Hi, guys, I’m now processing my tour to Canada at government site (travel.gc.ca/) and here (www.migrationexpert.ca/visitor_visa/tourist_visitor_visa/), could you help me make my itinerary for my vacation, just share if you had something to say, it will be a great help. Thank you in advance.
look for big events around the time you will travel, if you like touristy. like visit calgary at time of calgary stampede.
A lot will have to do with where in Canada you de-plane.
I spent a while living in Alberta, and traveled west.
If you like wild country, Then if you get to Vancouver City (not Island) and drive north up the coast it is remote, wild and beautiful.
Vancouver Island is nice. Vancouver city harbor and the coastline path around the city is also nice to walk or cycle.
Forget Banff as overpriced and about as Canadian as mi xian.
Calgary is just a city, and during Stampede is overbooked and overpriced, but the Calgary Stampede is a kind of national icon.
Edmonton, famous for its shopping mall.
Waterton Glacier National Park, stunning in the summer when we went. Skiing in the winter.
Driving along the Trans-Canada highway. What can I say? Once you get passed Calgary (driving east) mile after mile of sod-all. If there is a tree it is on the map. Pretty much the same all the way through Saskatchewan. I never got further east.
However, I would like to visit Prince Edward Island. Pretty remote, but real natural beauty.
some tips for you here:
Banff national park if you can rent a car, since it's also not too far from Vancouver (too far being relative, remember Canada is a huge country!). Banff has some pretty nice nature and with a car, you can camp or get to trailheads, not just where a tour bus drops you for a few hours. But you need a few days, not just a day trip.
Whistler if you can ski. Busy and crowded, but for good reason, easy to get to, nice views of vancouver, and good trails.
Oh yeah, if you shop a lot, remember to save your receipts. I think you can get a get tax refund at the airport before you leave. I'm not positive, since I've been too lazy to bother, but I do see signs about it in the airport.
@wchrissy
You have not mentioned what time of year you will travel or what you like to do.
Somebody mentioned Whistler for skiing. That was the site of the 2010 Winter Olympics and the best in the country - but the snow melts in the summer. Many places right now are extremely cold.
If you want pure scenery, then the east and west coasts are best (nobody mentioned the maritime provinces but they're quite scenic).
There is amazing sport fishing in the North-West Territories, but you need to wait for the ice to melt and can usually only get in by float plane.
If it's shopping, then the major cities would be your destination (Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Toronto and Montreal).
If you're a history fan then my favorite destination is Quebec City.
@wchrissy
Hi there, I lived in Canada for many years and travelled a lot whilst I was there (mostly East coast- I never travelled further West than Edmonton).
I'm happy to recommend some places to visit, both geared toward tourism and those more off the beaten track.
I have family there who own a backpacker hostel/ B&B in Ontario. If your travels find you in their city, I can ask if they would give you a discount and show you the local sites.
Kind regards,
-S
