009 09:09:44 AM · #9

I suggest you get out a map to get an idea of just how BIG Canada is. Unless they have a private jet, they'll be spending 24 hours sitting in a vehicle on the mostly boring highway to travel to the closer east coast.

IMNSHO, there are plenty of things they'd enjoy within a 120km radius, rather than sitting in a car for 1,500km. Guelph is surrounded by The Great Lakes. Beautiful beach are to be had on Lake Huron, such as Sauble Beach and The Pinery. The Niagara Escarpment winds through the area for hundreds of kilometres, and is hike-able via the Bruce Trail. Toronto is worthy of a day trip, and teens will love it for the shopping and sights. Niagara Falls is worthy of a day trip. Niagara-on-the-Lake is nice if you like old-folks' style shopping. Port Dover has a nice beach on Lake Erie, and Long Point is even nicer.

ETA, there's a nude beach on Toronto Island...

Tons of stuff to do nearby, and make the most of their time!

Message edited by author 2009-07-10 09:15:22.

Nikon AF-S Zoom-Nikkor 28-70mm f/2.8D IF-ED

07/10/2009 09:14:50 AM · #10

Originally posted by Strikeslip:

I suggest you get out a map to get an idea of just how BIG Canada is. Unless they have a private jet, they'll be spending 24 hours sitting in a vehicle on the mostly boring highway to travel to the closer east coast.

IMNSHO, there are plenty of things they'd enjoy within a 120km radius, rather than sitting in a car for 1,500km. Guelph is surrounded by The Great Lakes. Beautiful beach are to be had on Lake Huron, such as Sauble Beach and The Pinery. The Niagara Escarpment winds through the area for hundreds of kilometres, and is hike-able via the Bruce Trail. Toronto is worthy of a day trip, and teens will love it for the shopping and sights. Niagara Falls is worthy of a day trip. Niagara-on-the-Lake is nice if you like old-folks' style shopping. Port Dover has a nice beach on Lake Erie, and Long Point is even nicer.

Tons of stuff to do nearby, and make the most of their time!

Yeah I'd have to agree with Slippy. There is so much to see in Canada but you're best to try to focus on one part of it. The part they are going to has a lot to offer anyways. After all...they have Slippy! :)

VitaminB

Nikon D800

07/10/2009 09:17:12 AM · #11

Places close to Guelph (sorry if they were already mentioned):

Niagara Falls
Sauble Beach
Wasaga Beach
Blue Mountain (especially in the winter)
Collingwood Caves
Canada's Wonderland (especially in the summer)
Algonquin Park (if they like camping)
Manitoulin Island
Toronto Island
Montreal (6 hour drive from guelph, but worth it if you have a few days to spare)
Quebec City (2 hours from Montreal)
New York City (not too long a flight from Toronto/Buffalo airports)
Chicago (again, not too long a flight)

ralph

Nikon Z9

07/10/2009 09:20:27 AM · #12

Ottawa, of course , if you want to learn about Canada ;)
plenty of Museums & gov'mt attractions .
hope Toronto garbage strike is over by then :p

Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 USM

07/10/2009 09:40:43 AM · #13

Originally posted by VitaminB:

Canada's Wonderland (especially in the summer)

Yes, and ride The Behemoth!

RayEthier

Canon EOS-5D Mark II

07/10/2009 10:48:15 AM · #14

Originally posted by Strikeslip:

ETA, there's a nude beach on Toronto Island...

...Directions to the beach please :O)

Ray

Pentax DA 18-135mm F3.5-5.6ED AL [IF] WR DC

07/10/2009 04:18:10 PM · #15

Thanks for suggestions so far :)
I can see Canada is big ( I wonder how many NZ's can fit in there! ) but they will be away for about a month. 10 days at jamboree and a few days in California-Disneyland etc so they will have about 2 weeks spare to travel around Canada.
They are likely to be billeted alot of the time so accommodation costs will be low, west edmonton mall is definitely on the list! What are the good water parks? Any other ideas?

Of to check the links provided :)

ETA Niagara falls and other attractions close to the area will likely be visited as part of the jamboree

Message edited by author 2009-07-10 16:56:34.

tnun

Ricoh GR III

07/10/2009 05:01:35 PM · #16

Cut out California Disneyland. Oh wait, you'll be arriving on the West coast, but I was going to suggest concentrating on the East coast and including a trip to Quebec City. Yes, Montreal is old Canada, but QC is older, more French, and all the food is fantastic. Although I love my West coast paradise, QC is where I would head for civilization and history refreshment. You don't have to know the history or the culture, you just soak it up from the old stone buildings and the people there. Thinking that would work for lucky New Zealanders?

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 ED

07/10/2009 08:00:37 PM · #17

Originally posted by tnun:

Word-Up to Quebec City!

BeeCee

Nikon D40

07/10/2009 08:07:34 PM · #18

Originally posted by joynim:

Thanks for suggestions so far :)
I can see Canada is big ( I wonder how many NZ's can fit in there! )...

About 37 :)

07/10/2009 08:14:07 PM · #19

Originally posted by BeeCee:

Originally posted by joynim:
Thanks for suggestions so far :)
I can see Canada is big ( I wonder how many NZ's can fit in there! )...

About 37 :)

Is that for real? I'd think it would be more like 1,000.

ralph

Nikon Z9

07/10/2009 08:51:33 PM · #20

rank name cap. pop pop growth sq km pop/density
2 Canada Ottawa 33,213,000 4.11% 9976140 3.3
74 New Zealand Wellington 4,173,000 6.78% 268680 15.5

37 new z's .. damn shes right !!

Nikon AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 ED

07/11/2009 01:32:05 AM · #21

LOL who woulda knew!

BeeCee

Nikon D40

07/11/2009 02:19:49 AM · #22

Sheesh, you doubted me? :P

CIA World Factbook. Wunnerful site. :)

Canada's just shy of one million square miles.

07/11/2009 09:49:26 AM · #23

Originally posted by BeeCee:

Sheesh, you doubted me? :P

CIA World Factbook. Wunnerful site. :)

Canada's just shy of one million square miles.

Nice work! I suppose you also have a license to kill? .... "Cee... BeeCee" :-)