Tegan - Canada Holiday Expert

Where I have visited: 

Canada - Toronto, Quebec City, Montreal, Ottawa, Via Rail (VIA Rail Toronto to Vanouver 4 night journey), Jasper, Banff, Kamloops, Vancouver, Victoria, Ucelet, Tofino, Campbell River, Sunshine Coast, Big White, Kelowna, Nelson, Red Mountain, Calgary Stampede, Banff, Lake Louise, Penticton.

Alaska – Anchorage, ‘North Pole’, Fairbanks, Denali Highway, Denali National Park, Talkeetna, Kenai Penisula (Homer, Portage, Seward), Whittier, Alaska Cruise (Glacier Bay, Skagway, Juneau, Ketchikan, Inside Passage)
 

Favourite place: 
Nelson Alberta, a small town of the beaten track, this picturesque gem is the real Canada. An environmentally conscious, community focused village, Nelson looks like a real gingerbread town made for a fairy-tale. It boasts great mountains, a myriad of gorgeous hikes for any fitness level and true double denim Canadian hospitality. 

Favourite attractions: 
Whale Watching – A zodiac adventure to see the orcas, seals and surprise humpback whales. 
 

Favourite restaurants: 
Vancouver BC. – Dinesty Dumpling House – If you’ve never had soup dumplings before, this place is about to change your life, these tiny parcels of heavenly deliciousness are not to be missed.
Kelowna BC.  - BNA Brewing Co.  - Hands down my favourite watering hole in the world. Some of the best food I’ve ever eaten, locally sourced produce served in a funky brewery setting… think Canadian retro ecliptic warehouse chic. Oh and they have built a Bowling alley... in the restaurant… 
Toronto ON – Dimmi Bar and Trattoria – Right in the heart of Yorkville, one of Toronto’s most affluent areas, enjoy truly fantastic, authentic Italian food and wine - with a view. This vibrant area boasts some of the best people watching in the city.
Montreal QB – Shwartz’s Deli – Kitschy and a little bit of a tourist trap but you can’t go to Montreal and not try the original Montreal smoked meat. An old school diner style restaurant still on its original premises. There’s a line out the door for a reason.
Quebec City QB – Anywhere – Quebec City is the birthplace of Poutine - the true genius that is chips, cheese curds and gravy. It doesn’t matter where you are, just order it and enjoy the tasty, squeaky ride.

Top tip:
If you like Bloody Mary’s, the national drink of Canada (other than a scalding cup of Timmy’s filter coffee) is the Caeser. It’s made with Clamato juice, which is just like tomato juice except it has clam juice in it. Sounds kind of terrible but I promise you its absolute perfection. Keep an eye out for crazy garnishes, including but not limited to pickles, an entire chicken and waffle dinner, deep fried mac and cheese balls, tiny burgers… sometimes all of the above.

Things to look out for: 
Tipping!! The tipping culture in the North American continent is a little different from our own. Taking time to familiarise yourself with the local customs, such as tipping, will endear you to the locals.

Greatest memory:
My trans Canada VIA rail journey: Toronto to Vancouver by rail. Wow. What a country. The gradual change of landscape as you traverse the truly awe-inspiring scale of Canada is the most incredible experience - golden maple leaves, endless rolling plains, jagged peaks, otherworldly lakes, towering mountains and secret waterfalls. 4 days of relaxed viewing pleasure, 4 nights being rocked to sleep by the gentle lull of the tracks, and then there is the food… you can dine on gourmet 3 course meals while you watch the world fall away behind you.