| Pre & Post Media Tours |
Alberta Tour
Thursday, May 31, 2012 - Tuesday, June 5, 2012
Location: Calgary, Banff National Park
Description:
Relax, rejuvenate and indulge in one of the world’s most beautiful destinations: Banff National Park. Nestled in the middle of the Rocky Mountains, soak in fresh air and breathtaking vistas as you paddle the Bow River, ride horseback to a rustic teahouse, enjoy hiking to a summit where a delicious fondue awaits and soothe those tired muscles at a world-class spa. Aside from pristine wilderness, Banff National Park also offers its visitors a lavish array of world-class amenities; from the finest bottle of wine to relaxing in a natural hot spring with the world’s finest view. Catch the peaceful side of the city when you return to the young, contemporary and sophisticated city of Calgary for a day of yoga, epicurean treats and relaxing spa treatments.
*Note: wifi will be available at each hotel and resort. Experiences on this itinerary come highly recommended, however if you require a particular experience that is not on this itinerary for an assignment, please let us know and we will try to accommodate where possible.
Itinerary:
Thursday, May 31, 2012: Welcome to Alberta!
• Land in Calgary and transfer directly to Banff where an evening of food and wine pairings awaits, nothing builds an appetite quite like fresh mountain air!
• Arrive at Calgary International Airport.
• Transfer directly to Banff (approximately 1.5 hours).
• Enjoy a late dinner & wine pairing at one of Banff’s celebrated restaurants.
• Overnight at Buffalo Mountain Lodge.
Friday, June 1, 2012: Banff
Wake up in one of Banff’s most elegant and rustic lodges, Buffalo Mountain Lodge. Today you will learn about the town of Banff’s early settlers as you paddle along the Bow River. Warning: the view may take your breath away. Later in the afternoon treat yourself to a local spa treatment.
• Breakfast in Buffalo Mountain Lodge.
• Embark on a Voyageur Canoe ride; learn the history of Banff’s settlers as you explore the Bow River by canoe.
• Enjoy a quick lunch on Banff Avenue.
• Spend the afternoon being pampered at the spa.
• In the late afternoon enjoy an evening Wildlife Safari. Keep your eyes out for bears and other animals who have made their way into the valley at this time of year!
• Finish the day with a delicious meal with your hosts in Banff.
• Overnight at Buffalo Mountain Lodge.
Saturday, June 2, 2012: Banff
After breakfast, take a gondola ride up to the peak of Sulphur Mountain and soak in the spectacular views. Later, take the scenic route (ideal for animal spotting!) to Lake Louise where you’ll find lunch at Moraine Lake Lodge (weather dependent, alternatively lunch at The Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise) followed by an afternoon horseback ride) to Lake Agnes Teahouse. Finish the day with a delightful meal at the Lake Louise Train Station.
• Breakfast at Coyotes Southwestern Grill.
• Transfer to the base of the Banff Gondola. Enjoy the ride and be prepared for stunning views!
• Soak in the Banff Upper Hot Springs.
• Transfer to Lake Louise via Moraine Lake Lodge (approximately 45 minutes).
• Lunch at Moraine Lake Lodge.
• Enjoy an afternoon horseback ride to Lake Agnes Teahouse (beginners welcome!)
• Dinner at the Lake Louise Train Station.
• Overnight in the rustic Deer Lodge.
Sunday, June 3, 2012: Lake Louise
Embark on a full day hike to a historic fire lookout site where you’ll enjoy luscious chocolate fondue and expansive views of the Rocky Mountains! Scenery and chocolate won’t be your only rewards; this interpretive hike is packed with stories about wildlife, flowers and natural processes like forest fires. This signature experience is not to be missed!
• Breakfast at Deer Lodge.
• Fondue With a View, full day hike.
• Dinner and overnight at Deer Lodge.
Monday, June 4, 2012: Calgary
Challenge your mind body and spirit with a relaxing morning of yoga in Prince’s Island Park, one of Calgary’s urban green spaces nestled right next to the downtown core. Wander over to The River Café and enjoy the nostalgic appearance and cozy feel of an old Rocky Mountain fishing lodge with an open-hearth fieldstone fireplace and panoramic views of the park and Calgary’s cityscape. In the afternoon pamper yourself with Southeast Asian inspired therapies and treatments at the award-winning Spa Ritual. End the day enjoying a sumptuous meal and 360 degree views at Sky 360’s revolving restaurant. On a clear day you can see the twinkling city lights, the Rocky Mountains and across the prairies!
• Breakfast at Deer Lodge.
• Transfer to Calgary (approximately 2.25 hours).
• Enjoy a morning of outdoor yoga in Prince’s Island Park.
• Lunch at the River Café.
• Spend the afternoon easing tired muscles with spa service at Spa Ritual.
• End the day with dinner at Sky 360.
Tuesday, June 5, 2012:
Wishing you safe travels, thank you for visiting Alberta! Depending on flight times, your hosts will be available to answer any questions or facilitate any additional experiences in the city of Calgary.
Nosh on wildflowers and roll with cowboys! Learn to live like a locavore in Alberta's foothills
Thursday, May 31, 2012 - Monday, June 4, 2012
Location: Alberta’s foothills
Description:
Embark on a journey through Alberta’s foothills, where the prairies meet the Rocky Mountains. Indulge in local cuisine, learn to gather and cook with edible wild plants and enjoy an equestrian adventure into the Rockies. Our guarantee? Moments, experiences and views that will take your breath away.
*Note: wifi will be available at each hotel and resort. Experiences on this itinerary come highly recommended, however if you require a particular experience for an assignment, please let us know and we will try to accommodate where possible.
Itinerary:
Thursday, May 31, 2012: Welcome to Alberta!
Begin your adventure by acquainting yourself with one of Canada’s most youthful and contemporary cities. Known by many as one of the world’s most liveable cities, Calgary offers many cultural and culinary delights.
• Arrive at Calgary International Airport.
• Settle into your hotel and meet your hosts for an evening of specialty beer pairing at a local brewery.
• Overnight downtown Calgary.
Friday, June 1, 2012: Kananaskis Country
Mosey through Kananaskis to Rafter Six Ranch and join your hosts, the infamous Cowley family. Meet the horses, take a ride through the mountains, sit by a campfire and partake in authentic cowboy poetry. Discover your inner cowboy!
• Join your hosts at the Calgary Stampede for a cowboy breakfast.
• Transfer to Rafter Six Ranch (approximately 45 minutes).
• Get acquainted with your new equestrian partner and depart on an afternoon ride through the Rocky Mountains.
• Enjoy lunch over a campfire on the banks of the Kananaskis River.
• Return to the ranch and meet your hosts for some lessons in Cowboy College. Everybody ropes, everybody rides!
• End the day with a western meal and cowboy poetry around the campfire.
• Overnight at Rafter Six Ranch Resort.
Saturday, June 2, 2012: Kananaskis Country
Join Julie Walker (Full Circle Adventures) for an interpretive culinary walk on the trails around the ranch. Here you’ll identify and gather edible wild plants and spend the afternoon learning to cook a delicious and healthy meal featuring the local flavours of Kananaskis.
• Enjoy a classic cowboy breakfast on the ranch.
• After breakfast, meet Julie Walker, who will guide you on an interpretive walk through the foothills to gather edible wild plants.
• After a quick lunch, partake in a hands-on cooking class where you will create dishes from the treasures found on your morning expedition that are sure to tantalize your taste buds.
• In the evening, join your hosts for a drum circle around the campfire.
Sunday, June 3, 2012: Calgary
Your return to Calgary will take you on a bike tour along the Bow River through historic Inglewood, your ultimate destination? Rouge Restaurant chef Michael Dekker is known for incorporating local, sustainable ingredients into meals that have awarded it a standing among S. Pellegrino’s World’s 100 Best Restaurant list. End your journey with a culinary cruise along the restaurants of trendy Uptown 17th Avenue.
• Transfer to Calgary (approximately 45 minutes).
• Meet your hosts in Calgary and mount your trusty new steed (a bycicle!)
• Spend the morning exploring the Bow River by bike on Calgary’s urban pathways.
• Stop in at the Inglewood Bird Sanctuary along the way.
• Now that you’ve worked up an appetite, take a break at Rouge for lunch. Local tip: ask for a tour of the garden!
• After lunch, explore the quaint shops and restored brick buildings in Calgary’s oldest ‘hood: Inglewood. You may discover a hidden gem or two!
• In the evening, join your hosts for a culinary cruise around the restaurants of trendy Uptown 17th Avenue.
Monday, June 4, 2012: Safe trails!
Depending on flight times, your hosts will be available to answer any questions or facilitate additional experiences in the city of Calgary.
Alaska Highway Adventure
Thursday, May 31, 2012 - Wednesday, June 6, 2012
Location: Alaska Highway – from Whitehorse, Yukon (Historic Mile 918) south to Dawson Creek, British Columbia (Mile 0). We are not visiting Alaska.
Description:
To avid RVers and history aficionados, the Alaska Highway is synonymous with grand adventure! Join us to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the Alaska Highway, on this exploration of the wildlife, scenery and delights of the route. Built as a US war effort during nine grueling months in 1942, the Alaska Highway winds through some of North America’s last unspoiled wilderness. The Muskwa- Kechika wilderness area, known as the Serengeti of the North for its diversity of wildlife, will be our home for two days. We’ll get airborne in a floatplane, immerse ourselves in rustic hot springs at Liard River, and spot as many species of wildlife as possible. (Elk, moose, Stone’s Sheep, mountain goats, caribou, bears and bison are all common sights along the route.) We will also learn about the people who built the highway, including African American military, and meet some of the characters who live along the route.
Come and travel this bucket list destination for North American road trippers with us!
Here’s a quick video introduction to the route: www.youtube.com/watch?v=rWbBR-FQShI
Itinerary:
Day 1: May 31, 2012
Whitehorse to Watson Lake, YT – highlights: explore First Nations history at the Teslin Tlingit Heritage Centre; marvel at Watson Lake’s Signpost Forest (a collection of over 50,000 signs pointing “home”, left by visitors, started in 1942 by a homesick US Army soldier.)
Teslin Tlingit Heritage Centre www.ttc-teslin.com/heritage.html
Sign Post Forest www.watsonlake.ca/our- community/sign-post-forest
A Nice Motel, Watson Lake www.anicemotel.com
Day 2: June 1, 2012
Watson Lake, YT to Muncho Lake, BC – highlights: Arrive to British Columbia; Contact Creek (the point where northbound and southbound highway-building efforts joined), lookouts over Liard River. Watch for bison, and stop for a soak in Liard River Hot Springs – an Alaska Highway ritual and bragging right! Today, we will see the north tip of the iconic Rocky Mountains, where they ease into the Terminus Range. Overnight at Northern Rockies Lodge, on gorgeous Muncho Lake.
Liard River Hot Springs Park www.env.gov.bc.ca/bcparks/explore/parkpgs/liard_rv_hs
Northern Rockies Lodge www.northern-rockies-lodge.com Twitter: @RockiesLodge
Day 3 – June 2, 2012
Muncho Lake – highlight: Hiking and flight seeing, from our base at Northern Rockies Lodge. Visibility depending, we may fly over Nahanni National Park and Virginia Falls, or to a fly-in only lakeside outpost cabin. www.northern-rockies- lodge.com/tour_packages/Flightseeingtours.htm
Day 4 – June 3, 2012
Muncho Lake to Fort Nelson – highlights: Stone Mountain Provincial Park, Summit Lake, Toad River Lodge (with its collection of over 7000 baseball caps attached to the ceiling), wildlife viewing, Fort Nelson Heritage Museum.
Stone Mountain Park www.env.gov.bc.ca/bcparks/explore/parkpgs/stone_mt
Fort Nelson Heritage Museum www.fortnelsonmuseum.ca
Woodlands Inn www.woodlandsinn.ca (High speed internet in rooms)
Day 5 – June 4, 2012
Fort Nelson to Dawson Creek – highlights: Steamboat Mountain views, Sikanni River Bridge (where African American Army Engineers completed a near-to-impossible-to-build bridge in record time), Charlie Lake Monument, Kiskatinaw River Bridge, photo opportunities at Mile 0 Cairn and Mile 0 Marker. Yes, your technology will work again, as downtown Dawson Creek features free wi-fi for visitors!
Sikanni Chief River Bridge: www.juneteenthalaskaalcan.com/bridge.html
Dawson Creek info: www.tourismdawsoncreek.com Twitter: @myAlaskaHiWay
Day 6 – June 5, 2012
Dawson Creek – Alaska Highway House interpretive centre, Dawson Creek Art Gallery (housed in a grain elevator), Historic Downtown Walking Tour, weather permitting – dinner at historic Rolla Pub.
Dawson Creek Art Gallery www.dcartgallery.ca
PBS Documentary www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/films/alaska
Day 7 – June 6, 2012
Dawson Creek to home, flying out of Fort St. John (North Peace Regional Airport)
Important information:
• Transportation: Passenger vehicle, float plane (optional)
• The tour will be guided/escorted by a representative of Northern British Columbia Tourism Association.
• Must be able to hike on uneven, rocky ground and carry a small pack
• Dietary restrictions: We are in remote areas, so guests should be prepared to order from a standard restaurant menu.
• During travel between communities, cellular phones will not work. Generally, internet will be available in hotel rooms in the evenings
• BRING: warm layered clothing, hiking shoes, hat, gloves, sense of adventure
Itinerary Contact:
Susan Hubbard
Regional Media Relations Representative
Northern BC Tourism–Representative of Tourism BC
susan@nbctourism.com Personal Twitter: @NorthBCWoman
Phone: 250-561-0432 ext 201
Twitter for RV travelers: @RVNorthernBC
Josie Heisig
Travel Media Relations Specialist
Tourism British Columbia
Josie.heisig@gov.bc.ca Personal twitter: @josieinbc
Phone: 604 660 0565
Twitter for Tourism BC: @TourismBC / @TourismBCmedia
Experience the Fraser River: BC's Golden Artery
Thursday, May 31, 2012 - Tuesday, June 5, 2012
Location Highlights: Richmond, Langley, Fraser River Canyon, Lillooet, Echo Valley, Barkerville
Description:
For thousands of years, the Fraser River has shaped a unique, diverse landscape and pumped life into the heart of British Columbia. On this tour, you will follow the river from its mouth at the Pacific Ocean, through storied First Nations history, to Barkerville, a Gold Rush town set to celebrate its 150th anniversary in 2012.
Your trip begins in Richmond. Here, picturesque Steveston, a town shaped by its fishing and maritime heritage, will offer a warm British Columbia welcome. From there, your journey will continue up the Fraser River to the Fraser Canyon, where the blood will surge as you drop into “Hells Gate.” Continuing north, you’ll enter “Cowboy Country,” for a taste of life in the saddle at Echo Valley Ranch & Spa.
Learn more about the original inhabitants that lived along the Fraser for thousands of years during a First Nations interpretive tour. Follow the original First Nations trading paths — later dubbed the Cariboo Waggon Road — from Yale to your final destination: Barkerville Historic Town. Living history will surround you as you arrive at this 1860s Gold Rush town, home to 150 heritage buildings, interpretive tours and live entertainment reminiscent of its colourful past.
Itinerary:
Day One - Thursday, May 31, 2012
Midday Arrive in Richmond, BC, a thriving multicultural destination city offering a growing range of cultural, heritage, culinary and leisure experiences.
Afternoon Explore the historic fishing village of Steveston. Cradled in a picturesque corner of Richmond, it is home to the Gulf of Georgia Cannery, built in 1894 and was the largest building of its kind. gulfofgeorgiacannery.com
Day Two – Friday, June 1, 2012
Morning Tour the Fraser River Discovery Centre in New Westminster. The Fraser River Discovery Centre is an interpretive centre connecting communities in discovery of the living, working Fraser River. fraserriverdiscovery.org Then journey back through time on the Fraser River’s only authentic Paddlewheeler Riverboat with local historian Archie Miller as Captain William Irving. vancouverpaddlewheeler.com
Afternoon Tour the Fort Langley National Historic Site, where the Hudson's Bay Company established a small trading post in the 1860s. The fort grew, evolved, and influenced the region’s history, leading to the creation of the colony of British Columbia. fortlangley.com
Overnight Langley
Day Three – Saturday, June 2, 2012
Morning Depart Langley for the Fraser Canyon and Hell’s Gate hellsgateairtram.com. You will be guided by UVIC Adjunct History Professor Daniel Marshall & learn about the Canyon War of 1858, as well as Geologist Michael Kennedy, whose family has lived in the Lillooet area since the 1860’s.
Afternoon Tour Tuckkwiowhum Village (Tuck-wee-um) in Boston Bar. This Aboriginal education center is complete with a recreated Native village.tuckkwiowhum.com
Overnight Lillooet
Day Four – Sunday, June 3, 2012
Morning Depart Lillooet for today’s drive past Pavilion Lake in Cariboo Country where Canadian Space Agency astronaut Chris Hadfield and some NASA astronauts have been flying tiny, submarines among rock formations called microbialites deep beneath the surface. pavilionlake.com/mission
Noon Lunch and tour at Historic Hat Creek Ranch. Interpretive guides in period clothing will take you on a guided tour of the 1860s Roadhouse. hatcreekranch.com/
Afternoon Arrive at Echo Valley Ranch and Spa - One of Canada’s most unique guest ranches. How unique? Dr. Pinyo Suwankiri, architect to the Thai royal family, designed the traditional Thai structure of the Baan Thai. Your choice of activity options: Try your hand at gold panning or enjoy a horseback ride through the Gold Rush trails.
Overnight Echo Valley Ranch. evranch.com
Day Five – Monday, June 4, 2012
Day Experience a Jetboat tour of the Fraser River tour with First Nations guide Doug Green. View ancient Native fishing sites, remnants of the Fraser River Gold Rush, towering rock canyons, and wildlife. jetboatadventures.com/
EveningArrive in Barkerville and check in to on-site accommodation. 2012 marks the 150th anniversary of this gold rush town, today a historic site reflecting life in the 1860s through exhibitions and interpretive guides.
Overnight Barkerville barkerville.ca
Day Six – Tuesday, June 5, 2012
Morning Enjoy a variety of optional tours of Barkerville. One of the tours will be lead by archeologist William G. (Bill) Quackenbush, Barkerville’s curator. Or tour the nearby community of Wells. Named after founder Fred Wells, it is a cozy ex-mining town that is now filled with artisans and is as friendly now as it was in its heyday in the 1930s. wellsbc.com
Noon Send off lunch with Queen Victoria at the Wake Up Jake Saloon. It couldn’t happen anywhere else… Expect a royal good time.
2:00 pm Depart Prince George Airport for Vancouver and points beyond.
Important information:
• Proposed transportation: 20 pax modern coach. Same coach and driver for entire tour.
• The tour will be guided/escorted by a representative of Vancouver, Coast and Mountain Tourism Region and the Cariboo Chilcotin Coast Tourism Association.
• Participants must be of “fair” physical fitness. They must be able to walk on uneven terrain and endure outdoor conditions whether hot, rainy or cold.
• Participants should advise if they have any dietary restrictions or food allergies.
*Other notes: There is limited cellular phone service and Wi-Fi access in sections of the Fraser Canyon and in the Cariboo Region. There will be Wi-Fi access available each evening of the tour.
Preferred clothing and activity-gear needed:
• Lightweight hiking or walking footwear - NO HEELS
• Wind and/or rain shell
• Layered clothing
• Binoculars, camera & video equipment
For more information contact:
Andrea Visscher
Vancouver, Coast & Mountains
Regional Media Relations Representative
andrea@vcmbc.com
Tel: 604-484-5361
Geoff Moore
Cariboo Chilcotin Coast
Regional Media Relations Representative
geoff@landwithoutlimits.com
250-392-2226
Pathway of the Voyageurs: Exploring the Wilds of Manitoba's Fur Trade Past
Thursday, May 31, 2012 - Monday, June 4, 2012
Location: Winnipeg & Atikaki Provincial Wilderness Park, Manitoba, Canada
Descriptiom:
Follow in the urban and backcountry footsteps of the Voyageurs, French-Canadian folk heroes who developed Western Canada. Your adventure begins in Winnipeg, capital city of Manitoba, where you’ll step back to fur trade time with a visit to the Hudson Bay Company Gallery at the Manitoba Museum, a Voyageur canoe adventure on the historic Red River , and tour of Saint-Boniface, Winnipeg’s French Quarter. After this urban exploration, fly in to the remote Aikens Lake Wilderness Lodge, which was recently added to the Canadian Tourism Commission’s Signature Experience Collection®. Learn about wilderness fishing and enjoy a traditional Canadian shore lunch. Visit a historic fur trade portage where Voyageurs carried canoes and goods around rapid waters. Each evening is a Franco-Manitoban affair of cuisine and storytelling.
Itinerary:
Day One – Thursday, May 31, 2012
15:19 Arrive Winnipeg via Calgary. Air Canada 8336. Check in at a downtown hotel. Free time.
17:30 Welcome dinner at one of Winnipeg’s top regional cuisine restaurants.
Day Two – Friday, June 1, 2012
8-10 am A guided tour of the Hudson's Bay Company Gallery at the Manitoba Museum. Breakfast will be served at the Museum, overlooking the Nonsuch , a 17th century English ketch that sailed into the Hudson Bay on the lookout for furs.
11-12:30 pm Voyageur canoe adventure with Northern Soul Adventures (weather permitting). Travel down one of Canada’s most historic rivers, the Red River, in a 25-ft Voyageur canoe.
12:30-2 pm Lunch in Saint Boniface at Resto Gare.
2-3:30 pm Tour of Saint-Boniface, Winnipeg’s French Quarter. The largest francophone community in Western Canada, Saint-Boniface is rooted in its fur trade and voyageur history.
3:30-5 pm Return to hotel. Free time.
5-9 pm An evening at Fort Gibraltar with Festival du Voyageur.
Experience Winnipeg's "joie de vivre" by touring and dining at a reconstructed 19th-century Northwest Company fort with colourful interpreters guiding you through the traditions of a fur-trade era colony.
Day Three – Saturday, June 2, 2012
5:45 am Meet in hotel lobby. Breakfast and coffee ‘to go’ provided.
Please have all luggage sorted. Bring only one (1) soft-sided duffle bag for your trip to the lodge. All other luggage will be stored in Winnipeg.
6:00 am Depart Winnipeg in shuttle van to Silver Falls, Manitoba (1 hr 45 minutes, 127 kms)
7:45 am Arrive at float plane base.
8:15 am Depart by float plane to Aikens Lake Wilderness Lodge, a premier fly-in fishing lodge located in stunning Atikaki (a-TI-ka-KI) Provincial Wilderness Park deep in the Canadian Shield and boreal forest of Manitoba’s east side. (30 mins. Flight)
8:45 am Land on Aikens Lake.
Morning Orientation to the Aikens Lake Lodge area and your group cabin.
NOTE: Because of limited space at this remote wilderness lodge, media will be expected to SHARE rooms and bathrooms with each other. There will be a small group per cabin.
• Depart by boat for a guided fishing experience on the lake. You’ll be expected to hook, line & sink ‘em (with the help of your guide, of course)
Lunch Traditional shore lunch at Gray Owl Wilderness Lodge.
Afternoon Hike along a traditional fur trade route and come upon a Voyageur encampment where George and Florence Beaudry, Métis and Franco-Manitoban storytellers, entertain us.
Evening Fusion cuisine repast featuring Franco-Manitoban culinary traditions
• Sunset Voyageur initiation ceremony with story-teller, ales and wines.
Day Four – Sunday, June 3, 2012
Morning Breakfast at the main lodge.
• Depart by boat for a guided fishing experience on the lake. You’ll be expected to hook, line & sink ‘em (with the help of your guide, of course)
Lunch Traditional shore lunch.
• Afternoon Option: Opt for a boat run up the lake to photograph granite cliffs, boreal wilderness, ancient Aboriginal petroglyphs (rock pictograms), and wildlife.
Evening Fusion cuisine repast featuring Franco-Manitoban culinary traditions.
Day Five – Monday, June 4, 2012
7-8 am Breakfast at the main lodge.
8:30 am Depart Aikens Lake Wilderness lodge by float plane for Silver Falls, Manitoba. (30 minute flight)
9:30 am Arrive Silver Falls. Return by shuttle bus to Winnipeg. (1 hr 45 minutes, 127 kms)
11:30 am Drop off at Winnipeg’s James Armstrong Richardson International Airport.
1 pm or LATER Depart Winnipeg for home.
Important information:
• There is NO cellular phone service at Aikens Lake Wilderness Lodge.
• There is Wi-Fi access in all cabins at Aikens Lake Wilderness Lodge.
• Transportation modes: van, canoe, wagon, motorboat, float plane
• Participants must be able to walk on uneven terrain, do “light” physical activity such as paddling and fishing, and endure outdoor conditions whether hot or rainy and cold.
• It is important that participants like to eat fish. Participants should advise if they have any dietary restrictions or food allergies.
Preferred clothing and activity-gear needed:
• Lightweight hiking or walking footwear, preferably waterproof
• Wind and/or rain gear (pants and jackets)
• Sunglasses and sunhat
• Layered clothing
• Toque and lightweight gloves, in case weather is cool
• Binoculars, camera & video equipment
For more information contact:
Julia Adams
Specialist, Media Relations
jadams@travelmanitoba.com
1.204.927.7808
Jillian Recksiedler
Communications Specialist, Media Relations
jrecksiedl@travelmanitoba.com
1.204.927.7832
An Acadian Coastal Odyssey
Thursday, May 31, 2012 - Monday, June 4, 2012
Location: Acadian Coastal Drive, New Brunswick
Description:
In northeastern New Brunswick, settled between the salty water of Chaleur Bay and the Gulf of St. Lawrence, the Acadian Peninsula juts proudly into the sea. Over 50,000 Francophones live here, taking enormous pride in their roots. After their 1755 expulsion, some Acadians re-settled as far away as Louisiana, and are now known as Cajuns. Many others, however, returned to their native home in New Brunswick.
“Joie de Vivre” is a way of life in this region all year… the ocean contributes its bounty and provides a backdrop for the music, indigenous food, and artists that set the tone as the Acadian people celebrate their colourful heritage.
This tour will meander up the Acadian Coastal drive from Moncton to Caraquet, capturing the flavours of the Atlantic Ocean and a fascinating culture.
Itinerary:
Day One – May 31, 2012
• Arrive in Moncton, New Brunswick
• Welcome dinner
• Overnight in Moncton
Day Two – June 1, 2012
• Acadian Odyssey National Historic Site – provides context for an exploration of Acadian culture
• Le Pays de la Sagouine – the island where Acadians celebrate!
• The Olivier Soapery – Canada’s Soap Economuseum
• Adventure and hands-on lobster dinner on Shediac Bay Cruises
• Overnight in Shediac
Day Three – June 2, 2012
• Irving Eco-Centre, La Dune de Bouctouche – 12 km sand dune across Bouctouche Bay
• Kouchibouguac National Park - voyageur canoe excursion to seal and tern colonies
• Dine on fresh local seafood and locally sourced ingredients
• Lobster dinner theater at La Trappe à Homard in Petit-Pokemouche
• Overnight in Caraquet
Day Four – June 3, 2012
• Shippagan Aquarium (home of the blue lobster!)
• Ecological Park of the Acadian Peninsula
• Sainte Cécile church on Lameque Island —the little painted church with perfect acoustics is the site of the International Baroque Music Festival
• Oldest wooden lighthouse operating in NB
• Dine at one of New Brunswick most renowned tables and enjoy fresh local seafood and locally sourced ingredients
• Overnight in Caraquet
Day Five – June 4, 2012
• Breakfast « à la Française » at the Grain de Folie
• Village Historique Acadien— immersion in the lives of Acadians between 1770 and 1949
• Travel to Moncton airport
• Depart for Toronto
Important Information:
• Proposed transportation: Mini van
• Physical restrictions: Participants should advise if they have any physical disabilities.
• Dietary restrictions/food allergies: Participants should advise if they have any dietary restrictions or food allergies.
Preferred clothing and activity-gear needed:
No special clothing or gear required. Light sweater and jacket for oceanside activities. Seasonal attire.
For more information contact:
Alison Aiton
Travel Media Representative
New Brunswick Tourism and Parks
506-444-3353
alison.aiton@gnb.ca
Itinerary subject to change if necessary.
| Newfoundland and Labrador |
Western Newfoundland Northern Peninsula
Thursday, May 31, 2012 - Monday, June 4, 2012
Itinerary:
Day 1
• Arrive at Deer Lake airport.
• Meet with regional tourism representative:
• Guided transport: the Viking Trail (Route 430) to Gros Morne National Park – designated an UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987 for it’s geological significance, the 1805 sq kilometre park offers beauty and adventure that are unsurpassed by
any other in the world.
• South Side Gros Morne National Park (Driving distance between Deer Lake – Woody Point 68 kms.) Explorer Quotient: Cultural Explorer, No hassle Traveller, Authentic Experiencer
Tour options:
1. Tablelands, A World UNESCO Heritage Site www.pc.gc.ca
2. Parks Canada, State of the Art Discovery Centre
3. Tour historic scenic fishing villages of Woody Point and Trout River
4. Geological Adventure excursion with Ocean Quest Tours www.oceanquestadventures.com Cruise historic Trout River Pond in a zodiac through 500 million years of time
• Accommodations options:
1. Seaside Suites www.seasidesuites.ca
2. Red Mantle Lodge www.redmantlelodge.ca
• Suggested restaurants:
1. Award winning Seaside Restaurant, located Oceanside Trout River
2. Old Loft Restaurant, located waterfront Woody Point
Day 2
• North Side Gros Morne National Park (Driving distance between Woody Point – Rocky Harbour 72 kms.)
Tour Options
1. Lobster Cove Head Lighthouse
2. Bonne Bay Marine Station www.bonnebay.mun.ca
3. Sea Kayaking with Gros Morne Adventures www.grosmorneadventures.com
4. SS Ethie Shipwreck
5. Western Brook Fjord Boat Tour www.bontours.ca
Enjoy a 30 minute boardwalk stroll to the dock before enjoying a leisurely cruise into the gorge – be at one with
nature as you see the dramatic ravine-like sides of this inland fjord tower over 600 metres above you view mountains older than the pyramids.
• Accommodations options:
1. Oceanview Hotel www.theoceanview.ca Experience Newfoundland culture at its finest with the Anchors Aweigh Show
2. Neddies Harbour Inn www.theinn.ca A quaint boutique style inn located waterfront in Rocky Harbour
3. The Tides Inn www.thetidesinn.ca Oceanside luxury accommodations
• Suggested restaurants:
1. The Oceans Restaurant, fine dining specializing in traditional dishes
2. Neddies Harbour Inn, European style cuisine
Day 3
• Depart for St. Anthony (Driving distance between Rocky Harbour – St. Anthony 349 kms.)
Tour Options along Route #430 Viking Trail:
1. Torrent River Salmon Interpretation Centre
2. Port aux Choix National Historic Site
• Suggested restaurants – lunch:
1. Anchor Cafe
2. Sea Echo Motel
• Tour Options:
1. L’Anse aux Meadows, A UNESCO World Heritage Site: The only authentic Viking Settlement in North America dating back 1000 years to Leif Erikson
2. Norstead Village – A Viking port of trade: Step back in time to experience Viking living replicates the Viking Port of Trade as it may have looked (790 – 1066 AD)
3. Iceberg and Whale Watching experience with Northland Discovery Boat Tours. Sail through Iceberg Alley
• Suggested Dinner – Award winning Light Keepers Cafe, located at Fishing Point overlooking the Atlantic Ocean.
• Overnight in St. Anthony
Accommodation Option:
1. Hotel North
2. Grenfell Heritage Hotel
Day 4
• Depart for Cow Head (Driving distance between St. Anthony – Cow Head 306 kms.)
Tour options:
1. French Shore Tapestry, Conche
2. Green Moose Interpretation Centre, Roddickton
3. Broom Point Fishing Exhibit. The restoration site of the Mudge family cabin and fish store. Learn the story of three brothers and their fishing operation during the 1960’s
• Suggested Dinner: Shallow Bay Motel
• Overnight in Cow Head, Shallow Bay Motel
• Evening Entertainment suggestion: Experience Newfoundland soiree and times with Theatre Newfoundland Labrador performances www.theatrenewfoundland.com
Day 5
Depart for Deer Lake airport (Driving distance between Cow Head – Deer Lake 116 kms.)
Romance, Fun, History and Cultural Dining Experiences in Eastern NL - Lose your heart to colourful characters!
Thursday, May 31, 2012 - Monday, June 4, 2012
Description:
Romance, Fun, History and Cultural Dining Experiences in Eastern NL - Lose your heart to colourful characters!
Eastern NL is one of 16 regions in the world designated as a National Geographic Geotourism Destination! http://www.nlgeotourism.com/ In 2010 Eastern NL’s Avalon Peninsula was rated #1 out of 99 Coastal Destinations by National Geographic Traveller Magazine! http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/travel/coastal-destinations-rated
Itinerary:
Day 1
• Arrive St. John’s
• Meet with Eastern DMO and provincial tourism reps
• Overnight in Canada’s oldest city in quaint country inns and B&Bs
Accommodation options:
1. Ryan Mansion Boutique Hotel and Spa www.ryanmansion.com
2. Leaside Manor Heritage Inn www.leasidemanor.com
3. Compton House Heritage Inns and Apartments - http://comptonhouse.travel
4. Winterholme Suites and Spa Heritage Inn a href = 'http://www.winterholme.com/' target="_blank">www.winterholme.com
5. Waterford Manor www.thewaterfordmanor.com/index.php?section=1
• Tour key cultural sites in the city
Tour Options:
1. NL Chocolate Factory www.newfoundlandchocolatecompany.com
2. Signal Hill National Historic Site www.pc.gc.ca/lhn- nhs/nl/signalhill/index.aspx
3. Johnson Geo Centre visit the Titanic Exhibit www.geocentre.ca/
4. The Rooms - www.therooms.ca. Immerse yourself in culture at Newfoundland and Labrador's largest public cultural space. It's the place where it all comes together - our history, heritage and artistic expression. The Rooms unites the Provincial Archives, Art Gallery and Museum. A place for people, The Rooms is a portal to the many stories our province has to tell.
• Welcome Dinner at one of St. John’s top regional cuisine restaurants prepared by St. John’s award winning Chef’s
Dining Options St. John’s:
1. Raymond’s – www.raymondsrestaurant.com Chosen best new restaurant in Canada by EnRoute Magazine – Chef Jeremy Charles
2. The Chef’s Inn - www.thechefsinn.ca/ - Owned and hosted by renowned local chef Todd Perrin, this lovingly restored circa 1893 Inn is sure to please even the most discriminating guests! Where the Chef’s always Inn!
3. Baccalao Restaurant - http://bacalaocuisine.ca Nouvelle Newfoundland Cuisine Celebrating the cuisine and culture of Newfoundland & Labrador, Bacalao offers a unique and innovative presentation of the foods, flavours, produce and spirits of our province. Meet Chef Mike Barsky and partner Andrea Maunder
Day 2
• Depart St. John’s for the Discovery Trail on NL’s Bonavista Peninsula – approximately 3 hours’ drive
Spend the day touring the out port communities of the Discovery Trail. The Discovery Trail on the Bonavista Peninsula makes for a beautiful drive with wonderful coastal vistas around every turn, but the towns are often better appreciated on foot. The historic details of the buildings and each town’s unique features are best revealed by a stroll through the narrow streets and footpaths.
• Arrive Port Rexton
• 2 nights’ Accommodations – Fisher’s Loft Inn, Port Rexton by Ship Cove www.fishersloft.com
Peace at the end of the road...nestled in the hills on a winding, quiet back lane, Fishers’ Loft, a 4½ star inn, overlooks the old fishing and boat-building harbour of Ship Cove, where small fishing boats still come and go. Fishers’ Loft is in Port Rexton, one of 12 picturesque fishing outports dotted along the rugged coastline between New Bonaventure and English Harbour on Trinity Bay — the Trinity Bight.
• Tour the kitchen at Fisher’s Loft Inn and assist the local cooks in preparing special Newfoundland treats!
• Stroll through the quaint seaside community and take a short hike on the beautiful Skerwink Trail (named one of the top 3 hiking trails in Canada by Travel and Leisure Magazine) before dining in Fisher’s romantic dining room overlooking the organic gardens and calming oceans of Port Rexton.
Day 3
• Depart Fisher’s Loft
• Breakfast at Two Whales Coffee Shop along the way. Check them out on facebook http://www.facebook.com/pages/Two- Whales-Coffee-Shop/186612252146
• Tour the historic town of Trinity http://www.townoftrinity.com/tourismandculture.asp
• Lunch at the lovely Twine Loft Restaurant www.trinityvacations.com/dining-trinity
• Tour and lunch at Rodriguez Winery in Markland http://rodrigueswinery.com/
• Depart Trinity for the Baccalieu Trail – home of famous pirates and brave captains and even a legendary Princess Sheilagh NaGeira. Visit the three Heart’s – Heart’s Delight, Heart’s Desire, and Heart’s Content. Visit a local artist’s studio along the way and hear his colourful stories.
• Tour Carbonear and Harbour Grace and meet pirates and princesses
• Overnight accommodations: Klondyke Hotel – Bay Roberts - Rodriguez Winery
• Dinner at Klondyke Steakhouse hosted by The Town of Bay Roberts
• Enjoy local entertainment!
Day 4
• Depart Bay Robert’s for the Cupids/Brigus experience
• Enjoy a breakfast served to you by the colourful characters of the local Historical Society
Settled in 1610 by John Guy of Bristol, Cupids is Canada’s oldest English Settlement. Here you will find the story of Cupids and its people. Visit the Cupids Legacy Centre Cupids Legacy Centre
• Enjoy a storytelling session with local storyteller and Cupids resident Peter Laracy. Folklore is alive and well in Cupids.
• Help raise the community’s largest 2nd largest Union Jack Flag in the world
Visit the Cupids Cove Provincial Historic Site. Take a guided tour with chief archaeologist Bill Gilbert and walk in the footsteps of our ancestors. www.baccalieudigs.ca Experience standing in a stone root cellar placed there by the hands of settlers from England 400 years ago.
• Work with the archeology field staff and try and find an artifact of your own.
• Enjoy a picnic lunch at the archeology site
• Just two minutes down the road is another seaside town called Brigus. Take a stroll through the narrow streets visit Hawthorne Cottage National Historic Site http://www.pc.gc.ca/lhn-nhs/nl/hawthorne/index.aspx home of famous artic explorer Captain Bob Bartlett.
• Take in a dance class and learn to do a “jig” or two.
• Depart for St. John’s
• Overnight in St. John’s and morning departure!
Northwest Territories Tour
Thursday, May 31, 2012 - Tuesday, June 5, 2012
Location: Multiple locations within the Northwest Territories, including: Yellowknife, Hay River, Wood Buffalo National Park and Fort Providence.
Description:
This taste of the Northwest Territories will introduce you to some of our unique northern realities: our unspoiled and pristine wilderness, Aboriginal culture, and some of the characters who populate our vast and untamed land. Travelling on land, river and in the air you’ll get a glimpse of our unique territory.
Itinerary:
Day One: Thursday, May 31
23:30 Arrival in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories
Welcome to the City of Yellowknife. Set in the wondrous natural surroundings of Great Slave Lake, Yellowknife, the Diamond Capital of North America™ is a remarkable city. With a population of just under 20,000 people and the great outdoors tantalizingly close to the downtown core, it doesn’t take long to feel like you’ve reached one of nature’s last frontiers. www.yellowknife.ca/visitors, northernfrontier.com
Day Two: Friday, June 1
11:00 Tour of the City of Yellowknife
Your guide will meet you at the Dancing Moose Café and transport you on this driving tour. The tour will introduce you to the diverse and often quirky culture and history of Yellowknife. Learn about the bush pilots who opened up the north, and how the houseboaters adapt to the dramatic changes to their “backyards” in winter and summer. Your tour will end at Cameron River Falls, surging with water from the spring thaw.
16:00 – 16:45 Tour of the Buffalo Airways Hangar
Meet the stars of the hit reality television series “Ice Pilots NWT” and take a tour of the hangar they call home. Buffalo Airways is a family-run airline that was established in 1970 by “Buffalo Joe” McBryan, one of our colourful northern characters. The fleet of vintage aircrafts, much like the pilots and crew, are out of the ordinary. The Douglas DC-3, for example, made its first flight on December 17, 1935 – over 60 years ago. Since then, DC-3s have been flying all over the world, hauling freight and passengers to every corner of the globe. Buffalo Airways Web: buffaloairways.com
17:00 – 18:00 Flight from Yellowknife to Hay River on a vintage Buffalo Airways aircraft
Welcome to Hay River. Hay River is the gateway to the southern shore of Great Slave Lake. Sandy swimming beaches, a fascinating river delta and some fine fishing await visitors here and are equally enjoyed by the 3,700 town residents. There is a freshwater seaport atmosphere with barges, working tugboats and huge shipyards. Hay River has earned the title of "Whitefish Capital" for its year round harvest. hayriver.com
19:45 – 22:45 Guided Alexandra Waterfalls and Cultural Tour
Take advantage of our long summer days, with the sun setting at 11 pm at this time of year (and dusk lingering for some time longer), there’s lots of daylight to enjoy activities into the evening. Alexandra Falls are approximately a 30 minute drive from Hay River. You will join noted Aboriginal Interpreter, Doug Lamalice, on his “Walk a Mile in my Moccasins” interpretive tour. Doug will explain the significance of Alexandra Falls and the portage around them from the perspective of the local Aboriginal people.
Day Three: Saturday, June 2
10:15 Depart from Hay River to drive to Wood Buffalo National Park (273 km)
Be sure to stop at the Angus Fire Tower to gaze at the immense sinkhole with its enchanting colours. This sinkhole is a unique feature typical of Wood Buffalo’s karstland topography. Another great place to stop is at the Salt River Day Use Area.
13:30 Guided Tour of Wood Buffalo National Park
Explore the wild splendor of the northern boreal plains, where you’ll walk on the unique salt plains and see bison roaming free. The park was established in 1922 to protect the free-roaming bison herds of the area. Today, as it celebrates its 90th anniversary, the park supports and protects many unique natural and cultural resources, from diverse ecosystems and rare species to the traditional activities of Aboriginal residents. This remote wilderness park and World Heritage Site, Wood attracts Canadian and international visitors who wish to experience and learn about the unique cultures, landscapes and wildlife of the boreal north.
Day Four: Sunday, June 3
09:30-16:00 Drive from Fort Smith to Fort Providence (438 km) (Lunch break in Hay River). Be sure to stop at Lady Evelyn Falls (1 km past the community of Kakisa) for a beautiful short hike and view of the falls. Be alert to bison crossing the road on the drive. Catch the Merv Hardie Ferry across the Mackenzie (Deh Cho) River.The ferry runs on demand from 6:00 am to midnight daily. The ferry crossing takes approximately ten minutes.
• Welcome to Fort Providence spectacularnwt.com/wheretoexplore/dehcho/fortprovidence
This community grew on the banks of the mighty Mackenzie River around a mission school and a large farm. Keep an eye out for bison which sometimes wander from the Mackenzie Bison Sanctuary to meander through the streets and graze contentedly on local lawns.
• Upon Arrival: Boat Tour on the Mackenzie River
Steven Vandell, Vandell Ventures Ltd.
Take a boat trip down the Mackenzie River as it drains from Great Slave Lake and flows north towards Great Bear Lake and its final destination, the Beaufort Sea. Try your hand at fishing and enjoy a delicious shore dinner of northern cuisine.
Day Five: Monday, June 4
09:00 Drive from Fort Providence to Yellowknife (316 km).
We recommend that you enjoy your packed lunch at Chan Lake Park which is en route to Yellowknife.
14:00–18:00 Leisure time exploring Yellowknife
18:00 Wildcat Café. The Wildcat is the oldest restaurant in Yellowknife and is located in Old Town. It represents the mining history of the area. It was closed for renovations in 2011, and was taken apart log by log, with each piece numbered, so that when the foundation was restored it could be reassembled. It is due to reopen in May of 2012, in time to celebrate its 75th anniversary.
Day Six: Monday, June 5
Morning Depart Yellowknife
Preferred clothing and activity-gear needed:
The weather in the Northwest Territories in summer is variable and changes daily. The normal temperature in late May/early June is a high of approximately 15⁰C and a minimum of 7⁰C.
• Layered clothing
• Comfortable hiking footwear
• A warm jacket for the evenings which can get cool
• Sunscreen, sunglasses
• Binoculars, cameras
Other Important Information
• Cellular Telephones: Cellular telephone service is available in larger communities such as Yellowknife and Hay River. Data services for Bell smart phones is also available in these communities. Phones on the Rogers network only work in Yellowknife. Cell service is not available outside of our major centres or along our highways. Wi-Fi coverage is not widespread.
• Long Daylight Hours: Remember that the NWT receives long hours of sunlight in the summer, so if you have trouble sleeping when it is light out you may want to consider bringing an eye shade or Gravol (drowsy formula) to help you sleep.
A Taste of Nova Scotia's Land & Sea
Thursday, May 31, 2012 - Monday, June 4, 2012
Location: Halifax, Annapolis Valley, Lunenburg
Description:
For centuries we have lived off the bounty of the land and sea in Nova Scotia and our cultural experiences, culinary dishes and natural wonders attract people to visit us again and again. Nova Scotia is home to over 13 itineries, 4 UNESCO designated sites, including the historic Town of Lunenburg, and proudly boasts the World’s Highest Tides on the Bay of Fundy.
Our Festivals & Events celebrate and commemorate our livelihood, history and the natural beauty around us. Events, such as the 100th Anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic, and the 200th anniversary of the War of 1812, welcome many visitors to our regions. We invite you to immerse yourself in Nova Scotian culture and history while savouring the Taste of Nova Scotia’s Land & Sea.
Website references:
www.tasteofnovascotia.com
www.novascotia.com
www.destinationsouthwestnova.comwww.destinationhalifax.com
www.novascotiawebcams.com
www.swnovabiosphere.ca
Itinerary:
Day One – May 31, 2012
• Journey from Whitehorse to Halifax, Nova Scotia
Day Two – June 1, 2012
• Arrivals at Halifax International Airport (early morning). Car service will greet you and provide transportation to your accommodation in Nova Scotia’s capital city, Halifax.
• Guests will take the morning off. Rest and recovery time will be needed following a long journey from Canada’s North to Canada’s East Coast.
Noon Welcome lunch at Brooklyn Warehouse, a trendy Bistro with emphasis on local, “farm to table” food. www.brooklynwarehouse.ca/Site.Nov.9.11/Home.html @BrooklynHalifax
13:00 Venture to the Hydrostone Market – a hidden gem in a historic district with an eclectic mix of local delights: a folk art gallery, a trendy boutique, a fantastic bakery, and more! www.hydrostonemarket.ca
14:00 Take a step back in time to 1869 and become a soldier for a day at the Halifax Citadel National Historic Site where you’ll find out what life was really like for the “redcoats”. http://www.pc.gc.ca/lhn-nhs/ns/halifax/visit/visit9/visit9d.aspx @ParksCanada_NS
18:30 Feast on a dinner with a Titanic themed menu hosted by Destination Halifax
• Optional Evening Activity: Enjoy a slice of Halifax life in an Irish pub surrounded by live music and locals raising a pint of beer with a “sociable!” cheer. @DurtyNellysPub
• Overnight in Halifax
Day Three – June 2, 2012
07:00 Explore the Halifax Seaport Farmers Market with local chef Dennis Johnston from Fid! Resto, and have breakfast on the go from one of the many local vendors.
http://halifaxfarmersmarket.com/ @HfxSeaportMrkt
http://fidresto.ca/?lang_view=en @FidKitchen
09:30 Take in the view of the world’s second largest natural harbour from the waterfront boardwalk as you stroll and discover the unique shops from Historic Properties to Bishop’s Landing.
https://my-waterfront.ca/halifax/about-halifax @My_Waterfront
http://bishopslanding.com @bishopslanding
11:30 Depart for Wolfville, a lovely town located in Annapolis Valley and a short distance from the Bay of Fundy, Canada’s Natural Wonder.
13:00 Enjoy an exquisite lunch at Le Caveau Restaurant located at Domaine de Grand Pre, one of the Valley’s beautiful boutique wineries. www.grandprewines.ns.ca/ @grandprewines
14:30 Embark on an adventure with Go North Tours as you taste award winning ice wine, sparkling wine and fruit wines, and learn about the art of grape growing at a few of the Valley’s wineries. Wander through the vineyards framed with
the beautiful backdrops of the Bay of Fundy and Annapolis Valley. Then satisfy your palate with local specialty cheeses, yogurt and gelato at Fox Hill Cheese House.
www.gonorthtours.com
www.foxhillcheesehouse.com
18:00 Finish the evening with a wonderful wine‐paired dinner and enjoy a talk on the wineries and vineyards of Canada’s newest wine region. You’ll learn about ice wines, organic wines, sparkling wines and much more. Nova Scotia has climate and soil conditions that favour unique and distinctive grape varieties which produce our award winning wines.
Overnight in Wolfville area
Day Four – June 3, 2012
08:00 Start your morning with breakfast at your accommodation, Wolfville & Area
09:45 Capture the flavour of country life in early Nova Scotia at Ross Farm Museum – a family farm preserved in the 1800’s. Savor the delicious aromas of food cooking over an open hearth and the fresh smell of wood shavings in the Cooper Shop.
http://museum.gov.ns.ca/rfm/en/home/default.aspx, @RossRarmMuseum
11:30 Have your camera ready for the drive through Mahone Bay and get your shot of the famous three‐churches photo opp. while enroute to Lunenburg a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
12Noon Breathe in the salty sea air and take in the beautiful views while enjoying Lunch at the Old Fish Factory Restaurant & Ice Bar located at the Fisheries Museum of the Atlantic. http://www.oldfishfactory.com/
13:30 Discover, up close, life at sea at the Fisheries Museum of the Atlantic, at this UNESCO World Heritage Site you’ll explore the magnificent aquarium and wharf‐side vessels as well as the rebuilding of the wharf.
http://museum.gov.ns.ca/fma/en/home/visitus/bienvenue.aspx @FisheriesMuseum
Nova Scotia’s sailing ambassador, the Bluenose II is also undergoing a restoration; take a peak at this historic beauty while in Lunenburg. http://schoonerbluenose2.ca/
16:00 Enjoy a tour of the Ironworks Distillery in Lunenburg, a micro‐distillery that takes its name from the 1893 marine blacksmith’s shop that once produced ironworks for the shipbuilding trade. Taste the spirits that are crafted with the same love of traditional methods and attention to detail. http://ironworksdistillery.com @ironworks_ns
16:45 Lace up your sneakers and take a Historic Walking Tour of Old Town Luneburg with Lunenburg Walking Tours.
http://www.lunenburgns.com/details/lunenburg-walking-tours.html
18:00 Relax and enjoy dinner accompanied by “An Adventure in UNESCO” presentation. Learn about the nature of this designation and the 4 sites that have achieved it in Nova Scotia so far. Spend the night in the historic town of Lunenburg, UNESCO World Heritage Site
Day Five – June 4, 2012
07:30 Wake to the wonderful aroma’s of Breakfast at your accommodation.
08:15 Depart Lunenburg for Peggy’s Cove, one of Canada’s most photographed lighthouses. http://www.peggyscoveregion.com/ @PeggysCoveArea
10:30 Then visit Acadian Maple, a family owned and operated business whose specialty is pure Canadian maple syrup but they also offer a wide variety of sweet treats. The Acadian Maple shop encompasses a full agri‐tourism site where you can learn all about pure maple syrup, its history and how it is made, and view into the processing plant.
http://www.acadianmaple.com/ @acadianmaple
• Return to Halifax International Airport for departure
Important Information:
• Physical Restrictions: light physical activity, mostly involving walking various sites, will be involved in some of the proposed experiences.
• Dietary Restrictions: Food is a major component of this tour. Participants should advise if they have any dietary restrictions or food allergies.
Preferred clothing and activity‐gear needed:
• Walking footwear
• Wind and/or rain gear in case of inclement weather
• Layered clothing
• Binoculars, camera & video equipment
For more information on this itinerary, please contact:
Andrea Young Jeanette Joudrey
Communications/Web Manager Executive Director
Destination Halifax Destination Southwest Nova Association
ayoung@destinationhalifax.com jjoudrey@destinationsouthwestnova.com
(902) 423-1133
(902) 634-8844
Toronto: Big City Thrills
Thursday, May 31, 2012 - Monday, June 4, 2012
Location: Toronto, Niagara Falls and Niagara-on-the-Lake
Description: Discover the urban delights of Canada’s largest metropolis, that include some of Ontario’s most iconic experiences from the CN Tower to our world renowned wine and cuisine and even world famous Niagara Falls.
Itinerary:
Day 1: Thursday, May 31, 2012
6:55 a.m. Depart Whitehorse, Yukon for Toronto, Ontario (connection in Calgary, Alberta).
6:38 p.m. Arrive at Lester B. Pearson Toronto International Airport.
7:30 p.m. Greet pre-arranged transfer and depart for a boutique hotel (Thompson Toronto, Hotel Le Germain, Gladstone Hotel, Drake Hotel) in downtown Toronto.
8:00 p.m. Check in to hotel for a 4 night stay.
Evening Casual/short group dinner.
Day 2: Friday, June 1, 2012
8:30 a.m. Breakfast at the hotel.
10:00 a.m. Become an urban explorer on a 3 hour walking tour of Toronto’s major neighbourhoods with tour guide and city historian Bruce Bell. As you discover Toronto’s past, you’ll experience some of its most popular districts like funky Queen Street West, the city’s Art & Design District; tony Bloor-Yorkville, Toronto’s ‘Mink Mile” and bohemian Kensington Market, featuring vintage finds and an international flare.
1:00 p.m. Lunch at Bannock, the new Oliver & Bonacini restaurant & café, serving reimagined Canadian comfort food.
2:30 p.m. Urban Adventure Options:
• Edgewalk at the CN Tower: Toronto’s iconic CN Tower was recently recognized by Guinness World Records as having the “highest external walk on a building” in the world. If you dare to find out why, then join us on Toronto’s newest must see urban adventure. You’ll be harnessed to the top of the tower, 356 m (1,169 ft) above ground, for a 30 minute walk around the outside perimeter of the observation level. You’ll receive a photo and video of your walk documenting your daring!
• Segway Adventures: Glide through the cobblestone lanes of the Distillery Historic District aboard a fun and eco-friendly Segway Personal Transporter. Learn about the history of this former Gooderham & Worts distillery, now a bustling centre for arts & culture, while experiencing a thoroughly modern activity.
5:30 p.m. Return to hotel to freshen up before dinner.
7:30 p.m. Enjoy dinner at Scarpetta at the Thompson Hotel this evening. Scarpetta is the brainchild of renowned chef, Scott Conant, with sister locations in New York, Miami Beach and Beverly Hills.
Day 3: Saturday, June 2, 2012
Free Day Enjoy this day to explore on your own. Do some last minute shopping before you need to return home at the flagship stores of The Bay (the oldest commercial corporation in North America) and Holt Renfrew or the Toronto Eaton Centre. Alternatively, use your attractions passport to visit major attractions at your leisure. You might consider:
• Art Gallery of Ontario: redesigned by renowned architect and Toronto native, Frank Gehry, the “A.G.O.” as it is known to locals houses an impressive contemporary arts collection and Canadian collection, featuring works by Canada’s famed Group of Seven art collective.
• Royal Ontario Museum: The “ROM’s” crystal shard inspired design makes it an unmistakeable fixture on the Bloor Street landscape. Explore an exceptional array of themed galleries throughout the Museum, spanning both world cultures and natural history. With six million objects in the ROM’s collections, there’s something new to discover around every corner.
• Gardiner Museum: Located across from the ROM, the Gardiner Museum is the only museum in Canada entirely devoted to ceramics. The Gardiner Museum contains more than 2,900 ceramic works from Europe, Asia and the Americas.
• The Bata Shoe Museum: At this unique museum, explore the world at your feet through a stunning collection of more than 12,000 shoes and related artefacts that span 4,500 years of history in four impressive galleries.
7:00 p.m. Enjoy dinner at Toronto’s most unique and art friendly venue, The Gladstone Hotel.
Day 4: Sunday, June 3, 2012
8:30 a.m. Assemble in the lobby and then board mini bus for Niagara Falls. Approximate drive time, 11/2 hours).
10:30 a.m. Experience the Maid of the Mist, the oldest operating tourist attraction in North America and the must-see way to get up close to world-famous Niagara Falls. Duration: 1 hour.
11:30 a.m. Depart for Niagara-on-the-Lake (approximate drive time, 30 minutes). This neighbouring town, rich in heritage charm, is the heart of the Niagara Wine Region and home to the annual Shaw Theatre Festival, which showcases the works of George Bernard Shaw and his contemporaries.
12:00 p.m. Arrive at Peller Estates Winery for a winery tour followed by gourmet lunch, paired with estate wines.
3:00 p.m. Enjoy a 30-minute horse-drawn carriage tour of Niagara-on-the-Lake’s historic old town.
4:00 p.m. Depart for Toronto.
5:30 p.m. Arrive back at Toronto hotel and relax at your leisure until dinner this evening.
8:00 p.m. Dinner at Origin, recently named Toronto’s top restaurant of 2011 by Toronto Life magazine.
Day 5: Monday, June 4, 2012
Morning Early departures to points elsewhere.
Important information:
• Proposed transportation: taxi, van or small coach
• Physical restrictions: participants must be of “good” physical fitness. They must be able to walk on uneven terrain and endure outdoor conditions whether hot or rainy and cold.
• Dietary restrictions/food allergies: Food is a major component of this media tour. Participants should advise if they have any dietary restrictions or food allergies.
Preferred clothing and activity-gear needed:
• Comfortable walking footwear or running shoes
• Wind and/or rain gear
• Layered clothing
• Some business/smart casual attire
For more information contact:
Kattrin Sieber
North America Media Relations
Email: Kattrin.sieber@ontario.ca
Tel: (416) 325-8447
Diane Helinski
Europe/Mexico Media Relations
Email: Diane.Helinski@ontario.ca
Tel: (416) 314-7554
Laywah Ang
Asia-Pacific Media Relations
Email: Laywah.ang@ontario.ca
Tel: (416) 325-7261
Trails of 1885 - Canada's Forgotten Battle
Thursday, May 31, 2012 - Monday, June 4, 2012
Location: Saskatoon area, Saskatchewan
Description:
Canada's last, true west story …
The 1880s in western Canada and the Northwest Territories (Saskatchewan and Alberta) were a time of growth, expansion, tension and tragedy. The buffalo were gone, and the way of life was changing too fast for the people that had lived in the area for generations.
The North West Resistance took place on the prairies and parkland of western Canada in the spring of 1885. Its story is told in chapters everywhere from Winnipeg, Manitoba to Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta. It is a particularly unique story in Saskatchewan, however, where Métis and First Nations each have their own stories of confrontations and battles with government forces as well as the subsequent fallout and its impact on Canadian history.
Trails of 1885 continues to work with related sites and locations, festivals and events that are linked together by the events of 1885. Spread across three provinces - starting in Manitoba, across Saskatchewan, into Alberta, the stories of 1885 are being told…
Itinerary:
Day One – Thursday, May 31
• Media arrivals at the John G. Diefenbaker International Airport. Welcome to Saskatoon!
• Check in at hotel
• Dinner with Tourism Saskatoon representatives
Day Two – Friday, June 1
• Breakfast at hotel
• Depart Saskatoon for Fish Creek National Historic Site of Canada
Two cairns, prairie coulee, South Saskatchewan River, former Fish Creek trail, and Middleton’s Camp offer a glimpse into the pre-1885 Métis community, and tell of the historic April 24, 1885 battle between the Métis (with some First Nations) and Middleton’s force.
• Depart Fish Creek NHS for Batoche National Historic Site of Canada
Major battle of the North West Resistance between the Métis and the Canadian government took place here. You will see original trenches and rifle pits, Church of St. Antoine de Padoue, rectory, Caron homestead, and archaeological remains of the village of Batoche.
• Lunch at Le Rendez-Vous restaurant in the French-Canadian community of Bellevue, SK
• Cross the river by ferry to Duck Lake Regional Interpretive Centre and battlefield
Relive the turbulent late 1880s from three perspectives: First Nations, Métis, and pioneer. Art, photographs, documents, and artifacts show the ways of life, focusing on the North West Resistance and the devastating effect of the near-extinction of the plains bison. You will see the battlefield where the first shots of the North West Resistance were fired in 1885, about three kilometres west of Duck Lake. Climb the eight-story tower for a sweeping view of the prairies.
• Dinner in Saskatoon
Day Three – Saturday, June 2
• Breakfast at hotel
• Depart Saskatoon for Fort Battleford National Historic Site of Canada
Established in 1876 by the North West Mounted Police, Fort Battleford became the refuge for 500 settlers during the North West Resistance of 1885. The settlers had feared an attack from Chief Poundmaker’s Cree warriors. Today the fort showcases the role of the North West Mounted Police in the early settlement of the area. You will see five original buildings, reconstructed stockades and bastions.
• Lunch at the Station Arts Centre in Rosthern, SK
• Second ferry crossing, arrive at Fort Carlton Provincial Park
This original Hudson’s Bay Company fur-trading post features a reconstructed palisade, fur and provisions store, clerk’s quarters and Plains Cree Indian encampment all circa 1860s. The fort was used as a base for the North West Mounted Police and civilian volunteers in the first battle of the North West Resistance on March 26, 1885 near Duck Lake.
• Dinner in Saskatoon
Day Four – Sunday, June 3
• Breakfast at hotel
• Visit Wanuskewin Heritage Park
The area contains some of the most exciting archaeological finds in North America. To date, there are 19 pre-contact sites to be found within the valley and two historic sites, making this region the longest running active archaeological site in Canada. Some are 5,000 to 6,000 years old – and within walking distance of one another. You will delve into the past and discover what life was really like for the nomadic tribes. The theme of Wanuskewin Heritage Park is one of interpretation – exploring and explaining the meaning of the plains culture so that we can gain a better understanding of Saskatchewan’s First Nations peoples, and our common heritage.
• Lunch at Wanuskewin Heritage Park
Traditional staples include bison soup, bison stew, bison burger, baked bannock, and muskeg tea.
• Visit the Marr Residence
The Marr Residence is the oldest building in Saskatoon still on its original site. The house was built in 1884 by Sandy Marr. In 1885 the house was requisitioned by government forces and served as a field hospital. One of Saskatoon’s key heritage properties, it is the site of interpretive programming, and has been the focus of two archaeological investigations. A quiet garden adjoins the grounds of this historic home.
• Dinner in Saskatoon
Day Five – Monday, June 4
• Breakfast at hotel
All day: media departures from Saskatoon’s John G. Diefenbaker International Airport
• For mid/late-day departures, optional activities for media may include:
1. Visit to Western Development Museum
2. Paddle boarding on the South Saskatchewan River
3. Explore Broadway Avenue district
Important information:
• Physical restrictions: Extensive walking involved. Participants must be of “good” physical fitness, able to walk on uneven terrain and endure outdoor conditions whether hot or rainy and cold.
• Proposed transportation: van or small coach, and/or shuttle bus
• Vehicle travel involved, between approx. 45 - 90 minutes for sites outside of the city.
• Dietary restrictions/food allergies: Participants should advise if they have any dietary restrictions or food allergies.
Preferred clothing and activity-gear needed:
• Hiking / walking footwear
• Wind and/or rain gear
• Layered clothing
• Binoculars, camera & video equipment
Contacts:
Kelly Bertoncini
Director of Media
kbertoncini@tourismsaskatoon.com
306-931-7585
Alexandra Stang
Media Relations Coordinator
astang@tourismsaskatoon.com
306-931-7587
Untamed and Unbroken Saskatchewan
Thursday, May 31, 2012 - Monday, June 4, 2012
Location: Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park, Grasslands National Park
Description
Join Tourism Saskatchewan on an odyssey through the southwest and discover the prairies as they existed a century ago. Saskatchewan’s southwest is an eclectic landscape rich in iconic scenery, from the heights of the Cypress Hills to the rolling valleys of Old Man on His Back and Grasslands National Park. Discover Canada’s darkest sky preserve and visit the brand new observatory in the land ruled by bison. More than long horizons beneath the living skies, this journey is the discovery of the prairie as well as the self. This is a complete immersion as we will be travelling by RV along with a chef to prepare Saskatchewan-inspired meals for our guests along the way.
Itinerary:
Day 1 - Thursday, May 31
Land in Regina, check in to accommodations and meet with Tourism Saskatchewan representatives at dinner.
Day 2, Friday, June 1
• Rise and shine. Media guests will climb aboard one of three RVs by 8 am to drive west along number one highway to Maple Creek, where lunch will be hosted at the Redmond House.
• Following lunch, drive south into the Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park, the first designated dark sky preserve in North America (since 2004).
• Champagne dinner under the stars with a resident expert on the stars over Saskatchewan who will discuss the significance of this special dark sky preserve.
Day 3 – Saturday, June 2
• Travel to Grassland National Park, West Block interpretive centre where national park staff will introduce guests to the area, the preservation work that is being done and the wildlife that is to be found in the park.
• The day will be spent on the west side of the park, introducing media guests to the only national prairie park complete with rare, native prairie species including the black-tailed prairie dog and the black-footed ferrets. With a Saskatchewan-themed dinner prepared for guests before the end of day travel to East Block where we will overnight.
Day 4 – Sunday, June 3
• Wake with the prairie sun on the East Block where a leisurely breakfast will be served at 9 am.
• The east block badlands are the richest resource for dinosaur fossils in Canada. We will be joined by a resident expert that will highlight the geologic significance of this side of the park before guests set out with a picnic lunch to explore the wild plains for themselves. Bring those cameras!
• Dinner will be served back at the campsite where we will overnight.
Day 5 – Monday, June 4
• It’s another early morning with a 7 am breakfast before the return travel to Regina.
• Flights would need to be booked for after 2pm CST as the projected return trip is four hours.
Important information:
• WIFI access will be very limited during the time spent in Grasslands National Park.
• Media will be asked to provide drivers license information upon registration for this fam and may be asked to assist in the driving of the RVs.
• Media will be asked to share RV accommodations with a maximum of three guests per vehicle.
• Participants must be in fair physical fitness, walking on uneven terrain and endure outdoor conditions typical for Saskatchewan in early June (cool nights, potential rain).
• The menu will be determined prior to leaving Regina and there is little access to allow for changes after the trip is begun; participants are asked to notify us about any dietary restrictions upon registering for this fam.
Clothing and activity gear required:
• Appropriate hiking footwear
• Wind and/or rain gear
• Layered clothing
• Desired binoculars, camera and video equipment
• All required personal supplies as guests will be accommodated outside retail centres for three days
Contacts:
Karen Hill
Media Relations Consultant, Tourism Saskatchewan
P: 306.787.3712
E: Karen.hill@sasktourism.com
Carla Bechard
Media Relations Specialist, Tourism Saskatchewan
P: 306.787.2199
E: Carla.bechard@sasktourism.com
Klondike Gold Rush: On the Trail of '98!
Thursday, May 31, 2012 - Monday, June 4, 2012
Location: Fraser, BC to Dawson City, Yukon
Description:
Following in the steps of the gold rush stampeders, this touring itinerary focuses on the Yukon “Trail of ’98”.
Featuring an excursion on the historic White Pass & Yukon Route Railway, visit historic Lake Bennett where would be stampeders, after climbing the Chilkoot Trail with their goods and possessions, wintered over and built their own boats to navigate their way to Dawson City, heart of the Klondike. Through magnificent country, treacherous waterways and unimaginable conditions join us as we explore their journey, through the southern lakes waterways to the headwaters of the mighty Yukon River, and onwards to Dawson!
Showcasing a multitude of community attractions and Parks Canada Historic Sites this itinerary explores the legendary land of gold rush dreams through visits to the cabins of literary giants Jack London and Robert Service. Explore the Klondike goldfields, try your hand at gold panning, and play games of chance at Diamond Tooth Gerties Gambling Hall - Canada’s oldest operating casino. Tour the Yukon River and quench your thirst with the world famous Sourtoe Cocktail - your favorite libation served with a real human toe - are mainstays of this program.
Itinerary:
Thursday, May 31
Depart Whitehorse by vehicle for Fraser, BC and hop the rail at 10:20 am to Bennett Lake on the White Pass & Yukon Route railway! Visit beautiful Bennett Lake, the stopover for gold seekers after climbing the famous Chilkoot Trail, before they fought their way to the goldfields of Dawson City. Your rail journey will conclude in the historic community of Caribou Crossing, now known as Carcross. Overnight in Whitehorse.
Friday, June 1
This morning depart for Dawson City via the Klondike and Alaska Highways (600 km). Following dinner, spend the evening walking the historic boardwalks of Dawson or enjoy games of chance and the energetic floor shows at Diamond Tooth Gerties Gambling Hall. Overnight in Dawson City.
Saturday, June 2
A day of exploration! The activities in Dawson City are endless. Join Parks Canada staff on a tour of North America’s largest bucket-line, wooden hulled dredge - Dredge No. 4, visit the homes of world famous writers - Robert Service or Jack London, pan for gold with gold claim veterans, celebrate and share the contemporary experiences of the Tr’ondek Hwech’in at the Danoja Zho Cultural Centre, or tour the town and be enveloped in its historic origins. Overnight in Dawson City.
Sunday, June 3
Enjoy your last morning in Yukon’s Klondike taking in just one more tour, or the quest to find that last gold nugget memento before transferring to Dawson City Airport for 3:15 pm Air North departure to Whitehorse (4:30 pm arrival). Dinner and overnight in Whitehorse.
Monday, June 4
Departures from Whitehorse Airport to Vancouver, Edmonton and Calgary and connecting points beyond.
Important information:
• Proposed transportation: rail, van or small coach, aircraft, boat
• Physical restrictions: participants must be of “fair” physical fitness. They must be able to walk on uneven terrain and endure outdoor conditions whether hot, rainy and/or cold.
• Dietary restrictions/food allergies: Food is a major component of this media tour. Participants should advise if they have any dietary restrictions or food allergies.
• Yukon has cellular phone coverage in all Yukon communities. However only certain cell phone providers and models are honored. Before travelling to the Yukon, please check with your cellular phone provider to ensure your phone model and coverage will not be interrupted during your stay.
Preferred clothing and activity-gear needed:
• Lightweight hiking or walking footwear
• Wind and/or rain gear
• Layered clothing
• Binoculars, camera & video equipment
For more information contact:
Jim Kemshead
Media & PR, Tourism Yukon
867-667-5949
Margaret Goodwin
Market Manager Asia/Pacific
867-667-3606
Kluane National Park: Playground to Adventure!
Thursday, May 31, 2012 - Monday, June 4, 2012
Location: Haines Junction via the Alaska Highway
Description
An itinerary packed with exhilarating adventure outings set in and around the spectacular scenery of Kluane National Park, a UNESCO designated world heritage site. Day outings are based from the picturesque community of Haines Junction, 150km SW of Whitehorse and often include whitewater rafting the renowned Tatshenshini River, flight-seeing over some of the world’s largest non-polar ice fields and Mount Logan (Canada’s highest peak), hiking and biking, fishing and boating.
In addition Kluane Country is home to a variety of wildlife! Migrating trumpeter swans, geese, ducks, mountain sheep, grizzly and black bears abound and can often be viewed and photographed safely from the roadside. Visits to Klukshu, a First Nations fish camp and overnights at a fishing lodge may be included as well.
Itinerary
Thursday, May 31
• Depart Whitehorse for Haines Junction (150km), gateway to Kluane National Park via the world famous Alaska Highway.
• Afternoon activity: Glacier flight-seeing.
• Overnight in Haines Junction.
Friday, June 1
• Day Adventure Options:
1. Guided alpine or trail hiking
2. Whitewater river rafting
• Overnight Haines Junction.
Saturday, June 2
• Day Adventure Activities:
1. Guided river fishing
2. A raft float down Dezadeash River.
• Overnight in Haines Junction.
Sunday, June 3
Enjoy your last morning in Kluane Country. Return to Whitehorse for shopping, dinner and overnight.
Monday, June 4
Departures from Whitehorse Airport to Vancouver, Edmonton and Calgary and connecting points beyond.
Important information:
• Proposed transportation: van or small coach, aircraft, boat
• Physical restrictions: participants must be of “fair” physical fitness. They must be able to walk on uneven terrain and endure outdoor conditions whether hot, rainy and/or cold.
• Dietary restrictions/food allergies: Food is a major component of this media tour. Participants should advise if they have any dietary restrictions or food allergies.
• Yukon has cellular phone coverage in all Yukon communities. However only certain cell phone providers and models are honored. Before travelling to the Yukon, please check with your cellular phone provider to ensure your phone model and coverage will not be interrupted during your stay.
Preferred clothing and activity-gear needed:
• Mid-weight hiking or walking footwear
• Wind and/or rain gear
• Layered clothing
• Binoculars, camera & video equipment
For more information contact:
Jim Kemshead
Media & PR, Tourism Yukon
867-667-5949
Margaret Goodwin
Market Manager Asia/Pacific
867-667-3606
Tails and Trails
Thursday, May 31, 2012 - Monday, June 4, 2012
Location: Southern Lakes & Takhinni Inns
Itinerary Focus: Nature & Soft Adventure
Description:
An itinerary full with trail adventure outings that nature custom-made-perfect for hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding and more. This itinerary features overnights in the comfortable retreats and inns set in the beautiful scenic regions of Takhinni and the Southern Lakes. Expect your days to be additionally filled with a visit to a dog mushing kennel for hands-on training or an evening soak in a hot springs or an exhilarating zip line experience.
Itinerary:
Thursday, May 31
Depart Whitehorse by vehicle for Carcross, Yukon to board the Yukon Adventure Excursion of the White Pass & Yukon Route railway! This full day excursion features beautiful scenics and a chance to hike and explore the final leg of the famous Chilkhoot Trail. Your rail journey will conclude in the historic community of Caribou Crossing, now known as Carcross.
Friday, June 1
Day Adventure Options:
1) Mountain biking Montana Mountain (Carcross)
2) Off road 4X4 adventure
Saturday, June 2
Day Adventure Options:
1) Horseback trail riding
2) Dog mushing 101
Sunday, June 3
Day Adventure Options:
1) Takhinni River paddle
2) Canyon City hike along the Yukon River
Return to Whitehorse for dinner and overnight.
Monday, June 4
Departures from Whitehorse Airport to Vancouver, Edmonton and Calgary and connecting points beyond.
Preferred clothing and activity-gear needed:
• Mid-weight hiking or walking footwear
• Wind and/or rain gear
• Layered clothing
• Binoculars, camera & video equipment
For more information contact:
Jim Kemshead
Media & PR, Tourism Yukon
867-667-5949
Margaret Goodwin
Market Manager Asia/Pacific
867-667-3606
Top of the World and Artic Circle Scenic Tour!
Thursday, May 31, 2012 - Monday, June 4, 2012
Description:
In the Yukon you’ll find 483,000 square kilometers of terrain, 20 communities and almost 4,800 kilometers of all- season highways. The very names of our roads speak of adventure – the Silver Trail, the Alaska Highway, the Dempster and the Top of the World, to name a few.
With seven spectacular scenic drives reaching all corners of the territory, this is a road-touring paradise! Join us as we explore four highways: the Alaska Highway, the Top of the World, the Dempster Highway (Canada’s only public road that crosses the Arctic Circle ).
Itinerary:
Thursday, May 31, 2012
• Depart Whitehorse for Beaver Creek (457 km) on the world famous Alaska Highway! Watch in awe as we border Kluane National Park and her towering mountain peaks, and skirt the shores of spectacular Kluane Lake. Stops will include the road side communities of Haines Junction, Destruction Bay and Burwash Landing.
• Tonight we will overnight in Canada’s western most community - Beaver Creek and home to the famous Rendezvous Dinner Show!
Friday, June 1
Depart this morning to travel the Alaska & Taylor highways through Chicken, Alaska to connect with the Top of the World highway (446km) - feel the excitement as we descend in to the valley and into Dawson City, home of the 1898 Klondike Gold Rush! This authentic gold rush town is a lively place bursting with historic sites and attractions. Explore historic boardwalks, homes of famous writers Jack London and Robert Service, the lively entertainment at Diamond Tooth Gerties or just contemplate the way things were on the banks of the mighty Yukon River. Overnight.
Saturday, June 2
The morning will be yours to explore Dawson City and flight-see over the Klondike goldfields and feast your eyes on Yukon’s majestic Tombstone Mountains. An afternoon departure via the Dempster Highway will get you to Eagle Plains (375km). Following dinner drive the 40km to the Arctic Circle and take in the midnight sun.
Sunday, June 3
An early morning departure back to Dawson City will connect you with Air North’s 3:15pm flight to Whitehorse for a farewell dinner and overnight.
Monday, June 4
Departures from Whitehorse Airport to Vancouver, Edmonton and Calgary and connecting points beyond.
Important information:
• Proposed transportation: van or small coach, aircraft
• Physical restrictions: participants must be of “fair” physical fitness. They must be able to walk on uneven terrain and endure outdoor conditions whether hot, rainy and/or cold.
• Dietary restrictions/food allergies: Food is a major component of this media tour. Participants should advise if they have any dietary restrictions or food allergies.
• Yukon has cellular phone coverage in all Yukon communities. However only certain cell phone providers and models are honored. Before travelling to the Yukon, please check with your cellular phone provider to ensure your phone model and coverage will not be interrupted during your stay.
• This itinerary takes you into Alaska, USA and will require proper identification/documentation.
Preferred clothing and activity-gear needed:
• Mid-weight hiking or walking footwear
• Wind and/or rain gear
• Layered clothing
• Binoculars, camera & video equipment
For more information contact:
Jim Kemshead
Media & PR, Tourism Yukon
867-667-5949
Margaret Goodwin
Market Manager Asia/Pacific
867-667-3606
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