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Kelowna’s great climate, sparkling lake & mountain views offer visitors an array of activities, alongside discovering their numerous wineries & orchards. Our farmhouse was an old ancestral 19th century wooden mansion amidst vast expanse of farm land, and our gracious host Mark & his wife looked after us nicely with tours of his farm & some farm fresh eggs for breakfast. Once known as the mecca for ‘peaches & beaches’, the Okanagan Valley is now being recognized as the destination for the wine tourist. Kelowna offers you miles of sandy beaches hugging the shores of Okanagan Lake, North America’s longest floating bridge & its home to dozens of wineries, ranging in size from cottage-style to large mansion-style. The entire day we spent exploring these wineries, one after the other. After we had enough of wine-tours & ... read more

Our western side road trip commenced in a huge vehicle called Dodge – Grand Caravan. With my BIL on the wheel & yours truly as the apt Navigator (fully equipped with maps, GPS etc), the rest of the team was sure of having a fantastic trip. The two of the largest national parks of Canada –Banff & Jasper National Parks, were eagerly waiting for our arrival. Elk, bison, moose, mountain goats & caribou must have established their own pathways in Jasper National Park long before humans arrived in the Canadian Rockies. Known as the gentle giant of the Rockies, Jasper - the shy cousin to bold, brassy Banff, was our first destination. “If you are really lucky, you will spot a Black Bear, and if you spot a Grizzly your life has been blessed” – a ... read more

Niagara Falls is to Canada what Elvis is to Maryland. This torrential cluster of three falls welcomes thousands of tourists to witness its wonder. The thrill of being on the edge, the thrill of watching one-fifth of the world’s freshwater tumbling down uncontrollably, is mind boggling experience. I remember the childlike joy I felt when I first saw that enormous curtain of white. After hours of gaping at this roaring wonder, on the Maid of the Mist, at the Table Rock restaurant, in a dark room where Niagara’s fury is virtually simulated, in the galleys built behind the falls – even the mighty Niagara seemed tame. Next we wanted to explore the town of Niagara and we spent some time at going around the Niagara town & the Cliffton Hill, crammed with quirky museums and amusement ... read more

As we hit the cruising broad Canadian Expressways, the metropolis of Quebec & the second largest French-speaking city in the world – Montreal, was our first destination. We arrived in Montreal with Montreal Olympic Tower – the tallest inclined tower in the world, greeting us on the road. After getting lost in the confusing ‘Ouest’ & ‘Est’ grid, finally we found our small B & B. Without wasting much time, we moved out in spite of the big clouds hovering over the city. Montreal’s downtown scene is a bustling study in contrasts. We witnessed the Victorian brownstone nuzzling skyscrapers, and the latest architectural marvels soaring beside stately neo-gothic churches. Lucky for us, but not so much for Deenaz & Reshma, International Bier (that’s how they spell it) Festival was on, and as we entered the venue, ... read more

Visiting Canada all in one trip is a massive undertaking. Over 5000 Kms separate Toronto in east from Victoria in west (about the same distance separates London and Riyadh, or Tokyo and Calcutta). To drive from one end of the country could take 7-10 days or more (and that assumes you're not stopping to sight see on the way). A flight from Toronto to Vancouver takes over 4 hours. Everything about this country is big & even bigger. When speaking of specific destinations within Canada, it is better to consider its distinct regions. Atlantic Province is well known for unique accents, the origin of the Acadian culture, outstanding natural beauty (particularly around coastal... read more