In the same way that the French don’t always feel the need to cross the borders of their own country in order to experience an amazing range of sights and tastes, Canadians too have a whole world of wonder on their doorstep. The country has so much to offer that its residents could easily experience something new on every Canadian vacation without leaving their country. From fast-paced modern cities to historical and cultural centers to amazing landscapes and wonderful wildlife, Canada has it all.
While Canadian trips abroad reached an all-time high of 35 million in 2014, there’s been a decrease in Canadian tourist travel to other countries since then, in line with the depreciation of the Canadian dollar. And when they have so much to explore just outside their front doors, it’s no surprise that many Canadians decide to stay put for their vacations.
Whatever your budget, there are plenty of options for travel in Canada but if you’re looking for that touch of luxury and indulgence on your trip, read on.
Get Close to One of the World’s Most Awesome Sights
One of the popular destination for the Canadian vacation that is on many international visitors’ lists and surely figures as a “bucket-list item” for any Canadian at some time in their life is the majestic Horseshoe and the Niagara Falls.
Apart from just standing at the top and drinking with the view of the thundering waterfalls, there are other ways you can experience them. Take a ride with Hornblower Niagara Cruises, where you can choose to go on a 700-seater catamaran, or book the jet boat Niagara Guardian if you’d rather take a whole boat for an exclusive charter with your friends. And if you don’t like the idea of getting wet, take a helicopter ride above the falls instead.
Evening entertainment at Niagara includes illuminations on the falls and fireworks above them but there’s more indoors at the casinos of Niagara At the Fallsview Casino Resort, you can enjoy table games such as poker, roulette, and blackjack as well as a huge range of slots. Similar games and gaming tables are available at Casino Niagara but the $1 billion Fallsview complex probably has the edge in terms of glamour.
If you’re planning to play casino while at Niagara, get some practice online before you go for a canadian vacation. For instance, if you’re a novice, you can read more about blackjack and play at online casinos to get used to placing bets and understanding the rules of the game. Websites like Bodog offer bonuses to newcomers, as well as the opportunity to play unique variants like Zappit Blackjack. With a little pre-arrival practice, you’ll feel much more at ease walking up to the blackjack table in a bricks and mortar casino.
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Enjoy Some Wild Luxury
Camping may take us back to our roots and make us appreciate the simple things in life but, let’s face it, it can also be pretty hard work and sometimes not all that much fun. If you want to have a taste of outdoors life without the effort, then go for a glamping option by booking in at a place like the Clayoquot Wilderness Resort.
Located in the UNESCO Clayoquot Sound Biosphere Reserve near Tofino, the resort has 20 luxury tents furnished with beautiful antique dressers, oil lamps, sumptuous carpets and the all-important propane wood stoves. The majority of the tents also have en-suite bathrooms with heated floors and indoor/outdoor showers.
Once ensconced in your luxury tent, you can take part in a wide range of activities including zip line riding, clay shooting, horse riding, and mountain biking excursions. When you’re feeling less energetic, you can soak up the views while you’re soaking in a hot spring or enjoy the indulgent treatments at the on-site spa. And of course, there’s no need to cook over a camp-stove – five-star cooking is done for you by the resort’s kitchen staff.
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Go Off Piste
There are few more stunning vistas in Canada than the slopes of fantastic resorts such as Banff, Whistler, and Lake Louise. Wherever you go, a lack of snow will never be an issue – in Canada, falls are measured in feet rather than inches. And, given the size of the resorts, you can enjoy more space on the ski runs than you do in the popular, but crowded, resorts in the European ski resorts.
Each of the big resorts has plenty of marked runs, as well as cross-country trails to choose from. Luxury lodgings are also plentiful. At Whistler, thanks to the wide range of ski-able areas, you get the longest ski season. Meanwhile, Lake Louise offers a perfect year-round destination for those who ski and those who just prefer the après-ski side of a ski holiday.
The type of Canadian vacation that appeals most depends on the individual, of course. But whatever you’re into, there’s the option to enjoy it in Canada.