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Kamloops Lake, British Columbia
Tobiano is Turning Heads:
Canadian architect Thomas McBroom has stamped his name on so many stellar golf courses, it's hard to pick his best. Crowbush Cove, Wildfire, Rocky Crest, the list goes on. However, Tobiano, located 20 minutes west of Kamloops, might be the one that will, when it's all said and done, turn the most heads and garner the most accolades. Parading through a rumpled, links-like landscape high above Kamloops Lake, the setting here is simply sublime. As for the golf holes themselves, well, there isn't one that remotely fits in the ho-hum category. Indeed, it might sound a tad cliché-ish, but every hole at Tobiano is a unique, character-filled challenge complete with a panoramic view. Don't believe it? Visit their website and take in the slideshow. Then get your tail over there.
www.tobianogolf.com
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Kenya (40 reasons to visit)
Where else can you...
1. See two million pink flamingos at Lake Nakuru!
2. Stay in the Sagana Lodge, where Queen Elizabeth II ascended to the throne.
3. Meet and learn about the 42 unique tribes in Kenya.
4. Have a pint (or two) of the world-famous Tusker beer!
5. Walk a half mile into the Indian Ocean at Mombassa.
6. Visit the original home of the safari.
7. See the land that inspired Ernest Hemingway on his first Kenyan safari in 1933.
8. Dine with, and feed, the giraffes at Giraffe Manor in Nairobi.
9. View the migration of some two million wildebeest in the "Greatest Game Show on Earth," from a hot air balloon above the Masai Mara.
10. See wild animals within minutes of a major urban city at Nairobi National Park.
11. Watch as a Samburu lion defies nature and adopts a baby oryx, a small antelope that is typically prey.
12. Stay on the former coffee plantation where Karen Blixen (Isak Denisen) lived, which became the inspiration for the film Out of Africa.
13. Experience a true night's sleep under the stars in one of Loisaba's "Star Beds".
14. See where Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie first celebrated their relationship, at Diani Beach.
15. Golf in both the northern and southern hemisphere in one round at the Mt. Kenya Safari Club!
16. Sip on local Kenyan coffees and teas, some of the world's most famous for its rich flavor.
17. Take in the breathtaking views of the Great Rift Valley.
18. Compete in an international birding competition. Kenya has over 400 species of birds!
19. Take a "running safari" alongside world-famous marathoners and Olympians in Eldoret.
20. Test your paleo-anthropological knowledge and visit the country known as the "Cradle of Mankind".
21. View Africa's largest lake (Lake Victoria), the start of the Great Nile River.
22. Hear the beautiful songs and rhythms of the Samburu tribe.
23. Take a walk on the real wild side on a walking safari with a Maasai moran ("warrior").
24. Adopt a baby elephant at the David Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage.
25. Enjoy a sundowner cocktail overlooking the Oloololo Escarpment on the banks of the Mara River.
26. Learn some Swahili, like jambo (hello), karibu (welcome) and asante sana (thank you very much).
27. Shoot wildlife, with a camera not a gun! (Hunting was banned in 1977).
28. Test your bargaining skills while shopping for local arts, crafts, and food at the Maasai Market in downtown Nairobi.
29. Indulge in the exotic nightlife at Diani Beach.
30. Savor a delicious bush breakfast, complete with linens and champagne!
31. Relax with a massage while listening to the crashing waves of the Indian Ocean.
32. Enjoy a romantic bush dinner for two (humans, number of hippos unknown) at the Hippo Point Lodge at Lake Naivasha.
33. Experience the mix of British Colonialism, traditional Kenyan culture, and the pulse of modern Nairobi.
34. Stand on the Equator and watch science demos of how water flows in different directions.
35. Be embraced by warm, authentic Kenyan hospitality.
36. Fulfill Wangari Maathai's dream and plant a tree!
37. Skydive in Diani's annual "Skydiving Boogie"!
38. See why celebrities like Prince William, Liam Neeson, Natalie Portman, and Cameron Diaz all choose to vacation in Kenya.
39. See the land that inspired the movie The Lion King.
40. Start planning your next trip to Kenya while enjoying the sounds of wildlife around a crackling campfire.
(Source: CITC) www.MagicalKenya.com
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Lincoln, ON
Ball's Falls Centre for Conservation:
The Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority has opened its new Centre for Conservation. Interactive exhibits and a full program of events at the Centre will enhance the visitor experience and inspire them to become good environmental stewards. The building itself is a showcase of environmentally-appropriate building design and operation and is based on the LEED guidelines from the Canada Green Building Council. Ball's Falls Conservation Area is a regionally-significant site, designated as a nodal park in the Niagara Escarpment Parks and Open Space System and frequented year-round by thousands of visitors, including organized school groups. This new facility will help tell the story of Ball's Falls and the Twenty Mile Creek Watershed, including:
- A corridor Gallery will focus on the Niagara Escarpment Biosphere Reserve
- Displays on watershed management and the historical uses of the Twenty Mile Creek.
- One exhibit focuses on the 2,000 year old cultural history of Ball's Falls
- Multi-purpose room for educational programs and community gatherings
www.conservation-niagara.on.ca
Rosewood Estates Winery and Meadery:
This Beamsville Bench vineyard is blessed with a unique terroir. Controlled fermentation enhances the unique attributes of its wines. As Niagara's first meadery, Rosewood Estates offers innovative honey wines, candles and honey. The Roman family has been beekeepers for 70 years. Originally the family kept bees in King Township, Ontario. In the year 2000, the apiary operations were moved to Beamsville. Three apiaries are located throughout the Beamsville Bench. The honey gathered there is fruity and pleasant tasting. The idea of producing honey wines or Meads has intrigued Eugene Roman since high school. Eugene and Natalie Roman combined their skills of honey production and winemaking to develop innovative handcrafted honey wines. Harvest Gold is a traditional style mead with a nose of almond and vanilla. Mon Chérie is a specialty mead made from Niagara cherries blended with local honey.
www.rosewoodwine.com
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London, On
London boasts many natural areas throughout the city that are open year-round including: Kilally Meadows, Meadowlily Woods, Medway Valley Heritage Forest, Sifton Bog, Warbler Woods, and Westminster Ponds. Natural areas are wetlands, meadows, forests, valley lands and other relatively undisturbed lands that are home to many different plants and wildlife. Some contain rare plants, wildlife or landforms, or have features characteristic of the region before European settlement, or are especially large or diverse in habitat. Many natural areas are considered environmentally significant on a local, regional, provincial or even national scale. In addition to the natural areas, London also features approximately 22 kilometers of paved bike paths along the Thames River.
Visit the websites
www.thamesvalleytrail.org and
http://www.thamesriver.on.ca/Wetlands_and_ Natural_Areas/natural_areas.htm
or call 451-2800 for additional information about London's natural areas.
Other nature related links for the London area:
Friends of the Coves Subwatershed: www.thecoves.ca
McIlwraith Field Naturalists: www.mcilwraith.ca
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Malmö, Sweden Environmental shopping
Astrid & aporna - eco-vego supermarket:
vegetables, dairy products, dog food. Astrid & aporna is an environmental store. As well as a fully organic fruit and veg section, the rest of the selection is fully vegetarian and and mostly organic or certified by KRAV or 'Good Environmental Choice'. Even the 'plastic bags' are eco - you just throw them into the compost!
Gustav Möllersgatan 2, next to the Concert Hall
www.astridochaporna.net
Bo01 in Västra Hamnen:
enviro-district, self-sufficient in solar power, wind power and heat from the sea. Lots of green areas with vegetable patches and butterfly gardens.
www.malmo.se/vastrahamnen
Bondens Egen Marknad:
is a farmer's market with vegetables, berries, meat, flowers and much more from local farmers. Selection is both conventional and organic. Starts the last Saturday in August, for eight Saturdays onward. Drottningtorget
www.bondensegen.com
Dolce Sicilia:
Italian ice cream made from a family recipe from Sicily. Sugar, milk cream and egg yolks are all KRAV certified, and fruit, nuts and chocolate are organic. Also sells coffee, crêpes and salads. Drottningtorget
www.dolcesicilia.se
Flickorna Fläderblom:
restaurant with eco-focus, known among other things for its generous buffets. Köpenhamnsvägen 40
www.flickornafladerblom.se
Ingrid af Maglehem:
classic and hip eco-clothes for the whole family. Södra Förstadsgatan 27, pedestrian streeet.
www.ingridafmaglehem.se
Jane Wikström:
organic, classic clothes. Södra Vallgatan 3
www.janewikstrom.se
Manatura:
eco hair studio specialising in dreads, colouring and highlights. Drottningtorget 2 B
www.manatura.com
Morot & annat:
large selection of organic fruit and vegetables, eggs and dairy products.
Drottningtorget 2 A Tel: 040-30 21 50
Restaurang Brogatan:
one of the first organic restaurants in Sweden. Brogatan 12
www.brogatan.com
Salt & Brygga:
restaurant with eco theme, from the food to the furniture you sit on.
Sundspromenaden 7, Västra Hamnen.
www.saltobrygga.se
KRAV and Fair Trade
In Sweden there are four established environmental certification systems: Bra Miljöval (Good Environmental Choice), Svanen (the Swan ecolabel), EU-blomman (the EU Flower) and KRAV, the latter of which has existed since 1985. KRAV is the system that includes food, and it places strict demands on them. Good environment, good animal care, good health and social responsibility are keywords. All crops must be organically produced without chemical pesticides or inorganic fertilizer. All animals must be treated well, be allowed outside as much as possible and eat organic feed. No GM products are allowed, and the people who work with the products must not be subjected to chemicals. For more information on KRAV, visit
www.krav.se
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Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan
"Did I have a good harvest?" Yes, I did, which is why you see me here now, and with all the family. Taking the waters. Out here, on the prairie, the wind blows, soil cracks, dust blows, but when we do have a good year it feels good, really does. So we come down to the Temple Gardens here in Moose Jaw every year after harvest and, well, we take a holiday.
That's what harvest is - a celebration, a thank you. Look around you. Farmers from all over, whole families come to take the waters. We've come to rest a bit - see my arm? Brown to the elbow, but that's it. That's the tan a farmer gets: half an arm on the driver's side. You know, it would have been nice to have had some oil underground, but that wasn't our call.
Drillers tested here, back in 1910, and what did they hit? An ancient seabed. And what came rushing up was this nice, hot water that's good for you because of the minerals. I'll take it. So do many others. Look at the flags above you, flags from all over the world. When we're done, we'll pack up and drive down there and on to the Cypress Hills, spend a night or two, and then head down to Eastend - that's a part of the province I can highly recommend.
Have you been to the Great Sand Hills and walked across the dunes? Most Canadians I know have no idea that the Sand Hills are even there - or that the Cypress Hills is a lump of the country as it was forty million years ago that's poked right through the prairie grasslands. There are types of flora on those hills you won't find anywhere else, and if you camp there and walk over top of it you can look over prairie pretty well all the way to Fort Walsh. That's where we'll go after that - to Eastend.
We'll walk through grasslands that haven't been touched at all by the combines we've been driving for months now. We'll see the ground as it was. And we'll look for a buffalo rub to lean against - do you know what that is, a buffalo rub? That's the kind of large glacial rock we call an "erratic" that buffalo have been rubbing up to for thousands of years to remove their dry winter hair, so that it's polished smooth like a giant gemstone. I'm going down to lean against a buffalo rub and connect, I am. You may think the prairie's empty. You may even think Saskatchewan is flat. You just haven't learned how to see it yet. Saskatchewan is a land of small miracles. A buffalo rub is one, these baths another. Take the waters.
www.templegardens.sk.ca
www.manitousprings.ca
www.dinocountry.com
tprc.alberta.ca/parks/cypresshills
www.cyr.gov.sk.ca/parks
(The most famous mineral baths in Saskatchewan are in Moose Jaw, now a part of the Temple Gardens Mineral Spa Resort Hotel. The pools are open all year, but are especially convivial in early fall. There are also mineral baths at Manitou Springs Resort & Mineral Spa, by Little Manitou Lake. Eastend was the great American writer Wallace Stegner's territory, but is famous for its dinosaur remains, too. It is situated by the US border, close to the Cypress and Great Sand Hills.)
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Naples, FL
The Big Cypress Market Place, an 87,000 square-foot market in Naples, houses the wares of 150 merchants from clothing and sunglasses to food and electronics. This one-stop-shop for everything on your souvenir list, scheduled to open in March, also has eight restaurants to help keep your shopping strength up.
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New Hampshire
Anyone who has visited New Hampshire knows how friendly and easy it is to travel throughout New Hampshire and doesn't feel uneasy about travelling at night or certain areas. New Hampshire is indeed a very safe state to live and travel and this is further evident by a recent report released by CQ Press, a Washington, DC based leading publisher of books, directories, and reference publications on US government, world affairs, and political science
(www.cqpress.com). CQ publishes an annual Crime State Rankings report and in its 2009 Crime State Rankings study, it showed New Hampshire received the lowest crime rate ranking again this year, followed by Vermont and Maine.
Another accolade was awarded recently to The Mount Washington Resort, located in the picturesque White Mountains region of New Hampshire, as one of the "Top 10 Mountain Hotels in the World" by
ForbesTraveler.com. The Mount Washington Resort, one of four Grand Hotels in New Hampshire, joins the ranks with some of the world's most elite mountain destinations that were in the top 10 list including: Canada's own Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel; the Machu Picchu Sanctuary, Peru; Dalat Palace, Vietnam; Arlberg Hospiz Hotel, Austria, in addition to hotels in Italy and India. The list of the top 10 mountain hotels focuses on the uniqueness of each property and the mountain setting surrounding each hotel.
"The Mount Washington Resort is filled with such a rich and colourful history enhanced by its spectacular view of the White Mountains and has always been a popular place to stay for Canadians," said Chris Ryall, Canadian Representative for the New Hampshire Division of Travel & Tourism Development. "It is an ideal property for both the leisure and business traveller."
The Mount Washington Hotel, built in 1902, is situated at the foot of the highest peaks in the Northeast. It is surrounded by the nearly 800,000-acre White Mountain National Forest. It has just completed a $50 million US restoration and renovation which includes a new Spa and Conference Center in addition to room upgrades, renovation of the Great Hall and Dining Room and the restoration of the 18-hole Donald Ross designed Mount Washington Course recently ranked as the Top Golf Course in New Hampshire by GolfWeek's magazine.
For further information about Mount Washington Resort, please visit
www.MountWashingtonResort.com or call toll-free (877) 873-0626. To view photos and the complete article, please visit
http://www.forbestraveler.com/resorts-hotels/mountain-hotels-story.html.
To find out more about New Hampshire or to receive the new free visitor's guide, call 1-800-FUN-IN-NH (386-4664) or visit
www.visitnh.gov . Canadian travel trade and media may call 1-888-423-3995, or email visitnh@travelmarketingexperts.com .
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New Jersey
Camping in Cape May County:
New Jersey is best known for its beaches and fabulous seaside resorts, but just a few miles off the shoreline of the barrier islands, from Cape May Point to Ocean City, are thousands of acres of woodlands which are home to more than 50 camping resorts. Set amid forests of indigenous flora and fauna, camping resorts in the area are rife with hiking trails and plenty of scenic views. Cape May County is a popular stopover on the migratory path for many North American bird species, so don't be surprised to see many varieties of feathered creatures on a walk around the grounds. The west side of the county is the Delaware Bay - the largest breeding ground of horseshoe crabs in the world -- containing miles and miles of natural beauty and shoreline. Although secluded from the hustle and bustle that make up the busy seaside resorts, all of the campgrounds in Cape May County are just minutes away from the area's pristine beaches and exciting nightlife and boardwalks.
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Niagara Falls, Budget Hotels
http://www.niagarafallsonabudget.com/: Travelling to Niagara Falls on a budget can be difficult. Niagara Falls on a Budget offers discount Niagara Falls Hotel rates, valuable money saving tips, budget Niagara Falls restaurants, Niagara Falls attraction coupons and a whole lot more.
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Niagara Falls, ON
Niagara's Fury - The Creation of the Falls:
One of the most spectacular, dramatic and immersive attractions in the world has opened in Niagara Falls. The Niagara Parks Commission's Niagara's Fury lets you experience the extreme, violent and beautiful birth of Niagara Falls. Inside the stunning new Table Rock located at the brink of the Falls, Niagara's Fury begins with a captivating, family friendly pre-show that tells the story of Niagara's momentous creation. Then you enter an immersive environment to see and actually hear and feel all the sights, sounds and sensations of an intense climatic change as they unfolded 10,000 years ago at Niagara's birth.
www.niagarasfury.com
Niagara Freefall:
Niagara Freefall is the first and only indoor state-of-the-art skydiving wind tunnel in all of Canada and is designed for both the public as well as seasoned skydivers and is operational year-round. Indoor Skydiving completely immerses visitors in the world of high adventure skydiving, without ever having to pack a parachute, pull a ripcord, or jump out of a perfectly good airplane. The new $6 million wind tunnel employs state of the art technology which accurately controls the environment inside the tunnel. The indoor flight chamber has a diameter of 12 feet and is 22 feet high providing enough room for up to four experienced people to fly together in air speeds of up to 140 mph.
www.niagarafreefall.com
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Niagara Region
Biking:
Ride the Great Waterfront Trail Adventure Tour set for July 4th to 11th
41 communities, 8 days, 680 km-WOW! The Waterfront Regeneration Trust and over 50 waterfront partners including local municipalities, conservation authorities and community groups recently launched the Great Waterfront Trail Adventure Tour. Set for July 4- 11 this summer, the Tour is an organized bike ride from Niagara-on-the-Lake to the Quebec border using the Waterfront Trail. People will have the choice to travel the whole 680 km route over eight days; do it as a relay with a team of friends and family or join in for one or two days for a ride. Every single day of this fully supported tour includes the WOW Factor - the Wonderful Ontario Waterfront along the shores of Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River. Discover vibrant communities and beautiful parks; experience delicious local food and entertainment; learn the fascinating history; visit last remaining coastal wetlands, forests and beaches; and enjoy charming shops and unique local businesses. More information and registration is at
www.waterfronttrail.org.
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Niagara Region, ON (Golf)
Legends is one of North America's first with special carts for mobility-impaired golfers.
Everybody's heard of Niagara Falls. But what about golf in Niagara? The Niagara region is home to 40-plus courses. Now, one welcomes golfers of all kinds, including mobility impaired.
In summer 2007, Legends on the Niagara became one of North America's few public facilities to offer accessible golf. The Niagara Parks Commission, which owns and operates Legends, purchased a SoloRider, a golf cart specially built for mobility-impaired golfers. Its swiveling electric stand-up seat (allowing golfers to assume any position from sitting to standing) elevates so players can tee off and putt. Turf-friendly tires allow golfers to drive right onto the greens. (You'll also find the cart at Whirlpool Golf Course, Niagara Park's other highly ranked layout.)
"The SoloRider has been a big success," says Brian Moore, Niagara Parks' director of golf. "It's great to see the way the cart is letting golfers who have been sidelined from the sport get back on the course again."
And it's a pretty snazzy course, too. Legends is a $27 million golf complex that curls just off the banks of the Niagara River, above the Falls. There are two top-notch, 18-hole courses (the world's best female golfers teed off at the Battlefields course during the Canadian Women's Open), a nine-hole loop and Canada's best-equipped practice facility - all designed by Tom McBroom and Doug Carrick, the country's premier architects.
www.niagaraparksgolf.com
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Niagara: Winery Guide
Beamsville
Angels Gate Winery
4260 Mountainview Road,
Beamsville
905.563.3942 or 1.877.ANG.GATE
www.angelsgatewinery.com
Birchwood Estate Wines
4679 Cherry Avenue,
Beamsville
905.562.8463
www.birchwoodwines.ca
Cornerstone Estate Winery
4390 Tufford Road,
Beamsville
905.563.6758
www.cornerstonewinery.com
Crown Bench Estates
3850 Aberdeen Road,
Beamsville
905.563.3959 or 1.888.537.6192
www.crownbenchestates.com
De Sousa Wine Cellars
3753 Quarry Road,
Beamsville
905.563.7269
www.desousawines.com
EastDell Estates
4041 Locust Lane,
Beamsville
905.563.9463
www.eastdell.com
Fielding Estate Winery
4020 Locust Lane,
Beamsville
905.563.0668 or 1.888.778.7758
www.fieldingwines.com
Malivoire Wine Company
4260 King Street East,
Beamsville, Ontario
905.563.9253 or 1.866.644.2244
www.malivoire.com
Legends Estates Winery
4888 Ontario Street North,
Beamsville
905.563.6500
www.legendsestates.com
Magnotta Beamsville
4701 Ontario Street,
Beamsville
905.563.5313 or 1.800.461.9463
www.magnotta.com
Mountain Road Wine Company
4016 Mountain Street,
Beamsville
905.563.0745
www.mountainroadwine.com
Peninsula Ridge Estates Winery
5600 King Street West,
Beamsville
905.563.0900
www.peninsularidge.com
Thirty Bench Wines
4281 Mountainview Road,
Beamsville
905.563.1698
www.thirtybench.com
Rosewood Estates Winery & Meadery
4352 Mountainview Road,
Beamsville
905.563.4383
www.rosewoodwine.com
Grimsby
Kittling Ridge Estate Wines & Spirits
297 South Service Road,
Grimsby
905.945.9225 or 800.694.6798
www.kittlingridge.com
Jordan
Calamus Estate Winery
3100 Glen Road,
Jordan
905.562.9303
www.calamuswines.com
Cave Spring Cellars
3836 Main Street,
Jordan
905.562.3581
www.cavespring.ca
Creekside Estate Winery
2170 4th Avenue,
Jordan Station
905.562.0035 or 1.877.262.9463
www.creeksidewine.com
Flat Rock Cellars
2727 Seventh Avenue,
Jordan
905.562.8994
www.flatrockcellars.com
Harbour Estates Winery
4362 Jordan Road,
Jordan Station
905.562.6279
www.harbourestateswinery.com
Niagara-on-the-Lake
Caroline Cellars
1028 Line 2,
Niagara-on-the-Lake
905.468.8814
www.carolinecellars.com
Cattail Creek Estate Winery
1156 Concession 6,
Niagara-on-the-Lake
905.988.9463
www.cattailcreek.ca
Château des Charmes
1025 York Road,
Niagara-on-the-Lake
905.262.4219
www.chateaudescharmes.com
Coyote's Run Estate Winery
485 Concession 5 Road,
St. David's
905.682.8310
www.coyotesrunwinery.com
Frogpond Farm Organic Winery
1385 Larkin Road,
Niagara-on-the-Lake
905.468.1079 or 1.877.989.0165
www.frogpondfarm.ca
Hillebrand Estates Winery
1249 Niagara Stone Road,
Niagara-on-the-Lake
905.468.7123 or 1.800.582.8412
www.hillebrand.com
Inniskillin Wines
Line 3 at the Niagara Parkway,
Niagara-on-the-Lake
905.468.2187 or 1.888.466.4754
www.inniskillin.com
Jackson-Triggs Niagara Estate Winery
2145 Niagara Stone Road,
Niagara-on-the-Lake
905.468.4637
www.jacksontriggswinery.com
Joseph's Estate Wines
1811 Niagara Stone Road,
Niagara-on-the-Lake
905.468.1259 or 1.866.468.1259
www.josephsestatewines.com
Konzelmann Estate Winery
1096 Lakeshore Road,
Niagara-on-the-Lake
905.935.2866
www.konzelmann.ca
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Lailey Vineyard
15940 Niagara Parkway,
Niagara-on-the-Lake
905.468.0503
www.laileyvineyard.com
Maleta Estate Winery
450 Queenston Road,
Niagara-on-the-Lake
905.685.8486
www.maletawinery.com
Marynissen Estates Winery
RR #6, 1208 Concession 1,
Niagara-on-the-Lake
905.468.7270
www.marynissen.com
Mike Weir Estate Winery
963 Queenston Road,
Niagara-on-the-Lake
905.684.1483
www.mikeweirwine.com
Niagara College Teaching Winery
135 Taylor Road,
Niagara-on-the-Lake
905.641.2252 ext. 4070
www.nctwinery.com
Palatine Hills Estate Winery
911 Lakeshore Road,
Niagara-on-the-Lake
905.646.9617
www.palatinehillsestatewinery.com
Peller Estates Winery
290 John Street East,
Niagara-on-the-Lake
905.468.4678 or 1.888.673.5537
www.peller.com
Pillitteri Estates Winery
1696 Niagara Stone Road,
Niagara-on-the-Lake
905.468.3147
www.pillitteri.com
Ravine Vineyard Estate Winery
1366 York Road,
Niagara-on-the-Lake
905.262.VINE
www.ravinevineyard.com
Reif Estate Winery
15608 Niagara Parkway RR #1,
Niagara-on-the-Lake
905.468.WINE (9463)
www.reifwinery.com
Riverview Cellars Winery
15376 Niagara Parkway,
Niagara-on-the-Lake
905.262.0636
www.riverviewcellars.com
Southbrook Vineyards
581 Niagara Stone Road,
Niagara-on-the-Lake
1.888.581.1581
www.southbrook.com
Stonechurch Vineyards
1242 Irvine Road,
Niagara-on-the-Lake
905.935.3535
www.stonechurch.com
Stratus
2059 Niagara Stone Rd.
Niagara-on-the-Lake
905.468.1806
www.stratuswines.com
Strewn Winery
1339 Lakeshore Road,
Niagara-on-the-Lake
905.468.1229
www.strewnwinery.com
The Ice House Winery
14778 Niagara Parkway,
Niagara-on-the-Lake
905.262.6161
www.theicehouse.ca
20 Bees
1067 Niagara Stone Road
Virgil
905.641.1042
www.20bees.com
Vignoble Rancourt Winery
1829 Concession 4,
Niagara-on-the-Lake
905.468.2882
www.rancourtwinery.com
St. Catharines
Henry of Pelham Family Estate Winery
1469 Pelham Road,
St. Catharines
905.684.8423 or 1.877.PELHAM7
www.henryofpelham.com
Hernder Estates Wines
1607 8th Avenue,
St. Catharines.
905.684.3300
www.hernder.com
Rockway Glen Estate Winery
3290 Ninth Street,
St. Catharines
905.641.5771 or 1.877.762.5929
www.rockwayglen.com
Vineland
Alvento Winery
3048 Second Avenue,
Vineland
905.562.1212
www.alvento.ca
Featherstone Winery & Vineyard
3678 Victoria Avenue,
Vineland
905.562.1949
www.featherstonewinery.ca
The Foreign Affair Winery
4890 Victoria Ave. N.,
Vineland Station
905.562.9989
www.foreignaffairwine.com
Kacaba Vineyards
3550 King Street,
Vineland
905.562.5625 or 1.866.522.2228
www.kacaba.com
Lakeview Cellars Estate Winery
4037 Cherry Avenue,
Vineland
905.562.5685
www.lakeviewcellars.ca
Ridgepoint Wines
3900 Cherry Avenue,
Vineland
905.562.8853
www.ridgepointwines.com
Royal DeMaria Wines
4551 Cherry Avenue,
Vineland
905.562.6767 or 1.888.793.8883
www.royaldemaria.com
Tawse Winery
3955 Cherry Avenue,
Vineland
905.562.9500
www.tawsewinery.ca
Vineland Estates Winery
3620 Moyer Road,
Vineland
905.562.7088 or 1.888.846.3526
www.vineland.com
Wayne Gretzky Estate Winery
3751 King Street,
Vineland
905.562.4945
www.gretzkyestatewines.com
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North West Territories
Arctic muskox, the warmest, most expensive wool in the world falls right off their backs: Inuit hunters in the NWT are supplying Milan, New York's hottest runway shows with this silky, sustainably harvested fibre.
They are shaggy, big-shouldered, almost prehistoric-looking beasts. At a distance they appear to be relatives of the buffalo, with their long, dark coats and curving horns. But here's the first surprise: they stand only chest high to a human. What's even more amazing is that beneath the hairy exterior is a layer of fleece so luxurious, it's eight times warmer than wool and keeps its occupants warm even at minus-50 degrees C (-58 degrees F).
No wonder that qiviuk (kee-vee-ook), as the Inuvialuit of the Northwest Territories call it, is one of the knitwear world's most expensive raw ingredients, selling for three times the price of cashmere. Supply is extremely limited, since wild Arctic muskox shed their undercoats just once a year - in May, when warmer temperatures arrive and the tundra becomes littered with tufts of grey-brown fleece. It's harvested sustainably - by hand, the old way. Hunter-gatherers for centuries, the Inuit collect it where it falls or strip it from hides during hunting season. (Inuvialuit officials say it's sustainable because the population is large and healthy, and native hunters slaughter only a fraction of the herd each year.) Inuvialuit hunters in Sachs Harbour on Banks Island, NWT, keep some of the wool for their families. Mittens made of 100% qiviuk can sell for up to $250 a pair in Yellowknife. The surplus wool ends up much further south.
An Alberta design firm and manufacturer, Jacques Cartier Clothier, purchases the rare fibre yearly. At the company's Qiviuk Boutique in Banff, AB, visitors can't help but stroke sweaters, cardigans, scarves and other high-end cozies made from the remarkably soft, silky fibre. New York City designer Christina Oxenberg of Oxenberg LLC uses qiviuk in her clothing line, too, sometimes blending it with other rare wools. Her company provided a custom-knit qiviuk cardigan to Queen Elizabeth; other celebrities with Arctic muskox wool in their wardrobe include the Dalai Lama, Hollywood director Francis Ford Coppola and Vogue editor Anna Wintour. As Oxenberg points out, "No one is going to spray paint you for wearing it."
www.irc.inuvialuit.com
www.qiviuk.com
www.oxenbergllc.com
www.ffdp.ca
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Ontario: Microbrewery Guide
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Ottawa, Ontario
Ottawa chefs are on a restaurant-opening spree! Check this out:
- The innovative former head chef at the Courtyard Restaurant, Marc Lépine, opens Atelier on Rochester Street near Little Italy in July with a menu that will change daily, highlighting only what's fresh and local.
www.atelierrestaurant.ca
- Simon and Ross Fraser, brothers who served in the kitchen at Domus Café, opened Fraser Café in the New Edinburgh neighbourhood in spring 2008, with just 27 seats and a commitment to local products.
www.frasercafe.ca
- Ottawa chef René Rodriguez opens a new Basque-style restaurant called Navarra in the location of the Black Cat Café, where Rodriguez used to be the chef (more recently, he worked at Luxe Bistro).
www.navarrarestaurant.com
- Stephen Mitton, known for his 'progressive Canadian bistro' style at Social Restaurant +
Lounge, has purchased the location of Bistro 115, where he initially developed his signature dish of duck confit. The new place is called simply Murray Street.
www.murraystreet.ca
- Chef Derek Benitz, who opened Benitz Bistro last year on Somerset Street downtown, will soon open a second restaurant next door, to be named B Wine and Small Plates, with a 28-seat wine bar, private room and outdoor patio.
www.benitzbistro.com
- Beckta Dining and Wine will also, by the end of the year, open a second restaurant, focusing
more on small plates and casual dining.
www.beckta.ca
- On Preston Street (Little Italy), DiVino Wine Studio has opened, selling high-quality wines,
and offering food-and-wine pairing courses. Also coming soon to the neighbourhood: Lago Bar & Grill at the Dows Lake Pavilion and Big Easy's Seafood and Steak House.
www.divinowinestudio.com
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Outer Banks, North Carolina
If you are familiar with Hatteras Island, you understand its appeal - stunning undisturbed beaches along with picturesque sunrises and sunsets are the trademarks of this magnificent strip of land. But what you may not know is that Hatteras Island is home to one of the finest Spas on the East Coast! Spa Koru is located in the center of Avon on Hatteras Island, and features a top-notch Spa, state-of-the-art Fitness Center, and cutting edge Salon, along with onsite luxury Villas. In addition to its Fitness Center, the Spa boasts a full schedule of daily fitness and Yoga classes, and is gaining recognition through the Spa Koru Yoga program as a retreat destination for couples, groups, and families! Spa Koru is coming off its fourth season, and has firmly established itself as a pillar to the wellness community on Hatteras Island. The next time you visit Hatteras Island, be sure to make Spa Koru part of your plans. For a full list of Spa services and descriptions, along with contact information for retreats, visit
www.spakoru.com or call 252-995-3125!
FREE official card for Canadians can save you 15-20% or better on food, lodging and fun
January 19, 2009: America's premier value beach destination is getting even better this year! Take advantage of the FREE 2009 Outer Banks Getaway Card, officially authorized by the Outer Banks Visitors Bureau and good for off-season discounts of 15-20% or better at over 100 local cottage rental companies, hotels, inns, restaurants, retailers and attractions. A chain of sand bar islands off the coast of North Carolina located midway on the Atlantic Coast, the Outer Banks have never been so accessible and affordable with fuel prices and bargains at their best in years.
The Outer Banks is becoming the Canadian adventurer's preferred choice for outdoor recreation like kite-boarding, kayaking, hiking, hang gliding and birdwatching, according to Carolyn McCormick, Managing Director of the Outer Banks Visitors Bureau. "More and more Canadians are heading no further south than the natural, undeveloped shores of the Outer Banks of North Carolina for their fun in the sun, any time of year. "America's Beach," the Cape Hatteras National Seashore is one of the last great coastal frontiers in the United States, with 30,000 acres of sweeping beaches, sand dunes, marshes, maritime forests and seven quaint villages with accommodations and restaurant offerings for any budget. You'll find the tallest lighthouse in the world, four wheel drive accessible shores, great fishing and more." Visit the Graveyard of the Atlantic Museum, Wright Brothers National Memorial, Jockey's Ridge State Park, and Roanoke Island Festival Park.
The FREE 2009 Outer Banks Getaway Card will leave more money in your vacation budget to spend on the fun stuff. For example, take 15% off selected full week cottage rentals made within 15 days of check-in at Hatters Realty. First Flight Rentals offers 15% off all rack rates. The Comfort Inn Oceanfront South offers 15% off hotel rooms based on availability. Take 15% off all sandwiches at the Hungry Pelican on Roanoke Island. The Front Porch Café' offers 20% off any T-shirt. These are just some of the more than 100 specials.
Good winter, spring or fall from January to May 15, 2009 and from September 15 to December 31, 2009. Get your FREE 2009 Outer Banks Getaway Card online at
http://www.outerbanks.org/ and order your FREE 2009 Official Outer Banks Travel Guide, your all inclusive guide to the best of the Outer Banks with glossy full color photographs, colorful editorials, and all the websites and phone numbers of places to stay, eat and enjoy indoor and outdoor fun. Call us at 252-473-2138.
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Oxford County, ON
Photography and Nature Lovers
It's simply a slower pace here! With our gently rolling countryside, photographers could spend a whole month exploring Oxford back roads, trails and display gardens, and only make a small dent in the available photo opportunities. Keep your eyes open for our Amish friends' horse and buggies. Each year at our Oxford Beautiful Photography Awards Evening, we continue to be amazed at the new Oxford insights that we discover. To help you gain a sense of what we mean, did you know that there are a total of 321 species of birds recorded in the County. From annual migrations of tundra swans to resident, pileated woodpeckers, red tail hawks and great horned owls there are several breeds of songbirds and birds of prey that make their homes here. Wildflowers, berries and wild mushrooms are plentiful in this part of the Carolinian zone. With over a dozen public trails dotting the countryside, you'll have ample opportunity to take home exceptional images, year round. With changes in weather and changes in seasons, the scenery in Oxford is one of the best-kept secrets around.
Walking Trails
Hiking in Oxford is geared to people who enjoy nature and fresh air, so lace up your hiking boots and trek more than a dozen trails. Some trails travel through Carolinian forests, some through pine woodlots, or along riverbanks and lakeside, or near wetland conservation areas. Spring showers bring a profusion of wildflowers, including several varieties of trilliums. It's hard to beat the thrill of walking through a silent woodlot and hearing the sound of a pileated woodpecker nearby. The scent and sight of wild mushrooms is so earthy! During the winter months, the colourful leaves of autumn peek through the snow, and woodland trails still offer some visual stimulation in the various mosses and tree barks. And then, just as you think you can't stand another day of Winter, colourful fungi and emerging spring growth poke through the snow, signaling a full circle in the nature of things. Check out our website for details
www.tourismoxford.ca
Studio Tours
As a hotbed of creative talent, Oxford County is home to several arts centres, galleries, artist studios and crafts guilds. Each year studio tours and art-in-the-park events showcase this talent. Each Fall, The Ingersoll Creative Arts Centre alternates between a major quilting event and studio tours. Otterville Presents in July, and the Welcome Back to Otterville studio tour in November present great gift shopping opportunities. The Oxford Studio Tour during the first weekend in May is also a perfect opportunity to visit several artists' studios around the County.
This 'n That
- Broadway in Tillsonburg is one of the widest main streets in Ontario.
- The Elm Hurst Inn restaurant property was originally the family home of James Harris, one of the earliest Canadian cheese pioneers.
- The Clog Steak & Seafood Grille structure was built in 1832 as the family home of Lord Strathcona. He drove the last spike in the cross-Canada railroad.
- Woodstock is one of the few cities in Canada with all of its original public buildings still in place.
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Parry Sound, Ontario
Consider including a visit to Parry Sound for a cruise among Georgian Bay's Thirty Thousand Islands region aboard the 550-passenger Island Queen. The Island Queen's three-hour cruise along the wild and rugged coast of Georgian Bay is one of Ontario's best kept summer secrets.
Although over 1.5 million people have taken the cruise since its inception in 1970, the attraction is probably better known in Europe and Asia than here in Ontario. A former RCMP officer, Mr. Anderson and his father Hugo started the Island Queen Cruise in 1970, after realizing that their water taxi service to the islands was beginning to be used more by tourists for sightseeing than by cottage owners for transportation. Parry Sound also offers the $15 million Charles W. Stockey Center for the Performing Arts on the waterfront, which houses the Bobby Orr Hall of Fame and the Festival of the Sound, an extremely popular summer music festival.
The Island Queen Cruise 1.800.506.2628 or: www.islandqueencruise.com.
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Pender Harbour, BC
Artists and artisans have long drawn inspiration from the magnificent landscapes and natural beauty of BC's Sunshine Coast. Motoko's Original Art Gallery in Pender Harbour is an incredible expression of culture, people, and memories in art. On a visit to Pender Harbour - nicknamed the "Venice of the North" because of its beautiful, intricate waterways - stop in at Motoko's gallery, known for her versatility and exquisite use of vibrant colour. She works in watercolours and acrylics and often uses a multi-media approach, resulting in a truly elegant and distinctive style. The beauty and diversity of nature and human emotions are Motoko's main subjects. Motoko's gallery is also part of the Purple Banner Route, which invites visitors in to view artists and artisans in their studios at work. Visit
www.motokoart.com.
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Penetanguishene, Ontario
Discovery Harbour in historic Penetanguishene announces the Grand Re-opening of its 19th-century Officers' Quarters . The splendid Georgian Officers' Quarters, located at the north end of the historic site, was originally built by the British Military in 1836, and served as a home to military personnel stationed at the base to 1856. It was first opened to the public in 1954, but over the years suffered deterioration as it aged. A recent multi-year preservation and restoration project has now reached completion and this beautiful furnished heritage building will now be re-opened to the public. For information call (705) 526-7838 or visit
www.discoveryharbour.on.ca
Discovery Harbour is operated by Huronia Historical Parks, and is an Attraction of the Ontario Ministry of Tourism.
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Port Colborne, ON
Haunting at Roselawn:
Ghosts? In Port Colborne? Hard to believe for some, but actors, staff and visitors report a series of ghostly sounds and sights at the renowned Roselawn Centre for the Living Arts - a beautifully restored 19th Century mansion located in the heart of the City. In recent years, the mystique surrounding Port Colborne's most treasured landmark appears to be getting as much attention for its alleged haunting as its award winning VQA Wine Bar, Heritage Dining Room and Canadian Author Series. Ghostly apparitions, unexplained footsteps, and flickering lights are just some of the events making headlines at the Roselawn Centre.
John Savoie, paranormal investigator and author of Shadows of Niagara investigated the historic building as one of Niagara's Top Haunts. "Our investigation revealed a female entity, a female child entity, an older gentlemen in the basement area, and four spirits in the attic - a male, a female, a teenage boy and again a younger girl", said Savoie. "In fact, on our investigation, the female ghost placed a comforting hand on my shoulder."
Many believe Roselawn's hallways are haunted by Charles Steele, a former resident and former Mayor. But according to Savoie, the Mayor decided not to make himself known. "Overall, Roselawn is one of Niagara's top haunted locations because the ghosts that are there interact with the living," said Savoie. "The entities that are there are caring and express an interest to what is happening with the historical building." Clearly, a common sentiment shared by ghosts and residents alike.
For more information on the Roselawn Centre for the Living Arts, visit their website at www.roselawn.ca. For inquiries: Port Colborne Tourism & Special Events 905.835.2901.111.
Norcliff Fiddlehead Farm:
NorCliff Farms is the largest grower, packer and distributor of fresh, frozen and marinated Wild Harvested Fiddlehead Greens in the world. Nick Secord has taken 40
acres of swamp and planted 250,000 ostrich ferns that produce an ALL CANADIAN vegetable that is grown free of harmful chemicals and pesticides.
www.norcliff.com
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Québec (biking)
A tour along Quebec's Route Verte has cyclists veering off trails and quiet country lanes to pack their panniers - and their tummies - with more than Gatorade. Thighs burning, salty beads of sweat pour down your face as you ascend the peak. Go ahead, fancy yourself on the Tour de France. The Bordeaux-like setting certainly fits the bill. But wait, there's an atelier here, a cheese shop there. Why hurry? Quebec's new Route Verte ("green road") opened in August 2007. The network of cycling trails and walking paths, resurfaced roadways and country roads links the province. Its 4,300 km (2,700 mi) yield picturesque orchards, quaint wineries, toney art galleries, boutique chocolatiers and restaurants at every turn.
Twelve years ago, Jean-François Pronovost, executive director of Montréal, QC-based cycling org Vélo Québec Association, started advocating what is today the 40% dedicated bikepath/60% on-road Route Verte. The Government of Quebec and Ministry of Transport jumped onboard. "It's part of a movement of people who want to have an active vacation," says Pronovost. "We've shown there is a market."
The route covers 16 regions, meandering through some 320 municipalities. Optimal timing is May and September. A three- to four-day Montréal-Trois-Rivieres-Québec City leg is one option. From Farnham to Danville, the 225-km (140-mi) Véloroute des Cantons snakes through the enchanting Eastern Townships. Take a part of the Route des vins in the Brome-Missisquoi region to sip your way through vineyards and savour locally crafted sweets at the Musée du chocolat. Excursionists can challenge the hilly terrain at the Bromont, Coaticook and East Hereford en route. Bunk at a series of charming B&Bs along the way. Santé!
That's French for, "Let's go!"
www.routeverte.com/rv/ang/index.lasso
www.easterntownships.org
www.bonjourquebec.com/ca-en/accueil0.html
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Québec (Cheese)
Open a package, and the powerful aroma permeates the room. Put a slice in your mouth, and you get the sensation of an incredible floral explosion. This is a masterpiece of a cheese that could easily stand up to some of the finest Old World cheeses. And it does.
Quebec cheese masters, such as Luc Mailloux, are equal parts skilled artisan and exacting perfectionist. Before putting one of his fine cheeses on the market, Mailloux made more than 8,000 wheels of it until he felt it was just right. And after his Saint-Basile debuted, none other than the great Paul Bocuse (father of nouvelle cuisine and one of the finest French chefs of the 20th century) declared he was unable to find its equal among French cheeses, so outstanding and unique was Saint-Basile.
While Mailloux's products are clearly exceptional, demand for Quebec cheeses in general is growing, both in Quebec and abroad. Whether of cow's, goat's or ewe's milk, Quebec cheeses are taking up prime shelf space at upscale grocery stores, on the menus of leading North American chefs and on the dinner tables of the most demanding connoisseurs.
"Who would have ever thought that one day there'd be nearly as many Quebec cheeses in our supermarkets as there are imported ones?" asks the late Jules Roiseux in his guide to the province's cheeses, Le Guide complet des fromages du Québec. "And that many of our cheeses, especially our raw-milk cheeses, would be served in the finest restaurants in Chicago, Los Angeles and New York?"
From small-scale artisanal outfits to sizeable producers, cheese making operations have sprouted like mushrooms in Quebec in the last few decades, "a unique phenomenon in the world," say Richard Bizier and Roch Nadeau in their Répertoire des fromages du Québec (directory of Quebec cheeses). Bizier and Nadeau are among many experts who contend that nowhere else in North America are so many fine cheeses being produced.
Here's the trick: a combo of high-quality milk mixed with the inventiveness and skill of local masters. While famous French and European cheeses have clearly inspired some, others are entirely original. For example, Quebec producers might rub their cheeses with strong Québécois beer, wash them with mead or smoke them with maple wood.
They tend to give their cheeses witty names, or names that pay homage to the beauty or history of a region: Migneron de Charlevoix, Pied-De-Vent from the Îles de la Madeleine, Coureur des Bois from Saint-Antoine-de-Tilly, Riopelle de l'Île from Île aux Grues, Diable aux Vaches from Mont-Laurier, Fumirolle from Côte de Beaupré, Sieur Corbeau des Laurentides, and Tarapatapom from Knowlton.
French roots
Cheese making has a long history in Quebec. Canadian cheese making began after Jacques Cartier imported the first French cows to New France in 1541. But a real industry didn't get off the ground until the 19th century, when artisans in Quebec and across Canada gradually took up the trade.
In 1850, a farm in Sault-au-Récollet, QC, started producing Crème de Beloeil, a sort of Québécois Camembert. In 1893, the monks of Oka, a small Quebec village, began turning out cheeses that are today among the most esteemed of Quebec cheeses. In 1895, Fromagerie Perron was founded, and is still in operation (its original building, classified as a historic monument, now houses a museum). A few years later, the Benedictine monks of Saint-Benoît-du-Lac and the nuns of Mont-Laurier also dipped into fromage making.
But the proliferation of real establishments, especially small-scale artisan operations, is a much more recent trend. André Fouillet, author of À la découverte des fromageries du Québec, which covered more than 70 Quebec cheese producers when it was published in 1998, attributes the phenomenon chiefly to growing demand from locals. "They had begun to travel a lot more, especially to France, where they discovered there were all sorts of products of the soil," he says. "And they started wondering why there was so little of that kind of thing back home."
Today Quebecers have precious little to complain about on that score. The number of local cheeses has multiplied, and the province now boasts some 100 cheese producers scattered throughout every region (La Route gourmande des fromages fins du Québec brochure lists about 50 in 14 regions). Some offer tours and others don't, but all open to anyone who wants to sample or take home some cheese.
Fromagerie au Village: 45, Notre-Dame Ouest, Lorrainville (Abitibi), 819-625-2255. Try Le Cru du Clocher, a succulent aged cheddar made with raw milk.
Les Fromages de l'Érablière: 1580 Eugène-Trinquier, Mont-Laurier (Laurentians), 819-623-3459. Try Le Cru des érables, a raw-milk cheese ripened with an "acéritif" (aperitif made with maple water).
Fromagerie Oka: 1400 Chemin Oka, Oka (Laurentians), 450-479-6396. The first-ever fine Quebec cheeses were made at this Trappist monastery in 1893.
La Biquetterie: 470 Route 315, Chénéville (Outaouais), 819-428-3061. Try their exquisite hand-ladled goat cheeses.
Fromagerie du Champ à la Meule: 3601 Principale, Notre-Dame-de-Lourdes (Lanaudière), 450-753-9217. Makers of Victor et Berthold, one of the most celebrated Quebec cheeses.
Fromagerie Fritz Kaiser: 459 4eme Concession, Noyan (Montérégie), 450-294-2207. Cheeses include La Tomme de M. Séguin, made with half goat's milk and half cow's milk.
Fromagerie Au gré des champs: 400 Rang Saint-Édouard, Saint-Athanase (Montérégie), 450-346-8732. Try: Au gré des champs and D'Iberville, raw-milk cheeses made with milk from cows fed on certified-organic wildflowers and grasses.
Saint-Benoît-du-Lac Abbey: 1 Rue Principale, Saint-Benoît-du-Lac (Eastern Townships), 819-843-4336 or 1-877-343-4336 toll-free. Steeped in history and as famous for its setting as its many cheeses. Bleu Bénédictin won the 2006 Canadian Cheese Grand Prix in the blue cheese category.
Fromage Côté: 80 Rue Hôtel-de-ville, Warwick (Bois-Francs), 819-358-3300. Specializes in washed-rind cheeses, including Cantonnier de Warwick and Sir Laurier d'Arthabaska. Triple Crème Du Village de Warwick was awarded the 2006 Canadian Cheese Grand Prix in the soft cheese category.
Bergerie La Moutonnière: 3690 Rang No 3, Sainte-Hélène-de-Chester (Bois-Francs), 819-382-2300. Billed as the first and only farm to make ewe's-milk cheeses on site.
Fromagerie Île-aux-Grues: 210 Chemin du Roy, Île aux Grues (Chaudière-Appalaches), 418-248-5842. Try Mi-Carême, a raw-milk soft cheese, and Riopelle de l'Île, named after the illustrious painter who often vacationed on the island.
Maison d'affinage Maurice Dufour: 1339 Mgr de Laval, Baie-Saint-Paul (Charlevoix), 418-435-5692. Makes Migneron (winner of the 2002 Canadian Cheese Grand Prix) and Ciel de Charlevoix, a heavenly raw-milk blue cheese.
Fromagerie Perron: 156 av. Albert-Perron, Saint-Prime (Lac-Saint-Jean), 418-251-3164 or 1-866-251-3164. Venerable producer of an internationally renowned cheddar.
Ferme Chimo: 1705 Boul. de Douglas, Gaspé (Gaspésie), 418-368-4102. Makes unique goat's milk cheeses.
Fromagerie du Pied-De-Vent: 149 Chemin de la Pointe-Basse, Havre-aux-Maisons, Îles de la Madeleine, 418-969-9292. Makers of the famous Pied-De-Vent cheese.
www.bonjourquebec.com
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La Route gourmande des fromages fins du Québec brochure is available for free at Tourisme Québec information centres throughout the province, or call 1-877-266-5687 or 1-514-873-2015.
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Québec (Cider)
The grass is a tender green. The perfume of apple blossoms sweetens the spring air. The time is ripe for a cider tasting sojourn through picture-pretty Quebec. Heck, summer and fall aren't too bad either. In fact, don't miss any chance to sample this fizzy, tangy, amber elixir of which the Québécois are unrivalled masters.
It all came about in the 20's when a legal loophole rendered cider drinking illegal in a province fond of the libation made of apples. Of course, absence made the yearning palates grow fonder. So when the province legalized cider in the early 70s, Québécois downed some 52 million litres in 1974 alone. In the 80s, forward-thinking aficionados revived high-quality artisan production. They hit a chord. And in 1998, the you-drive-it Route des Cidres was born in Montérégie, south and west of the island-city Montréal.
Today Quebec is home to 20 small cidreries, and the brew just keeps getting tastier. The Quebec climate yields fruitier, juicier, more fragrant apples, says Robert Demoy, a Brittany-born, Bordeaux-trained Frenchman turned Quebec cider-meister. Colleague Michel Jodoin applied French champagne-fermentation principles for the unique "Méthode Jodoin." Whether conjuring sparkling or still, alcoholic or non, even an "ice-cider" offshoot harvested after the first frost, this new generation is honing the craft into an art form. All this means, a bubbly tour on the Cider Route is a must for any self-respecting foodie. Santé!
www.tourisme-monteregie.qc.ca
www.tourisme-cantons.qc.ca
www.bonjourquebec.com
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Québec City, PQ (Maple Syrup)
A pot of pure maple syrup bubbles over the campfire. When the candy thermometer hits the magic mark (about 114º C or 238º F), the cook pours the steaming syrup into snow-filled trenches, where it hisses and cools into a sticky maple candy ready to be twirled onto a twig. Along with sleigh rides, maple-grove hikes, cross-country skiing and live music, this maple taffy lollipop is a must-try on the Québec City, QC, region's romantic "sugar-shack" tour - a trip back into three centuries of Quebec's maple sugar culture. At Érablière Le Chemin du Roy, a "sugar house" once famously owned by Montréal Canadian NHL hockey player Guy Lafleur, feast on an all-you-can-eat French-Canadian meal inside a historic shack built in 1925. Traditional sugar-shack fare harkens back to Quebec's early peasant farmers, originators of hearty dishes such as pea soup, tourtière, buckwheat pancakes and sugar pie.
But it's not all confectionary concoctions when it comes to French-Canadian cuisine. Québecois chefs lead the continent in regional cuisine celebrating the bounty of fresh, local ingredients - hundreds of varieties of artisan cheese, local cider and wine, farmed game, blueberries, maple-everything, spices and artisan-crafted chocolate. Lobsters are pulled from nearby waters.
The ultimate epicurean adventure in la belle province? The Charlevoix region, a short, picturesque drive from Québec City. La Route des Saveurs de Charlevoix, or the Flavour Trail, visits 21 food producers and 23 restaurants. The route is marked by orange wooden signs with a white chef's toque. Expect food so fresh, the lamb on your plate was recently grazing just outside the window. Bon appetit!
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Reinvented towns
Canmore, Alberta:
Was a mining town going to pot until the Calgary Olympic facilities put it on the map as an outdoor
Mecca.
Chemainus, British Columbia:
Used murals to launch a tourism industry when the local lumber mill closed down.
Flin Flon, Manitoba:
A mining town that used its mine shafts to grow medicinal marijuana.
Francois, Newfoundland:
A small outport (population 140) on the south coast that wouldn't say die. The only way in is
by ferry. There are no cars in Francois; the main drag is a boardwalk. In spite of a downturn in the fishery, there is 99 percent rate of employment. People work the oil rigs, teach, make crafts, sell
hardware/food/supplies, have B&Bs and provide eco tours.
Glen Williams, Ontario:
Near Georgetown, a former knitting mill on the Credit River, it became home to the Williams Mill a tourist draw with all sorts of designers, painters, potters, and a great glass blowing studio.
Hedley, BC:
Between Princeton and Penticton, it was a famous and lucrative gold mining town with a mine that literally clings to the side of a mountain immediately above the town. The mine ran full blast from the late 1800s to the mid-50s. One thing that makes the town very distinctive apart from its dramatic geography nestled in a very steep-sided valley with a wide chalky green river running through it is the fact that the only tourism accommodation is beautifully renovated mining mansions and employee houses, and many of the mining facilities are being restored as living museums of gold mining in the area. Another thing that makes Hedley unusual in Canada is that the Upper Similkameen Indian Band now has control of the mine site and much of the surrounding area which it is taking strong initiatives to turn into both a world class gold mining tourism town: Mascot Gold Mine, http://www.mascotmine.com/ and a native cultural tourism town with an outstanding museum, the Snaza'ist Centre, and some petroglyphs and native ochre mining sites covering their thousands of years resident in the area.
Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan:
Lost its train service but not its population when a local resident convinced folks to build the Temple Garden Minerals Hotel and Spa Complex.
Shelburne, Nova Scotia:
It lost a lot of businesses with the close of the ground fisheries, followed by the closure of the Naval Base. Then, the Boys School closed etc. It was pretty grim for awhile but a couple of things happened. The Scarlet Letter was filmed there and people took a renewed pride in their town which includes 16 original buildings dating from 1785, more than Halifax or Saint John. Now there are fabulous restaurants, Inns, museums, and the citizens have done some amazing things there including building a multipurpose facility Marina/Theater.
St. Jacobs, Ontario:
Was declining badly due to mall competition from Kitchener but a businessman, Milo Schantz, opened an upscale restaurant and Mennonite culture interpretation centre; other businesses followed, and now the town is one of Ontario's most popular day trip destinations.
Val Jalbert, Quebec:
A mill town, sat abandoned for 40 years before the Quebec government acquired the site and turned into a "ghost town" park.
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Revelstoke, British Columbia
Boutique Hotels & Resorts of British Columbia has added an exciting new destination to its growing portfolio of luxury hotels and resorts with the addition of the Nelsen Lodge in Revelstoke, British Columbia. The first phase of development for Revelstoke Mountain Resort, the new 221-suite Nelsen Lodge is scheduled to open its first of its three buildings with 59 suites in fall 2008 and the remaining suites opening over the next twelve months. Situated in the Columbia Mountains on the edge of the majestic Selkirk Range, Revelstoke enjoys a spectacular setting. Rich in history and heritage, Revelstoke Mountain Resort is located 631 kilometres (392 miles) northeast of Vancouver, British Columbia and 413 kilometres (257 miles) west of Calgary, Alberta. Revelstoke Mountain Resort offers world-class lift, snowcat, and helicopter skiing and snowboarding from one base. With the completion of a $6 million extension to the village gondola this fall, the resort will boast North America's longest vertical descent with 6,000 feet of lift-serviced ski terrain. For more information, call Boutique Hotels & Resorts at 1-866-602-1447 or visit
www.bhrbc.com.
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Richmond Hill, Ontario
- The first Harvey's restaurant in Canada was (and still is) at 9471 Yonge Street in Richmond Hill.
- The Black Hole was discovered here at the David Dunlap Observatory in 1971 by resident Tom Bolton.
- Richmond Hill is home to five golf courses: Richmond Hill Golf & Country Club, Summit Golf & Country Club, Bathurst Glen Golf Club, Bloomington Downs Golf Club, and DiamondBack Golf Club.
- Richmond Hill has been home (and still is to some) to many professional and Olympic athletes like: Trish Stratus (wrestler), Elvis Stojko (figure skater), Emanuel Sandhu (figure skater), Tracy Wilson and the late Rob McCall (ice dancers), Karen Cockburn (trampoline), Marci Bernholtz (gymnastics), Ada Charlotte Mackenzie (golf), George Seymour Lyon (golf), and Michael Cammalleri (hockey).
- Richmond Hill's Ed Sackfield Arena is only one of a handful of Olympic-size ice rinks in Ontario.
- Actors R.H. Thompson and Mag Ruffman are from Richmond Hill.
- Richmond Hill has a park named "Alias Grace" after a Margaret Atwood book with a ghost that some claim still haunts the area.
- Children's book author Gordon Korman grew up here ("This Can't Be Happening at Macdonald Hall").
- Famous waterfall architect, Dan Euser, lives in Richmond Hill (famous for building the waterfall that will be part of the World Trade Center memorial, built a full-scale model over 30' in his backyard; also designed the waterfall at Richmond Green in Richmond Hill).
- Local theatre group, The Curtain Club, was host to the first five seasons of the Royal Canadian Air Farce radio show beginning in 1973.
- Town of Richmond Hill is the first municipality in Ontario to have its entire Engineering & Public Works Department registered to the International Organization for Standardization ISO 14001 standard.
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Rideau Canal: Fast Facts
Number of locks: 47
Number of lock stations: 24
Length of canal: 202 km (125 miles)
First official opening: Summer of 1832
Estimated travel time (one way): 3 to 5 days (motor boat), 6 to 10 days (paddling)
Season of operation: Mid May to late October
Number of land based visitors: 1 - 1.4 million annually
Most utilized locks (by boat): Narrows (6921 in 2005), Newboro (6456 in 2005)
Services: Most lock stations provide washrooms, parking for bicycles, first-aid, overnight dockage and picnic facilities, including tables, benches and barbecue grills.
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Roanoke Island, NC
The oldest grapevine in America continues to bear fruit for the Outer Banks, where its sweet white Scuppernong grapes are found naturally nowhere else. Mother Vine Premium Scuppernong Wine was introduced to the world at a ceremony on Roanoke Island, where the Mother Vine has been cultivated dating back 400 plus years. The first English colony in the New World, sponsored by Sir Walter Raleigh, landed on Roanoke Island in 1584 and described "grapes of such greatness, yet wild, that France, Spain nor Italy hath not greater." The Scuppernong variety of Muscadine grape Vitis rotundifolia is North Carolina's official state fruit.
David Fussell, whose Duplin Winery is bottling the new wine from cultivated clippings, thinks the heritage and biology of the Mother Vine is deserving of international recognition. "I've been growing grapes since 1972, and there's nothing else in the world like it. Every Scuppernong grape can trace its roots back to this vine. It could be whole lot older. It is an absolutely spectacular specimen." Whether the vine was planted by the first colonists, or indigenous Native Americans, or developed naturally and then was cultivated, no one really knows for sure.
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Rosebud, Alberta
Rosebud officially announced its 2010 line-up of five outstanding plays. This year's theme "consider yourself home at Rosebud" will feature an Italian comedy, two British musicals and two South African dramas. The 2010 season kicks off March 12th with We Won't Pay! We Won't Pay!, a comedy by Dario Fo.
"At Rosebud Theatre, we've always been about stories that connect to the soul of a human being," says Artistic Director, Morris Ertman. "Our 2010 season was influenced in large part by the financial difficulties of this past year in the world. We wanted to explore stories that took the notion of hardship and turned it on its ear - saying that there is indeed a new tomorrow. There is hope."
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We Won't Pay! We Won't Pay (Comedy by Dario Fo - March 12 - May 15)
Italian housewives go crazy! Two housewives revolt against the high price of groceries. Their hapless husbands are swept up into the mad chaos of police inspectors, funeral directors and looming fatherhood. A crazy household story for the recession blues that leaves no comic stone unturned!
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Oliver! (Musical by Lionel Bart - May 28 - August 23)
Consider yourself part of the family! Enter Victorian London's underworld in the Charles Dickens classic about a young orphan forced from workhouse to street pickpocket to home - all of it filled with music that delights and inspires. Bring the whole family and "consider yourself at home!"
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Woza Albert! (Drama by Percy Mtwa, Mbongeni Ngema, and Barney Simon - July 2 - August 29) Played at Rosebud Studio Stage
And the beat goes on...Jesus is coming to apartheid South Africa, disrupting the rhythms of the community. Expectations and inspiration explode on stage with energy and delight.
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The Road To Mecca (Drama by Athol Fugard - September 10 - October 23)
A life worth living. A free-spirited old woman fights to stay in her eccentrically decorated but dangerous home against the wishes of her unfriendly neighbours and well-intentioned friends. An inspiring story about living in the center of one's life, no matter how little of it may be left.
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The Secret Garden (Musical by Jim Crabtree - November 5 - Dec 23)
Breaking through the frost. The beloved story of three children transformed by the miracle of emerging buds and flowers brings a Christmas garden to Rosebud.
Interviews with Artistic Director, Morris Ertman and/or cast members are available upon request
About Rosebud Theatre - Celebrating the 2010 Season: Consider Yourself at Home
www.rosebudtheatre.com
Rosebud Theatre, about an hour's drive northeast of Calgary, is nestled in picturesque country hamlet of Rosebud, Alberta. In its 27th season, Rosebud is Western Canada's largest rural theatre company and has gained an international reputation as a premiere Canadian destination for high quality live theatre. In the past years, Rosebud Theatre has received multiple awards including Travel Alberta's "Alberta Pride" ALTO award, the "Rural Tourism Champion" award and the Rozsa Award. Annually, more than 40,000 patrons enjoy the "Rosebud Experience" of professional theatre, complemented by unique dining, art galleries, museums and shopping. Rosebud is also home to Rosebud School of the Arts, a post secondary educational institution that offers conservatory training in theatre and music to students, many who advance to perform in productions by Rosebud Theatre. Box Office: 1-800-267-7553
For information, interviews and/or hi-rez photos, please contact: Mr. Neil Bousquet, APR, PR, Rosebud Theatre (403) 256-8834 neil.bousquet@prwizard.ca Ms. Heather Little, Marketing Coordinator, Rosebud Theatre (403) 677-2350 heatherl@rosebudtheatre.com
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Scandinavia
Expanded Eurail Pass Range benefits Visitors to Scandinavia: The Eurail Group is giving more options to travelers wanting to explore the Scandinavian countries of Denmark, Norway, Sweden and Finland. Scandinavia has long been a popular tourist destination for overseas visitors with numbers increasing steadily; in 2006 there were over seven hundred thousand visitors from North America alone. Now through a new selection of offerings, Eurail passengers can travel throughout the region's excellent rail systems using just a single pass.
On January 1st, Eurail introduced the Eurail Scandinavia Pass to its vast array of rail packages (replacing the former ScanRail Pass). The pass enables unlimited 2nd class rail travel in all four participating countries and is available throughout a range of validity periods. Discounts are offered to groups of two or more and to young people under the age of 26. Prices start from just 50 euros a day for a four-day Saver Pass.
Eurail's global network of sales agents makes the pass widely available around the world, and assists travelers in purchasing packages prior to their departure to Europe. Therefore passes can be conveniently bought using local currency, saving the time and stress of buying a series of tickets upon arrival. Eurail's new Scandinavian packages also allow flexibility for different itineraries and country combinations. Those wanting to visit only one or two Scandinavian countries can choose among the Finland-Sweden, Denmark-Sweden and Norway-Sweden options. Additionally, the Norway and Sweden One Country Passes have been adjusted in line with many other Eurail Passes and now offer "Saver" discounts in 2nd class for groups of 2-5 travelers.
Trains in Scandinavia are modern, comfortable and reliable. High speed trains such as Sweden's X2000 and Finland's Pendolino whisk travelers from city to city, while slower scenic routes, like the Bergen Railway in Norway, wind through mountain tunnels and across bridges providing continuous panoramas of unspoiled scenic beauty. Although each country's railway is operated by its own company, cross border connections are easy and efficient. Traveling from Oslo to Stockholm takes just over six hours, while Stockholm to Copenhagen is about a five hour journey. Connections between Helsinki and Stockholm are made possible by ship, operated by Tallink Silja Oy, which gives all Eurail Pass holders a 50% reduction on the full fare of the crossing.
In addition to its Scandinavian packages, the Eurail Group offers a wide range of passes from single country options to the classic Eurail Global Pass, valid in 20 countries. For more information about the Eurail Group, go to
www.EurailGroup.com.
Eurail Passes are currently available from the direct sales website,
www.Eurail.com, and all sales agents worldwide; ACP Rail International
( www.eurail-acprail.com); Flight Centre
( www.flightcentre.com);
www.OctopusTravel.com; Rail Europe
( www.raileurope.com) and STA Travel
( www.statravel.com).
For More Information:
Eurail Group corporate website and press room:
www.eurailgroup.com
Eurail Group Marketing Manager: Ana Dias e Seixas, tel. + 31 (0)30 8500 125, email: a.diaseseixas@eurail.nl
Eurail photo library:
http://eurail.informationstore.net/
Scandinavian Railway Companies:
Danish Railways (DSB):
www.dsb.dk
Finnish Railways (VR):
www.vr.fi
Norwegian Railways (NSB):
www.nsb.no
Swedish Railways (SJ):
www.sj.se
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Skåne, Sweden
The Skåneleden trail:
This trail consists of 1,000 km of marked walking tracks. Choose from short walks to one-day or multiple-day trips. The trail also offers good fishing spots, rural villages with charming cafés and pure wilderness. Old windmills, Scanian farmhouses with overflowing planters full of flowers below the windows, golden rapeseed fields with scents of honey and elderflower that fill the air. Whichever you choose, there are lots of campgrounds and windbreaks where you can get much-needed rest and water. A map of the trail is easy to order from skane.com.
Skåne's national parks:
There are three national parks (Dalby Söderskog, Söderåsen, Stenshuvud) and as many as 145 nature reserve in little Skåne. In the lush national park at Dalby Hage and Söderskog, visitors can find everything from deer and hedgehogs to flowers like yellow wood anemones and bird-in-a-bush. Söderåsen national park is northern Europe's largest continuous, protected deciduous forest, with a unique biodiversity. If you visit Sweden's most southerly national park at Stenshuvud, you should combine it with a tour to the charming port towns of Kivik and Simrishamn...
www.skane.com
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Southwest Louisiana / Lake Charles
Forty-five minutes from the Gulf of Mexico is the Festival Capital of Louisiana with more than 75 annual fairs and festivals held each year. One of those festivals, Mardi Gras, is the second largest in the state behind New Orleans as far as the number of krewes and events goes. We are also home to the Mardi Gras Museum of Imperial Calcasieu, which boasts the largest Mardi Gras costume collection in the world! Other museums in the area include the Brimstone Museum/Henning Cultural Center, the DeQuincy Railroad Museum, the Children's Museum and the Imperial Calcasieu Museum. Another interesting festival each year is the Contraband Days Pirate Festival. It is the only pirate festival in the state and at two weeks long, is the longest festival in the state! This festival, complete with buccaneers who take over the city, celebrates the legend of Jean LaFitte. Rumor has it, he landed his ship on the sandy shores of this area many years ago and buried some of his treasure in our lake. In the fall, we host the Celtic Nations Festival, a festival that relocated to our area after Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans in 2005. Other yearly festivals include the DeQuincy Railroad Days Festival, the Starks Mayhaw Festival, the Black Heritage Festival and many, many more!
Our area is also a top 40 birding destination. We are the starting and ending points of the Creole Nature Trail All-American Road. This 180-mile driving trail winds its way through Calcasieu and Cameron Parishes down to the Gulf of Mexico. The Wetland Walkway is 1.5 mile walking trail along the road that allows visitors to meander their way out into the marsh and perhaps catch a glimpse of the "King of the Marsh," the American alligator!
www.creolenaturetrail.org
If luxury is more your style, check out L'Auberge du Lac Casino Resort. (
www.ldl.com). For an island style getaway, visit the Isle of Capri Casino Hotel (
www.isleofcapricasino.com). For horseracing and slots, check out Delta Downs Racetrack Casino and Hotel (
www.deltadowns.com). For more information and photos of the area, visit,
www.visitlakecharles.org.
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St. Kitts & Nevis (40 reasons to visit)
1. The opportunity to enjoy a twin island holiday experience like no other. The opportunity to be a participant and revel in the notion that you belong here...because you do.
2. Each island experience is different, yet complementary. St. Kitts, a vibrant and compelling atmosphere. Nevis, quiet, laid back, an island that casts its spell on you.
3. The islands are just small enough to make the exploration of each, easy!
4. The St. Kitts Scenic Railway offers a 'one of a kind' unique way to view the island of St. Kitts.
5. The locals are laid back and incredibly friendly. They enjoy 'liming' with visitors.
6. The country's rich cultural heritage has been influenced by its native people the Amerindians, and also by African, British, French and Spanish inhabitants.
7. Over 200 heritage sites have been documented on St. Kitts alone.
8. On St. Kitts, 30 of its heritage sights have been designated as being of primary hemispheric importance.
9. Brimstone Hill Fortress and National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
10. Built over a period of 104 years, beginning in 1690, British Authorities consider the Brimstone Hill Fortress to be one of the finest pieces of British Military architecture in the world.
11. A volcano safari experience on St. Kitts is a rugged hiking adventure that offers unparalleled scenic views.
12. The popular West Indian lunch buffet served at Rawlins Plantation Inn is prepared with a care and imagination that is matched only by the excellence of the fresh produce gathered from the plantation's garden, nearby farmers and local fishermen.
13. A visit to the extensive wine cellar at Coconut Grove restaurant and Wine Lounge on Nevis is a must for every wine enthusiast.
14. Enjoy a night out visiting at least 7 beach bars on the South Frigate Bay Beach strip.
15. Play 18 holes on a Robert Trent Jones II Championship Golf Course while you enjoy dramatic views of the Four Seasons Resort, the Caribbean Sea, the foothills of Mount Nevis, and sister island St. Kitts.
16. Herbert Heights on Nevis takes you on a historical adventure along the exact trail once used by the slaves on their way to the maroons.
17. At the Golden Rock Hotel, cocktails are served from the bar in a barrel vaulted building. A ringing bell signals guests to a candlelight dinner in the castle-like dining room.
18. Divers and snorkelers will be delighted by the warm clear waters, colourful coral reef formations and fascinating wrecks. A never to be forgotten dive adventure.
19. When the sun goes down, those seeking romance can watch the city lights twinkle and palm trees sway in the cool evening breeze. Gaze at the Caribbean moon or dance the night away with that special someone on either of our beautiful islands.
20. Sample CSR, a locally produced cane spirit mixed with Ting, to get the real 'Ting with a Sting'. Or have some fun, order a 'Bling' (Brinley, lime, and Ting), or a 'Bling - Bling' for a drink twice as strong.
21. Be the first to get married barefooted in the sand at Christophe Harbour, a 2500 acre high end development on the Southeast Peninsula. The gorgeous views to Nevis make this area perfect for romance.
22. To see the rich variety of vibrant colours and beautiful landscapes, as portrayed through various art pieces at Spencer Cameron Gallery.
23. For the pulsating rhythms at the annual St. Kitts Music Festival, which is now recognized as a primary event on the international music calendar, attracting performers of various music genres.
24. To visit Sunshine's and drink that Killer Bee cocktail you keep hearing about.
25. To partake in the Nevis International Culinary Heritage Exposition (NICHE), held annually in October for the most exquisite cuisine. A weekend celebration of food wine and Caribbean culture set in the tranquil beauty of Nevis.
26. At the Hermitage, guests say that the past comes to life. The dining room - The Great House, is the oldest wooden house on Nevis dating to 1670.
27. To take in a game of international cricket at the newly rebuilt Warner Park Stadium. Or watch athletes compete at the brand new Silver Jubilee Athletic Stadium.
28. Nestled between the Caribbean Sea and Atlantic Ocean, the 18 hole Thomas McBroom designed, Royal St. Kitts Golf Course awaits you.
29. The Golden Lemon Inn on St. Kitts dates back to 1610. It was built by the Huguenots, and is the oldest occupied residence on the island.
30. Go 'liming' in a local club, take part in a karaoke night and experience the connection you feel when you mingle with locals in a lighthearted, relaxed atmosphere.
31. Be entertained by Mansion Bull, Clowns, Mocko-Jumbies, and Masquerades in the National Carnival Parade, or 'jam' to the sweet sounds of local bands on J'ouvert morning on December 26th.
32. The 35 acres of rolling lawns and gardens at Ottley's Plantation Inn offer breathtaking views of the Atlantic Ocean.
33. To explore the Nevis beaches that you did not have enough time for on your last cruise.
34. Sample various seafood dishes at a variety of restaurants in the Frigate Bay area.
35. The rainforest hike is a great opportunity to see green vervet monkeys, hummingbirds, and giant river crayfish.
36. Visit the historical site of the Bath Hotel. Built in 1778, this playground for the rich and famous who visited Nevis, offers spring water, known to have cured chronic rheumatism and gout.
37. Port Zante, the cruise ship terminal is best described as a sprawling jewel box of a mall. It offers an array of handsome shops catering to every pocketbook and taste.
38. The Circus is Basseterre's primary landmark. It is a roundabout that creates an interesting focal point, with its green clock tower built in 1883 as a memorial to a local planter and politician of the era.
39. Romney Manor, the home of Caribelle Batik was once owned by the great-great grandfather of the president of the United States. Today, artisans at the batik factory provide live demonstrations of the complicated process of turning Sea Island Cotton into colourful batiks.
40. Because everything you heard from your friends about St. Kitts and Nevis is true!
(Source: CITC) www.stkitts-tourism.com
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St. Leon, MB
It's not a scene from "The X-files." You see them from miles away, piercing the sky like a wild genetic experiment, an alien crop sprouting in the rolling prairie farmland: reed-like fibreglass spikes topped by a burst of three thin blades. These are wind turbines, scattered across 93 sq km (23,000 acre) of wheat and canola fields near the sleepy town of St. Leon, MB. And now they're a tourist magnet. In the global warming arena, wind energy is hot. It is one of the fastest-growing sources of electricity. It's clean, doesn't produce air emissions or hazardous waste and doesn't strip natural resources. What's more, the turbines only occupy a small footprint of land.
The St. Leon Wind Energy Project site, 150 km southwest of Winnipeg, is part of an ambitious project to use the province's natural resources-water, sun and wind-to generate clean, renewable energy. The 63 turbines generate 99 megawatts of energy-enough to power approximately 35,000 homes. A collaborative effort, Bison Wind Inc. completed the project in March 2006-partners included the province, Manitoba Hydro, Sequoia Energy and Global Renewable Energy. Then, the craziest thing happened: visitors began arriving by the busload to get a closer look. From a distance, it's hard to get a good perspective of the sheer size of the wind turbines. Each one is the height of a 21-storey building. The blades stretch 40 m-that's longer than the wingspan of a 747. Eerily quiet, the churning turbines make only a faint whooshing sound, like ocean waves hitting the shoreline. If you make the trip to see these amazing modern windmills, stop in at the recently-opened St. Leon Interpretive Centre just off Highway 23 to learn more about the wind farm.
www.cistleon.com
www.airsourcepower.com
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Sudbury, Ontario
- With a population of 155,000, the City of Greater Sudbury is the largest city in Northern Ontario. It covers an area of 3,627 sq km (1,400 sq mi.) - about two thirds the size of Prince Edward Island.
- There are a total of 330 fresh water lakes within the city - more lakes than any other municipality in Canada.
- It has the third largest francophone population in Canada outside of Quebec.
- The Sudbury Structure is a famous geological feature that hosts one of the largest concentrations of nickel-copper sulphides in the world.
- The Sudbury Basin, 27 km (17 mi.) wide, 60 km (37 mi.) long and 15 km (10 mi.) deep, is believed to have been formed by a meteorite impact 1.8 billion years ago.
- Sudbury is home to the largest integrated mining complex in the world.
- There are 5,000 km (3,107 mi.) of mining tunnels under the Sudbury area. Placed end-to-end, you could drive from Sudbury to Vancouver underground.
- Sudbury's landmark Big Nickel is 9 metres (30 ft.) high and recognized around the world.
- Sudbury has received numerous awards for its aggressive land reclamation program, including a United Nations Local Government Award and the United States Chevron Award.
Chilly Beach
- Canada's popular animated cartoon series is created and produced in Sudbury.
Golf Fever
- In 1922, Sudbury's first golf course was located at the Idylwylde - the former Howey farm site across Ramsey Lake. Since the wagon road around the lake was too rough for the few cars in use at the time, Sudbury's first golfers were ferried across the lake by boat.
City of Lakes
- With 330 lakes, Greater Sudbury contains more lakes than any other city in Canada. Of its total surface area, 16.5% is covered by water. Lake Wanapitei, in Sudbury's northeast corner, is the largest citycontained lake in the world. Ramsey Lake, in the heart of the city, is the second largest.
Golden Fork Awards
- Sudbury's Ristorante Verdicchio is the recipient of two Golden Fork Awards (2004 and 2005) and has been given the official designation as a Gourmet Diners Society 2005 Italian Restaurant of Distinction. The New York-based Gourmet Diners Society of North America recognizes
restaurants that are exemplary in food service, quality of food, customer service and hospitality
The Land Before Time
- Scientists believe that the Sudbury Basin, 60 km (30 mi) long and 27 km (17 mi) wide, was formed as a result of one of the largest known meteorite impacts on the planet. The force of the collision is thought to have been many times greater than all the explosions set off in human history. The mineralization resulting from the impact is responsible for the rich nickel and copper deposits that make Sudbury an important international mining centre. The presence of shatter cones in the Sudbury Basin offers scientific evidence of this geological phenomenon. Shatter cones and a reenactment of the meteorite impact are featured in the Earth Gallery at Dynamic Earth.
Thomas A. Edison: The Prospector
- Thomas Alva Edison, the American inventor of the incandescent light, the gramophone and moving pictures, is perhaps the most famous person who ever visited Sudbury. He actually lived here for a short time between 1901 and 1903. He needed a good supply of nickel for his new invention - the nickel-iron storage battery. Detecting strong evidence of an ore body, he sunk one shaft but ceased operations when he encountered sand - just 15 feet from the ore body that led to the development of Falconbridge Nickel Mines Limited.
Ghost Writer
- In the 1920s, Leslie McFarlane, a former reporter for the Sudbury Star, wrote the first ever Hardy Boys' books from a camp on Ramsey Lake. Under the pen name Franklin W. Dixon, he banged out The Tower Treasure in a matter of weeks. The House on the Cliff and The Secret of the Old Mill followed.
Film Clips
- Sudbury is emerging as a popular location for the movie industry. In 2004, the film Shania, a biopic about Shania Twain, was shot in Sudbury. When growing up in Sudbury, Shania attended Sudbury Secondary School. In 2003, Jane Goodall's Wild Chimpanzees, a Science North large format film production, won the Best Film for Lifelong Learning Award at the Giant Screen Theatre Association Awards in Glasgow, Scotland. The film has played at 47 venues around the world. In 2000, Little Italy was a setting for Men With Brooms, one of the most successful Canadian feature films. Chilly Beach, Canada's popular animated cartoon series, is created and produced in Sudbury.
Sudbury Saturday Night
- In 1965, Stompin' Tom Connors' three week engagement at the Towne House Tavern inspired the song, Sudbury Saturday Night. Today, a Sudbury Saturday Night comes in a variety of flavours. Enjoy an IMAX film at Science North with dinner at Landings Restaurant overlooking Ramsey Lake, live theatre and dinner at Alexandria's or Pasta e Vino, or "entertainment with a spin" at Slots at Sudbury Downs. And whether it's funky hip at Respect Is Burning, classic rock at the Coulson, or the hard rock, jazz or reggae energy at the Towne House Tavern - "glasses still tinkle" and the "eyes still twinkle" at Sudbury's restaurants and bars.
First merchant
- One of the first merchants to set up business in the Village of Sudbury was John Frawley who pitched his tent on "mainstreet" and sold gent's clothing. Other businesses followed and by 1893 Sudbury had become a town with 35 wooden shops lining Elm, Durham, Cedar, Larch and Lisgar.
A.Y. Jackson Mystery
- A.Y. Jackson (1888-1974) is one of Canada's renowned Group of Seven artists. He captured a number of landscapes in and around the Sudbury area. His famous 'Onaping Falls' painting hung at Sudbury Secondary until 1974 when it was stolen. While the painting has never been recovered, you can stand in the footprints of the artist and capture the inspiring image at A.Y. Jackson Lookout.
The Royal Treatment
- Sudbury has hosted four generations of the Royal Family. King George VI and Queen Elizabeth visited Sudbury in 1939. The Queen Mother was the first woman permitted to go underground at an Inco mine. In 1984, Queen Elizabeth II, accompanied by Prince Phillip, officially opened Science North. The Prince and Princess of Wales arrived in 1991. Princess Diana opened a new cancer care treatment center, Prince Charles visited Inco's industrial complex and Princes William and Harry played at Science North.
The Start of Something Good!
- The link between Pat and Mario's and East Side Mario's begins in Sudbury with Casey's, another popular casual dining restaurant. The first Casey's opened in Sudbury in 1979. The founders expanded their operations, first to Southern Ontario, then to Florida, where they opened Pat and Mario's. The idea was successfully imported back into Canada with the opening of East Side Mario's. The trio is owned by Prime Restaurants which has ranked among one of Canada's 50 Best Managed Companies.
- Did we mention that Alex Trebek, host of Jeopardy, went to school here?
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Sweden
Organic Sweden
Environmental policies and climate change have led to a surge in interest for organic products in recent years. Many farms, farm shops, restaurants and cafés in Skåne sell goods that are the perfect green choice for people who care about the environment and animals. Here you'll find tips on Scanian parsnips, happy pigs, rapeseed oil, apples, mustard, sea buckthorn juice and much much more. Here you can: Buy organic vegetables and animal products raised organically, on-site
Mandelmann's gardens:
This farm focusses mainly on raising lambs in accordance with KRAV standards. Various types of tomatoes, cucumber, chillis and basil are grown in greenhouses, all organically. In the gardens grow flowers and vegetables, and when you have enjoyed the lovely green surroundings you can have a coffee in the café or shop in the store.
www.mandelmann.se
Ängavallen:
Over the years, happy pigs have come to be Ängavallen's trademark. In this beautiful setting they also raise lamb and cattle according to KRAV standards. They also make cheese, bake bread and grow organic vegetables and spices. You can stock up in the farm shop, picnic in the park, eat at the restaurant and overnight at the stylish farm hotel. 100% organic!
http://www.angavallen.se/english/index.php
Bäckdalen horticultural farm:
In recent years they have grown more and more herbs at Bäckdalen, where everything is produced according to KRAV standards. The range includes 11 types of basil, as well as other fresh herbs, Asian greens and edible flowers. Or what do you say about some thirty different tomato types, with a range of colours and shapes, and around 10 different cucumber varieties? In season there are loads of activities at Bäckdalen: lectures, cooking, wreath-making courses, table decorating and willow weaving.
www.basilika.nu
Gunnarshög farm on Österlen:
On the plains of Skåne, in the heart of Österlen is the family business Gunnarshög Farm. Here they produce high-quality cold-pressed rapeseed oil - completely free of additives. Other products you'll find in the charming farm shop include cold-pressed linseed oil, vinegar, mustard, spices ,honey, jams, chutney, jellies and skin-care products made from oil.
www.gunnarshog.se
Mossagården organic farm shop:
Fresh organic vegetables from their own farm and organic products from selected suppiers. Or what do you say about milk-fermented wax beans, fine balsamic vinegar, rosehip jam, sea buckthorn juice and various herbs...Pssst! Mossagården's customers include Swedish celebs Lena Olin and Lasse Hallström...
www.mossagarden.se, Veberöd 1-3 August 2008 : Mossagården celebrates its 10th anniversary with a festival!
For three full days, from 1-3 August, the theme 'organic' will permeate everything on the programme, whether it's music, food or clothing.
Agriborg farm shop:
Arne Persson has run Agriborg according to organic principles since 1989. The farm is located just outside Tomelilla, in the middle of the plains of Skåne. There they grow some 40 different vegetables, potatoes, sugarbeet, hay for the animals and cereals. Arne and his Maria also have a farm shop which is open every day of the week, based on self service: the customer weighs their own vegetables and leaves the money in a little box...
Tel: 0417-311 30, Hedeberga, Tomelilla
Naturlig Mat
Naturlig Mat is Ängelholm's own shop specializing in organic and certified food and products. The selection is growing constantly. There are currently more than 600 different items to choose from, including goods from local producers such as Björnekulla (in Ästorp) and Skånemejerier.
www.naturligmat.com
Engelholmsglass:
Ice cream production in Ängelholm began as early as 1937, at that time as part of the local dairy. Production continued in the dairy until 1980 but when that facility became too small, production was moved to the business's new facilities on Helsingborg Road. Today almost all the products are made from cream supplied daily from the dairy. Factory sales are open on weekdays from 8-16.00 and Saturdays from 10-12.00.
www.engelholmsglass.se
Wellingehus:
Between Malmö and Trelleborg you'll find the village of Vellinge and the farm Wellingehus. Here, among strawberry patches and rapeseed fields are two hotels that offer their guests genuine Scanian hospitality as well as welcome peace and quiet. Alongside the hotel business, the Wrethov family grows strawberries, onions, carrots and other utility plants, without any pesticides and inorganic fertilizers.
www.wellingehus.com
Bjärhus farm shop:
Farm shop, smokehouse, delicatessen, catering, nursery, conference facilities... At Bjärhus the food goes straight from earth to plate. Here you can buy vegetables, organic groceries and many other things that you would expect at a classic farm shop. You get a friendly reception, and you can enjoy the idyllic country atmosphere, perhaps letting your thoughts float away to bygone day. At Bjärhus loft they arrange corporate lunches and eco-conferences for up to 50 people. The cosy setting includes a fireplace and licensed bar.
www.bjarhus.se
Cafés or restaurants that serve organic food
En smak av österlen:
At the Vägstationen in Brösarp is a restaurant with breathtaking views of the Brösarp hills. It serves organic lamb from Österlen, KRAV-labelled Bosarp chicken, pork from Lillehem's free-range pigs and char from Öved. The menu is continually updated, and kept in tune with what is in season locally here on Österlen. The shop sells crispbread, mustard, jams, honey, smoked sausages and other delicacies.
www.ensmakavosterlen.se
Tegnérs Matsalar in the Students' Building:
The Academic Society in Lund is operated by twelve of Lund's thirteen student clubs, or 'nations'. Ever since 1851, when the first part of the Academic Society's building was completed, there has been some type of restaurant here. The current premises of Tegnérs Matsalar were finished in 1911. Tegnérs Matsalar serves lunch every weekday, where you can choose from the lunch of the day, the vegetarian dish of the day or the KRAV dish of the week!
www.tegners.com
Friden's farm shop, at the end of the road:
Here they specialize in wood-fired pizzas baked from organic flour. The ingredients on the pizzas are for the most part organic as well. Friden's also serves organic wine from Italy. You can sleep in one of the adjacent rooms.
Relax. Enjoy Friden.
www.friden.nu
Grönland 864, Café and farm shop:
In a lovely green setting they serve coffee and homemade organic baked goods. There is also a shop with a wide range of organic products. Many of the recipes are from grandmother, who ran a small café together with her sisters in Gränna in the 1930s.
www.gronland864.se
Sustainable Opportunities
Railbiking in Fyledalen, on Romeleåsen, at Sankt Olof:
a guaranteed environmentally-friendly way to get around, on a discontinued railway, for all ages. Riding along the track, enjoying the Scanian scenery is a clean, green experience!
www.skane.com
Holma Gård:
Boil peas from Siberian bushes instead of lentils, eat giant lambsquarters instead of spinach! Here they grow Sweden's first 'edible forest' in the in the forest garden, a garden with fruit trees, nut trees, berry bushes and herbs, growing together in a sort of 'forest' of edible plants. Discover many unusual crosses, such as current-gooseberries - little black berries that grow on a bush with serrate leaves, and current-raspberries - a relative of the blackberry. In the Eco Shop they grind your flour while you wait. Or do you have a mill at home? If so you can purchase whole rye, wheat, spelt and barley.
www.stiftelsenholma.org
Ekorundan 2008:
Ekorundan, or the Eco-Tour, is like an art tour but instead of looking at art you get to take a peek behind the scenes of some organic farms in Skåne. The farms will be open on 6-7 September 2008, with tips on growing, walks in herb gardens, pick-your-own vegetables, competitions, tractors, and of course loads of fresh food. Where? At an organic farm near you. For more info, see
www.ekobonden.se
Christinehofs Ekopark:
in the cultural landscape around the 1700s castle Christinehof you'll find open grazing land, wetlands and meandering waterways. You can walk on wheelchair-accessible pathways, have a guided tour, watch birds from the bird-watching tower and much more.
www.christinehofsekopark.se
Landskapet JO:
Fishing, bird-watching, cultural and natural guided tours in boats and on bikes in the Kristianstad wetlands. JO also offers active environmental work for the preservation of various sensitive environments for people who want to do their part for the environment and their own conscience. It's a form of tourism that is growing all over the world, and has now reached Sweden.
www.landskapet.se
Österlens Ekosalong:
a hair studio where all the hair products used are environmentally friendly. You can also buy natural brushes, eco-cotton, soaps, oils and shaving products.
www.osterlens-ekosalong.se
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Switzerland
Nature / Geography
Switzerland has 48 peaks above 13,000 feet. The Matterhorn is not the highest mountain. The highest peak is shared with Italy - the Dufour peak. Switzerland is rich in water: the Rhine, Rhone, Inn and the region of Ticino all have their water sources in the Gotthard. The Gotthard separates the northern and southern parts of Europe. Switzerland borders 5 other countries: Germany, France, Italy, Austria and Liechtenstein. Lac leman (Lake Geneva) is the largest land- locked lake in Western Europe. In Switzerland you are never more than 13 miles from a lake or river in which you can swim. Juf has the highest elevation of any European town. The largest edible chestnut forest in the Alps is in Malcantone near Lugano. The longest Glacier in the Alps can be found in Switzerland: the Aletsch Glacier is more than 14 miles long and a UNESCO World Heritae Site. The highest waterfall in Europe is the Mürrenbachfall with a 2,450 foot drop
Technology
Highest Train station in Europe: Jungfraujoch, 11,330 feet. Highest subterraneous station in Europe: Mittelallalin Saas Fee, 11,482 feet. Highest cable car station in Europe: small Matterhorn, 12,739 feet. Only revolving aerial cableway in Europe: Titlis. Steepest cogwheel station in the world: Pilatus with a 48% incline. Steepest aerial cableway in the world: Gelmerbahn with a 106% incline. Steepest Posbus route in Europe: Kiental in the Bernese Oberland with a 28% incline. Slowest express train in the world: Glacier Express. The only scenic train in the Alps that takes you over the pass instead of through a tunnel: Bernina, 7,637
Feet. Highest man-made cement dam in the world: Grande Dixence with a height of 935 feet.
Longest pedestrian stairs in the world: 11,674 steps, 5,577 feet of height difference, Niesen.
Highest fountain in Europe: Jet d'eau, Geneva with 459 feet. Highest open-air - passenger elevator in the world: Hammetschwand at the Bürgenstock, 525 feet high. The densest railway system in the world: 3,107 miles of tracks. All major bridges leading to and from Manhattan were designed by Swiss engineers.
Sport
Only country in the world with more than 1 km of hiking trails for each km2 of area: 62,000 km (38,525 miles) of hiking trails total. 20 ski resorts that are situated at an elevation of 9,842 feet or above. Longest ski run in the Alps: Klein Matterhorn-Zermatt. Longest, most famous and most beautiful World Cup Downhill Racing slope: Lauberhorn. Craziest freestyle competition in the world: Extreme in Verbier. The largest ice sculpture in the Alps: bob run in St. Moritz, it is the only natural ice bob run in the world. Horse racing on the snow for over 101 years: White Turf St. Moritz. The best sailing nation in the world: Alinghi. Oldest ski racing competition in the world: inferno Race in Muerren, since 1928. 18 hole golf course with the highest elevation in Europe: Arosa at 5905 feet.
People
Mr. Louis Chevrolet hailed from La Chaux-de-Fonds. First person to circumnavigate the globe in a hot-air balloon was the Swiss Bertrand Piccard. European record astronaut: Claude Nicolier.
Famous life-saving dog: Barry. Legendary storybook heroine: Heidi. First 007 girl: Ursula Andress. Best tennis player ever: Roger Federer. Famous director of Neverland and the next James Bond movie: Marc Forster. Four time Academy Award winner: Arthur Cohn.
Economy
Switzerland has the most types of bread in relation to the population. 1:250. Highest located vineyard in Europe: Visperterminen at 4,265 feet. The first bar of chocolate was produced in Switzerland: François Cailler in 1819. First ready made "cup of soup" in the world: Julius Maggi, in 1889. The best selling watch brand: Swatch. World's largest food and beverage company: Nestlé headquartered in Vevey. Largest Wellness and Spa-Resort in the Alps: Leukerbad. Most famous knife in Europe: Victorinox. The Swiss are the world's largest consumers of chocolate: on average each Swiss consumes 22 lbs of chocolate a year.
Number of wines produced in the Valais: 50 (the most wines grown in such a small area).
Arts and Culture / Customs
There exists a town with 400 inhabitants and 3 official languages: the town of Bivio near Savognin speaking Italian, German and Rhaetoromansh. Only Olympic Museum in the World: Lausanne. Largest collection of Paul Klee paintings in the world: Klee Museum in Bern. Longest covered bridge in the world: Chapel Bridge in Lucerne.
Cheese - Food and Wine
The real Swiss eat fondue only during the winter. When you lose your piece of bread in the cheese, you have to pay for the next bottle of wine, sing a song or do something embarrassing. The other very popular Swiss cheese dish, called Raclette, is where cheese is melted and scrapped directly from the wheel of cheese. People in Switzerland raise their eyebrows when they see Americans eating fondue with fries and Coke. In Switzerland, you can lease a cow, and during the time of the lease, you get all the cheese that is made from your cow's milk. While Switzerland is very famous for its cheese - it's also the home of the first wine growing area in the world that has been made a UNESCO world heritage site. It's the area called Lavaux between Montreux and Vevey on Lake Geneva. Switzerland doesn't just have holes in its famous cheeses. It also has holes in its mountains, among them the world's longest train tunnel through a mountain. Switzerland is famous for fondue and chocolate, but chocolate fondue wasn't invented
there. The Swiss also eat fondue with meat or vegetables instead of cheese, which they cook in broth or even wine. Many Swiss have a glass of Kirsch - cherry schnapps - with the fondue. The more adventurous dunk their piece of bread in it before they load it with cheese. "Fondue" is French and means "melted." Even though it's a French word, it's called fondue in all four official languages of Switzerland. Gruyere is not just the name of the world famous cheese, but also the name of a wonderful town and a beautiful region close to the mountains and on the border of the French and German-speaking parts of Switzerland.
General
Yodeling started as a means of communications for farmers from one mountain to another. You're never more than 15 miles away from a lake or a river, wherever you are in Switzerland. The water in the streams and lakes of Switzerland is so clean that you can swim with your
mouth open. The size of Switzerland is less than a third of NY state - but if you could just flatten the Alps, it would be much bigger. In some Swiss villages in the Alps, the locals play a game called Cow Bingo. On a field with a grid of numbered squares, every participant bets on one or several fields. Then a cow is put on the field and the people wait... and wait...and wait, until the cow is doing her business. Whoever bet on the square she hit wins! Switzerland is only a seven hour flight from Canada, and there are four daily departures with Swiss International Airlines from the tri-state area to Zurich and Geneva. Switzerland has the highest and most beautiful mountains of the Alps.
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Switzerland (40 reasons to visit)
1. The Federal Capital (Bern): Bern is Switzerland's romantic political capital, the city of the bear pits, flowers, fountains and museums, and the unique medieval Old Town (UNESCO World Cultural Heritage). The Bernese Old Town is situated on a peninsula of the River Aare. Founded in the 12th century on a hill site surrounded by the Aare River, Berne developed over the centuries in line with a an exceptionally coherent planning concept. The buildings in the Old City, dating from a variety of periods, include 15th-century arcades and 16th century fountains. Most of the medieval town was restored in the 18th century but it has retained its original character.
www.berninfo.com
2. Rhaetian Railway in the Albula / Bernina Landscapes: New on the UNESCO list of World Cultural Heritage, it brings together two historic railway lines that cross the Swiss Alps through two passes. Opened in 1904, the Albula line in the northwestern part of the property is 67 km long. It features an impressive set of structures including 42 tunnels and covered galleries and 144 viaducts and bridges. The 61 km Bernina pass line features 13 tunnels and galleries and 52 viaducts and bridges. The property is exemplary of the use of the railway to overcome the isolation of settlements in the Central Alps early in the 20th century, with a major and lasting socioeconomic impact on life in the mountains. It constitutes an outstanding technical, architectural and environmental ensemble and embodies architectural and civil engineering achievements, in harmony with the landscapes through which they pass.
http://www.rhb.ch/index.php?id=891?&L=4
3. Castle of Bellinzona. Three Castles, Defensive Wall and Ramparts of the Market Town of Bellinzone: The Bellinzone site consists of a group of fortifications grouped around the castle of Castelgrande, which stands on a rocky peak looking out over the entire Ticino valley. Running from the castle, a series of fortified walls protect the ancient town and block the passage through the valley. A second castle (Montebello) forms an integral part of the fortifications, while a third but separate castle (Sasso Corbaro) was built on an isolated rocky promontory southeast of the other fortifications.
www.bellinzonaunesco.ch/castelliunesco/en/
4. Aletsch Glacier: With a length of 23 km, the Aletsch is the longest glacier in the Alps. It is surrounded by the Aletsch Forest, which, at an altitude of 2,2000 meters is one of the highest stone pine forests in Europe. The extension of the natural World Heritage property of Jungfrau - Aletsch - Bietschhorn (first inscribed in 2001) expands the site to the east and west, bringing its surface area up to 82,400 ha. Up from 53,900. The site provides an outstanding example of the formation of the High Alps, including the most glaciated part of the mountain range and the largest glacier in Eurasia. It features a wide diversity of ecosystems, including successional stages due particularly to the retreat of glaciers resulting from climate change. The site is of outstanding universal value both for its beauty and for the wealth
5. Abbey Library (St. Gallen): The Abbey of St. Gallen figures on the UNESCO list of World Cultural Heritage. The Convent of St Gall, a perfect example of a great Carolingian monastery, was, from the 8th century to its secularization in 1805, one of the most important in Europe. Its library is one of the richest and oldest in the world and contains precious manuscripts such as the earliest-known architectural plan drawn on parchment. From 1755 to 1768, the conventual area was rebuilt in Baroque style. The cathedral and the library are the main features of this remarkable architectural complex, reflecting 12 centuries of continuous activity. The spirit of the Benedictine Monks is still perceptible in the Abbey Library, which is said to be the most beautiful secular Rococo hall in Switzerland.
www.stiftsbibliothek.ch
www.stgallen-bodensee.ch
6. Swiss National Park (Zernez): The oldest Central European and Alpine national park is famous for its great variety of Alpine fauna and flora and its virtually intact natural landscape. The Alpine landscape of the National Park extends from an altitude of 1,400 to 3200 meters above sea level. The Swiss National Park, opened in 1914 and still the only national park in the country, is an important attraction for Zernez and the Engadine St. Moritz region. Visitors obtain useful information at the National Park Centre in Zernez, where the park headquarters is also located. The centre is open daily from the beginning of June until the end of October. The Swiss National Park offers a fascinating wilderness with an intact plant and animal world, which can be viewed from an 80 km network of walking trails.
www.engadin.stmoritz.ch/zernez
7. Baroque Abbey (Einsiedeln): Einsiedeln has been one of the most important places of pilgrimage ever since the Middle Ages. In the newly restored Benedictine Abbey you will find the Lady Chapel with the Black Madonna.
www.myswitzerland.com/en.cfm/about_switzerland/topattractions/
8. Castle (Gruyère): Dominating the small city surrounded by walls where counts once lived, Gruyere Castle presents an interesting opportunity to find out about five centuries of history, and to see remarkable supernatural art exhibitions. At the foot of the Pre-Alps, you will be enchanted by the charm and picturesque architecture of the medieval town of Gruyères. The town has given its name to the area and to its delicious cheese. Come and explore a little town that's been unaffected by the passage of time, built in a superb setting.
www.gruyeres.ch
9. Madonna del Sasso (Locarno): A walk through the old town leads to the Piazza Grande, a square surrounded by picturesque houses and arcades. Each year in August, the square turns into a large open-air cinema to host the famous international film festival at Locarno.
www.maggiore.ch
10. Old town/Bridge (Lucerne): The medieval city, the lake, the mountains, an unmistakable composition of natural and man-made beauty, time-tested over the centuries and carefully nurtured. Luzerne, the lively capital of Central Switzerland, is a city to fall in love with!
www.luzern.com
11. Benedictine Convent of St John at Müstair: The Convent of Müstair, which stands in a valley in the Grisons, is a good example of Christian monastic renovation during the Carolingian period. It has Switzerland's greatest series of figurative murals, painted c. A.D. 800, along with Romanesque frescoes and stuccoes.
http://www.myswitzerland.com/en.cfm/destinations/top_attractions/
12. Swiss Alpine Museum (Bern): The only museum dedicated to the Swiss Alps introduces the visitors to cultural and natural peculiarities of the alpine world.
http://www.alpinesmuseum.ch
13. Papiliorama (Kerzers): The Papiliorama is a fascinating exotic world, where various diurnal species fly around a tropical forest environment in total freedom. Nocturama lets visitors observe nocturnal wildlife that has been brought here from the forests of Southern and Central America.
www.papiliorama.ch
14. Reichenbach Falls (Meiringen): The beauty of the mighty waterfall - height of drop 100 m - and the scenic charms of the surroundings have been described since tourism began. A Sherlock Holmes commemorative plaque by the cable railway reminds the visitor that Conan Doyle was so deeply impressed by the wild beauty of this waterfall that he decided to let his world-famous detective, Sherlock Holmes, fall to his death in the Reichenbach Falls after a fight with his archenemy Prof. Moriarty.
www.reichenbachfall.ch
15. St. Peter's Isle (Lake Biel): It was here on St. Peter's Isle in Lake Biel that the famous philosopher, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, in his own words "spent the happiest time of his life"! Nowadays his former residence, a monastery, houses the well-known restaurant and hotel St. Petersinsel.
www.bielersee.ch
16. The Lavaux Vineyard Terraces: stretching for about 30 km along the south-facing northern shores of Lake Geneva from the Chateau de Chillon to the eastern outskirts of Lausanne in the Vaud region, cover the lower slopes of the mountainside between the villages and the lake. Although there is some evidence that vines were grown in the area in Roman times, the present vine terraces can be traced back to the 11th century, when Benedictine and Cistercian monasteries controlled the area. It is an outstanding example of a centuries-long interaction between people and their environment, developed to optimize local resources so as to produce a highly valued wine that has always been important to the economy.
www.lake-geneva-region.ch
17. Isole di Brissago (Brissago): The botanical garden has a collection of plants from all over the world. Around 1,500 species, most of them from the southern hemisphere, as well as from the Mediterranean and the Far East: the Himalayas, China, and Japan.
www.isolebrissago.ch
18. Rhine Falls (Neuhausen): The Rhine Falls, the largest falls in Europe, offer a spectacular showpiece to visitors. With an average flow of 25,000 cubic ft / sec (700 m3 / sec) the water cascades down the cataracts, which are 450 ft (150 m) wide and 75 ft (23 m) high. Taking a boat trip into the basin below the cataracts you can feel the great power of the rushing water.
www.rheinfall.ch
19. Travers Valley (Creux-du-Van): A breathtakingly beautiful natural rock cirque. Creux-du-Van is a paradise for ibex, birds of prey, marmots, deer, and of course for nature lovers.
www.neuchateltourisme.ch
20. Olympic Museum (Lausanne): A unique, lively and interactive exhibition, the Olympic Museum is the world's largest information centre relating to the Olympics.
www.museum.olympic.org
21. Tinguely Museum (Basel): The architect, Mario Botta, designed the Museum Jean Tinguely. It is devoted to the life and work of this major sculptor in iron.
www.basel.com
22. Swiss chocolate factory Maestrani (Flawil): During the Schoggiland opening hours and without prior appointment, individual visitors can witness from an 80-meter high visitors gallery how chocolate is produced and taste the delicious Munz and Minor specialties.
www.schoggi-land.ch
23. Watch Museum (Le Locle): Not far from Le Locle, a late 18th century manor house is home to a magnificent collection of clocks and watches.
www.mhl-monts.ch
24. Swiss Museum of Transport & Communication (Lucerne): The Swiss transport museum is a theme park that reveals the history of all forms of transportation and communication in a fascinating show.
www.verkehrshaus.ch
25. Swiss Miniatures (Melide): Swiss miniatures shows you the most picturesque features of Switzerland - towns, villages, monuments, transportation, all at a scale of 1:25.
www.swissminiatur.ch
26. Vines and Wine Museum (Aigle): The Château d'Aigle, surrounded by Chablais vineyards, houses the Vine, Wine and Etiquette museums: the ideal place to preserve and exhibit almost 2,000 years of history and heritage!
www.chateauaigle.ch
27. Alpamare (Pfäffikon): The largest covered aquatic parc in Europe is great fun, from activities to wellness in and near the water - a pleasure for the whole family.
www.alpamare.ch
28. Thermal Spa (Yverdon-les-Bains): Yverdon-les-Bains Thermal Spa offers peace and relaxation. Yverdon-les-Bains has been making use of its thermal waters since Roman times. Its healing waters, which go back more than 15 centuries, are rich in minerals thanks to the type of soil in the area.
www.cty.ch
29. Skater Park (Sattel): 7000 m2 of outdoor skating fun in Europe's largest open-air skating park! - With an inline school and a rental shop. For years now, this has been the venue of everyone who owns anything in the nature of a skateboard or roller skates; the Sattel free-time and sports park is open to bladers, snake- and skateboarders, roller skaters and BMX bikers of all ages and levels of skill.
www.rollerpark.ch
30. Verzasca Valley (Verzasca): A hiking trail for art lovers along works of art. The "sentierone" begins in Mergoscia and leads through the entire Verzasca valley to Sonogno along the river on the opposite bank to the cantonal road.
www.maggiore.ch
31. Swiss Holiday Park (Morschach): The Swiss Holiday Park with its a wide range of leisure and wellness offerings leaves nothing to be desired. On 44 acres this leisure and holiday park presents a plethora of sports activities and games for visitors of all age groups.
www.swissholidaypark.ch
32. Pilatus: So close to Lucerne and so easy to reach by public transport, Mount Pilatus (2132 m altitude) is the perfect peak for everyone, large or small. 2 aerial cableways, 2 hotels, 7 restaurants, the world's steepest cogwheel railway and Central Switzerland's biggest suspension rope park guarantee exciting excursions. All kinds of sports fans meet here to hike, climb, toboggan sledge, bike and sledge (6 km sledge run). Plus: events, attractions and fun galore!
http://www.pilatus.ch
34. Schilthorn (Mürren): Enjoy the magnificent mountain world of the Bernese Oberland by following in James Bond's footsteps on the 3000 m high Schilthorn.
www.schilthorn.ch
35. Monte Brè (Lugano): A cable car from Cassarate climbs to the peak. A unique opportunity to see not only the magnificent vista extending far across the Swiss-Italian border, but also the view over Lugano and its vicinity.
www.montebre.ch
36. Titlis Rotair (Engelberg): The journey is made by 3 aerial cable cars through many changes of scenery, from the green valley up into the high alpine glacier region, in only 45 minutes. The summit station at 3,020 meters (10,000 feet) has snow and ice the whole year. Engelberg-Titlis is the biggest ski resort in Central Switzerland with sledding, cross-country skiing, winter hiking, glacier skiing snowboarding and much more.
www.titlis.ch
37. Schwägalp (Säntis): The view from the Säntis, at an altitude of 2502 m, extends over a magnificent mountain panorama with the peaks and valleys of six Alpine countries.
www.saentisbahn.ch
38. Brienzerrothorn (Brienz): Ever since 1892, the summer months in Brienz have witnessed a hissing, huffing and puffing that are nonetheless pleasing to the ear, eye and nose. It comes from the Brienz Rothorn Railway, whose locomotives have for three generations climbed the 1,678 meters to the summit of the Brienz Rothorn without ever running short of puff.
www.brienz-rothorn-bahn.ch
39. United Nations (Geneva): When you pass through the gate of the Palais des Nations, you are entering international land. A land without frontiers that welcomes 20,000 delegates from these nations every year, a place where 3,000 civil servants work towards the same goal: achieving peace, security and dignity for all mankind.
www.geneve-tourisme.ch
40. The Swiss people: "As you are official representatives for Switzerland, I have to share an experience from my trip which speaks volumes about Swiss people. We were running to grab a couple of sausages at the Zurich train station (Very tasty). However, I needed to drop off our luggage cart first. In doing so, I mistakenly forgot to grab my laptop. After Paul ate 4 sausages (3 minutes) it occurred to me that I forgot my laptop. I went back to retrieve it and the cart was gone and so was my laptop. I figured that ... was on a train to Romania. Anyway, Paul suggested we visit the lost and found office. The office was closed and they said any articles received that day would be sent to Bern. I went online and submitted my claim. The next day I received an email notifying me that there was a match. I called them up and was informed that my laptop was returned to them. They will be sending to me in the next few days. Can you believe that? Can you imagine that ever happening in a NYC subway Station? What a country. What nice people. "
(Source: CITC) www.MySwtizerland.com
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Toronto: Jazz
May 15, 1953. Massey Hall, Toronto, ON. Five seminal bebop giants take the stage in "The Greatest Jazz Concert Ever." Charlie Parker. Dizzy Gillespie. Bud Powell. Charles Mingus. Max Roach. Ever since that day, Toronto's kept its ID as Canada's Big Apple for jazz, says Jim Galloway. The soprano saxophonist famous for his inimitable swing style has worked here with the greats in the earlier styles of jazz.
Few cities can boast live jazz 365 days a year, not to mention four annual jazz festivals. Toronto's live music in clubs, concert halls and main stages has thrived since the historic day when the city's jazz scene vaulted to international status.
Like all celebrated music cities, Toronto has cultivated its own stars: the late flutist Moe Koffman, vibraphonist Peter Appleyard, flugelhornist Guido Basso, composer Phil Nimmons, guitarist Ed Bickert, multi-instrumentalist Don Thompson and saxophonist Galloway. Though jazz here tends to be mainstream-Rob McConnell's Boss Brass Band-the traditionalist Climax Jazz band has pleased crowds for 38 years.
As the culturally diverse city blossomed into a place of pilgrimage for the world's best jazz musicians, the downtown core incubated a multicultural mix of styles. Toronto cultivated an eclectic genre of jazz musicians, drawing from Canadian, American, European, African and blues music from traditional to swing, bebop, sultry smooth and rousing klezmer jazz. The new breed of talents includes soprano saxophonist Jane Bunnett, known for her distinctive hybrid of jazz and Afro-Cuban music, and guitarist Kevin Breit, who mixes jazz with the folksy twang of country.
Today, Toronto is an essential stop on the world tours of most notable jazz bands. Here's your hit list:
- The retro-style Rex Hotel Jazz and Blues Bar is famed as much for its huge variety of draught beer as for its incredible volume of acts (some 18 a week!), running from locals to legends.
- Hooch, a quirky lounge-cum-dance club known for cutting-edge styles, dedicates Thursday nights to swing, with big band, jazz and blues numbers that invite dancing.
- AlleyCatz Live Jazz Bar for a martini at the bar or dinner during sets of smooth jazz.
- For really classy performances, check out the Art Gallery of Ontario: some nights, it hosts the city's hottest talents.
- Every second Saturday afternoon, C'est What serves up traditional New Orleans jazz with comfort food.
- And since Toronto is one of a few cities with an internationally acclaimed jazz-only radio station, tune in to what's happenin' at Jazz FM 91. Want to hear about jazz in Toronto?
Just listen!
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Toronto, ON (ROM)
Eyesore or icon? Millennium Dome or the Guggenheim? The heated debate continues. But one thing is sure: the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM)'s Michael Lee-Chin Crystal is a groundbreaking piece of architecture. Thanks to its engineering complexity and lack of right angles, the new Crystal ranks as one of North America's most challenging construction projects - Canada's Bilboa, if you will. Unveiled in June 2007, it's also the latest in a slew of modern architecture high-wire acts in Toronto, ON, aimed at revitalizing the city's most prominent cultural institutions. The Crystal anchors the city's new arts and cultural district. It is part of Renaissance ROM, a $270-million, 17,200-sq m (175,000-sq ft) addition to the ROM, and perhaps the most anticipated and stylistically contested of Toronto's architectural renaissance.
The creation of "starchitect" Daniel Libeskind, the Crystal is nothing if not arresting. It seems to burst up out of Bloor Street West, one of Toronto's most-walked thoroughfares, like an enormous piece of translucent quartz with overhanging angular prisms, contrasting with the quaint brick heritage buildings nearby. Polish-born Libeskind of World Trade Center reconstruction fame first sketched the ambitious structure on a paper napkin one night at the ROM, inspired by the museum's mineral and gem collection.
The Crystal is five interlocking, self-supporting geometric shapes, 3,500 tons of steel, 38 tons of bolts, 9,000 cubic m of concrete, 162 sq-m (1,750 sq-ft) of glass and 30 km (18 mi) of extruded anodized aluminum. One-quarter of the exterior is glass (with 52 windows and a rumoured $200,000 a year in window-cleaning costs). The tip soars 10 storeys, measuring 36.5 m (120 ft). Libeskind designed the innovative structure in a joint venture with Toronto's Bregman + Hamann Architects.
The Crystal will house seven new galleries on four floors, the C5 Restaurant Lounge, a toney retail boutique and Canada's largest exhibition hall. The first two permanent galleries open in December 2007: Mesozoic Era (250 to 65 million years ago) fossils, dinosaur specimens and mammal skeletons inside the futuristic design - a marriage of old and new.
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Uniondale, ON
Arrhianna Centre, The Art of Peace Gallery
Located between Woodstock, Stratford and London, this gallery is a tranquil oasis in rural Oxford. From the moment you spot this bright yellow building, you will sense simplicity and creativity. Built in the 1940's as a hardware store and grain depot, it has been lovingly transformed into a gallery where Heidi and Antoinette display their art and photography. Paintings, sculpture, photographs, stained glass, cards, crystals and jewellery are only the beginning of discoveries at Arrhianna. This is also a place of change, beginning with the private Reiki retreat space, and continuing to the expansive studio with its warm wide plank floors and cushions for group sessions and classes. While you explore, brew yourself a cup of tea in the open kitchen. Open Wednesday-Friday 11-7, Saturday 10-6 and Sunday 12-5.
Oxford Rd. 96 at Highway 119
Uniondale, ON Ph: 519-349-2727
www.theyellowcentre.com
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Vancouver Island, BC
Vancouver Island Golf Trail Proves a Cut Above the Rest:
What makes a golf trail great? Simple. It must consist of an exceptional string of golf courses (obviously) and it should take you on a memorable journey through compelling country where fine cuisine, inviting hotels, and exciting off-course activities are possible. Seem like a tall order? Not for the links to links experience to be found along the Vancouver Island Golf Trail - unquestionably one of the finest in the world. The route, which runs north and south on the Island, will take you to some of BC's grand golf courses - Bear Mountain, Crown Isle, and Storey Creek, just to name a few - and affords outstanding après golf action. Whale watching, waterfalls, wilderness walks, salmon fishing, beachcombing and ocean views, whatever your wishes, you'll find it on the Vancouver Island Golf Trail. And no need to leave a trail of breadcrumbs. This one's well marked.
www.golfvancouverisland.ca
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Vancouver Island (Seaweed)
Grab your gumboots and forage the green way with BC's 'Seaweed Lady,' then dine on, or get wrapped up in, your bounty.
"You are looking at one great, big, wild, exotic garden," says Diane Bernard. Actually, she's talking about southern Vancouver Island's coastline. This is where the "Seaweed Lady" and Outer Coast Seaweeds (her company) pickers hand-harvest some of British Columbia's 500 varieties of edible seaweed. From her overflowing bucket, she offers up neon-green sea lettuce that is crisp, fresh, slightly salty. Egregia, an underwater brown-feather-boa of a plant, evokes hints of citrus and caviar.
Seaweed isn't just about the Japanese nori wrapped around your sushi anymore. It's woven into your yogawear to soothe your skin, featured in the latest spa treatments and surfacing on top BC menus. Chefs are blanching, sautéing, pickling and roasting veggies fresh from the surf. Seaweed stars in everything from pesto and hummus to a stand-in for martini olives.
Outer Coast harvests seaweeds sustainably. And the green stuff is loaded with vitamins B to K, enzymes, plus anti-inflammatories to soothe what ails you. Europeans have been thalasso "sea" therapy-savvy for years. Bernard's seaweeds end up in spa products free of dyes, animal by-products and artificial fragrances at Vancouver's Spruce Body Lab, Absolutely Fabulous and Whistler's Four Seasons Hotel.
Now you, too, can stomp along the beach and splash through tidal pools in colourful, hand-painted gumboots with the Seaweed Lady. On a beach 40 minutes west of Victoria, alongside Sooke Harbour House inn, Bernard leads small groups from May until mid-September.
Afterwards, the inn's renowned chef, Edward Tuson - who's been slicing and dicing seaweed for decades - whips up a multi-course seaweed tasting menu. You can even get wrapped up in the stuff after dinner for an inner-outer, full-body experience.
www.sea-flora.com
www.outercoastseaweeds.com
www.sookeharbourhouse.com
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Weird Museums
Bell Island, Newfoundland:
Ore mine. Small museum above the mine is loaded with mining artifacts, including a cup that was presented to "Tony," the horse who spent 17 years hauling ore in the mines and a surprise small collection of Yousuf Karsh miner's photos. A guide will take you underground in the shafts.
Berwick Nova Scotia:
Claims to be the apple capital of the world and has a wee museum focused on the apple industry that is a lot of fun.
Fort Erie, Ontario:
The Mildred Mahoney Doll's House was connected to the "underground railway." There is a quasi-museum in a basement room with a camouflaged entrance to another room where the slaves waited for the next step of their journey. The collection of doll houses and all the furniture, drapes and furnishings inside, including a cat band, are quite amusing.
Laurette, Prince Edward Island:
On Route 151, you find Back Road Folk Art. Owner/artist is Kerras Jeffery. His folk art and home is something else. He also has a wee museum called the Olde Times Garden House Museum. Small one room new addition to his property but you could easily spend hours there. It features a "guessing wall," old tools and a section on how skunks came to the island as tourists and never left.
Liverpool, Nova Scotia:
Famed photographer, Sherman Hines, has his own museum in Liverpool dedicated to photography. He has other museum complexes in Liverpool including a museum dedicated to outhouses!
Middleton, Nova Scotia:
The MadDonald Museum houses over 150 clocks and watches, most of them working.
Montreal, Quebec:
The Oratoire St Joseph displays the preserved heart of Brother Andre in the crypt, and the entrance hall is adorned with loads of discarded crutches etc, evidence of his miraculous powers.
Niagara Falls, Ontario:
Exhibits about the people who have gone over the Falls deliberately to make a buck with displays of what they used (barrels etc.) for the trip.
Nova Scotia:
With 170 lighthouses, the most in Canada, there are lots that have museums attached. Particular favourites are the museum/lighthouses in Yarmouth at Cape Forchu, Seal Island Light Museum in Barrington, Fort Point Lighthouse in Liverpool, the NS Lighthouse Interpretive Centre at the Port Bickerton Lighthouse, and Gilbert's Cove Lighthouse. Most of these lighthouse museums are manned by volunteers who are passionate about their lighthouses and very knowledgeable.
O'Leary, Prince Edward Island:
Potato Museum. We never knew there could be so much to say about the lowly potato. Bonus: during July/August, you can sample potato stuff in the kitchen.
Torrington, Alberta:
The GopherHole Museum is all about stuffed gophers.
Trepassy, Newfoundland:
The Museum is in a nondescript small house, manned by volunteers who sip tea and play cards and don't know much about the contents of the "museum." They kept saying things like "Well m'darlin' I'm not sure what that item be, but it's old. Real old." The home belonged to one of the first outport nurses in NL and is packed with fascinating artifacts including memorabilia associated with Amelia Earhart as she stayed in the same house for three weeks on one of her transatlantic voyages.
Trois Rivieres, Quebec:
A jail museum that closed as a jail as recently as the mid or late 1970's. A tour of the institution is
enough to persuade anyone to stick to the straight and narrow. Groups of 14 or more can book an overnight stay, followed by a jail-style breakfast.
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Wendake, QC
After snowball fights and fort building, snowshoeing is easily Canada's most affordable and
accessible family sport. GV Snowshoes, based in Wendake, QC, make 40,000 pairs of shoes every year, and not one of them would you wear to a cocktail party, the grocery store or yoga class. Some Canadians, however, do wear them to work.
GV Snowshoes sells most of its models to winter enthusiasts looking for some gentle fun in the snow. There's even a special model for competitive runners. But other buyers need snowshoes on the job, including Hydro Quebec workers maintaining power lines, maple-syrup producers tapping trees, Canadian Forces soldiers on patrol and fur trappers working their traplines. "Trappers prefer the traditional wooden pairs," explains Ilka Tarin, GV Snowshoes sales and marketing director, "because they need a silent snowshoe. Hydro workers need to be able to walk backwards, so we designed an aluminum model to allow that. The magnesium ones we make exclusively for the Canadian Forces are not even sold to novices. They're very heavy duty, with a harness to fit the big boots."
After snowball fights and fort building, snowshoeing is easily Canada's most affordable and accessible family sport. Match your weight to the size of the snowshoe, strap 'em on and off you go... to the North Pole, perhaps? Last year, adventurers Conrad Dickinson, 50 (ex-British Army), and Québecker Richard Weber, 46 (he operates Arctic Watch Wilderness Lodge on Somerset Island, NU), wore GV Snowshoes on their record-breaking, unassisted, 52-day, 12-hour trek to the North Pole.
"No skis, no dry suits for crossing open water leads, just a pair of snowshoes, making us the first to try this way of getting to the North Pole," the pair reported in their final April 2006 dispatch. "The old guys have done it."
www.gvsnowshoes.com
www.northpoleclassic.com
www.CanadianArcticHolidays.ca
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Whistler, BC (Ice carving)
About 5.5-m tall and six-m wide (18 ft by 20 ft), a Cleopatra-like woman reclines on a daybed, her graceful arm reaching skyward, head turned to gaze at a bluebird perched on her hand, its long, delicate tail feathers trailing into air. A four-man international team sculpted "The Birth of the Bluebird"-in ice. Leading the group: one of the world's top ice carvers, Junichi Nakamura of Japan. The artists used tons of ice, working almost 20 hours a day for six days at the Fairbanks, Alaska (USA) World Ice Championship. But like all great endeavours, with triumph comes tragedy.
Just before judging, when the last of four support beams was carefully cut with a chainsaw from below her massive pedestal, Cleopatra came crashing down, a spectacle viewed some 10,000 times on YouTube. (Search "Ice Sculpture Collapses," watch and weep.)
Chicago, IL's Dan Rebholtz was there as a member of Nakamura's team. But while that competition crashed and burned, he shrugs it off. It's all part of what he calls the "spart" of ice sculpting-part sport, part art.
And it is likely coming to the 2010 Vancouver Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games in British Columbia. (Plans were still unconfirmed at press time.)
Ice carving has been a Cultural Olympiad event at the Olympic and Paralympic Arts Festival since the 1988 Calgary Winter Games in Calgary, AB. Ice carvers from around the world who've accumulated enough championship points to qualify will be packing their chainsaws, carving chisels and electrical sanders, etc., for Whistler, BC, where they'll carve single-block sculptures from 136-kg (300-lb) blocks of ice, competing for medals in gold, silver and bronze.
Rebholtz, a veteran of 100 competitions, three-time world champ and certified lead judge of the National Ice Carving Association, has been fashioning ice into artwork for 22 years. He's seen it all, including Nakamura's spectacular first place "Snow Fairy," and other teams' creations: a giant crystal "Thumbelina" and the "Alligator Pie Bakery" at the annual Ice Magic Festival he judged in 2008 in Lake Louise, Alberta.
Competing on their own dime, the majority of North American ice carvers have chef backgrounds; most have art training and they need to be fit, Rebholtz says. "It's physically demanding working nonstop under a time constraint," he says. "The tools are heavy, the ice is heavy."
If you're in Whistler in 2010, expect to be thrilled and awed. As ice carving aficionado Rebholtz says, "Our favourite word is 'wow.'"
www.vancouver2010.com/en/CultureEducation/CulturalEvents
www.icealaska.com
www.nica.org
www.banfflakelouise.com/icemagic
www.fortstjohn.ca/hoi.html
www.worldclassicesculpture.com
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Whitby, Ontario
- A memorial plaque and a window in honor of English Lord, Hamar Viscount Greenwood (1870-1948), the last Chief Secretary for Ireland (1920-1922) is in All Saints' Anglican Church. Greenwood was born in Whitby and was a member of the British House of Lords.
- Ian Fleming took secret agent training at Camp X, on the border between Oshawa and Whitby, during the Second World War. Camp X was a training base for secret agents which operated from 1941 to 1945, established by Sir William Stephenson, "The Man Called Intrepid."
- May Irwin (1862-1938), the highest paid actress in the United States in the l890s, did a command performance for Woodrow Wilson in 1916. Wilson was so impressed with her that he named her his "Secretary of Laughter" in his Unofficial Cabinet.
- Whitby-born James Edward "Teddy" Rowe was named the Bonniest Baby in the British Empire in 1924, winning over 60,000 other babies in an Empire-wide baby contest sponsored by the British Empire Exhibition at Wembley, England, in July 1924. Teddy Rowe (1922-1930) received front page coverage in the Toronto Star when he won and was presented with a loving cup and $500 for his education. Unfortunately, he died at the age of eight in 1930.
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Whitehorse, Yukon Territory
Great River Journey Inc. Guests travel the Yukon River following the path of long ago gold rush pioneers, through First Nations' lands from Whitehorse to the Klondike claims of Dawson City. Tours begin June 20 with two departures each week until mid- September and are limited to a maximum of 10 people for each departure. Travel by riverboat and floatplane, frequent stops will allow guests to hike, kayak, bird watch and visit geological and historic sites related to the First Nations people and the Klondike Gold Rush Stampede. Overnight accommodations along the route are provided at Upper Labarge Lodge, Homestead Lodge and Wilderness Outpost. Lodges are remote, rustic, and exclusive, offering guests unique access to the backcountry. Fine cuisine featuring local ingredients and traditional foods is served throughout the journey.
Great River Journey travels through the traditional land of its four First Nation partners offering guests an authentic glimpse into their lifestyle. Partners in this venture are the Kwanlin Dün First Nation, the Ta'an Kwäch'än Council, Tr'ondëk Hwëch'in and the Selkirk First Nation. They are involved as owners, represented on the board of directors and their people will be among those hosting and guiding guests.
www.greatriverjourney.com.
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Woodstock, ON
Birtch Farms and Estate Winery
An estate winery featuring tours, tastings and a country-themed gift shop, Birtch's have won several fruit wine awards, and have won over many folks to the appeal of fruit wines. There are so many varieties of wine to choose from, that it's a wonderful challenge to choose your favourite. Don't miss seasonal festivities at the family farm such as apple blossom time near Mother's Day, or the six-week Fall festival at the peak of harvest season featuring apples, pumpkin picking, corn maze, scarecrow making, wagon rides and of course the country store, featuring local specialties. Motor coaches welcome year round.
655514 15th Line Woodstock, ON N4S 7W2, Ph: 519-469-3040 F: 519-469-3588
E: info@birtchfarms.com
www.birtchfarms.com
Pittock Conservation Area
Located within the city of Woodstock, Pittock Conservation Area is the perfect place for people to reconnect with nature. Once surrounded by the trees and away from the hustle and bustle, you can immediately feel the speed of life slow down. Come for the day and enjoy a picnic on the lake or a walk in the extensive trails system. Or, come to camp and you won't be disappointed. Trailer hookups are available and there is an onsite store, swimming pool and playground area for families. Enjoy fishing or boating on the huge man-made lake, take in a soul refreshing sunset or light up a campfire and feel the stress melt away. Welcome to the country within town.
Dean Michaels Griddlehouse:
Featured on the Cover of Flanagan Food Service Selections Magazine and in a 5-page feature story, this restaurant's specialty is breakfast and lunch, 7 am to 3 pm daily. Owner, Dean Kowalchuck, has created the 'perfect niche' from an idea while traveling in the U.S., where he noticed an abundance of specialty breakfast eateries. He and his Family have created a unique and extensive menu, with over 70 items. One of the most requested items is his crepes. Dean studied crepe-making with a Stratford chef and then spent a year mastering his own recipe. So, next time you're in Oxford County, be sure to stop by, you won't be disappointed! Motor Coach groups welcome, by reservation.
594746 County 59 RD S, Woodstock ON N4S 7V8. Phone: 519-456-5064
The Woodstock Fanshawe Singers have had amazing success in previous years with the Kaleid Choral Festival and this year looks to be no exception. Their 4th consecutive festival will be running from Wednesday May 7th to Saturday May 10, 2008. Each night will be a special performance starting at 8:00 pm; the first night will be in London, at First St. Andrews United Church, and the following three nights will be in Woodstock at Knox Presbyterian Church.
This year they will be featuring an outstanding guest group, "CADENCE" and guest clinicians, Jennifer Moir and Sarah Quartel. There will also be many Ontario choirs, some of whom will sing together in a mass choir of about 300 voices! The featured guest artist "CADENCE" is four men who use no instruments yet cover such areas as jazz, doo-wop and classical music. This group has been internationally recognized as "one of the finest quartets to make an appearance in the cappella scene." Each day of the festival, with the exception of Friday, there will be a workshop. The workshops start at 9:30 am in preparation for the mass choir performance that night. The workshops will have clinicians Jennifer Moir and Sarah Quartel along with "CADENCE" working with the participants. They are looking to get as many students involved in this and urge teachers interested in this event to go to their website for a registration form and contact information.
www.woodstockfanshawesingers.com Tickets are available at Mostly Roses and Merrifield Bookshop in Woodstock and Chapters North and L'Atelier Grigoirian in London. The cost of tickets is as follows; Wednesday night Adult tickets are $20, Thursday and Friday nights adult tickets are $15, while student tickets these three nights are $10 and on Saturday night all tickets are $20. For further information or questions, please call 519-537-6946.
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Yellowknife, Northwest Territories
Now, if you've come all the way up here, then you should take advantage of the place. Did you bring your clubs? Have you never played golf under the Midnight Sun? Then you haven't lived! We have light 24 hours of the day: not day and a bit of night, but day, bright day. We pay for it with nights of darkness through winter, so don't dally, get your clubs out.
Don't mind the bugs. There's a fair breeze on, and this course here in Hay River has the northernmost grass links holes in the world. Not even the Russians have this. We have oil and diamonds up here, but if you ask me, what the Russians really want is our golf. A beautiful game. The people who play it and the great designers of the courses say that golf is about an environment. It's the layout, but it's also the air and the atmosphere - a whole small universe built around your nine or 18 holes. So take a hike, if you want, and then eat somewhere (try the Great Slave Lake whitefish fillet at the Ptarmigan Inn) and then after midnight, come out here and join me for a round of golf.
You're a serious player? Don't delay, sign up for a Northwest Territories golf tournament. The first takes place in Fort Simpson in early June, leaving time to hit the famous Canadian North Yellowknife Midnight Golf Classic two weeks later, at summer solstice. Come fall, you'll be back for another Fort Simpson golf tradition, the Sneeze and Freeze Open, in mid-October.
www.explorenwt.com
www.ptarmiganinn.com
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York, England
Explore the historic city of York with a York Pass. The York pass gives you free entry to 28 top attractions - worth over £120 and offers both great value and convenience in one easy to use package. Step inside the gothic splendour of York Minster, browse around the medieval shopping streets of Stonegate and the Shambles. Revel in York's Roman heritage at the
Yorkshire Museum, explore Viking York at JORVIK or take a cruise along the River Ouse with York-Boat. There's also the fascinating National Railway Museum, York Castle Museum and York Dungeon. As well as free entry to York attractions, there are also special offers such as discounts at restaurants, entertainment, car hire and shopping. Buy your York Pass online at
www.yorkpass.com
Step back in time in York:
Ever fancied yourself as an archaeologist or modern day Indiana Jones? Take part in the biggest real live archaeological dig to be held in York in the last twenty five years at Hungate York. The site covers four hectares of archaeological activity, with the dig
expected to continue for over five years. Speculation has already been high as to what hidden treasures lie hidden underneath Hungate. Call: +44 (0) 870 606 0960 www.dighungate.com
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Yukon Territory, Canada
Great River Journey is an eight-day, world-class geo-tour that follows the path of long ago gold rush pioneers through First Nations, lands from Whitehorse to the Klondike claims of Dawson City. Great River Journey takes guests through the First Nations' traditional lands offering an authentic glimpse into their lifestyle. Partners in this venture are the Kwanlin Dün First Nation, the Ta'an Kwäch'än Council, Tr'ondëk Hwëch'in First Nation and the Selkirk First Nation. They are involved as owners, represented on the board of directors and their people will be among those hosting and guiding guests. Great River Journey provides the premier, high-end, low-impact river tour experience in North America with the adventure of a unique, world-class riverboat safari into the wilderness, history and culture of the Yukon.
www.greatriverjourney.com
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