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Parks Canada

A look at where Canadians will be travelling this summer, as well as a new list of the best family beach vacation spots in the U.S. That and more in today’s blog post. BEST U.S. FAMILY BEACH VACATION SPOTS With the U.S. Memorial Day weekend pretty much here (it’s the unofficial kick-off to summer in the States), here’s a nice U.S. News list of the top 18 places in the US of A for a family beach vacation. Florida took home the top two spots and had a remarkable five places in the top 10. South Carolina has three spots Read more

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The new Canada Strong pass was unveiled last week, providing Canadians and visitors alike with free access to national parks and historic sites this summer, plus great deals on national museums and significant VIA RAIL discounts. I did a series of interviews on the pass last Thursday for CBC radio stations across the country, talking about how the pass works and whether it’s a good idea. Here’s a synopsis. How exactly does this pass work, and where? I think the most obvious deal for people when they first hear about this is that all Canadian national parks are free until Read more

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The Canadian government is making national parks free this summer for all visitors, as well as providing free admission to national museums, national marine conservation areas and national historic sites administered by Parks Canada. Ottawa also is making it easier to see the country by train, with free travel on VIA Rail for kids aged 17 and under if accompanied by an adult, and a 25% discount for those aged 18 to 24. On top of that, the government is providing a 25% discount  on camping fees for Parks Canada properties. “This summer, Canadians can enjoy the very best Canada Read more

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Georgian Bay Islands National Park is a small but fabulous chunk of land that’s only a couple hours north of Toronto. The best way to reach the park is via a short ferry ride from the small but cute village of Honey Harbour, which is just a short drive northwest of Port Severn, off Highway 400. The park is a great spot for hiking and biking, with easy-to-read trails and a bike rental shop in case you can’t bring yours along. We had a great day trip, but you also can arrange for a campsite, sleep in an old-style, wooden Read more

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This is one of the great cities of Canada; a vibrant but super-friendly spot where people aren’t in a rush and where drivers stop to let crazed Torontonians jaywalk across a busy street at rush hour. You’ll also find a wonderful waterfront, terrific food and trendy neighbourhoods to explore. Here are some of the top things to see and do in Halifax, and also some suggested places to stay and side trips to take. WHAT TO SEE   Halifax Citadel National Historic Site is a former British and Canadian fort that sits on a high hill overlooking the city. A Read more

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