NATURE LOVERS + CANADA'S NIAGRA FALLS

Niagara Falls is certainly not the longest waterfall in the world, but it is probably the most famous one. Similar to the Iguassu Falls that border Brazil and Argentina, Niagara Falls also sits on the border of two countries, namely the United States and Canada.

VACATION IDEAS FOR SNOW

So maybe you live in a place that still has snow and although you hate to admit it, it just doesn't seem to be melting anytime soon (Montana, anyone? Canada, maybe?). It happens in June in other parts of the world, heaven for bid! We have a guest post sharing a few things to look out for for those snowy getaways!

Skiing Holidays for Non-Skiers: What to Look Out For

Fancy a holiday in the mountains this winter? It’s not all about skiing and snowboarding, you know. While thousands flock to the slopes each year to enjoy the well groomed snow, others are content enjoying the rest of what’s on offer in the resort. Act quickly and you can take advantage of some great deals by choosing to ski France and beyond, with plenty of activities available for the non-skiers too.

Those who choose not to ski, or at least fill their time with activities as well as skiing, will find that most European resorts will cater for their requirements. From nature lovers to thrill seekers, there’s something for everyone. With so much to choose from, it’d be wise to have an idea of what’s available in your chosen resort before you get there, so that you can plan your itinerary to suit. Whether you choose a French ski holiday or prefer to go a little further afield, keep your eyes peeled for some of these superb alternatives to riding the powder.

Our friend Ashley from Every Day's a Sunny Day 2013

Snowshoeing

Strap yourself to these funky shoes and appreciate the snow-capped wilderness in all its glory. Mountain scenery is some of the most beautiful you will ever have the chance to enjoy and snowshoes will give you the chance to enjoy it first-hand.

Dog Sledding

A perfect activity for all the family, sit back and enjoy the ride as a team of dogs take you on a magical ride through the mountain forests.

Our college friend Jed

Snowbiking

Definitely not for the faint-hearted! With the help of an instructor, you will have the chance to mountain bike down steep snow-covered slopes and hopefully, land at the bottom on the saddle and not on your jacksie!

Sledging

Of course, no list would be complete without this family favourite! Fun-filled and available in most resorts, an afternoon of sledging should be part of every trip to the mountain, no matter how old you are!

These are just a few of the increasing number of activities available in and around ski resorts nowadays. Take a look at what’s on offer in your chosen resort, today. 

GUEST POST - MONTREAL FROM BIG BROTHER CHASE

Today we have the pleasure of hearing from one of our three brothers, Chase. He is our second oldest sibling, and quite a witty charming one at that. Chase is known for making us all laugh at his ridiculous jokes and over the years has been known to grow mullets, moonwalk, and most recently hunt his own food. He's quite the diverse man, and at one point lived in Montreal, Canada for two years serving for our church. Our sibling relationship is full of love and light-heartedness, and we like to have fun and be goofy together. We're all really good friends. Without further ado, here is his scoop on Montreal!

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1. How would you describe Montreal in three words?

Fascinating, diverse, and unexpected.

2. Tell us about Montreal. What's the scoop?

Montreal is pleasantly confusing - so many identities, cultures, languages, foods, and other stuff.  It's as if someone served you a plate with macadamia nuts, brie, tacos, kung pao chicken, Peeps, and snow cones on it.  All delicious according to my buds that taste, you just never expected them to be served up on the same platter.  You've got your anticipated Quebecois or French Canadian folks who speak French about like Brits speak English, but then you've got a melting pot of immigrants bringing in a diverse melange (French word) of Africans, Asians, Europeans, North and South Americans, and since you're in Canada you better not forget the Eskimos.  It's hot and muggy in the summer and it's freezing and frozen in the Fall, Winter, and Spring.

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Allow me to nerd out a moment...I loved the geography of Montreal, both physical and cultural. Montreal is located on an island in the middle of La Rivière St-Laurent which runs from the Great Lakes to the Atlantic.  The high point on the island is Mount Royal which is the English translation of Montreal.  I guess since the Francophones got to name the city they let the Anglos come up with a clever name for the big hill.  There is a big park on Mount Royal that is well worth a visit for some beautiful vistas of the city, the river, and beyond.  St. Joseph's cathedral is also up there somewhere it's huge and gorgeous.  The trees around the city are lovely, particularly beautiful for a couple weeks in the fall making early October a real treat of a time to visit.  

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The East Island is predominantly Francophone (French-speaking) and the West Island is generally Anglophone (English-speaking).  Downtown Montreal lies on the south end of the island which is where you'll find both the alluring skyline and cityscape as well as the old town, Vieux Montreal, which really is old.  When I first visited Vieux Montreal I felt like I was in Europe.  But upon further consideration I realized I had never been to Europe so I suppose I just felt like I was in Montreal and assuming that is what Europe might feel like.  Later when I actually visited Europe I didn't feel like I was in Montreal, so who knows.  I guess I just felt like I was not in Idaho (where we grew up).  Not that Idaho isn't cool...I digress.  

3. What are some popular destinations worth seeing?

Notre Dame cathredral is in Vieux Montreal and it boasts some great Gothic architecture that both the religious and the black fingernail polished can appreciate.  You can easily spend a day just walking around the cobblestone streets and along the river in this part of town which is great for purchasing your forgettable souvenirs (French word) and snapping your bragadocious Facebook and blog photos.  Vieux Montreal really is very cool and while it is certainly the tourist hub of the city, it's well worth a visit no matter how sustainable the materials in your clothing are.  Also, if you're on the hunt for some really cool architecture and a wide array of colors, check out the all glass structure at the Palais des Congrès convention center, whose window panes are all different colors. Beware, however, of certain parts of Ste-Catherine Street as it can be quite colorful and quite dark all in the same sentence.

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4. What language do they speak, and is it easy to navigate?

One can quite easily navigate Montreal in either English or French.  All signs are posted in both languages and you can probably find someone on every block that can translate for you if needed.  Many Montreal natives speak more than one language, frequently in the same sentence.  Latino kids often speak Spanish at home, French at school, and watch TV in English.  While French is the official language, you will hear dozens of others on the Metro or buses.  It must be very difficult for spies.

5. Tell us about the FOOD!

Food comes in a variety akin to that which you would find in a mall food court, however authenticity is much more likely to be found in Montreal.  I had some excellent El Salvadoreno pupusas, some Lebanese dishes I can't pronounce, and real good griot at Hatian hole-in-walls.  But if you really want to treat yourself to a Quebecois specialty and a greater risk of heart disease you should try de la poutine!  La poutine is a strangely delectable combination of french fries with brown gravy and squeaky cheese (in its impurest form).  Many restaurants dazzle it up with all kinds of toppings like we do pizza including hot dogs, pepperoni, peppers, mushrooms, and other unlikely ingredients that pile up nice and high on a plate.  Not only does poutine help you maintain your shoestring budget by providing your entire daily caloric intake budget in one meal, but it has a sedative effect for those who have trouble sleeping while traveling.  Poutine is a worthy investment and a must-try, but perhaps not for breakfast.  Oh, and don't order a crepe in Montreal thinking since they speak French they cook French because you'll likely get something that looks a lot like a disappointing pancake from the frozen food section.

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6. What makes Montreal unique?

Montreal is unique in that you can't approach anything or anyone with a preconceived notion or you are bound to be wrong.  If you think it's all French you're wrong and if you think it's all English you're wrong.  Montreal is a grab bag, full of surprises.  It's both normal and eclectic.  Don't count on it being what you expect it to be. 

Thanks, Chase for sharing your experience living in Montreal with us! After all this hub-bub, we're getting rather antsy to see it for ourselves one day! 

OH, CANADA

You're probably wondering what this old thing is! Well, this is 14 year old Lisa on a scooty scoot ride with our poppio in Canada! Our first trip abroad ever was to the beautiful Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. We went with our whole family and I remember the border police didn't believe Chase was our brother. You see, Chase is the blonde hair blue eyed child among a family of dark hair and brown eyes. Everybody in the car had to separately tell the man Chase's birthday to prove we were related. Luckily we passed and Canada let us in.

When Chase turned 19 he went on to live in Montreal, Quebec, Canada for two years and learned French. He loved the people there and even came home with a cute French-Canadian accent. So this has gotten us thinking... a trip to Canada sounds like a fantastic plan to freshen our memory. Check out these condos from Evolo I found that are just minutes from downtown Montreal! The waterfront views are amazing. I think it's time to go back.

Any Canadians out there with tips or suggestions? We know you're friendly, so don't hesitate to leave us a comment, eh?

GUEST POST - OttaWHAT? A GUIDE TO TOURING CANADA'S CAPITAL CITY

Greetings, fellow travel-bugs! 

My name is Sara and I blog over at girl untitled, a snippet of all things random and unnecessary. I quickly met 2 of the 3 triplets whilst aboding in Hawaii this past winter, and since then we have become GREAT online friends! I'm from a wonderful place fondly known as CANADA! Have you heard of it? It's kind of like the United States but bigger and less people (our population is about the size of the state of California). It also houses the friendliest folk, the prettiest sceneries, and enough maple syrup to tempt any diabetic! I'm here to tell you why Ottawa, our nation's capital, should be the next place on your travel bucket list…so here it goes: 

Sights and Attractions You've Got to See...

If museums are what you live for, than Ottawa is the right place for you! With over 30 museums within city limits alone, Ottawa is a place that promotes in preserving history. Every Thursday students get in for free at any museum. 

One place I frequented quite a bit was the Canadian National Art Gallery, located near the National Mint Museum (and yes that's a giant spider in front of it…don't ask). When I lived there I was able to see a lot of great exhibitions, including works by Andy Warhol and Miro. Their astute permanent collection is something to see as well, from Marcel Duchamp's "Fountain" piece to Barnett Newman's "Voice of Fire" (which at 18 feet tall stands in a room all by itself). Other notable museums to look into are: The National War Museum (located in Gatineau, QC…on the other side of the Ottawa River), The Civilization Museum (also in Gatineau, but it seriously is a 10 minute walk from downtown Ottawa), and the Aerial Museum (located on the east-end of the city). 

And of course…you can't go to Ottawa without stopping by our nation's Parliament buildings! A smaller version of the British parliament houses, this is where the leaders of our country meet on a daily basis to discuss both national and international concerns. And if you're lucky, you can sometimes get caught in the middle of a heated protest, since that's where all the picketers like to hang out too. 

There is no better place to celebrate Canada Day than in the nation's capital itself! Millions of people flock every July 1st to Parliament Hill for music, dancing, street vendors, and FOOD. We usually have a special guest or two, and this year it so happened to be Prince William and Kate! I may be completely biased when I say this but…Canadians really do know how to put on a good show. 

Another lively area of the city is the historic Byward Market. Located in the heart of Ottawa, this place is jam packed with vendors all-year round, and is the home to probably one of the best tasty treats around: BEAVERTAILS (no beavers are ever harmed in the making, don't worry). President Obama stopped by for a Beavertail while touring Canada in 2009…and in return got a cookie named after him…aren't Canadians great? 

Eating my first {but certainly not my last!} BEAVERTAIL! 2008

Transit and Parking...

Like any big city, parking is sometimes hard to find. But I do know the code to my ex-boyfriend's parking stall so contact me if you ever want to use it (really though…he doesn't need it). If you're short on a vehicle, taking the bus is an EXCELLENT alternative. It's inexpensive and reliable, being noted as one of the best busing systems in the world (except when the union decides to go on strike in the dead of winter). Another source of transit is biking. Rental stalls can be found all over the Downtown core, and you might need the exercise after eating 5 Beavertails, right? 

Spooky Accommodations…

There are plenty of hotels and accommodations in the downtown area, 

but two places stand out from all the rest. The Chateau Laurier was commissioned by The Grand Trunk Railway president Charles Melville Hays, and was constructed between 1909-1912. The hotel was to be opened April 26, 1912, but because Hays died in the sinking of the Titanic earlier that month, didn't open until June. Many believe that Hays' spirit haunts the corridors of the historic hotel to this day.

The Ottawa Jail Hostel is a hostel which used to be the old Ottawa Jail…hence "The Ottawa Jail Hostel". When the jail closed in 1972, a hostel company bought it and transformed it, although left a lot of the original structure intact, allowing guests to experience a "night in jail". The gallows, where many inmates were eventually hanged, still stands there today with an eerie noose hanging from it. Talk about creepy! 

FOOD! FOOD! GLORIOUS FOOD! 

Ottawa is a city rich with culture, and it shows in all the diverse food services that are available. You can't come to Canada and not try at least one authentic poutine, cheese curds and all, but the down town area is home to some of the finest ethnic cuisine around as well. Indian, Thai, Pho, you name it. One notable dish you must try is a Lebanese Shawarma…and you can find this delectable donair basically anywhere in the city because every street corner has a Shawarma restaurant. No lie! A great time to come to Ottawa is in the summertime, when every week there is a different festival of sorts going on…jam packed with food! Italian festival, Greek festival, hey…they even have a day completely devoted to ribs! Do Canadians know how to party or WHAT?!

I could go on and on about how wonderful this national capital is, but it might take another few guests posts to do that, there's just so much to see. Ottawa is one of the best cities around, and I couldn't think of a better place to represent all of Canada. So go on…don't be shy…pack your toque and come for a visit, eh!  You won't regret it. 

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Thanks, Sara - you are awesome!