Dreamscapes Travel & Lifestyle Magazine
Issue link: http://read.dreamscapes.ca/i/679293
TOFINO GETAWAY British Columbia On Canada's westernmost coast, base yourself in the village of Tofino where you can explore wilderness in this unusually temperate climate on the Pacific Ocean. Spring arrives by March bringing conditions so mild and humid that most of the woodlands are a spectac- ular rainforest draped in lush oversized vegetation, which ranges from carpets of ferns to the famous Sitka spruce. Still, visitors love the coastal winds, especially the storm-watch hobbyists and the hardy surfers who flock to miles of deserted, sandy beaches. Outdoor sensations include beachcombing, whale watching, sea kayaking, hiking trails and hot springs. tourismtofino.com SPRING/SUMMER 2016 DREAMSCAPES 57 LEFT CENTRE: Embark on a "tundra buggy tour" to view polar bears near Churchill, Manitoba. Ward Kennan/Photolibrary TOP: Two children fly kites in Waterton Lakes National Park in southwest Alberta. Travel Alberta/Sabrina Hill ABOVE: Take in the majestic view from the top of Cox Bay in Tofino. Sander Jain THE BRUCE TRAIL | Ontario Did you know that due to thousands of eco-conscious volunteers, donors and municipal leaders, trekkers are now unencumbered when exploring this 894-kilometre trail from Niagara Falls to Tobermory? We are also recipients of an ecological gift. Specific milestones of the past 450 million years point to a tropical sea subsiding and to glaciers carving out the Niagara Escarpment—all of it fed by rushing rivers, lakes and waterfalls. Even if you spend just a couple of hours on this sanctuary-like trail of living creatures, the combina- tion of fresh air and activity will make it a very good day. As many as eight mil- lion Canadians live within an hour's drive from an entry point of the Bruce Trail. Outdoor sensations include day walks, wetlands, botany, birding, boating, cycling, fishing, kite surfing and mountain biking. brucetrail.org DS CHURCHILL BEARS & BELUGAS | Manitoba On a remote southwestern shore of Hudson Bay, the quiet town of Churchill is a rock star for outdoor enthusiasts, both in summer and winter. Since there are no paved roads into town, travellers usually arrive by train, plane or on board a hardy northern vessel. In summer, take short boat excursions to view countless beluga whales lingering in the sun- shine. As winter takes hold, jump onto a "tundra buggy tour" to watch in safety as hundreds of polar bears, hungry for ringed seals, migrate past you and out to ice floes on the bay. Did you know Churchill has a polar bear jail? Rangers often apprehend "naughty bears" who threaten the community and transport those culprits to jail until they are humanely and safely set free. Outdoor sensations include beachcombing, botany, hawks and falcons, the northern lights and diving with beluga whales. everythingchurchill.com. WATERTON LAKES NATIONAL PARK | Alberta Even for nature buffs this might be an embarrassment of riches. Here at the southwest corner of Alberta—where the chinook winds, the Great Plains and the Rocky Mountains meet—these land- scapes of exceptional biodiversity seem never-ending. To the west of Waterton Lakes is British Columbia with its Akamina-Kishinena Provincial Park and Flathead Provincial Forest; to the south are Montana and Glacier National Park; and to the north are Bow-Crow Forest, Cardston and Pincher Creek. It is in Waterton Lakes National Park, however, that several ecological regions overlap creating a rare north-south wildlife corridor. This focal point gives eco-sen- sitive visitors an excellent viewing opportunity among migrant birds, rep- tiles and amphibians. And it also underscores the caution required in the territory of wolf, coyote, cougar and grizzly bear. Fire, intermittently over thousands of years, is largely credited for the abundant health of the soil, forests, plants and wildlife. Outdoor sensations include hiking, biking, canoeing, horseback riding, fishing and golf. pc.gc.ca/pn-np/ab/waterton/index.aspx