Weather

Because of its huge area, Canada experience as variety of weather, natural beauty and distinctive wildlife. Enjoying the beauty of snow in the landlocked regions for over half of the year, there are also places like the coastal part of British Columbia that experiences warmer weather with chances of mild winters and rains.

What to Wear

If you are in Canada and you want to spend a lot of time outdoors, then it is best to bring warm clothing (including a scarf, gloves, and hat) with a coat and waterproof boots to match. Canada weather in the coastal areas tends to be warmer and wetter so a rain jacket may come in useful. In the non-coastal areas, the weather tends to be much cooler which may call for waterproof boots with good treads. Pants are an appropriate option for outdoor wear, and if you intend on hiking or trekking, something lighter like nylon pants would be perfect.

Visa, Immigration, Customs

Passport valid for at least 1 day beyond your scheduled length of stay.

ID:If travelling by air or cruise ship, all passengers require a passport. Otherwise, government issued identification cards such as a Birth Certificate or proof of citizenship accompanied by photo ID such as a Driver's License. Many visitors enter this country as part of a sea cruise. You must have a valid passport for such a trip. Some of the countries you may be visiting will not permit entry without a passport. Ship authorities may retain your passport during the cruise, in accordance with their own administrative regulations and to facilitate clearance with local Immigration Authorities. Passengers should obtain a receipt for their passport, and the passport should be returned at the end of the cruise. U.S. citizens entering Canada from a third country must have a valid passport.

Visa/Permit/Tourist Card:Citizens of British Dependent Territories do require a visa if their passport is marked "British Subject" or "British Protected Person"

Single parents or other adults vacationing alone with children should be aware that some countries require documentary evidence of parental responsibility before allowing lone parents to enter the country or, in some cases, before permitting the children to leave the country..

Transportation

Air Canada as well as Westjet and dozens of other airlines can cover the vast distances quickly and efficiently. As Canada has such a large land mass, this is by far the best way to explore the country. For shorter distances you can always take a floatplane.
There are 1326 airports in Canada.

Travel by Rail:VIA Rail Canada has services across the country and has many rail pass options which are worth checking out. These must be purchased outside of Canada. They have economy, sleeper and first class options too. The trains are comfortable, offering on-board restaurant services and air conditioning. Certain routes and trains have the option (at extra cost) for you to experience the great scenery through glass topped cars!! Regional railway services with unusual attractions include: Algoma Central with novel yesteryear cars innovative stops for nature lovers, a camper car, snow train and the canyon view train; and The Great Canadian Railtour Company will take you on a tour through the Rockies. Other regional railways include, Ontario Northland, Quebec North Shore and Labrador Railway, Toronto Hamilton and Buffalo Railway, The Polar Bear Express and the scenic White Pass and Yukon Route Railroad. On just about any rail trip you take, the scenery is awesome and it sure beats driving. Vancouver, Toronto and Montreal run city commuter trains.

Travel by Water:The numerous rivers and lakes as well as the coastline are well serviced by just about any vessel you may desire to travel on. Ferries operate regularly to the islands and cruise ships take you all the way up to Alaska. Harbour tours, whale watching, fishing and the like are usually run by private operators.

Travel by Road:Car hire is readily available almost anywhere! The Trans-Canada Highway will take you from the east to the west coast - if you're up for a journey covering roughly 8,000 km's. Road signage is international and traffic drives on the right. You may require an International Driver's Permit.

Coach lines link just about all the cities and towns. There are national and regional coach lines for your convenience. The Greyhound Bus Company, offering the most extensive routes, has a Canada Pass (must be purchased outside of North America), which offers unlimited travel over certain periods of time. Buses in, the cities and towns charge a flat fee, regardless of the distance travelled . The drivers do not carry change so you will need to either purchase tickets prior to your trip or carry the exact amount of change. These bus services are extensive, covering city centres and suburbs. Taxi services are efficient and fares generally metered. Taxis can be hailed or called. They can become costly for long distances. Shuttle services run to and from major airports into the city centres


What Side of the Road?:Driving is on the right side of the road.

Speed Limits:Urban areas - 40/60 kph; rural highways - 80kmh; freeways - 100 kmh

Culture & Food

Languages Spoken:English 59.3% (official), French 23.2% (official), other 17.5%.

Religions:Roman Catholic 46%, Protestant 36%, other 18%

People and Culture:Canada is multi-ethnic and multi-cultural, with more than 200 ethnic origins registered in the last census. Both English and French are the official languages. Canada has produced some music greats as well as actors, comedians, sportsmen, inventors and a couple of Nobel Prize winners. A few of these celebs that come to mind are Kiefer Sutherland, Mike Meyers, Matthew Perry, Jim Carrey, Jaques Villneuve, Celine Dion, Alanis Morisette and innumerable other singers and musicians. The Aboriginal people have their own beliefs passed down from one generation to the next by storytelling. These legends are about orcas, ravens, wolves, eagles and other animals. Dreams are an important source of guidance and they have a high regard for the great circle of life. Sacred pipes and the sacred fire forms part of certain ceremonies. Totem poles are not only an amazing form of art, but they honour tribal rituals and sacred spirits and are generally found in the northwest.

A resident or national of Canada is called "Canadian/Canadien". The Term used to describe things from here is "Canadian/Canadien". For example, "Canadian/Canadien food".

Tipping and Bargaining: Tipping is practiced here. Most prices for merchandise are non-negotiable.

Restaurants:	15%
*Porters:	1 Canadian Dollar per bag
Taxi:	10%

* Try to use local currency. Foreign coins cannot be exchanged and will be useless to the person receiving them. Foreign paper money requires a trip to the bank for exchange. However paper US dollars are accepted almost universally.

Food: Canada is fast becoming a foodie destination with great cuisine from coast to coast. The seafood is outstanding from mussels, oysters, scallops to the world famous salmon and trout. You will find a great variety of French restaurants serving French cuisine of the highest standard. Regional specialities include, Arctic Char from the Yukon, Manitoba caviar, Okanagan fruit, Peace River honey and wild rice from the Great Lakes. Interesting First Nations food such as bannock (a type of bread), dried buffalo meat, caribou stews, rabbit casserole and other wholesome, delicious meals can be sampled. An unusual titbit to try are fiddleheads (coiled fern leaves). Nanaimo bars and Saskatoon pie are 'city specific' dainties on offer. Canada produces some great local wines and beers.

Money Conversion

Canada's currency is called the Canadian Dollar (CAD).

Currency Converter :use the following currency converter tool to help you with your vacation. Currency Convertor Tool

Currency Cheat Sheet: use the following currency cheat sheet as a quick conversion reference on your vacation.Currency Cheat Sheet

Attractions

Destination Cities:Cruise the capital city of Ottawa, on the Rideau Canal, talk to a Mountie and watch the changing of the guard. Learn the culture of the aboriginal people and enjoy nature on Ottawa River's Victoria Island or check out the scenery on the Hull-Chelsea-Wakefield Steam Train. Worthwhile trips include the Parliamentary Buildings, Canadian War Museum, Museum of Science and Technology and the Aviation Museum. Visit the ByWard Market, which is on the go almost non-stop and has a wide array of activities night and day. Lose yourself, or perhaps find yourself at one of the many hedge mazes at Saunders Farm. It is a great spot for picnics and offers wagon rides. Enjoy the landscaped gardens of Rideau Hall, where outdoor concerts are regularly held. Visit the 2nd largest French speaking city in the world, Montreal. An underground city will allow for all manner of entertainment regardless of the weather!! Well worth the time is Old Montreal and the Latin Quarter. There are plenty of parks in Montreal. Two worth a mention are the Mount Royal Park and Rapids Park, which is known for the spectacular Lechine Rapids and it has the largest colony of herons in Quebec. Drop in at Chinatown, with its myriad of Asian stores and architecture. Experience four ecosystems in one at the Biodome, from penguins to tropical rainforests - an interesting and perhaps educational outing. Dinner cruises on glass topped boats, Parisian style or Jazz cruises are ideal leisurely outings. There are many festivals held during the year, which include fireworks, snow sculpting, skating and more. The best known is the Montreal Film Festival. One of the most beautiful cities you'll encounter is Vancouver. A kaleidoscope of things to see - forests, lakes and sea views of Stanley Park (where the nine o' clock canon is a sure reminder of the time) to Gas Town with its steam clock, the landmark of Canada Place with its unending docking of hundreds of cruise liners, the impressive Lion's Gate Bridge and colourful, bustling Granville Island. Grouse Mountain will give you an awesome view of Stanley Park and downtown Vancouver. Along the way you may wish to negotiate the Capilano Suspension Bridge - a mere 70m high!!! The Aquarium in Stanley Park is great for viewing dolphins and killer whales (and 60000 other amazing animals). Vancouver's Chinatown boasts a classical Chinese garden and typical architecture. A city with hotels and restaurants galore, beautiful beaches and trails, art galleries and museums. Boat charters, wine festivals, international fireworks and much, much more. Victoria, situated on Vancouver Island, is the province's capital and has a distinct British colonial feel and wonderful beaches, parks and trails. While you're on the island you may wish to visit Duncan, the City of Totems or Long Beach where surfers meet up to brave the surf and the cold water temperatures. For a touch of Europe, Quebec City is the venue. It contains the only walled city in North America and a waterfall higher than Niagara, along the St Lawrence River. The Palace Royale, Quebec Old Town and Saint Anne De Beaupre Basilica are a few of many magnificent architectural sites worth a visit.

Points of Interest:Whistler Ski Resort is known as one of the best ski resorts worldwide. Summer or winter there are enough activities to keep any visitor busy. Besides the skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, snowmobiling - snow-"anything", there are great trails and scenic hikes. Many lakes allow for kayaking, fishing and tanning on the shores. If you're interested in the northern lights and would like to visit the Polar Bear capital of the world - Churchill in Manitoba is your place. For an intriguing roll uphill, visit the Magnetic Hill near Moncton, where it is said that the water flows uphill too!! Travel along the world's largest bridge over icy water from New Brunswick to Prince Edward Island. With beautiful beaches, museums, Beaconsfield Historical House and the Orwell Historic Village. Banff in Alberta, Canada's first national park, is home to alpine villages, ski resorts and hot springs. Here tours are available on Lake Minnewanka as well as a summit restaurant on Sulphur Mountain. For something different, try out the Calgary Stampede or the Olympic Park, where the Road Rocket is sure to get your adrenalin pumping. Yukon's Dawson City will transport you back to the 'good ol' days' of the gold rush. Visit the Commissioner’s Residence, Red Feather Saloon and Diamond Tooth Gertie's Casino or pan for gold - who knows when your luck will turn!!