Note: I’m back-dating this post to September 15 because I failed miserably to write it last month.
For the rest of 2011, I shall not set foot on foreign soil. I know that, compared to giving up non-Canadian food or television, this self-denial doesn’t feel like much of a sacrifice. But I have had to forego invitations to one of the Carolinas (I can’t for the life of me remember which) and Point Roberts, Washington.
Point Roberts, incidentally, is this idiosyncratic peninsula that’s connected only to Tsawassen in British Columbia. Much like the Russian region of Kalinigrad, it’s a pene-exclave which Americans can only reach by air, water or passing through Canada. It’s full of Canadians who have bought cheap (or cheaper, at least) property for holiday homes. Hence, the invitation I had to decline.
And so I’ll only travel in Canada for the balance of the year. I’ve done plenty of that already. I’ve been to Calgary, Edmonton, Quebec City, Toronto, Ottawa and Halifax since the start of the year, and I have plans to see Regina and to return to Toronto before the year is out.
That sounds like a lot of Canada, but, of course, it’s just a thumbnail on the body of our great nation. I’m a little ashamed of how little of Canada I’ve actually seen, particular if you remove the big cities from the equation.
I have traveled outside of Canada a lot, though, and I’ve lived abroad in Ireland, Malta and Morocco. Nothing makes you more patriotic than watching your country from a distance, or celebrating national holidays with newfound Canadian expats.
A side note: a few months ago, I had a notion of assembling a slideshow of Google Street View screenshots of big Canadian roadside statues and monuments. This proved more difficult and time-consuming than I imagined, so I leave you with just three of my favourites, and a question: if you were going to recommend a Canadian destination to me outside the major cities, what would it be?
I included a photo of the Terry Fox Memorial in Thunder Bay (by Paul Weimer) because it’s a spot I’ve always wanted to visit, but haven’t had the chance yet.
I quite like Kananaskis when I visited.
And what about something in the north? Have you been to any of the Territories?
A trip to Jasper/Banf is quintessentially Canadian. Highly recommended, although I suspect the weather may not be ideal at this time of year.
I’m partial to NB in general, Hopewell Rocks, Magnetic Hill (Moncton), the reversing falls (St John). St Andrews/St Stephen are both beautiful places
BC’s mid-coast via BC Ferry’s Discovery Coast Passage. Spent a summer in Klemtu/Bella Bella and was in awe of the surroundings. Crap, just read that the DCP is summer only. Which will beg the question, where will you travel in these fall/winter Canadian months when the typical Canadian heads outside of Canada?
Saskatoon! It’s prettier than Regina. If you want, my mom can show you the ins and outs and you can see some of your mother’s old haunts.
Saskatoon is quite pretty, really.
I enjoy that the Brontosaurus from Hwy 6 is on here!
BC: You’ve likely done most of these, but Tofino, Hope, heck you’ll know BC better than I can suggest (even though I lived there for 18 years…)
AB: Cochrane, Jasper, Banff, Lake Louise
SK: Lloydminster-Canada’s only border city
MB: Sadly I have yet to explore much
ON: Niagara Falls, St. Jacobs and although I presume you’ve been here (by your picture), Hamilton
That’s as far east as I’ve gotten without resorting to major cities.
Happy travels!!
It might be getting tricky as the weather cools, but have you considered any National Parks and/or Historic Sites? Parks Canada is in the tail end of celebrating their centennial. If you are going to be in Toronto again, consider visiting Bruce Peninsula National Park in Tobermory – about 3 hours away and a gorgeous example of the Niagara Escarpment. Or perhaps Point Pelee National Park which is the southern most point of mainland Canada and is actually on the same latitude as parts of California!
Darren
Do you miss trips outside the boundaries of Canada? Perhaps there are business trips and conferences, that you have had to defer on, which isn’t ideal but necessary for this project. Good luck with it.
bobby