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THE ROYA
able to explore them. I got to learn about and see the Learn more about One Ocean
OCIET Y
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Features
23 CANADAS BEST WINTER DRIVES
Seven amazing road trips for the coolest
time of the year
By Kate Harris, John Lee, Conor Mihell, Susan
Nerberg, Karan Smith, Jenn Smith-Nelson and
Russell Wangersky
32
Departments
4 NOTEBOOK
Family travel By Aaron Kylie
9 GATEWAY
Heart of Golden, Chef for a day, Mountain games
COVERS AND TOP: JAVIER FRUTOS/CAN GEO; BOTTOM: MAURICIE-O. CROTEAU
18 ONECITY
Ice, water and family fun in Niagara Falls, Ont.
By Aaron Kylie
46 TENBEST
Bundle up and bait your hook in preparation to visit the
greatest ice-fishing destinations in the nation.
By Gord Pyzer
40
On the cover: A king penguin on Saunders Island, part of the
Falkland Islands archipelago in the southwest Atlantic Ocean.
Family travel
NEW MEDIA MANAGER Paul Politis
PROJECT MANAGER Roisin OReilly
PROGRAM MANAGER Soha Kneen
LOGISTICS COORDINATOR Emma Viel
T
VICE-PRESIDENT, FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION Catherine Frame
SENIOR ACCOUNTANT Christine Chatland
THERE ARE FEW things as beautiful as for best road trips. Perhaps one is close ACCOUNTS PAYABLE/ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE CLERK Lydia Blackman
EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT Sandra Smith
trees coated in ice and freshly dusted with to your regular route anyway, but even if RECEPTIONIST/OFFICE COORDINATOR Diane Sguin
snow. Of course, seeing such a scene not, all are worth a detour or a specifically
Canadian Geographic is published by Canadian Geographic
isnt an everyday occurrence, which may planned trip. Sure, winter driving pres- Enterprises on behalf of The Royal Canadian Geographical Society.
be part of its allure. I still vividly recall a ents its own challenges the same ice Subscriptions are $28.50 per year ($55.00 for two years or $79.50
for three years), plus applicable taxes. For addresses in the United
childhood holiday trip, when my family and snow that creates those gorgeous States, add $8 per year. For other international addresses,
add $20 per year.
drove from our central Ontario cottage scenes can also create treacherous road
SUBSCRIPTIONS AND ALL CUSTOMER SERVICE INQUIRIES
through shield country to Quebec City. conditions, but were Canadians, both Canadian Geographic c/o CDS Global
PO Box 923, Markham Station Main, Markham, ON L3P 0B8
For most of the journey the forests were used to winter driving and not afraid of (800) 267-0824 Fax: (905) 946-1679
in that perfect glorious state, sun glinting getting out there, no matter the weather. Hours: Mon.-Fri., 8 a.m.-8 p.m. (EST); Sat. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. (EST)
EDITORIAL OFFICE 1155 Lola Street, Suite 200, Ottawa, ON K1K 4C1
off icy boughs. Its that very weather that can make for (613) 745-4629 Fax: (613) 744-0947 canadiangeographic.ca
Two stories in this issue jogged that the most memorable of road trips.
ISSN 0706-2168. No part of this publication may be reproduced,
memory. First and foremost is our story And chances are, were making them stored in a retrieval system or transmitted, in any form or by
on the nations best winter drives with family anyway. Which brings me to any means, without the prior written consent of the publisher
or a licence from The Canadian Copyright Licensing Agency
(page 23). We may not all think of it this the second story here that twigged that (Access Copyright). For an Access Copyright licence, visit
accesscopyright.ca or call toll-free (800) 893-5777.
way, but many Canadians pleasure childhood travel memory. At my five-
Return undeliverable items to Canadian Geographic, P.O. Box 923,
travel involves visiting family or friends. year-old son Zevs request, we hit the Stn. Main, Markham, ON L3P 0B8
(I routinely make a four-hour drive road to Ontarios Granagara Falls (as Date of issue: November 2017 Copyright 2017. All rights reserved.
along Ontarios Highway 7 between he says it) this past summer. And while
CHRISTINE HESS/NIAGARA FALLS TOURISM
Ottawa and Bobcaygeon to visit my par- Ive detailed the amazing winter offer-
Canadian Geographic is a member of Magazines Canada,
ents.) When those trips are relatively ings in Niagara Falls (above) in the The Canadian Marketing Association and Vividata.
Circulation audited by the Alliance for Audited Media.
short in nature, we typically take to the magazines One city section on page
Canadian Geographic and design are registered trademarks. Marque dpose.
road, and we probably do so as often in 18, Im hopeful my kids will one day
the winter around the holidays as at any wistfully recall the road trip. I already do.
other time of year. Travel memories are made all the better
So as youre planning your family vis- with family. Enjoy yours this season.
its this coming winter, consider our picks Aaron Kylie
Fellows Dinner
Founded in 1929, the Society is a non-profit educational organization.
Its object is to advance geographical knowledge and, in particular,
to stimulate awareness of the significance of geography in Canadas
development, well-being and culture. Primary fields of interest
include our people, resources, environment, heritage and the
evolution of our country. In short, the aim is to make Canada better
known to Canadians and to the world. Canadian Geographic, the
Societys magazine, is dedicated to reporting on all aspects of
Canadas geography physical, biological, historical, cultural and
economic and on major issues of concern to Canada in which
geographical dimensions play a significant role.
Celebrating Canadas 150th anniversary with special guests, including ...
PATRON
His Excellency the Right Honourable David Johnston
C.C., C.M.M., C.O.M., C.D.
Governor General of Canada
Honorary Vice-President
VICE-PATRON
WADE
Sir Christopher Ondaatje, O.C., C.B.E.
HONORARY PRESIDENT
Alex Trebek, O.C.
DAVIS
HONORARY VICE-PRESIDENTS
Roberta Bondar, O.C., O.Ont.
Pierre Camu, O.C.
Arthur E. Collin
Wade Davis, C.M.
Gisle Jacob
Louie Kamookak, O.Nu. Thursday,
Denis A. St-Onge, O.C.
EXPLORER-IN-RESIDENCE Nov. 16, 2017
Jill Heinerth
Gatineau, Que.
PRESIDENT
Gavin Fitch, Q.C., Calgary
VICE-PRESIDENTS
Wendy Cecil, C.M., Toronto
Connie Wyatt Anderson, The Pas, Man.
BEST WILDLIFE
PHOTOGRAPHY 2018
VISIT CANGEO.CA/SIP
WANT
MORE?
Check out our past
wildlife issues
online
ADVENTURES See us at canadiangeographic.ca
canadiangeographic.ca
Digital issue
Take Canadian Geographic wherever
you go, while also accessing bonus
videos and photos with the digital
issue for tablets.
cangeo.ca/digital www.marinelinktours.com 250.286.3347
GEO GENIUS?
What was the
ORIGINAL NAME OF
LAKE LOUISE,
Banff National Parks most
photographed lake?
A KT U K
a) Jade Lake
TUKTOY it b) Blue Lake
Inuvialu
is a small c) Turquoise Lake
cated in
hamlet lo d) Emerald Lake
itory?
which terr
IS A
MUMMICHOG
a bird, fish, seal
or mollusc?
AVAILABLE ON CANGEO.CA/ULTQUIZ
NEWSSTANDS
THE TOUGHEST CANADIAN GEOGRAPHY QUIZ EVER,
AND ONLINE
with fascinating and fun facts about our land, people,
NOW wildlife, climate and history that are sure to challenge you.
GATE AY
BRITISH COLUMBIA KONA IS NO damsel in distress. For start- A team of huskies owned by Golden Dog Sled
ers, shes a dog a white Alaskan husky, Adventures rests on a trail in Golden, B.C.
BANFF
NATIONAL the touring business he launched in 2013 prioritize profits above the health of their
GOLDEN PARK
BRITISH DOG SLED in the town best known for skiing, snow- charges. Some owners have simply grown
Donald ADVENTURES YOHO
NATIONAL Lake boarding and snowmobiling. too old for the business, he notes, but are
PARK Louise
Blaeberry
Field A tour with Parr, however, is an oppor- too attached to their dogs to let them go.
Rogers
Pass
Golden 1 tunity not to be missed for visiting winter Parr says the small size of his outfit
GLACIER enthusiasts. It offers an introduction to he caps his capacity at two teams
Co
1 NATIONAL
lu
PARK 95 the tradition of dogsledding and a heart- is what makes it particularly special.
m
ia
b
C A N A D I A N G E O G R A P H I C T R AV E L 9
GATEWAY
dogs, he says. You cant get that with Golden Dog Sled Adventures owner Matt
some of the larger, 100-dog kennels. Parr helps steer the sled during a ride.
True to his words, guests dont just get
to mush dogs with Parrs outfit. Before coordination. From my snug and warm
they hit the trails, they meet the animals, position on the sled, I look up to see Parr
get acquainted with each ones personal- barking Ha and Go to instruct Left
ity and help harness them to the sled. and Right to the team. His enthusiasm
They also learn about the differences is infectious, his love for the dogs obvious.
between the Siberian and Alaskan hus- Honestly, all the stresses of my life go
kies that make up Parrs pack. away when Im mushing dogs, he says.
Siberians are all about brawn their Together with his girlfriend, Parr is
big, fluffy bodies can haul heavy weight over currently working on a new project called
long distances in the coldest of conditions. Team Spirit, which will operate out of
Alaskan huskies such as Kona, however, are Golden Dog Sled Adventures and be
essentially mutts. They combine the speed devoted to the rescue, rehabilitation and
and lightweight build of greyhounds, point- re-homing of retired or unwanted sled a warm water and chicken mixture into
ers and collies with the strength and cold dogs. Eventually, he says, an eight-hect- each dogs bowl, giving each an apprecia-
resilience of their counterparts. are sanctuary behind his main office will tive pat. I join the group in the cabin for
Kona is the lead dog of the team I take serve as a safe environment in which hot chocolate and cookies. Its a perfect
to the trail with. Shes sweet and smart, rescued dogs will be able to heal, and happily-ever-after.
PETER SHEARD
and as we race through evergreens along bring joy to others.
the well-packed trail surrounded by When the tour is done, its time to give Watch a video of Parr with his dogs at
mountains, I marvel at the teams the dogs (and guests) a treat. Parr splashes cangeo.ca/nov17/dogsled.
2017
1 0 WeatherTech
CANAD Canada
IAN GEOGRAPHIC TRAVEL WINTER 2017-2018
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anywhere
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ONE-YEA
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Gangneung
WINTER OLYMPICS SEOUL
Pyeongchang
Mountain games
South
Spectators can travel efficiently from Incheon Korea
International Airport outside of Seoul, South
Koreas capital, to Olympic venues in
FORGET THE SWISS ALPS this year. The Korean Alps, Pyeongchang and Gangneung on a new high-
as the Taebaek Mountains near Pyeongchang, South Korea, speed rail line. The line will cut transportation
are known, are set to steal the winter sports spotlight as the time between the airport and Pyeongchang
area hosts the Olympic Winter Games from Feb. 9 to 25, from 3 hours to just over 1 hours.
2018. Athletes and spectators from around the world will
stream into Pyeongchang and the surrounding region in Bokwang Snow Park
northeastern Gangwon province for the snow, ice and alpine
events. Heres a look at the location of the Games, its venues
and some of the areas top attractions.
Michela Rosano The more than 1,000-year-old Woljeongsa
Temple in Odaesan National Park is one of
many Buddhist temples across the country
Jeongseon Alpine Centre offering accommodations during the
Games. Visitors can experience the life of a
monk and learn about the countrys
Buddhist heritage.
PYEONGCHANG
Five venues hosting the Games ice events, including hockey (in
both the newly built Gangneung and Kwandong hockey centres),
curling and skating, are in the Gangneung Coastal Cluster on the 0 5 km
Sea of Japan in the largest city in Gangwon province. The cluster
MAP: CHRIS BRACKLEY/CAN GEO
See a map of the 2018 Paralympic Games (March 9 to 18, 2018) and more top
attractions in the Pyeongchang area at cangeo.ca/nov17/paralympics.
A DAS
CAN
ER
ENT IN!
TO W ST
O L E
O
C
SCH OOL
TR I P !
RI D EA U CA
N AL N AT IO
N AL H IS TO RI C
SI TE
SI TE
IO N AL H IS TO RI C
LI N G TO N N AT
PA RK FO RT W EL
S N AT IO N AL
D IS LA N D
TH O U SA N
TORONTO
teurs and chefs, and paddling a voyageur examines it, turning it over in his hand, parts of the Middle East and find it
canoe around the Toronto Islands, learn- sniffing it. gamey and extremely chewy. Trivero asks
ing about local geography and birds Im then handed a TOCA spritz cock- me what I think. Camel bubblegum, I
before enjoying a catered picnic. tail, tossed an apron and put to work. I say. Exactly! he says. It needs to be
With my grocery list in hand, Kevin slice olives, shave parmesan and peel the braised. And he whisks the dish away.
Durkee, co-owner of the Culinary eggplants I bought at the market while Hannah James
Adventure Co., whisks me off to the St. Trivero a native of Italy shows me
Lawrence Market, the largest indoor how to make an elegantly simple egg- Watch a video of Torontos Ritz-Carlton
market in Toronto. With more than 200 plant parmesan. Urban Food Safari at cangeo.ca/nov17/ritz.
FOR A SEATED FIGURE (VERSO), MICHELANGELO BUONARROTI, COURTESY OF THE METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART; ANDRE RINGUETTE/FREESTYLE PHOTOGRAPHY/OTTAWA REDBLACKS
DESTINATIONS
On our radar
SEEING THE WORKS of Michelangelo in VALLETTA, MALTA Diminutive though Clockwise from above left: Valletta; one of
CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT: VALLETTA2018; STUDIES FOR THE LIBYAN SIBYL (RECTO); STUDIES FOR THE LIBYAN SIBYL AND A SMALL SKETCH
New York City, visiting a 2018 European it may be, Valletta is set to attract some the Mets Michelangelo works; an Ottawa
Capital of Culture and being in Ottawa for major attention as a 2018 European Redblacks player hoists the Grey Cup.
two major sporting events are the top travel Capital of Culture, a title the elegant capi-
experiences chosen by Canadian Geographic tal of the Mediterranean island of Malta celebrations can by hosting two big sport-
Travel staff this fall and winter. owes partly to its turbulent history. ing events less than a month apart: the
Established in the 1560s, Valletta sits on 105th Grey Cup (Nov. 26) and an outdoor
MICHELANGELO AT THE MET, NEW a peninsula whose occupants have spoken NHL game between the hometown
YORK CITY Theres a reason why a multitude of languages as a revolving Senators and the Montreal Canadiens
Michelangelo was called the divine one door of invaders Phoenician, Roman, (Dec. 16), both at TD Place Stadium. The
by his peers; his mastery over various art Spanish and French among them spun former event is less a game than it is a
forms still captivates us today. Luckily, over the centuries, creating a cultural six-day party featuring plenty of face paint,
you dont need to fly to Rome to experi- palimpsest that earned the city UNESCO a street festival, tailgating and outland-
ence his work in person starting in World Heritage Site status in 1980. That ishly dressed fans before culminating in
November, a weekend trip to New York legacy will be on show throughout 2017 the championship game. The latter con-
City will suffice. There, the Metropolitan and 2018 via a host of music and film test, meanwhile, also marks the NHLs
Museum of Arts exhibit Michelangelo: festivals, dance performances, art exhib- centennial and will be the latest chapter
Divine Draftsman and Designer (Nov. 13, its, theatre productions, public talks and in a rivalry that began when the two teams
2017 to Feb. 12, 2018) features an the citys annual carnival. Do you need a met on the leagues opening night on
impressive range of pieces, including better excuse to soak up some sunshine Dec. 19, 1917. Sport doesnt get more
nearly 150 drawings, three marble sculp- in the Med? valletta2018.org quintessentially Canadian than this.
tures, his earliest paintings and numer- Sabrina Doyle Harry Wilson, senior editor
ous other masterpieces brought from
across the United States and Europe. THE GREY CUP & NHL100 CLASSIC, Tell us what destination is on your radar
Sounds divine to me. metmuseum.org OTTAWA The nations capital gets pretty this fall and winter via (@CanGeo) or
Joanne Pearce, editorial intern much the last kick at the sesquicentennial (fb.com/cangeo).
Images from the Canadian Geographic Photo Club 16-Month 2018 Calendar
16-Month 2018 Calendar
ONECITY
3 VENUES
1 . SIGHTS
2 . FA M I LY
IF THERE WERE such a thing as five-star resorts for kids, the Great Wolf
Lodge would fit the bill. There are 14 of these ultimate hotel-meets-
indoor waterpark mashups in North America, but just one Canadian
location, in Niagara Falls (left). True to its name, the resort plays up the
lodge theme with natural decor, from a grand faux-stone fireplace and
animated wildlife in the lobby (including wolves, bears and a big talking
tree) to rustic log furnishings in the rooms. Of course, the waterpark is
the real draw. It boasts nine waterslides (geared for a range of ages and
adrenaline rushes), a wave pool, a lazy river, a kiddie pool and slides,
TOP: CHRISTINE HESS/NIAGARA FALLS TOURISM; MIDDLE: AARON KYLIE/CAN GEO; BOTTOM: HOCO FUN BY THE FALLS
and more. If the water doesnt wear out your wee ones, theres a variety
of other kid-friendly activities on offer daily, from arts and crafts to a PJ
dance party. greatwolflodge.com/niagara
3 . FUN
KIDS OF ALL AGES cant help but find fun in the Clifton Hill area, the touristy
promenade near the centre of town, home to fun museums, waxworks and
arcades. Get a birds-eye view of the action (as well as the falls and the sur-
rounding area) from the Niagara SkyWheel (right), a 53.3-metre-high ferris
wheel with enclosed and heated eight-passenger cars about halfway up the
hill. Take selfies with your favourite celebs at Louis Tussauds Waxworks and
Movieland Wax Museum of the Stars, learn about the worlds weirdest and
wackiest at the Ripleys Believe It or Not and Guinness World Records muse-
ums, and test your fearlessness at The House of Frankenstein. Chocolate
lovers shouldnt miss Hersheys Chocolate World, a not-far-enough-to-burn-
calories walk around the corner on Falls Avenue that offers up packaged and fresh-
made treats from the famed candy maker. cliftonhill.com, ripleys.com/niagarafalls,
houseoffrankenstein.ca, hersheyschocolateworldniagarafalls.com
REGISTER BY
JANUARY 28, 2018
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CA N A DA S LA RGEST STU DE N T GE O GR AP H Y C O MP E T IT IO N
THE ONSET OF COLD AND SNOW shouldnt spell the end and the wild seas along the West Coast will drop your jaw. All
of road tripping for the coming months. The lines of motor- cold-weather travel takes is a little bit of extra planning and a
ists that would slow your roll through resort towns and readiness to brush with the unexpected, so check the long-
on the highways to cottage country in the summer may be term forecast, throw a well-stocked safety kit in the trunk, give
in hibernation, but the routes themselves from your winter tires a kick and set out on one of the seven spec-
Newfoundlands Viking Trail to the B.C.-Yukon border- tacular winter road trips featured here.
traversing Alaska Highway never quit.
But they are transformed. Rolling white Prairies become Did we miss your favourite Canadian winter drive? Let us know on
almost hypnotically beautiful, mountains are crusted in snow, (@CanGeo) or (fb.com/cangeo).
C A N A D I A N G E O G R A P H I C T R AV E L 23
Visitors snowshoe in Gros Morne National
Park in Newfoundland and Labrador.
0 50 km Bu
510 Carnt Quirpon
QUEBEC pe
LA
Roddickton-
PEN HERN
430
Port au Choix Bide Arm
SU
IN
NEWFOUNDLAND
T
OR AND LABRADOR
AT N
MONTREAL TO THE
EASTERN A skier gets some air at Owls Head
ski resort near Mansonville, Que.
TOWNSHIPS
QUEBEC
IT MIGHT BE a stretch to call it the
Powder Highway of the East. But set
out from Montreal on Autoroute 10 E, and
sooner than you can say black diamond
youve left behind flat farm fields and hit
enough contour lines to guarantee a good
day on the slopes. Consider the highway to
the Eastern Townships, a hill-studded
swath between the St. Lawrence River and
the U.S. border just east of the countrys
second-largest city, your season ticket or
weekend pass to the closest you might
get to reaching skiing Nirvana this side
of the Rockies. Route 241 and 139 drops you at the foot If the promise of speeding down the
Start your weekend by heading out of Mount Sutton. If youre the sporty slopes isnt enough to convince you to
right after office hours for a few Friday type, you slap fake mohair skins on make the trip, perhaps the regions
happy hours in the snow. At Bromont, your skis and make your way to the aprs-ski offerings will whet your appe-
only 50 minutes from Montreal, 99 of the summit on your own steam before tite. Some 60 per cent of Quebecs wines,
143 groomed runs are lit until midnight, dropping in to what some people argue including the provinces first chardon-
making it the resort with the biggest is the best glade skiing experience in nay, are made here. And of course, along
night skiing terrain in North America. It the country. with the wine comes food pairings from
gets even better on the hills Nuits For a more mellow ride, head a bit forward-thinking farmers and artisanal
Blanches, which rock n roll on several farther east to Mount Orford. Rated a bakers, butchers, cheese makers and
consecutive Saturday nights of the sea- good beginner mountain with more than chocolatiers, not to mention the most
son, when the lifts stay open until 2 a.m. half of its trails green or blue, it boasts inventive of beers at Ferme Brassicole
and the bars close at 3 because its the highest summit and some of the near Mount Orford, where the brew-
never too late for aprs-ski. best views in the region. And at master creates suds using ingredients
On Saturday, leave the party scene nearby Owls Head, where the top eleva- such as maple and strawberries, offering
behind and ease into nature. Meandering tion gives you a panorama of lakes and plenty of reasons to toss a coin as to who
between maple- and spruce-draped hills, 70 per cent of the runs are beginner in your party will be the designated driver.
hills, the half-hour drive south along or intermediate. Susan Nerberg
Saint- 137
Amable Acton Vale Richmond
20 Saint-
Laval Q U E B E C Windsor DISTANCE 93 kilometres to Bromont, 115
Hyacinthe 55
20
15
Longueuil Saint-Damase to Sutton, 128 to Orford, 144 to Mansonville
MONTRAL 139 Valcourt
40 Saint-Pie Roxton Pond (Owls Head)
Hudson 112
Marieville
Dorval rence Rive
r 10 112 Granby Sherbrooke DONT MISS Balnea, a thermal spa with
w
La Chteauguay Mont steam and dry saunas and hot tubs close to
.
Saint-Jean- Orford
St
Saint- 55 Massawippi
SOUNDTRACK Coeur de Pirate on the
ag
133
Alexandre Cowansville
m
Sutton 243
Mem
C A N A D I A N G E O G R A P H I C T R AV E L 25
Snow blankets the trees
along the Niagara River.
0 10 km
ONTARIO Falls kicks things off with a gala wine 401 407
QEW Oakville
dinner at the Fallsview Casino Resort O N TA R I O LAKE
403
6
CAN
Burlington
U.S
WHEN A HIGHWAY starts off (Jan. 12, 2018), Twenty Valley is home
.A.
5 ONTARIO
ADA
with more bumper views than to the artsy Winter WineFest (Jan. Hamilton
Niagara-on-the-Lake
escarpment vistas, it may require a few 12-14, 2018) in Jordan Village, and 403
NIA QEW St. Catharines
deep-breath ohms to get you on your Niagara-on-the-Lake takes the party out- GAR Jordan
A
ESCAR NEW
PMENT
way. But a wintertime journey from side with its long-running Icewine Caledonia Smithville Niagara YORK
Falls
Toronto to the Niagara region is no less Festival (Jan. 19 to Jan. 28). 6
Welland
worthy of the road-trip moniker: the You can experience notable chefs and 3
3
QEW
cosy car, the playlist, the getaway! VQA icewines in formal-wear finery, but Dunnville Port Colborne
3
As you follow the QEW and the urban you can also watch a raucous barrel roll-
spread of the Greater Toronto Area toward ing competition or join an underground
the industrial skyline of Hamilton and the wine cave after-party. A Niagara Icewine
Burlington Skyway bridge, the relief of the Festival Discovery Pass also allows you to
regional roads and more intimate Lake pick and choose wine-and-culinary
DISTANCE 130 kilometres
Ontario moments are not far off. matchups at participating wineries over
Plus, country calm awaits: local din- three weekends. And its here, while trav- DONT MISS Slipping on your mittens
and savouring icewine in a glass carved
ners with wine or craft beer pairings, elling country roads past frozen fields
from ice at Niagara-on-the-Lakes Sparkle
cosy inns with fireplaces and seasonal toward warmly-lit converted barns or and Ice gala.
events from the Shaw Festivals tasting rooms with grand vistas of the
SOUNDTRACK Sample southern
A Christmas Carol (December) to the Niagara Escarpment, that youll get the Ontario talent such as Whitehorse and the
Niagara Falls Winter Festival of Lights reward that only the very best road trips Strumbellas, or try some Royal Wood, a
(Nov. 18, 2017, to Jan. 31, 2018). can offer: your next stop unknown but no singer-songwriter-sommelier-in-training.
The Niagara Peninsulas big cold- less anticipated.
weather draw, however, is the icewine Karan Smith
SASKATOON TO
PRINCE ALBERT
NATIONAL PARK
SASKATCHEWAN
YOU ARENT ALONE if you think
the snow-dusted hay bales found
along the wide-open Saskatchewan prai-
rie in winter resemble giant Frosted
Mini-Wheats. But these breakfast-
cereal-confection look-alikes are just part
of the appeal of driving a route that offers
a glimpse of First Nations and Mtis his-
tory, Francophone farming communities
and a national park, not to mention the Cross-country skiing at Elk Ridge Resort
experience of seeing the seemingly endless outside Prince Albert National Park.
prairiescape metamorphose into an entic-
ing playground of snow-laden grasslands,
rolling aspen parkland and boreal forest
dotted with frozen lakes. When Highway 225 meets Highway
Start your journey just outside 782, head east along the former route,
Saskatoon at Wanuskewin Heritage Park, making for the Francophone farming com-
a meeting place for First Nations people for munity of St. Isidore-de-Bellevue, where
more than 6,000 years. The parks enrich- you can sample a traditional meat pie at the PRINCE ALBERT
55 Crean
ing programming includes traditional TLC Cafe. Lake
Indigenous games, arts and crafts, exhibi- From there, its north on Highway 2 to Waskesiu Waskesiu Lake
tions and tipi construction. the city of Prince Albert, the gateway to Lake
Continuing north on Highway 11, a.k.a. Prince Albert National Park. Once inside NATIONAL PARK 263
Bodmin
the Louis Riel Trail, detour east onto the park, watch for wildlife (Narrows Road,
LEFT: AL HILLMAN/NIAGARA FALLS TOURISM; RIGHT: TOURISM SASKATCHEWAN/GREG HUSZAR PHOTOGRAPHY
Highway 312 at Rosthern and cross the on the western side of Waskesiu Lake, is a 2
Gabriel Dumont Bridge, which spans the prime spot for sightings) such as elk, fox
South Saskatchewan River, and enter the and otters. You might also see wildlife 55
240
Batoche region. Highway 225 will lead you while snowshoeing around the hamlet of Spruce Home
2
north to Batoche National Historic Site, Waskesiu Lakes beach area or cross-country Shell Lake 3
where a small force under the command skiing the groomed pathways along Fisher 12 Shellbrook Prince Albert
3
of Mtis leaders Riel and Dumont lost the Trail (loops of 7.2 and 8.4 kilometres) or S A S K AT C H E W A N
11
Battle of Batoche in 1885. Crean Lake (19 kilometres return). Birch Hills
If this all sounds a tad too placid for 782
2
you, then get a major adrenaline boost kite Blaine Batoche National
40 Historic Site 225
Lake St. Isidore-
skiing or kite boarding on Waskesiu Lake, de-Bellevue
n River
Hafford 225
Rosthern
where Saskatchewans notoriously fierce 312 Wakaw
41
DISTANCE 230 kilometres 12
e wa
11
be the ultimate Saskatchewan roadside
the Elk Ridge Resort (off Highway 264 and
h
Langham
ut
27
Rosthern, where highways 11 and 312 meet. just outside the parks boundary) for din- 16 Wanuskewin
Heritage Park 2
ner at the Fireside Dining Room and 41
SOUNDTRACK Keep warm with the Saskatoon Peterson
smooth sounds of Saskatoons very own Terrace, where the elk feature of the day 14 Asquith
5
The Sheepdogs. will give you all the fuel you need for the Elstow
Clavet
gorgeous drive ahead. 11
Plunkett
Jenn Smith-Nelson
C A N A D I A N G E O G R A P H I C T R AV E L 27
A roadside vista of Rocky Mountain peaks
rising above Waterton Lakes National
Parks namesake lake.
1
CALGARY
22
1
Black 24
Diamond
Turner Valley
High River
40 Longview
23
Bar U Ranch 2
National
CALGARY TO a new generation of western artists. Historic Site
A L B E R TA
WATERTON LAKES
22
Farther down the road, Canadian folk- Elkford Claresholm
music legend Ian Tyson lives in 520
23
dusted ranches and long views of the great songwriting. BRITISH WATERTON 2
LEFT: MARILEE CAHOON/CAN GEO PHOTO CLUB; RIGHT: ERICA ELLEFSEN/CAN GEO PHOTO CLUB
LAKES N.P. Cardston
Rockies, buried deep in powder. Highway Highway 22 merges into Highway 3 COLUMBIA
CANADA
22, a.k.a. the Cowboy Trail, traces the east- and peels away from the Rockies to U.S.A.
ern edge of the foothills through rolling, Pincher Creek, where the winter Chinook GLACIER N.P.
open country. Compared with the prov- winds funnel through the Oldman and M O N TA N A
inces iconic 232-kilometre Icefields Castle river valleys. A 60-kilometre drive
Parkway from Jasper to Banff, the road-trip south on Highway 6 takes you into
vibe from Calgary to Waterton Lakes is Waterton Lakes National Parks labyrinth
intimate and off the beaten track with of mountains. The so-called Crown of the
Continent makes an alpine connection DISTANCE 312 kilometres
far less traffic.
The 312-kilometre journey begins on with Montanas Glacier National Park. DONT MISS Located near Waterton
the Trans-Canada Highway, westbound The quaint village of Waterton is the village, Cameron Falls is the quintessential
Waterton Lakes photo op; its even better
from Calgary. Exit south on Highway 22 gateway to a weekend of outdoor adven-
when its sheathed in ice.
and promptly dip into sprawling ranch ture. Stay at Waterton Lakes Lodge
SOUNDTRACK Live at Longview by Ian
lands. The distinctly Prairie towns of Resort, which offers free snowshoe and
Tyson. Your journey through cowboy coun-
Turner Valley and Black Diamond owe ski rentals, and hit the scenic Akamina try wouldnt be complete without listening
their existence to oil and coal, respec- Parkway, which affords access to two to this classic live album.
tively. Today, their broad, old-fashioned cross-country ski trails.
main streets have been reinvigorated by Conor Mihell
THE ISLAND
ROUTES Rathtrevor Beach Provincial Park
The 19A passes small communities and
Telegraph Cove
Drive past Campbell River and detour via
VANCOUVER Salish Sea bays. Stop at Rathtrevors Beaver Cove Road to reach this scene-
ISLAND, BRITISH driftwood-studded sands for beachcomb-
ing and skedaddling sea otter sightings.
stealing charmer, where the brightly
painted old buildings present the perfect
COLUMBIA photo op.
Morningstar Farm, Parksville
DRIVING THE EAST COAST of Sidestep from the highway to visit this Alert Bay
Vancouver Island from Nanaimo to farm, home to the Little Qualicum Save your memory card for equally
Port Hardy on Highways 19 and 19A can Cheeseworks. They serve up generous beguiling Alert Bay, a short ferry ride
take just four hours. But whats the rush in samples (try the Bleu Claire) and also sell away from Port McNeill. Its boardwalk
the off-season, when heritage hamlets, delectable, velvety blackberry wine from shacks and striking totems are joined by
locavore gems and surf-battered beaches the on-site Mooberry Winery. bald eagles whirling overhead.
beckon in Canadas mildest winter region?
Cumberland Port Hardy
Nanaimo If you prefer beer over blackberry wine, Explore the norths main town, then
Begin your journey in the islands har- stop in at the Cumberland Brewing make for Cape Scott Provincial Park. Its
bourfront second city, where the book- Company for a pint. The old villages hip forest-fringed San Josef Bay beach is a
stores, coffee shops, music stores and art storefronts invite further perusal, but dramatic, wave-whipped reminder of the
galleries lining Commercial Street invite skiing at Mount Washington is just 30 raw beauty of winter travel.
leisurely exploration. minutes away. John Lee
Cape Scott
Provincial Park Port Hardy
BRITISH
Port McNeill
DISTANCE 155 kilometres from
19
Nanaimo to Campbell River, 230 from
COLUMBIA
VA
Campbell River
waterfront village studded with incredible
U
8 Powell River 99
V
R
E
2
19 101 photo opportunities.
Courtenay Squamish
PACIFIC SOUNDTRACK The albums Mememe
IS Cumberland
LA 101
or Dream Water Rain Music, both by
OCEAN ND 19A
Rathtrevor Beach Corwin Fox, a roots-folk singer-songwriter
Parksville Provincial Park
19
who lives in Cumberland, B.C.
0 60 km Port Alberni VANCOUVER
4 Nanaimo
Tofino
C A N A D I A N G E O G R A P H I C T R AV E L 29
A view from the Alaska Highway, which runs
northwest from Fort Nelson, B.C., to Alaska.
Wrigley
2
IA
Teslin
ALASKA HIGHWAY
S
7 1 Watson Lake
MO
3 2
UN
BRITISH 37
NS
Haines Fort
COLUMBIA, YUKON, PACIFIC
COLUMBIA
97 Nelson
OCEAN A L A S K A
ALASKA JUNEAU Dease Lake
0 150 km
THE BEST REASON to travel the dark perdition for good reason: we dont Winter might be the off-season on the
Alaska Highway in winter is the want company. Its nothing personal! And Alaska Highway, and that makes it all the
fact that few people do. Other than the if you do come to northern British better for a road trip. Just promise youll
occasional transport truck lugging fresh Columbia, Yukon or Alaska, rest assured tell everyone how frigid and desolate a
milk and vegetables to the Yukon and that northerners are a welcoming bunch, drive it was when you return home.
Alaska, or locals commuting between whatever the season. We just selfishly pre- Kate Harris
towns, traffic is sparse on this road from fer the Liard Hot Springs to ourselves on a
December through March, unless you 30 C night, when steam rising into the
count the moose. Gone are the oversized sky seems the source of the aurora borea- DISTANCE 1,395 kilometres
RVs that trawl the highway from Fort lis. Wed rather not elbow through crowds DONT MISS Detouring off the Alaska
Nelson to Beaver Creek all summer. in Kluane National Park to watch herds of Highway for a hundred spectacular kilo-
Closed are the tourist traps selling over- white-wooled Dall sheep blend into the metres to Atlin, B.C., a quirky, artistic out-
post on the edge of the Juneau Icefield.
priced cinnamon buns along the way. snow, leaving only their dark curled horns
ANTON ROGOZIN/SHUTTERSTOCK
Whats left is a world of wind, ice, spruce, visible on the slopes, like parings of wood SOUNDTRACK Yukon-born Declan
ODonovans latest album, Broken Sky,
and stars so many youll suspect youve adrift on the wind. We want to watch the
features piano-driven music as moody,
detoured into the Milky Way. low-angled sun throw gorgeous amber lyrical and expansive as the land in which
Ill let you in on a secret. Those who live light over the Saint Elias Mountains, the this singer-songwriter was raised.
in the North generally dont dissuade peo- highest range in Canada, in a silence so
ple of the notion that winter here is a cold total you can hear time itself crack.
great
big
Floor Maps tell
stories
9 WORD ON
Word on the THE STRE
Street card ET
OUTBURST
SHOW DATE
FEATURED
PROVINCE
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QUESTION ORY(IES)
PART A: THIS
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region*
province(s
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5 regions: Canada
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Yukon, North nizations
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Alberta, ories, Nuna
The Atlantic Saskatchew
Newfound an, Manitoba vut
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PART B: STRE Edward Island Centr
(Note: ethno ETERS , Nova Scoti al Ontario, bia
cultural, lingui a, New Brunswick Queb ec
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R = regional
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PART C: WHO
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A
NTARCTICA HAS A WAY OF making you ask, in
awe, How are we here? but also sometimes,
Should we be here? It frequently reminds you
that, unlike the oversized mammals and teeming bird colo-
nies that thrive in its ice-clogged waters and on its barren
ARGENTINA
0 250 km
ti
metres was recorded in the 1980s). That clarity is a boon to We d d e l l
rc
ta
those on the lookout for marine mammals. And its on the seas Sea
An
coast that some passengers took the opportunity to sleep out
on the ice, digging long, shallow holes to fit themselves and
their sleeping bags before falling asleep to the creaking of ice
floes and icebergs cracking and calving in the distance. At last, however, Vavilov emerged near the terra firma of
As famed polar explorer Ernest Shackleton and his men the Falkland Islands specifically the sandy neck of north-
could attest having lost their ship Endurance to Weddell ice westerly Saunders Island. After swirling storms, a golden
in 1916 and sheltering on windswept Elephant Island for sunrise hike along coastlines crowded with Magellanic, gen-
months storms materialize here with little notice. After too, king and southern rockhopper penguins felt to passen-
visiting the explorers historic makeshift refuge, Vavilov gers a bit like the proverbial other side.
turned north into a building grey, and for four days and nights
negotiated the famously rough Drake Passage. Despite the
fact that its more than 800 kilometres wide, its still the nar-
rowest stretch of water between Antarctica and any other
continent. The Antarctic Circumpolar Current barrels through
the passage unhindered, from Pacific to Atlantic, as it encir-
cles the southernmost continent, whipping up heavy winds,
sudden squalls and heaving swells.
CANADIAN GEOGRAPHIC 35
Clockwise from top left: One Ocean Voyager encountered
wind gusts near 70 knots and 10-metre waves while crossing
the Drake Passage; humpack whales feast on krill at Fournier
Bay; sunrise at Rong Island; gentoo pengiuns bask at dawn
on Saunders Island in the Falkland Islands.
CANADIAN GEOGRAPHIC 37
A N TA R C T I C A
energyiq.canadiangeographic.ca/learning_centre/Survey
40 CANADIAN GEOGRAPHIC TRAVEL WINTER 2017-2018
MAKING
TRACKS
in Mauricie
Experiencing the authentic
winter heart of Quebec, where
the snow sets the pace
BY ALEXANDRA POPE
CANADIAN GEOGRAPHIC 41
SLUG TK
T
THE SNOWMOBILE is stuck in the snow. Thibault, who is well versed in the history of the local fur trade
Ive arrived at the Pourvoirie du Lac Blanc, a rustic resort and Franco-Indigenous relations.
village in Quebecs Mauricie region, about two hours northeast But parked on the frozen shore of Lac Blanc in front of the
of Montreal, during one of those Jekyll-and-Hyde weeks of late chalet are dozens of the B12s modern descendants. Some of
winter 5 C and rain one day, -11 C and bluebird skies the the snowmobiles are rentals belonging to the resort, but many
PREVIOUS SPREAD: T. MAURICIE-M. JULIEN. THIS SPREAD, LEFT: MAURICIE-O. CROTEAU; RIGHT: AUBERGE DU LAC TAUREAU;
next and the weight of the 12-seat Bombardier snowmobile belong to guests. And not all of those guests are out-of-towners
Im a passenger on has proven too much for the increasingly staying overnight in the Pourvoiries private lakeside cottages;
unstable snowpack. Built in 1942 to haul military personnel some are locals from nearby Saint-Alexis-des-Monts, warming
and equipment, it doesnt exactly turn on a dime, and the right up with a bowl of chowder after a days ride or a meal of
ski is firmly embedded in a soft rut of snow at the side of the fresh-caught speckled trout.
winding wooded trail. Here, its completely acceptable to wear your snow pants and
Guide Pierre Thibault shifts between drive and reverse in boots to dine. The television in the bar plays extreme snow-
a futile attempt to regain traction, but the rut only deepens. mobiling videos on a loop. The Wi-Fi is unreliable (perhaps by
Finally, he radios back to the chalet for help, and as we wait design). Everything is geared toward inspiring visitors to take
for rescue, I cant help but think that in a region that full advantage of the few short weeks from January to March
bills itself as authentic Quebec, it doesnt get more real when Mauricies 17,500 lakes become navigable by ski, snow-
than this. shoe, sled and snowmobile.
After all, it was the vagaries of Quebecs winter weather that
motivated Joseph-Armand Bombardier to perfect his invention.
His young son died of an acute infection in the winter of 1934
because the family could not reach the hospital in time. When
he brought his seven-seat snowmobile to market three years THIS SPARSELY POPULATED, 35,000-square-kilometre area
MAP: CHRIS BRACKLEY/CAN GEO
later, the first buyers were doctors, ambulance drivers and of forested hills dotted with lakes and bisected by the Saint-
priests serving rural areas. Maurice River was once prime pulp and paper territory. As I sit
The Pourvoiries later model, a B12, is more of a curiosity in the bar sipping blonde ale brewed locally in Saint-Alexis,
than a practical means of winter transportation these days. Gaston Pellerin, owner of the Pourvoirie du Lac Blanc, tells me
Guests can book a half-hour interpretive tour in the snow- of his unlikely career trajectory from lumberjack to broker of
mobile, which moves with all the grace of an Abrams tank, with authentic Qubcois experiences.
Like his father and grandfather before him, Pellerin started Road 0 25 km
working in the forestry sector as a teenager, but when an indus- Snowmobiling trails
Trans-Quebec
try downturn in the early 1990s left him out of work at the age Regional
of 37, he went to his father with an ambitious plan to transform Local
La Mauricie
National Park
the familys 2,000-hectare lakeside property into an all-season Auberge du
vacation resort. Lac Taureau
the summer to fish and hunt. In fact, pourvoirie means outfitter; Saint-Alexis-
des-Monts
today there are 51 in the Mauricie region alone, offering wildlife QUEBEC Pourvoirie
encounters in varying degrees of luxury. du Lac Blanc
Enlarged TROIS-
When we started, it was difficult, Pellerin admits. area RIVIRES
CANADIAN GEOGRAPHIC 43
THE LOG BUILDINGS of the Auberge du Lac Taureau glow
invitingly in the dusk, and the eponymous lakes snow-covered
surface is criss-crossed by snowmobile tracks. Like the
Pourvoirie du Lac Blanc, the Auberge du Lac Taureau is both a
snowmobiling hot spot and an entrepreneurial success story.
Owner Stphane Lord purchased the property with its rustic
inn at the southwestern end of the lake at Saint-Michel-des-
Saints in 2015. At the time, it was bankrupt, and had been for
sale for nearly three years. Under the stewardship of Lord and
business partner Bernard Hamel, its been transformed into a
sophisticated, family-friendly retreat.
It offers fine dining, a pool and spa, and a common room
with a jaw-dropping timbered cathedral ceiling, conveniently
located next to the bar so you can curl up by the wood stove
with a coffee spiked with maple whisky and play a board
game, read or just watch the snow fall outside the floor-to-
ceiling windows.
The auberge also offers a full roster of outdoor activities
including snowshoeing, dogsledding, interpretive walks, ice
fishing, and, of course, snowmobiling.
THIS PAGE, TOP: ALEXANDRA POPE/CAN GEO; BOTTOM: AUBERGE DU LAC TAUREAU.
OPPOSITE PAGE: T. MAURICIE-O. CROTEAU
CANADIAN GEOGRAPHIC 45
TENBEST
best ice fisheries, especially around the trophy-sized fish) and one location pops tion? Let us know on (@CanGeo) or
city of Thunder Bay and the town of up repeatedly: Athapapuskow. Located (fb.com/cangeo).
TALLURUTIUP IMANGA
What is Talluruptiup Imanga?
In the future, it will be Canadas largest marine conservation area, located offshore Nunavut.
Working together has sustained people of the North for generations. The designation of this
diverse marine area is a testament to that spirit of collaboration.
Today we congratulate the Qikiqtani Inuit Association, the Governments of Canada and Nunavut,
and all organizations that contributed to the recently announced final boundary agreement for
the area. Shells contribution of 860,000 hectares of offshore rights to the Nature Conservancy
of Canada last year helped enable conservation of this wider marine protected area.
Vehicle shown solely for purposes of illustration, and may not be equipped exactly as shown. Navigation system is only available on select trim levels. See Subaru.ca for more details.