Summer in the great north
Posted 22 May, 2019
Ben Groundwater
High mountain peaks covered in snow, ski resorts and ice-skating rinks. Think Canada and Alaska and your mind will probably conjure up images of a winter wonderland. But there’s far more to the great northern lands than what’s on offer.
Canoe in Wells Gray Provincial Park
This is the perfect family experience: a mix of Huck Finn adventure and some of the world’s most beautiful scenery. The best way to see Wells Gray Provincial Park is by canoe. Pack a tent and supplies and paddle out onto glassy Murtle Lake in central British Columbia (BC). Out on the water, you’re surrounded by mountain peaks with cedar forests hugging the shoreline. Ospreys fly overhead while fish can be spotted in the lake below. Rest your oars for a moment and listen – you could hear a pin drop. That’s how quiet it is here.
Hike in Newfoundland and Labrador
The East Coast Trail is a whopping 540km pathway through Newfoundland and Labrador, offering an absolute feast of stunning scenery. Most people come here for the rugged coastlines and the cliffs that tower over deep, sparkling fjords. However, there’s so much more to see, such as whales, seabirds, caribou, lighthouses and abandoned towns. If you’re lucky, you might even encounter a floating iceberg.
Ride the Rocky Mountaineer
No experience captures the majesty of Canada’s Rocky Mountains like the Rocky Mountaineer; it’s the only journey that allows you to appreciate the sheer mass of this alpine range in such luxury. You’ll make your way by train from Vancouver into the mountains, passing high-altitude lakes, rolling through mountain passes and catching sight of native wildlife. But the real drawcards of the Rocky Mountaineer are its luxurious carriages, panoramic windows, great food and five-star service.
Cruise from Canada to Alaska
The spectacular coastlines of Canada and Alaska are best experienced by ship. There’s no other way to get into the small inlets and bays; no chance to witness the wild shores of this beautiful part of the world unless you approach them by sea. Call into outposts such as Juneau and Skagway and learn about their Indigenous culture and heritage, witness glacial calving in the world heritage-listed Glacier Bay National Park, and see the fjords and tiny islands scattered along the Inside Passage.
Fish for salmon on the Kenai River
For keen anglers, Alaska is paradise. It’s as good as it gets. There’s the chance here to go after some of the world’s most prized catches, from steelhead salmon to northern pike to rainbow trout – fish that will test your skills and your stamina. However, the main prize is the Chinook, or king salmon, and the best spot to catch one is at the famed Kenai River, near Anchorage. It’s an easily accessible spot that should be on every fisherman’s bucket list.
