HomeMy WebLinkAboutVillage Squire, 1980-01, Page 22TRAVEL
Winter fun
in the cities
BY CHRISTINE TREPANIER
Don't hibernate this winter. Escape to a
Canadian city.
Crisp air, bright skies, sparkling snow
and a variety of seasonal delights await the
visitor to any of Canada's sophisticated
urban centres.
British Columbia's capital, Victoria,
offers the winter vacationer a combination
of Old English charm and mild temperat-
ures. The stately Empress Hotel, reigning
over city and harbor, carries on a timeless
British tradition by serving tea and
crumpets on white linen tablecloths every
afternoon in the hotel lobby. At Bastion
Square, restored buildings and wide
pedestrian boulevards have turned the
area into an interesting old-world shopping
district, with many stores featuring native
and local handcrafts. Victoria's mild,
winter allows visitors to stroll comfortably
through the magnificent floral displays of
the Butchart Gardens or play a round of
golf on one of the nearby courses. The
British Columbia Provincial Museum, the
Dominion Astrophysical Observatory and
the Parliament Buildings are stops that
shouldn't be missed.
Another west coast 'city, Vancouver, is
set against a spectacular mountainous
backdrop. A stay here gives the visitors
access to some of the world's best skiing in
the British Columbia mountains.
Calgary, the oil -rich Alberta boom town,
is just a short drive from excellent alpine
skiing in the Canadian Rocky Mountains.
The resort areas of Banff and Lake Louise
are two of the country's best-known
centres with runs for novice and expert
alike as well as cross-country skiing.
In Regina, Saskatchewan, visitors can
tour the recruit centre for the Royal
Canadian Mounted Police and RCMP
Museum. For outdoor activities, skating,
tobogganing and cross-country skiing are
popular.
Every winter, Winnipeg, Manitoba's
capital and Canada's fourth largest city,
stages a rich variety of cultural events. The
Royal Winnipeg Ballet, Canada's oldest
ballet company, performs regularly at the
Manitoba Theatre Centre, as does the
modern dance troupe, the Contemporary
Dancers. For music lovers, there's the
Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra and the
Manitoba Opera Company.
20 Village Squire, January 1980
In Ottawa. Canada's capital, the focus is
divided between indoor and outdoor winter
fun. Besides terrific skiing, snowshoeing
and snowmobiling right on Ottawa's
doorstep, the city boasts the world's.
longest man-made skating rink. The
Rideau Canal stretches 7.8 km (4.8 miles)
through the centre of town and attracts
approximately 750,000 skaters annually.
Museum lovers find a wide choice in
Ottawa, ranging from the National
Museum of Science and Technology to the
National Ski Museum. The Parliament
Buildings and the National Arts Centre are
points of interest that shouldn't be missed
on an Ottawa winter tour.
Toronto, is one of the world's fastest
growing cities. The downtown core is an
architectural marvel. particularly the CN
Tower which stands 554 m (1.815 feet)'and
has been ranked the world's tallest
freestanding structure by the Guiness Book
of World Records. Toronto's City Hall is
another popular area, especially during
winter lunch hours when office workers
skate to recorded music on the rink in front
of the buildings. Once in Toronto, visitors
are never far from skiing, snowmobiling
and other outdoor pastimes.
Montreal, Quebec, second largest
French-speaking city in the world, is
renowned for its cosmopolitan flair, fine
cuisine and lively nightlife. The city is a
charming combination of old and new. Its
shistoric quarter, dating back to the 17th
century. gives visitors a glimpse of
Canada's early days, while downtown
skyscrapers and shopping complexes
illustrate the modern, sophisticated side of
Montreal.
Montreal is hometown to the Montreal
Canadiens, last year's National Hockey
League champions. Visitors can see
high-calibre professional and amateur'
hockey in several Canadian cities including
Quebec City, Toronto and Vancouver.
Quebec City, capital of the province, is
world famous for the Quebec Winter
Carnival (Jan. 31 to Feb. 10, 1980). Every
year an average of 309 cm (123 inches) of
snow falls in Quebec City, covering the
historic, romantic area in a carpet of white.
The Chateau Frontenac, in particular, a
castle -like structure and city focal point in
any season, becomes a fairyland palace in
winter with snow sparkling from its turrets
and warm coziness radiating from within.
Close to Montreal and Quebec City,
there's a winter wonderland in the
Laurentian Mountains. Resorts of every
kind offer exciting skiing, snowmobiling,
tobogganing and skating.
Culture .and fascinating shopping are
two features of Halifax, Nova Scotia. For
classical music buffs, the Atlantic
Symphony Orchestra performs regularly,
while lively drama is provided by the
Neptune Theatre Company. As for
shopping, visitors can browse through
Historic Properties. once a collection of
privateer wharfs dating back to the early
1800s, but today. a restored area of shops,
restaurants, pubs, offices and docking
facilities for the famous Bluenose 1I
schooner.
Northern Ontario
offers skiing
of all kinds
BlTONY SLOAN
It was once a beaver pond but the old
dam had been breached and now it was just
a pretty little snow-covered vale glistening
in the late winter sun.
Fritz Sorensen of Bear Trail Inn and 1
glided down out of the Algonquin Park
forest and slowed to a stop on the bright
sticky snow. When we tried to move on
there was so much back slip it was like
walking on wet soap.
Wax!...the difference between the right
and the wrong wax is the difference
between heaven and hell if you're a
WEDDING BELLS
... AND FLOWERS
So, your wedding date has
been set, and now you are
making the arrangements.
Your flower order is
important. It
can help to
make the
day, and
also provide
f. o many
c pleasant
memories.
We would
count it
a privilege
to serve you
on this glad
occasion.
Listowel Florist Ltd.
Ed Van Geest
LISTOWEL, ONT.
170 Wallace N.
Listowel
Phone 291-2040
When you "say it with
flowers" from Listowel Florist,
"you've said it all."
United No. 461
FTD No. 752675