Posts Tagged ‘canada’
Rocky Mountaineer Luxury Rail Gives Awesome Canadian Experience
Rocky Mountaineer Luxury Rail gives Awesome Canadian Experience
By Bobbie Green
There cannot be a better way to enjoy the awe-inspiring vistas that are found in Western Canada. My eyes are inundated with wondrous scenery in full view from my dome car on the Rocky Mountaineer Train.
In celebration of its 20th season, Randy Powell, President of “Rocky Mountaineer” the Canadian train company, was at the Vancouver station to see us off on the first train run of the season. I was taking the 2-day journey over the “Kicking Horse Route” to Calgary while enjoying their “Gold Leaf Service.”
As we left the station, all the Rocky Mountaineer staff not aboard our train were lined up to give their famous two handed good-by wave to those aboard the train. This guest pleasing gesture happens each time the train leaves a Rocky Mountaineer station. The seats in both Red Car Service and Gold Leaf Service are wide and comfy. Red car passengers enjoy picture windows and have their meals at their seat. Gold Leaf passengers ride in the upper dome car and have their meals below in the picture windowed dinning car.
Our route takes us along the coastal mountains, the Rocky Mountains and Glacier National Park. The first run of the season begins in April and some rivers, lakes and waterfalls were still frozen or just beginning to thaw, what a treat for passengers from a mild climate like my self. Guest getting to take in the majestic views while passing behind cascading glacier ice is almost surreal. Short of climbing a mountain yourself, where else could one see this phenomenal scenery? For those passengers used to a long white winter I would recommend taking the run later in the summer where your eyes may feast on the lush greenery and pristine lakes of Canada.
Unlike Canada’s Via train that goes from coast to coast Rocky Mountaineer is privately owned and runs western Canadian itineraries. Passengers may add sight seeing tours if they wish or lengthen their trip by connecting with Via to cross the country. The train runs only in daylight hours, not to miss the views. Guests overnight in hotels. We stayed in the town of Kamloops at the Thompson Hotel. Guest had a choice of spending the evening exploring on their own or attending a pre-arranged dinner and show. Room keys were handed out on the train and the luggage was in the room when the guest arrived. Kamloops is one of the warmest, driest cities in Canada and takes pride in its beautiful golf courses. The name Kamloops comes from a First Nation word meaning “meeting of the waters.”
I found the trip to be superior in every way. The service is out of the ordinary with the attendants also acting as docents pointing out sights and giving the history along with their own brand of humor. The food left nothing to be desired. It was presented as it would be in a fine dinning restaurant and tasted every bit as good. Beverages of all kinds were always forthcoming to your seats along with snacks.
Those with long range focal lenses on their cameras spent much of their time on the vestibule shooting the scenery without the glass. People from all over the world want to travel on this train. I met folks from England, Switzerland, Germany, Australia and Texas. I know the Texans will appreciate me listing them with the Countries.
Rocky Mountaineer has perfected luxury train travel through out the past years, the proof being all the awards and accolades they have won since 1991. Still an innovative company, they are now introducing escorted Tours and themed tours, with the addition of a lounge/ library car and features such as wine appreciation and special educational presentations. This means you will have another common interest with your fellow passengers who have chosen this particular theme. The train is handicapped accessible including a lift.
When talking with the attendants and the train manager I found most of them have been with the company for many years, and have plans to stay with them because they enjoy their work.
My train experience was truly awesome because of the scenery and fun because of the comfort, fellow passengers and attendants. When you are ready to ride the rails, I can recommend the luxury rails of Rocky Mountaineer for an experience of a lifetime.
IF YOU GO
Rocky Mountaineer Vacations
800-665-7245
www.Rockymountaineer.com
Goggle: tourism Vancouver
www.Britishcolumbia.com
Visiting Vancouver
VISITING VANCOUVER
Inviting Vancouver Makes Sightseeing Easy
By Bobbie Green
In January 2008 Travel Weekly Magazine acknowledged Vancouver as the top Canadian destination for 2007, in 2006 Conde`Nast Traveler named Vancouver “Best City in the Americas.” This versatile Canadian city is soon to be home to the 2010 Olympic and Paralympics winter games, welcomes visitors with its beauty and its user friendly airport. Vancouver International airport houses a full-service drugstore, walk-in dental centre, and medical clinic and laboratory services. There is a nursery and several play areas for children and of course the standards, wireless for laptops and a health club. There is a full service hotel at the airport. It would be wonderful for travelers if all major airports had these facilities.
The area of Vancouver was first claimed by Spain in the 1500’s The Colony of Vancouver was chartered in 1849 and soon became part of British Columbia. Present day Vancouver is a beautiful city with many attractions for its many visitors. The city is bustling with activity now getting ready for the winter Olympics by building on to their rapid transit system including a line running from Vancouver airport to the Olympic Village. All this activity did not impede my short visit in any way,
One could stay busy for at least 6 days sight seeing around the city. Most visitors are not there that long. I would recommend visitors take the hop-on-hop-off Big Bus for an overview of the city. After taking the full 90-minute tour and hearing the narration one can stay aboard and ride to the area of your interest, get off and explore and board a later bus back. This is an affordable way to see the city sights. Ask your hotel concierge or the visitor’s center for a schedule and stop locations. Their vehicles are either a double decked bus or half in and half open air bus. I call it the fun bus.
Vancouver also has a hop-on-hop-off Trolley which does include some stops that differ from the bus.
One of my fun stops was at Stanley Park where I explored the Vancouver Aquarium. It was very nicely laid out with a Tropic Zone, Amazon Rainforest, Strait of Georgia exhibits and everyone’s favorite a giant pacific octopus. They have an outdoor snack area sitting between two of three pools one of arctic beluga white whales and the Otter and seals. It is amusing to be there at feeding time, there are many optimal places to view the feeding of the dolphins, otters, seals and whales. The short walk from the bus stop to the aquarium is of course beautiful since you are inside Stanley Park with numerous varieties of vegetation and the famous rose garden when in blooming season.
Everyone wants off to see Gas Town, the historic part of the city with the famous steam clock. “Gassy Jack” Deighton showed up at this site with a Indian wife, mother-in-law and barrel of whisky in 1867. He told the working men from the near-by wood mill he had whisky but no place to sell it from. It is said in 24 hours the men built him a saloon and the settlement that grew from that became know as Gas Town because John Deighton liked to talk he was known as “Gassy Jack.” Visitor’s like stroll along the streets checking out the character restaurants and designer boutiques.
I made a quick trip through Yaletown, an old redbrick warehouse district that has been transformed into a very trendy, inviting atmosphere with some of the city’s best restaurants and is definitely the in place to be for nightlife. I had dinner at a popular casual dinning steak house called Hamilton Street Grill.
Its owner and chef Neil Wyles is a amiable fellow who loves being a chef and owning the restaurant, where he can create dishes and interact with his guest. My food was cooked to perfection and the locals are steady customers. Many of the shops and restaurants are sitting on the original loading docks for the trains and the streets are at different heights. Contemporary high-rise condos surround the area and yet the original train roundhouse is still in place with Engine 374 still sitting there for all to see.
Vancouver enjoys the mildest weather in Canada and its waterfront area is stunning. The down town area is a good place to stay, there is much to see, easy walking to sights or transportation. One can walk to the waterfront from the business section of town.
Whether you are planning to attend the Olympics, embark on a cruise ship or just want to have the pleasure of a fun city to visit without leaving the continent, versatile Vancouver will fill the bill
IF YOU GO
Tourism Vancouver
604-631-2873
www.vancouver2010.com –Olympics
Big Bus
1-877-299-0701
Vancouver Trolley Co
604-801-5515
Vancouvertrolley.com
St George Executive Shuttle
888-394-8002
Calgary Alberta a cross roads city
Calgary Alberta, Cross Roads City
By Bobbie Green 
Nestled in the foothills of the Canadian Rocky Mountains, at the cross roads of two major Highway systems, The Trans Canada Highway and the Canamex Corridor sits the tourist destination city of Calgary. Best know for its Stampede, the largest outdoor rodeo in the world, the Stampede attracts 12 million visitors per year for ten day in July. Visitors wishing to avoid the crowds will find plenty of attractions, off the Stampede path, at a less congested time of the year.
Visitors will find the downtown area a convenient location to stay, with hotels like the Palliser Fairmont, where I stayed, the Calgary Marriott, Hyatt Regency and others all within walking distance to many attractions as well as the rail station and the free c-train, I counted seven live performance theaters as I strolled around the area including Epcor Centre for the Performing Arts. The famous Stephens Ave Walk shopping area is only a block away. 
Fort Calgary, where the city was born, also in walking distance, proved to be quite an informational source of Canadian and Calgary history. There is not much left of the fort but a few barrack buildings still in place. The interpretive center is small but informative with interesting displays of the historic North West Mounted Police, as they were known when first formed in 1873. Later they became know as the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. In May of 2009 they celebrated their 136th birthday at Fort Calgary. The center describes the hardships of the men who brought law and order to the North West Territory. They seem to be as tough as the men in America’s Lewis and Clark expedition. The Deane’s House was located on the fort grounds and was built for Captain Richard Deane in 1906. In 1929 it was privately purchased and moved across the Elbow River on skids and pilings and pulled by a tractor to its present day site just a short walk from the Fort Museum. It is possibly the only all original building from the fort and was designated a Registered Historic Resource. Today, it is operated by the Fort Calgary Preservation Society as a Restaurant, generating revenue for operating cost of the fort. When in Calgary do not miss the opportunity to eat there. I can still taste that wonderful hamburger with the homemade bun and tomato jam. The dinning room overlooks the river and is very pleasant, but that hamburger would taste delicious eating it in a ditch.
The next attraction visitors should not miss is the Glenbow Museum. It is a huge four story museum just 2 short blocks away from the Fairmont and Marriott hotels. Allow yourself a minimum of three hours to enjoy this masterpiece museum. Beautiful exhibits are on display of the Blackfoot people, the history of Western Canada, the men and their stories, the Aboriginal people and world class Asian Sculptures. I loved the way they presented the First Nation people stories with the original story cloths, usually painted on a hide, and a film with a tribe member telling the stories and a printed hand out of the stories for visitors to take home. It drew one’s interest much more than just viewing the story cloth. They did similar presentations with the Western Canadian history section. There is even a little local owned snack shop on the first floor where one can take a break from their long day and get home made soup and sandwiches on homemade bread.
The Calgary Tower is located next to the train station, it is a bit pricey to go up and if you want to eat in the restaurant you must make a reservation, but you will get a 360 degree view of the city. One may even walk on the glass floor if you stomach can take it.
All in all Calgary is a destination city for vacationers. It is clean and surrounded by scenic landscapes and rivers. It has many attractions and fun things to do in and around the city. I have only mentioned a few of the less publicized therefore least crowded tourist attractions. When the Stampede is over the rest of Calgary is waiting to be explored.
IF YOU GO
Calgary visitors Bureau
1-800-661-1678
Fort Calgary Interpretive Center
403-290-1875
Fairmont Palliser Hotel
1-800-231-0644
Glenbow Museum
403-268-4100