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Mounties, Mountains & Moose
12 Days/11 Nights When you think of Canada what three icons come to mind? The Royal Canadian Mounted Police otherwise known as Mounties, the majestic Mountains of Alberta and British Columbia, and of course the mighty Moose. Traveling from Ottawa to Prince Rupert will certainly give you the best opportunity to see these three icons as you travel across Canada on three of VIA Rail’s finest trains.
Cartan’s Tour Highlights
Tuesday – Arrive Ottawa Welcome to Ottawa, Canada’s Capital. Canada’s capitol is a jewel – the soft green of weathered copper roofs and the weathered stone of Parliament Hill give it an elegance enjoyed by few cities. Your hotel puts you right in the heart of everything: Parliament, twelve National Museums, Galleries, Public Statues, Libraries, The Rideau Canal, outdoor markets including the ByWard Market, as well as an array of restaurants all for your choosing. Overnight – Fairmont Chateau Laurier or Lord Elgin
Wednesday – Ottawa Today your hop on/off tour of Ottawa offers stops at historical landmarks, scenic waterways and beautiful parks. Parliament Hill, the Canadian Museum of Civilization, Rideau Falls, Royal Canadian Mint and the National Gallery of Canada are just a few of the fascinating sites you will view while on tour. During the summer free tours of Parliament are offered daily. The changing of the Guard takes place at 10am – June thru August. The Sound and Light Show on Parliament Hill from July 5 to September 11 is not to be missed. With the winds as hosts and storyteller, the Spirit of Canada is revealed in captivating music, shimmering lights and stunning giant projections on the Parliament Buildings. It is woven with a rich tapestry of words, music and sounds to tell the story of Canada. The free 30 minute shows in July are at 9:30pm and 10:30pm, and in August at 9:00pm and 10:00pm. Overnight – Fairmont Chateau Laurier or Lord Elgin
Thursday – Ottawa to Toronto An afternoon train from Ottawa to Toronto awaits you today. Aboard VIA Rail in VIA 1 class sit back, relax, and enjoy the four and a half hour ride through the Ontario countryside with a delicious lunch included. Upon arrival into Toronto the Fairmont Royal York is conveniently located across the street from the station. Toronto as you will quickly come to realize is a city where people live and play as well as work. Lake frontage, friendly people, wonderful food and great shopping are a few of the reasons people return again and again. Overnight – Fairmont Royal York
Friday – Toronto – Niagara falls by night including Maid of the Mist and buffet dinner. Your morning is at leisure to shop or sightsee in Toronto. Don’t miss taking a walk across the glass floor at the CN Tower, the worlds tallest freestanding structure. See the Hockey Hall of Fame, and visit the Sky Dome or tour Casa Loma, Toronto’s majestic castle. The plans that we have made for your visit to Niagara Falls are just the best! This afternoon board a first class motor coach for a drive through the orchard-laden countryside of the Niagara Peninsula. The lush green rolling hills take you through historic Niagara-on-the-Lake; a picturesque community that prides itself on stylish Victorian Houses and picture perfect lawns. No matter how many times you visit Niagara Falls, ones’ sense of awe never fades. Thus; we wanted you to see the Falls in daylight, up close, and somewhat wet on the Maid of the Mist. Then see the falls from the lofty heights of a Penthouse Dining Room and at night, in dramatic color, as you watch the multicolored illumination show. Your tour includes a ride aboard the Maid of the Mist to the base of Horseshoe Falls; the perfect way to experience the power of these Falls. Enjoy a buffet dinner with breathtaking views from the Penthouse Dining Room. Time allows you to visit the flower filled grounds while waiting for the illumination show to get started. On Fridays starting in mid-May, you will have the added bonus of a free fireworks display over the Falls. Your coach will return to the Fairmont Royal York about 11PM. Overnight – Fairmont Royal York
Saturday – VIA Rail Toronto to Jasper Nothing shows you Canada like a trip on the train. Your bedroom is VIA Rails “top of the line” accommodations. Your sitting room by day converts to upper and lower berths at night. Once aboard the train, the staff will see you settled into your room. As a Silver and Blue Class passenger, your fare includes all meals, use of any of the lounges and access to the domed skyline car for spectacular viewing.
Your journey will take you out of Toronto and up through the “Canadian Shield”. This region of billion-year-old rock lies between the Great Lakes and Hudson Bay. Here, ancient glaciers scoured the bottoms of thousands of lakes, clean-bottomed and filled them with remarkably clear water. On their rocky shores, outcroppings of granite, pink, grey, and black form rounded boulders that breathtakingly tower over the tracks. As you pass through this area of forests, lakes, and streams it is not unusual to see bear and moose. "Dinner in the diner, nothing could be finer" and then it’s off to bed. Overnight – VIA Rail
Sunday – VIA Rail continue to Jasper Upon awakening from the sensuous breakfast aromas coming from the diner you find you are still in Ontario and headed for Manitoba. Later this afternoon you arrive into Winnipeg where the Red, Assiniboine and Seine Rivers converge. You should have time to get off the train, stretch your legs and get some fresh air here. There is a mall across the parking lot from the station with many shops and cafes. All Aboard!!! Departing Winnipeg the train passes through the “Prairies” of Manitoba and Saskatchewan known as the bread-basket of Canada. Sixty percent of the countries wheat is produced here and is home to some of the largest grain farms in the world. Enjoy a delicious dinner and it’s off to sleep. Overnight – VIA Rail Sleeper Car
Monday - Arrive Jasper Crossing the border into Alberta wheat fields give way to oil wells. Breakfast, and then an arrival into Edmonton which has been a Canadian Boomtown from the fur trading days to the Yukon Gold Rush to the discovery of oil and is home to the famous West Edmonton Mall. After a brief stop in Edmonton, be sure to get a seat in the dome car. Soon you will be in a “sea of mountains” and heading into Jasper National Park, “the Gem of the Rockies”. You will arrive into Jasper mid to late afternoon. The long summer days will give you time to explore Jasper and enjoy the mountain scenery. We will provide a transfer from the station to your hotel. Overnight – Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge or Sawridge Resort
Tuesday – Jasper - Discover Jasper Tour Jasper, fascinating in beauty and history, is set amid some of the most rugged peaks in the Rockies. This four hour excursion encompasses the area's outstanding features, Medicine Lake as well as Maligne Canyon with its narrow gorge and limestone walls falling 50 meters to the floor below. From June 1-September 30 we highly recommend you add the Maligne Lake Cruise. Overnight – Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge or Sawridge Resort
Wednesday – VIA Rail Jasper to Prince George (Lunch & Dinner on the Train) Your morning is at leisure to enjoy and explore Jasper. Transportation from your hotel to the station is provided. The wilderness beauty of Jasper is but a picture of what is in store for you today as you travel from Jasper to Prince George. The cars used on the Skeena in Totem Deluxe Class truly do give you a wraparound view. The “Skeena”, named for the Skeena River valley travels through country little changed by man. Your route takes you past Mount Robson, the highest peak in the Canadian Rockies, down the western slope of the range with its giant cedars and hemlocks, and across British Columbia’s interior plateau en route to the Skeena River valley. The Skeena arrives into Prince George at 7PM; the Coast Hotel is a short taxi ride from the station. Overnight – Coast Inn of the North Hotel
Thursday – Prince George to Prince Rupert (Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner on the Train) An early morning is in order; the Skeena departs at 7:45AM. The rail station is a short taxi ride from your hotel. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are served aboard the train, so settle back to enjoy another day of dramatically beautiful scenery. Highlights of your routing include Fraser Lake, the meeting of the Telkwa and Bulkley Rivers and Kathlyn Glacier and Twin Falls, one of the best views of a glacier from a passenger train in Canada. Then, to the river for which the train was named, the mighty Skeena River, taking you past snow covered mountain peaks, graveled flood plains, and lush river beds to the Pacific Ocean Tidal zone, where the river widens on its way to the ocean. Scheduled arrival into Prince George is 8pm. When you arrive take a taxi to your hotel. Overnight – Crest Hotel - Harbourview Room
Friday – Prince Rupert Today an exciting cruise has been planned for you. This one-of-a-kind tour circles Kaien Island. Take in the bustling Prince Rupert waterfront from boat side. Sites you will experience are: Fairview Terminal where international freighters tie up, WWII military installations, Massive grain and coal facilities on Ridley Island, the Historical Village of Port Edward, reversing tidal rapids at Butze Rapids and Zanardi Rapids, Seal Cove's Canadian Coast Guard Base and Seal Cove's Float Plane Base, one of the busiest on the coast. During the voyage, there will also be a good possibility of sighting porpoise, harbour seals and eagles. The city is small, so getting around is easy. The Crest Hotel is just delightful, built right at the waters edge; it offers an array of ocean views. Cow Bay is a must see with great bovine decorating ideas at every turn. Fish lovers will find that the Halibut is so fresh and delicious you will want it for every meal. Try the fish and chips at the Peg Leg Café for lunch Overnight – Crest Hotel – Harbourview Room
Saturday – Prince Rupert/Home We have made arrangements for your flight from Prince Rupert to Vancouver. The city air terminal is just a short taxi ride from your hotel. Here you will check in for your flight and purchase your ticket for your transfer from the terminal to the airport.
If you would like more information on any of our tours, please go to our "Request Form". Site Map For Tour Package Information Contact SNOWBIRD TRAVEL AGENCY Snowbird Travel Agency@Copyright 1998-2008. All rights
reserved.
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