Seniors Visit The “Peg”

Yes, Winnipeg, Canada, whose population is 694,000+, is known by the locals as simply, The Peg. Senior travelers learn that it is known as the “Cultural Cradle of Canada.” Winnipeg is a railway and transportation hub, also known as the “Gateway to the West”.

The name Winnipeg comes from the Western Cree words for “ muddy waters “. The region was a trading center for aboriginal peoples before the arrival of Europeans. French traders built the first fort on the site back in 1738.

Winnipeg, an exciting city to visit, was named the Cultural Capital of Canada in 2010 by Canadian Heritage. As of 2012, there are 26 National Historic Sites of Canada in Winnipeg.

One of these, The Forks , attracts four million visitors a year. Numerous archaeological digs have shown that early Aboriginal groups arrived at The Forks site around 6,000 years ago.

Senior Visitors Find Winnipeg Welcoming and Friendly

Known for its friendly and welcoming spirit, the city provides a diverse multicultural environment. It is the capital and largest city of the province of Manitoba and is located near the longitudinal center of North America.

Located at the confluence of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers, Winnipeg was at the heart of the country’s fur trade and instrumental in developing Canada’s westward movement. Home to a grain exchange that once rivaled the largest markets in the world, Winnipeg’s architecture and neighborhoods reflect the character of this small prairie town.

Over the last decades, ‘Winnipeg has developed into a cosmopolitan city, one that enjoys top-notch restaurants and boutiques, exciting attractions and an arts and culture scene bursting with talent and originality’.

This multicultural city hosts numerous annual festivals, including the Festival du Voyageur, the Winnipeg Folk Festival, the Jazz Winnipeg Festival, the Winnipeg Fringe Theatre Festival, and Folklorama. It has a big sports fans base with professional baseball, football and hockey teams.

Seniors Meet A Diversity Capital

Seniors do you enjoy diversity? Winnipeg is the diversity capital of Canada. Its architecture, people, cuisine, languages spoken, festivals, special events, cultural offerings and facilities are some of the most unique and interesting in the country. It’s a multicultural place where diversity is celebrated and promoted.

Winnipeg is one of the sunniest places in Canada and summer means golf. Senior golfers can enjoy playing one of the 28 famed courses.

The city is home to a world-class arts community with ballet, theatre, visual arts, opera, contemporary dance, jazz, pop, blues and symphonic music. Multicultural experiences are rated by the Globe and Mail as being some of the best in the country.

So head north and take in the Festival du Voyageur in February for Cajun music, dog sled racing and enjoy the “joie de vivre” of French Canadian Culture. Seniors enjoy your visit and the plethora of amenities in The Peg. -jeb

Seniors Enjoy Canada’s Oldest National Park

Banff National Park is Canada’s oldest national park, established in 1885 in the Rocky Mountains. Senior travelers find the park 180 km west of Calgary in the province of Alberta.

Encompassing 2,564 square miles of mountainous terrain, Banff National Park is one of the world’s premier destination spots in the Canadian Rocky Mountains.

Senior visitors to Banff National Park quickly learn that the incredible scenery inspires not only amazing sightseeing, but also sight-doing. For over 125 years, this UNESCO World Heritage Site has been a magnet for outdoor enthusiasts, art lovers and history buffs alike, and each year attracts visitors from all over the world.

There is no preferred season. Summer activities in Banff National Park and Lake Louise are as wild as the terrain. Rafting in the Canadian Rockies in summer is an experience like no other.

Winter activities include dog sledding, ice skating, cross-country and heli-skiing, tracking, skating, and alpine or nordic skiing and snowshoeing.

Seniors Awed By Nature’s Beauty

National Geographic notes that simplicity marks the origin of Banff. In 1883, on the slopes of the Canadian Rocky Mountains, three railway workers discovered a natural hot spring, and from there the park was born. By the mid-1900s, Lake Louise and most of the surrounding nearby rivers as well as several other points of interest were added to the park’s boundaries, making it the largest in Canada.

With its majestic mountain scenery, stunning wildflowers, indigo blue rivers and lakes, icy white glaciers and high grey peaks jutting into the sky, Banff is a favored vacation destination for travelers the world over.

The town of Banff, 8,244 residents, is abuzz year round due to an annual influx of millions of visitors. This famous mountain resort town caters accordingly with world-class shopping, dining and an array of accommodations, from cabins and campgrounds to B&Bs and top notch hotels.

I have relatives who make it a point to get away from the hustle and bustle of work and each year head for Banff. They find it an ideal base for hiking and wildlife viewing excursions into surrounding park areas and provides a popular weekend retreat with excellent restaurants and several great golf courses.

It’s all there in Banff : dazzling glaciers, big animals, alpine meadows and emerald lakes. So senior friends, put Banff on your travel bucket list and head out for Alberta. jeb

Senior Bikers On Awesome Route Verte

The Route Verte puts senior bikers on track for an amazing biking experience. The Course of Handles, Véloroute of Blueberries, street Brébeuf in Montreal, the Linear Park of Bois-Francs or the P’tit Train du Nord … it’s the Route Verte.

The largest cycling route in North America which covers 3,100 miles of Québec from East to West, has reached the top of the ranks of bike trails worldwide, according to Journeys of a Lifetime , published in 2007 in the prestigious National Geographic magazine.

From the banks of the majestic St. Lawrence to scenic mountain-side routes, this perfectly marked path directs senior cyclists towards various tourist attractions and takes many forms: bike path, quiet roads, paved shoulders.

Seniors Awed With Véloroute des Bleuets

Véloroute des Bleuets offers a 256 km cycling circuit, 100% asphalt, around the majestic Saint-Jean lake, making it an excellent way to discover the region.

On the one hand, dizzying fjord walls form a spectacular natural stone fortress; on the other, a veritable inland sea extends for more than 1,000 square kilometers in the heart of a region as big as Belgium.

It’s easy riding even for a novice, when done in 50 km stretches. “On that first glorious morning I’m not sure whether to be most exhilarated by the crisp air, rippling lakes, tunnel-like forests of pine, fir, birch and maple, or whether simply to be astonished at how remote the trail is”.

The cyclists it attracts range from hardcore Lycra-clad types to sixtysomething retirees. Tandem cyclists enjoy it, too, it’s never crowded and for long stretches there’s not a soul about.

In the Centre-du-Québec region, the Route Verte no. 4 offers a number of surprises. Between the Forêt Drummond and the Laviolette Bridge, senior cyclists will discover magnificent rural landscapes and a few urban zones in Drummondville, Nicolet, and Bécancour.

Cycling in Québec

The Route Verte concept dates back to the late 1980s, when the key members of Vélo Québec were already articulating, in various forms, their plans for the future of cycling in Québec. The Route Verte has been under development since 1995, with the collaboration of the Québec ministry of transportation as well as numerous regional partners.

This is the ideal trip for seniors new to bike touring . The infrastructure from the ski resorts benefits the trail. A smattering of guesthouses lines the route and each proves easy to find. Tourisme Québec publishes an excellent guide, provided to cyclists before they set off, detailing every kilometer of the trail. Many of the old train stations have been restored and converted into cafés and toilets, and the signposting throughout is superb.

So tie the bike, check the air pressure in your tires, and head for an adventure in Canada. Route Verte will be a thrill ride that you will not soon forget. jeb

Seniors Visit Waterton Lakes National Park

Waterton Lakes National Park, located in the southwest corner of Alberta, Canada, borders Glacier National Park in Montana. Senior travelers, the Park was highlighted by CNN Travel Photo of the Day as a great place to visit.

In May of 1895, a 140 sq. km (54 sq. miles) the area was protected by the federal government as a Dominion Forest Park. Its status, boundary and name have varied over the years, and it is now known as Waterton Lakes National Park of Canada.

Waterton was Canada’s 4th national park and is the smallest in the Canadian Rockies. The park’s name derives from the Waterton Lakes.

Seniors Discover A Canadian Gem

Senior travelers will find jutting mountains, peaceful prairies, dazzling lakes and spectacular wilderness as they journey north from Glacier National into Canada’s Waterton Lakes National Park. Waterton Lakes National Park is one of Canada’s gems , featuring some of the most rugged mountains and narrow gorges in all of the Northern Rockies.

In 1932, Waterton Park joined Glacier Park, creating the Waterton Glacier International Peace Park, a World Heritage Travel Destination. The lakes are overlooked by the historic Prince of Wales Hotel, a National Historic Site.

Waterton National Park is open year round, however plan to visit during July and August, when park facilities are open and roads and trails are in good condition. The deepest lake in the Canadian Rockies, 444 feet, and the first oil well in western Canada (1902) are both found in Waterton.

Senior Visitors Find A Place Like No Other

The park named in honor of English naturalist Charles Waterton, is set in a region renowned for its winds. Waterton is a quiet, uncrowded National Park and a perfect place to view spectacular scenery, wildlife and enjoy outstanding recreational opportunities.

The Park is in a breathtaking part of the world, the majestic Rocky Mountains rising suddenly out of the rolling prairies. Senior visitors will find it to be a place like no other with its unique blend of unusual geology, mild climate, rare wild flowers, and an abundance of wildlife.

It is a scene which has remained unchanged for centuries. Isn’t that inviting enough for a “bucket list” travel itinerary? It sounds like a place to get a “Rocky Mountain High”.

And senior hikers…you have not discovered Glacier and Waterton Lakes National Parks until you have stepped into the backcountry. The Glacier-Waterton Lakes complex has trails for everyone, ranging from two miles to thirty-eight miles and from strenuous to easy.

Senior travelers, when you’re in that part of the country, head into Alberta and visit the Waterton Lakes Park. Be sure to view Red Rock Canyon, one of the many highlights of the park. jeb

Seniors Cross The Fixed Link

When I say “ cross over ” that is precisely what I mean. The Confederation Bridge, 8 miles long, on the Route Transcandanienne will lead senior visitors to Prince Edward Island. Islanders often refer to the bridge as the “Fixed Link .”

Prince Edward Island , one of the three Maritime provinces, is the smallest province in both land area and population. Located about 200 km north of Halifax, Nova Scotia and 600 km east of Quebec City, Prince Edward Island consists of the main island and 231 minor islands.

Prince Edward Island was first sighted and explored in 1534 by the tireless French explorer Jacques Cartier. The island may be physically small but it’s full of awesome scenery, kind hearted people, and a richness that is unique to this special place .

The area has a total population of around 150,000. Prince Edward Island is called by several informal names: “Garden of the Gulf” referring to the pastoral scenery and lush agricultural lands throughout the province, and “Birthplace of Confederation” or “Cradle of Confederation.” The homepage of the island notes that it is “ The Gentle Island.”

Golf, Beaches and Cliffs Entice Seniors

Senior golfers, bring your clubs because Prince Edward Island has some terrific courses . You will have access to over 30 of the top golf courses in North America, like Crowbush Cove, Dundarave, and Brudenell Rive. The Island is known for the vivid colors of its gently rolling landscape. Surrounded by miles of sandy beaches and red sandstone cliffs,  it is great for touring.

Great seafood, prestigious restaurants, B&Bs and Inns, elegant country inns, pristine cottages overlooking the water, festivals… so much for senior visitors to enjoy. And in December, the Festival of the Lights or the Charlottetown Christmas Parade.

Designated as the Island capital in 1765, Charlottetown is both PEI’s oldest and largest urban center. However, since the whole “metropolitan” area only has a population of about 65,000, a pleasing small-town atmosphere remains.

Anne Of Green Gables…

Charlottetown is home to the University of Prince Edward Island. Charlottetown’s centerpiece is the imposing, yet welcoming, neoclassical Province House. Another popular site within the sprawling gardens of Victoria Park is Government House.

A  major Charlottetown landmark is St. Dunstan’s Basilica with three towering stone spires hovering over this neo-Gothic basilica. And another must see that merits a visit as the finest Victorian mansion in town is Beaconsfield House, with its crowning belvedere, intricate gingerbread trim and elegant 19th-century furnishings.

The whole of the island is rimmed with miles of vivid red cliffs, sand dunes and many inviting beaches. The orphan nobody wanted has been adopted by the world. Anne of Green Gables is everywhere on the Island, but Cavendish’s Green Gables farmhouse is ground zero.

Bikers can cover a stunning 6-mile waterside stretch between Morell and St. Peter’s Bay called Confederation Trail. Bring your bike and enjoy. jeb

Mississauga Invites Senior Visitors

Seniors, w elcome to Mississauga , Canada’s 6th largest city, located on the shores of Lake Ontario. Diversity and innate beauty make Mississauga a preferred destination.

Mississauga, with a population just over 710,000, is about 19 miles west of Toronto downtown area. Residents of the city are called Mississaugans and Saugans. TripAdvisor joins in with 38 attractions that travelers recommend.

Port Credit is the #1 spot with its wharfs, piers, boardwalks and bodies of water. Senior travelers may enjoy just strolling through the largest park in the city called Erindale. The Park, a large greenbelt with 222 acres, contains picnic facilities and barbecues, a lookout on the old dam and a toboggan hill. The Jack Darling Memorial Park is another area with great facilities and is on a waterfront.

Close to Toronto, some people think of Mississauga as a suburb of Toronto; however, as Canada’s 6th largest city and located on the shores of Lake Ontario, it offers diversity and beauty to make any traveler glad they came to visit. Mississauga is rich with arts, culture and heritage.

Seniors Enjoy Historic and Quaint

The city of Mississauga is bound by Oakville and Milton to the west, Brampton to the north, Toronto to the east, and Lake Ontario to the south. Many people who work in Toronto have chosen Mississauga as a place to live, making it   one of Canada’s fastest growing cities.

The Lester B. Pearson International Airport is Canada’s busiest airport. When you visit Mississauga, explore its quaint historic villages and stunning architecture, visit the bustling waterfront and lakefront parks, or inspire yourself with Mississauga’s world-class art and theatre at the Living Arts Centre.

Wikipedia can help you get there and fulfill your appetite with some great restaurant suggestions. So when you are up in the Toronto area, slip on over to Mississauga for a visit to enjoy all that the city has to offer. jeb

Seniors Head North to Calgary

Senior travelers, Calgary, Canada is called A Winter Wonderland. Calgary was recently recognized as one of the top travel hotspots in the world to visit by The New York Times, the United Kingdom’s The Guardian and Vacay.ca, one of Canada’s leading online travel resources.

Calgary is Alberta’s largest city and is situated where the prairies end and the foothills begin. To many Canadians it is referred to as “Cow Town” or the “Stampede City”. Let’s see why.

Seniors Investigate the Stampede

The city, often referred to as the “heart of the new West” is traditionally recognized for the Calgary Stampede and its proximity to the Rocky Mountains. Each July the Stampede is the highlight of Calgary’s summer with the famous rodeo including all kinds of cowboy style entertainment.

This vibrant city is gaining recognition as a cultural, cosmopolitan and culinary destination. Calgary is an energetic city scattered with stimulating cultural attractions, mouth watering dining, breath taking parks and pathways, wallet hungry shops, and top notch night spots.

The best 54 places to go in 2014 includes Calgary.  Some pretty neat shots huh? Note that the beautiful scenery of Banff National Park not far from Calgary. Senior visitors will find the city jumping with excitement with the Bow River along side and the Rocky Mountains all around. For first time senior visitors, here is a site just for you.

Seniors Enjoy Canada’s Living Museum

Hub Pages focuses on ten sites you will not want to miss. Heritage Park Historical Village has been recreated into Canada’s largest living museum, complete with costumed townsfolk who are keen to bring history to life. The Park consists of more than 100 old historical buildings.

Take in Calgary’s old west with a visit to Fort Calgary; birthplace to the city. Senior visitors can’t miss the Calgary Tower, a 191 meter free standing observation tower in Downtown Calgary.

Other major attractions include Spruce Meadows, the Glenbow Museum, Bowness Park, the Zoo, the Calgary Philharmonic, Canada Olympic Park (COP) and the Eau Claire Market.

This city is a booming oil town where people come from all over Canada to take advantage of its scenery, outdoor life and just plain fun .  You will find a nice variety of tours of Calgary and this is the first thing I would take in to explore a new city.

It is often said that “Calgary is the big city, with a small town atmosphere”.  Certainly when it comes to recreation, there is no shortage of places to see and things to do in Calgary.   Hope you see you at the Stampede among the 700,000 guests. Look for me. I’ll be wearing my PHX Suns Orange baseball cap. jeb

Seniors Venture to Northeast Canadian Coast

Senior visitors who have been there say that they “love Atlantic Canada and everything it has to offer – especially the one-of-a-kind coastline that wraps around cozy bays and inlets that take you by cinnamon-sand beaches and breathtaking mountain vistas.”

The term “ Atlantic Canada ” was coined when Newfoundland joined the Dominion of Canada in 1949, which until then was comprised of New Brunswich, Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island and was known as the “Maritime Provinces”.

A ribbon of highways curl with the fascinating  coastline to bring senior visitors up close to lighthouses, hidden fishing villages and harbors seemingly always cloaked in a velvety fog.

The beautiful landscape is full of history and the breathtaking Atlantic coastline adds to a great vacation in eastern Canada.

Senior Whale Watchers, Historians, Explorers

History comes alive in Atlantic Canada, with an enchanting cluster of provinces that are known for their rugged coastline and distinct maritime culture. Check out Newfoundland & Labrador, Canada’s easternmost province, where senior visitors can go whale watching, cruise through the “Seabird Capital of North America,” and explore North America’s only known Viking settlement.

Consider spending time in Nova Scotia exploring the iconic lighthouse at Peggy’s Cove, the scenic Cabot Trail, and the national historic sites.

High tide, Low Tide, whale watching, lighthouses everywhere, plus exciting cities make Atlantic Canada unique in the entire world. In two words, the coast is “totally awesome.”

Seniors Explore The Maritime Provinces

The four distinct provinces attract visitors from all over the world. Atlantic Canada is made up of the maritime provinces of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and the combined province of Newfoundland and Labrador. The population of the four Atlantic Provinces in 2011, was 2,327,638.

Each province offers its own set of unique diversions although the entire area is known for its striking seascapes, geological formations and wildlife.

Late summer to mid-winter are the best times to visit the area. If you love natural phenomena, whale watching, and the rugged New England coast, you’ll love the Bay of Fundy.

Wikitravel notes that the Atlantic Provinces of Canada are rugged and sparsely populated and that the provinces have traditionally made much of their income from the area’s large fisheries.

This is changing in the region, as oil production, information technology, biomedical research, post-secondary education and tourism become more important for local economies. The many parks in the region invite senior visitors to explore and discover.

The Atlantic Canada Guide provides visitors with all the right information to enjoy a vacation in Canada’s Atlantic Provinces. You will find each day to be a unique experience providing you with a host of great memories. jeb

Seniors Make Plans For Winterlude

Seniors might want make plans very soon to head off to Ottawa for Winterlude , known as “Chilly Fun For Everyone.” So put on your hats, scarves and mittens, and celebrate the joys of winter in Canada’s Capital Region from January 31 to February 17, 2014.

Winterlude helps, because winter time in Ottawa drags slowly, kind of like cold molasses from a bottle. It’s long, it’s often miserably cold, grey skies are frequent, and darkness hogs most of the early morning and late afternoon hours. Yet, every year Ottawa warms up winter and extends the daytime activities by presenting Winterlude.

The festival features ice sculptures, a playground made of snow, a variety of performers and perhaps best of all, the Rideau Canal,  a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the world’s longest skating rink… always full of skaters. Winterlude (Bal de Neige in French) is an annual festival in both Ottawa and Gatineau, Quebec that celebrates winter.

This event is one of Ottawa’s most important tourist attractions bringing in many visitors for the past three decades. From glittering ice carvings and majestic snow sculptures to the gigantic snow playground and explosive shows under the winter sky, Winterlude is a great way for seniors to celebrate and enjoy Canada’s Capital in winter.

Seniors Find Winter Fun

Every year fun-seekers take part in a host of Winterlude activities . More than a third of the visitors are from outside the Capital region. Winterlude was created in 1979 as a means of celebrating Canada’s unique northern climate and culture.

The Ice Hog Family, Winterlude’s lovable mascots, travel to Canada’s Capital Region every winter to celebrate Winterlude. The members of the family are Mama and Papa Ice Hog and their children, Noumi and Nouma. Every winter, Winterlude draws visitors from all over Canada and beyond the capital city to celebrate winter.

Skate the world’s longest ice rink, frolic in a huge snow park (Snowflake Kingdom) or behold the magic of ice sculpting. Canada’s capital city could hardly be lovelier. Perched upon Parliament Hill are Ottawa’s gothic government buildings, set against the slow-moving Ottawa River. Miles of late-Victorian brick houses dot neighborhoods.

Foodies will love unique culinary events created by some of the capital’s best local restaurants – wine and food pairings, chef demonstrations, walkabout winter feasts. It takes more than several feet of snow and sub-zero temperatures to dampen the festivities spirit.

You will want to view the many impressive ice sculptures that are created at Confederation Park that are always a highlight of the event. Ice carvers from around the world turned blocks of ice into stunning works of art and at night, colored lights reveal the magical beauty of the sculptures.

Plan Ahead For 2014

You will want to get your reservations in soon and make plans to attend the event. Most Winterlude activities are free. And yes, earmuffs are in season in Ottawa for Winterlude. jeb

Seniors Head Off to Mont-Tremblant

I was immediately attracted to this site as it came up on my iPhone,as a great place to visit. Knowing the French verb TREMBLER meant to tremble or to shake, I just has to check out what is shaking up seniors at Mont-Tremblant. Mont-Tremblant is derived from local Algonquins who referred to it as the “trembling mountain”.

Since the 18th century, people have come to admire the beautiful landscapes the region of Mont-Tremblant has to offer. The nearby Mont-Tremblant National Park, proud defender of the fauna and flora, welcomes thousands of  visitors each year.  Massive mountains, including the highest summit in the Laurentians, they say will change your perspective of the world.

Three villages will charm senior visitors with the diversity of their restaurants and their cultural environment. Mont-Tremblant’s region is not only a mountain, it’s also and mostly every element orbiting around the highest peak in the Laurentian Mountains.

The Parc National du Mont-Tremblant, or Mont-Tremblant Park, is a protected nature area and part of Quebec’s network of national parks. It alone represents close to 20 per cent of all the protected areas of Quebec. Mountains, lakes and forests provide an idyllic setting, especially in the more rustic northern side.

Seniors Discover the Aspen of Canada

As winter approaches, senior skiers will want to keep Mont-Tremblant in your plans and Notez Bien, Mont-Tremblant is an internationally renowned and multi award winning ski destination.

Senior skiers will find 94 runs serviced by 13 state-of-the-art lifts as the Mont-Tremblant dominates a stunningly beautiful countryside. A paradise where ski and snowboard enthusiasts are spoiled: 18 acres of ramps, rails and jumps as well as an Olympic calibre superpipe.

Skiers have flocked to Mont-Tremblant since its first chairlift and lodge opened in 1939. At Mont-Tremblant, those who live for the great outdoors and love to breathe clean air have the perfect year-round playground. The area is active all year long not just for skiers in the winter but also for many fun events in the summer.

Seniors will enjoy a large variety of exciting musical, sportive and charitable events like the Tremblant International Blues Festival and Tremblant’s 24 hours of Skiing and Cycling.

Mont-Tremblant is actually divided into two parts. The original village of Mont-Tremblant now goes by the name of The Village, but these days it’s The Resort (aka the Pedestrian Village), some 13 km away directly at the foot of the mountain, where the action is.

TripAdvisor can help to prepare you for your visit.  You will discover 20 things to see and do as well as a nice choice for dining in one of the 120 top-notch restaurants. Golf is also a major with the Le Diable Golf Course where you can tee off on one the best courses in Canada. 18-holes, 7,056-yards, with impeccable greens and all the prep time you need to line-up each shot, thanks to 12-minute start time intervals.

Enjoy your week at Mont-Tremblant. jeb