KAREN

I have been fortunate enough to have visited Canada many times over the last 40 years, and have travelled to Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Quebec, Alberta, British Columbia, and the Yukon. I have also had the pleasure of a trip to  Alaska.

I have family in Canada and both of my parents were in the travel business, my father specialising in Canada so I guess you could say travel is in my blood.

My favourite places to have seen or stayed in are Vancouver as it is so welcoming and exciting. There are many areas of interest in the downtown core, but also has the beautiful, forested area of Capilano Suspension Bridge and Park. Quirpon Island in Newfoundland was where we stayed in a lighthouse on a tiny island. In the mornings you could watch the dolphins and whales at play, and in the evenings, you could see stunning sunsets. Knight Inlet Lodge for the bear viewing was my most recent trip, and I had such a memorable time watching the bears roaming, the porpoises following alongside the boat, and bald eagles perched on wooden poles. I also explored the woods, took a boat cruise, and had a morning of kayaking before departing. A real experience!

I have been lucky enough to tick off the Rocky Mountaineer and Knight Inlet Lodge from my bucket list, but there are still many places left, the Polar Bears of Churchill being top of my list.

I recommend taking comfy shoes and layers of clothes to enjoy all Canada has to offer, especially in the Rockies where the weather can change from one season to the next in a single day.