The Purple Passport

Seasoned advice for British Travellers

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Making The Most Of Your Trip To Niagara Falls Canada

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Right about now you’ve probably had your fill of puttering around the house and spending more time with your family than you’d ever imagined, and you might be yearning for a getaway to someplace where you can see and experience different things and explore new vistas in the great outdoors.

As soon as those options are available again, then, you should consider a vacation across the pond in Canada, with a nice long stop to visit the famous Niagara Falls and the vast recreational and sightseeing area surrounding them. It’s a destination that offers a magnificent setting with plenty of outdoor and indoor activities to engage family members of all ages. Not to mention that for over one hundred years it’s been known as the honeymoon capital of the world.

For starters, there are actually two cities named Niagara Falls, one on each side of the international border between Canada and the United States. The Canadian side is at the southern edge of the province of Ontario, an easy 116 km (72 miles) drive or train ride from the provincial capital of Toronto. There is usually a wide choice of nonstop flights to Toronto from the UK.

Choices of accommodations abound on the Canadian side, from full-service resort hotels to bed & breakfasts, motels, and a variety of affordable campgrounds with amenities. Restaurants range from family-friendly to fine dining establishments showcasing farm-to-table specialties and a wide variety of international cuisines. The famed Canadian friendliness will make you feel welcome wherever you go.

Here are some don’t-miss things to do and see:

See The Three Falls

Niagara Falls is comprised of three magnificent waterfalls that are a wonder of the natural world. For a complete experience, join up with one of the Niagara Falls boat tours that includes an excursion on a Hornblower cruise into the basin of the falls either by day or by night when they’re illuminated. You’ll get wet for certain, but a nifty rain poncho that’s yours to keep is included in the price of admission.

If you haven’t gotten your fill, you can see the falls from another perspective with the Niagara Parks Journey Behind The Falls that takes you down 150 feet in an elevator to a series of tunnels that lead you right to the edge of the wall of water thundering down from the top.

And for the truly adventurous, you can get another perspective yet by taking an exhilarating ride on a zipline right over them. If you’ve got a Go-Pro, this is definitely the time for it.

Bike Along The Countryside

A great way to see the natural beauty of the region is on one of its many cycling trails. Take along a picnic lunch and choose one of the more than 200 trails, catering to riders of every level. Named one of the top ten cycling routes in the world is the Niagara Parkway that runs 58 km (36 miles) along the Canadian side of the Niagara River.

Enjoy A Day On The Water

For a lovely way to spend some time, take a lazy afternoon outing on the Niagara River via canoe or river raft. For a wilder go, you can take a kayak trip on a fast-moving current. If you’ve got the kids along, head over to the huge indoor waterpark with slides and wave pool where everyone will have fun.

Explore The Trails

If you want to stretch your legs, set out for the Niagara Gorge trails which offer1.1 km (6.8 miles) of glorious views. Hike them on your own or take a guided tour through the pristine, old-growth forest of Niagara Glen. For a real challenge, the Niagara Glen Bouldering Trail is for you.

Do Some Wine Tasting

The Niagara Region is known for its award-winning wines, including the unique ice wine, made from grapes harvested in the winter when temperatures are way below freezing and sugar content is highest. The Niagara Wine Route features dozens of wineries with tasting rooms set amidst acres of beautiful vineyards.

Take In The Nightlife

Nothing stops in Niagara Falls when the sun goes down. There are seven nightclubs as well as casino gaming, comedy clubs, and live entertainment with headline stars. If you’d rather kick back, you can relax in one of the city’s many pubs with a pint of local Moosehead lager and a big bowl of poutine, Canada’s national dish. A good way to end any day, eh?

Must See Toronto Group Tour Destinations

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With a barrage of attractions, Toronto is certainly the place to visit if you are a planning a group trip. From museums to galleries, from the world famous CN Tower to the Toronto Islands, it has got everything to keep you up on your toes. The city also offers a wide array of musicals and performing arts. Now you might be wondering as to how to travel to Toronto and thereafter. Well, not to worry. Go for some affordtable Toroto tour bus rentals. Before you make a bucket list of the places which are a must visit in Toronto, check out this list. It might make your job easier.

CN Tower:

The 553-CN Tower is a must see. Towering the downtown, this tower can be seen from anywhere and everywhere around the city. So you can just enjoy the tower while sipping on a piping hot cuppa, sitting on a couch at your favourite restaurant. Also you can take a trip to Lake Ontario, if you want a better view of the tower. Built between the year 1972 and 1976, this tower was once the tallest standing structure in the world. You want to have a closer look of the tower and a wider look of the city, you should go to its highest viewing area, which is from the Sky Pod at 447 m above the city. From riding the bus tours in Toronto, you can see this place has a magnificent view.

Royal Ontario Museum:

The Royal Ontario Museum, also called the ROM, houses some of the exquisite pieces of art and craft from across the world. Its world class collection will make any art lover go weak in his’/her knees. Plus the architecture of the museum makes it all the more attractive.

Casa Loma:

Casa Loma is an exquisitely built castle which takes one back down the memory lane. Much like the castles in fairytales, this one is a riveting in every sense of the term. It was built for Sir Henry Pellatt, a Canadian multi-millionaire who was the first to exploit the resources of Niagara Falls. The castle has got 100 rooms and three dozen bathrooms. This castle exudes the essence of European art and culture. It has been turned into a museum now. Visitors can come down to the castle and gawk at its beauty.

Toronto Zoo:

Some 40 kms northeast of the city center, Toronoto’s zoo is a must visit place. It has a collection of several thousand animals. So if you are a group of wildlife photographers, Toronto zoo might come across as a delight to your eyes and camera. One of the major attractions here is the Panda. Plus, its grizzly bear, vast bison park, and impressive polarium are among the other attractions.

St Lawrence Market:

Built in the year 1850, St Lawrence hall place was as a meeting point for many. However, eventually the area around this hall turned into a market place. From flower vendors to food products, this market place has a lot to offer.

Entertainment district:

If New York has the Broadway, Toronto has the Entertainment district. This place comes to life in the evening with a bevy of theatre productions, concerts and other performing arts on the platter. Plus this area has a barrage of restaurants and hotels which make the place all the more lively.

So folks, these are the few hotspots which should definitely be on your list while you are planning a group trip to Toronto. City Hall, Eaton Center, Distillery district, High Park, Ontraio Science Center are among the other places which you should also visit while you or a trip to Toronto.

Top Things To See And Do In Canada For 2019

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With 2018 almost on its way out and 2019 coming in strong, you might have already started planning next year’s great getaway. Many people begin planning in advance, especially if they’re looking to make it a getaway to remember – jetting off to far flung places and doing something truly extraordinary that might be a once in a lifetime kind of thing. For many, the experience of a lifetime includes visiting Canada with its rugged coastlines, majestic mountain scenery and historic towns and cities with impressive colonial era architecture. If this sounds like something you’d enjoy, check out the top things to do in Canada for 2019.

The Rocky Mountaineer

The Rocky Mountaineer train journey, developed over a century ago brings together luxurious accommodation, dining and sightseeing together with one of the plushest and most desirable ways to experience the Rocky Mountains. With numerous itineraries to choose from as well as the ability to pick tours with flights included, there’s no better way to get up close and personal with the majestic natural wonder that is the Rockies. Choose from departures in Banff or Jasper and see one of the wonders that draw international travellers to Canada time and again!

Road Trips

With so much land to explore, it makes Canada ideal for road trips. Choose from doing a loop of the West from Vancouver-Calgary-Edmonton, the Ontario loop which includes Toronto-Niagara-Ottawa or the Quebec corridor with Montreal and Quebec City. Feeling brave? Combine all three and take a journey coast to coast along the Trans Canada Highway – probably the ultimate road trip you can do with the exception of the US’ Historic Route 66.

Culture and Cuisine

Fancy getting a look into Canadian history and sampling some of the local fare? Head straight to Quebec where you’ll be whisked away in time with some of the colonial era architecture, leaving you wondering if you’ve stepped foot in France or if you’ve wandered back in time. Be sure to try poutine – arguably Canada’s national dish comprised of French fries, cheese curds and gravy, sometimes topped hilariously with extras up to and nearly including everything but the kitchen sink. Explore the history of the regional old trading Forts, such as Fort Chambly or Fort Lennox before taking a river cruise down the historic St Lawrence through old town Montreal.

Friendly Faces

Want to brave Canadian frontiers that many travellers don’t explore? Head to the little visited islands of Prince Edward Island or Newfoundland for up close and personal experiences with locals so friendly you might just be slightly rattled. See if you can understand a Newfie with their slang and twang before trying the local dishes of Jigg’s dinner, potlicker, and toutons. We’ll leave you to look into what they are so you can whet your appetite and get excited about visiting this rocky island full of friendly people and glorious scenery.

So if you’re after a trip to remember, check out Canada. With excitement and beautiful nature (and people!) coast to coast, it’s no wonder so many love the Great White North. Be sure to plan your trips accordingly with the weather, with May to September being the ideal times to visit most of the country if you want summery climes. So get those bags packed – Canada won’t explore itself!