2017 in Canada, Eh?

1/5/2017

Banff National Park in Alberta. Photo credit: Travelinnate.com

Let's face it. A lot of people (in the U.S. at least) have joked about, or maybe seriously considered, relocating to Canada lately, even crashing their immigration website after the U.S. presidential election in November. With Canada being the first nation to adopt a multiculturalism policy in the 1970s, it doesn't seem to be a bad option if you're seeking some sense of tolerance and celebration of diversity. But, even if you decide not to move, you should definitely visit as the country has more to offer in 2017 than you might be aware.

Canada has made its way onto several 2017 travel lists, including Travel & Leisure, Bloomberg, the New York Times, Conde Nast Traveler, Orbitz and National Geographic. The reason? The Great White North is celebrating its 150th anniversary as a nation independent from British rule as of July 1, 1867, and inviting everyone to a yearlong party. Several festivities are planned in the capital city of Ottawa and extra special activities will happen in Montreal as it also celebrates its 375th birthday.

However, one of the best perks of traveling to the northernmost North American country is that Parks Canada is offering free, unlimited access to any of the country's national parks, historic sites, and marine conservation areas from coast-to-coast for the entire year with its 2017 Discovery Pass. There are over 40 national parks and national park reserves (areas intended to become national parks, pending settlement of native land claims), as well as 3 national marine conservation areas. In addition, Canada boasts 976 national historic sites, 171 of which are managed by Parks Canada while the rest are administered or owned by other government or private entities.

It took me all of 3 minutes to order my pass on their website. All you need is a mailing address, no credit card required, and Parks Canada will ship your order within 3 business days using 1st class shipping! Talk about first class treatment before you even step foot in the country. You can also opt to pick up your 2017 Discovery Pass at your destination -- the recommended choice if you are traveling within 3 weeks of your pass/permit request.

Other helpful pass information:

Order by phone by calling 1-888-773-8888 in North America, or 1-819-420-9486 for international callers. The Parks Canada National Information Service is open 7 days/week from 10:00 to 18:00 EDT.
You can also get the Discovery Pass upon arrival at any Parks Canada location, though ordering it ahead of time will expedite park entry.
The pass is valid for everyone arriving in the same vehicle at a national park, or arriving together at a marine conservation area or historic site.
The pass should be shown to the park entrance attendant and then hung from the rear view mirror of the vehicle or placed on the front driver side dashboard.

But with so many parks and sites to visit, how do you begin to choose? There are comprehensive lists of the national parks and marine conservation areas, as well as the historic sites, but National Geographic puts Banff National Park in Alberta on its 2017 Travel List for the pristine wilderness. Canada's first national park is an extensive striking juxtaposition of the snowy peaks of the Canadian Rockies, green meadows and valleys, stunning waterfalls, cold glaciers and calm turquoise lakes. It offers incredible outdoor activities, such as mountain biking (best from May to October), hiking (best July to September), and winter sports (best November to May). There are also calmer activities such as horseback riding and kayaking, or you can take advantage of the numerous hot springs to relax after a long day of activity.

Some other options:

Grasslands National Park in Saskatchewan is one of the world's largest dark sky reserves. With practically zero light pollution, this 200-square mile prairieland is one of the best places for unadulterated stargazing and perfecting your nighttime photography skills;
To go under the sea, head to Ontario where you can visit Fathom Five National Marine Park. Canada's first (mostly) underwater national park includes 22 shipwrecks and 3 historic lighthouses across 22 islands. The scuba diving here is eerily beautiful;
While Niagara Falls is the most popular, Canada has over 1700 waterfalls to explore, several of which are in national parks or park reserves. Pissing Mare Falls in Gros Morne National Park (Newfoundland) was named in true Viking fashion. Virginia Falls in Nahanni National Park Reserve (Northwest Territories) is twice the height of Niagara with about the same water volume passing over the edge as Victoria Falls; however, due to its remoteness, only about 1000 people per year witness its greatness. Takakkaw Falls in Yoho National Park (British Columbia) is the country's 2nd highest waterfall and after a steep drive, only a short hike (with a wheelchair accessible path!) from the parking lot. Jasper National Park (Alberta) offers exciting summer views of stunning waterfalls such as Athabasca Falls and ice climbing over frozen waterfalls and rock walls in Maligne Canyon in the winter.
For the adventurous and those who like unexplored territory, head north to Auyuittuq National Park in Nunavut, where most of the terrain is made up of rock and ice. The park lies mainly within the Arctic Circle where the midnight sun rules the land from mid-July to September and remains mostly untouched by humans; and
For those not wanting to leave the city too far behind, head to Rouge National Urban Park in Ontario, home to a rich and diverse mix of natural, cultural and agricultural landscapes and biodiversity. It is the country's first national urban park. With working farms, a campground, marshlands, hiking opportunities, beaches, and some of Canada's oldest indigenous sites, there's plenty to keep you busy!

In addition to the parks,

Afar Magazine ranks eating your way around Prince Edward Island -- home to the Culinary Institute of Canada -- one of the must-dos in 2017, especially if you go in September during its Fall Flavours Festival;
Bloomberg picks Toronto as the Canadian city to explore this year with its flourishing food scene, new green spaces and repurposing initiatives (think the High Line in New York but Canadian-style), homegrown creative energy, and the unveiling of the Museum of Contemporary Art's expanded location;
Travel & Leisure recommends both Montreal for its 375th birthday activities and Tofino, British Columbia, as places to visit in 2017. Tofino is popular for its wild-caught food and, if you can stand the water temps, you can enjoy the year-round swells;
Time Magazine features skiing in Quebec as the best travel activity for February 2017;
Conde Nast Traveler suggests relaxing on the Rocky Mountaineer, a train from Vancouver to Jasper without Wi-Fi, to enjoy the scenery and much needed tech detox; or
Simply take advantage of AirCanada's deal for free stopovers in Toronto for up to 7 days on your way to Europe or Asia.

If all else fails, take advantage of the stronge U.S. dollar against the Canadian dollar, get some ice wine, Canadian bacon and/or maple syrup, go to an ice hockey game, and maybe you'll run into Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.