Whenever you come across a travel description of cruises to New England and Canada you are almost always going to see the word “charming”. Unlike cruises to the Caribbean it would not be accurate to describe a Canada/New England cruise as a “sun getaway”. It would also not be right to label it “exotic”. Charming, however, fits the bill.

There is a charm to the way the costal towns in New England and eastern Canada go about things. These are places that are rich in history and where people cling to their ... [read more]

There are many places in this big old world that you can go and very few of them are more beautiful than British Columbia, Canada. With its stunning coastline, glorious mountains and relaxed way of life, British Columbia is an oft forgotten North American jewel. That won’t be the case after 2010 when Vancouver hosts the Winter Olympics. Once the world sees how amazing it is you can bet that people will flock to B.C.

Now is the optimal time to visit. The summer months in British Columbia cannot be ... [read more]

Pound-for-pound (I should say kilo-for-kilo) Canada is one of the most underrated tourist destinations in the world. The United States’ neighbor is often overlooked by Americans looking to go on holiday. The perception some have is that once you cross the border you will have to contend with polar bears and Mounties. The Mounties part is true. The polar bear part, not so much.

The very real fact is that Canada is a wonderful place to travel for Americans and for people from other countries. It is a large ... [read more]

Sometimes economics can make no sense. If you add up the costs of gasoline, food, ferry fees and a night or two at a hotel during a road trip from San Diego, California to Victoria, British Columbia, you likely would be very pleased if you could do it for $180 in a car.

That is the amount that Holland America is charging for a 3-night cruise aboard the Oosterdam. Instead of sitting behind the wheel of a car listening to bad AM talk radio and occasionally stopping to eat Doritos at ... [read more]

Here’s a great deal if you are looking for an affordable Spring Break getaway or to add another stamp to your child’s passport. Alaskan Airlines is offering up a deal where kids ages 2-11 can fly for free to Vancouver, B.C. when you purchase a flight and hotel stay package. A free vacation for the kids! Sign me up!

The offer is only valid on flights from Portland, San Francisco, Los Angeles and San Diego and it requires a minimum 3-night stay at one of the hotels in Vancouver. ... [read more]

A trip to Quebec City, Canada will leave you feeling like you have left North America and have returned to a different continent and a different era. The city’s charming walled old town has narrow streets and stylish buildings that are a rarity in most of North America. This is a section of town that was not built with modern automobiles in mind and as a result it can be an absolute delight for pedestrians.

The European influence is felt throughout even the modern sections of the city as you are much ... [read more]

• Fredericton
• Moncton
• Montreal
• New Brunswick
• Niagara Falls
• Quebec City
• Saint Andrews
• Saint John, New Brunswick
• Toronto
• Vancouver
• Victoria

New Brunswick’s capital, Fredericton, is home to an array of architectural wonder. Walk through the majestic Waterloo Row and marvel at the design of some of the stately private homes, or see the Legislative Assembly Building. Twenty minutes west of the city is the award-winning King’s Landing Historical Settlement. Here staff will re-enact the lives of British North American pioneers in the 18th century. Other activities such as The Haunted Hike by the Calithumpians will lead visitors through a different dimension of Fredericton.

With 28 attractions in 5 blocks, the best way to see this ... [read more]

The city of Moncton in New Brunswick is rich in agricultural, railway, and industrial heritage, but it is also known for its various attractions. The Tidal Bore, created from the powerful tides of the Bay of Fundy, and the mysterious Magnetic Hill are two top draws. Canada’s third most visited natural attraction, Magnetic Hill will pull your car uphill when you take your foot off the brake. A nearby themepark and zoo can make the outing a whole day’s worth of adventure.

Watch the Petitcodiac River swell and reverse directions from the Riverfront ... [read more]

Montreal offers a scent of France without the price tag. Located on a large island, it harbors the world’s largest inland port. It’s a fashionable, romantic, interesting blend of things French and English, with a multi-dimensional, global variety of eateries, bars and clubs.

Known as the most lively city in Canada with festivals going on all year round, Quebec’s Montreal has established itself as an amazing city, where its French origins, dating back to 1642, combine an Old World charm with Canadian hospitality and New World modernism and urban culture. Montreal is actually an island, located on the St. Lawrence River ... [read more]

New Brunswick embraces that perfect blend of the contemporary with the classic! Located on Canada ‘s east coast, the province of New Brunswick shares a border with Québec and Nova Scotia as well as Maine in the northeastern United States. Where else could you find world-class cities only moments from incredible natural wonders – the world’s highest tides, winding rivers that stretch for days, or one of the last pristine sand dunes on the eastern shore. At the Hopewell Cape, view the ‘flowerpot rocks’, created by melting glaciers and tidal erosions. The world’s ... [read more]

Not far from Toronto, you can experience the awesome power of nature as the Niagara Falls rush over the cliffs between the United States and Canada. Viewed from the brink or the bottom, it’s a spectacular show you won’t soon forget! There are so many ways to get up close to the wild waters of the Niagara River.

Visitors can descend to the edge of the Whirlpool Rapids; view the whirlpools from above on the Niagara Spanish Aero Car; take a boat ride at the foot of the Falls on the famous Maid of ... [read more]

Quebec City is a charming and historic city with a distinctly European cachet. The fact that it’s French-speaking certainly doesn’t hurt. The turrets and towers of the Chateau Frontenac dominate the skyline. Narrow streets climb steeply down to the Lower Town and restaurants are tucked into homes dating from the 18th and 19th centuries. From Old Quebec City, you can see some of the finest ski hills in North America. Only thirty minutes from downtown, five downhill ski resorts beckon to ski buffs and nature lovers: Mont-Sainte-Anne, Stoneham, Le Relais, Le Massif and ... [read more]

Once a haven for Loyalists fleeing the American Revolution, St. Andrews By-The-Sea blossomed into a seaside resort town combining the best of New England and the Maritimes. Boasting “no hay fever and a railway”, the grand hotels and choice amenities made St. Andrews Canada’s first true seaside resort.

Visit the 1800s at the Sheriff Andrews House, the Ross Museum, the Blockhouse and the County Courthouse and Gaol. Drive across the ocean floor to Minister’s Island. See underwater inhabitants at the Huntsman’s Aquarium Touch Tank or experience salmon face to face at the Atlantic Salmon Interpretive ... [read more]

The self-proclaimed, “Greatest Little City in the East”, Saint John area is an incredible region to visit! Located on the eastern coast of Canada, greater Saint John is home to approximately 125,000 people, and is only a 4 hour drive from Halifax, 8 hours from Boston, and 11 hours from New York City. A world-class destination, Saint John is also port of call for many cruise ships, and hosts a variety of festivals and special events throughout the year (including the critically acclaimed Festival By the Sea). As the first incorporated city in Canada, ... [read more]

Toronto is perhaps a city where people from all backgrounds, interests, religions, cultures and beliefs don’t just co-exist, but mix, mingle and intermarry. You can eat authentic food from almost every country in the world, often for under $10. You can attend as many plays, musicals, museums, galleries or sports events that you can stand. And, you can go to cultural and music festivals all summer long, usually for free

Toronto boasts a theatre scene rivaled only by London and New York, attractions that range from high art to rowdy family fun, and polished services ... [read more]

Vancouver, B.C., where Asia meets America. An awesome, scenic city nestled between ocean and mountains, it boasts the second largest Chinatown in North America. Home to Stanley Park – a 1,000 acre wilderness park for walkers, hikers, bikers and drivers, Vancouver is excellent for outdoor exploring. The city can be seen on foot. When you’re tired of walking, go sailing, and then eat at a mountain top restaurant and ski in the evening.

In a physical setting that matches and probably exceeds that of Seattle, Vancouver is the third largest city in Canada. On ... [read more]

Victoria, with its delightful combination of British and Pacific Northwest flavors, has been charming visitors for centuries. With thousands of interesting things to do year-round, it is no surprise that Victoria was rated the number one destination choice in Canada and the best city in the Americas by Conde Naste Traveler Magazine. This former British outpost was also voted by Travel and Leisure as one of the 10 best cities in the world to visit.

The island off the coast of British Columbia is known to be both a romantic getaway but also ... [read more]