JUN
23

parliament_library.jpgNewly Restored Library of Parliament Rated One Of Canada's Top Tourist Draws

It's taken 10 years of preparation and 4 years of closure, but the oldest building on Parliament Hill has finally been re-opened. If you have a love and appreciation for Victorian Gothic architecture, the Parliamentary Library is a must-see. In 1916 a fire ripped through Parliament Hill and destroyed everything except for the octagonal-shaped library which was originally built in 1876. In fact, had a librarian not closed the big iron doors during the breakout of the 1916 fire, the library would almost assuredly burned to the ground.

The 130-year old building, overlooking the Ottawa River was quite literally falling apart. Leaking windows, vastly outdated electrical wiring and crumbling walls made the restoration a necessity. It took $136 million but just about every aspect of the library has been updated, including some added features like a climate-controlled basement to help store archived books and documents.

It sounds cliche but Canada does have a lot to offer any tourist be they foreign or Canadian. Whether you are a history buff, or a thrill seeker sometimes the best trips and tourist attractions are close to home.

Stand atop a glass-floored platform that soars 190 metres above Calgary. Experience British Columbia in a new interactive way. Canoe the Bow River through the heart of Banff. View an incredible collection of ceramics in Toronto. Watch the historic changing of the guard in Halifax. These are just some of the hot new experiences awaiting travellers across Canada this summer.
Library of Parliament rated a top tourist draw this summer [Ottawa Business Journal]
Canada's Top Ten New Attractions for Summer 2006 [WHERE Canada]

TAGS:

COMMENTS ( 0 )
EMAIL THIS


AUG
04

rocky_mountaineer.jpgLuxury, Scenic Train Travel Is On The Rise - Rocky Mountaineer Is Among World's Best

Scenic train travel is experiencing an upsurge in popularity around the world. On the one hand, with so much emphasis being placed on fast, discount travel it's somewhat puzzling. However, as airliners and cruise ships continue to cater to the masses, train travel is niching itself as a less crowded, more personable mode of transportation. In addition to being more exclusive and upscale, trains are also taking people to some of the most unique destinations in India, Peru, Australia, Switzerland, Alaska and Canada.

Rail dining follows its own unique route. For GoldLeaf Service guests aboard Rocky Mountaineer trains, comfortable seats under glass domes in the custom-built coaches are for savoring the scenery. On the boarding level below, meanwhile, private dining room booths are set with crisp white linens, sparkling glassware and fresh flowers.

With the landscape changing at every moment outside the panoramic windows -- from coastal land, to forest preserves, valleys and on to vast mountain ranges -- passengers are served from three-course, a la carte menus. Both a full breakfast and an elaborate mid-day dinner are prepared on board each day.

Executive Chef Mark Jorundson oversees and develops recipes for the Rocky Mountaineer dining rooms, making sure the travelers' menus are linked to the land. His focus always is on serving foods indigenous to the region that the train is passing through, from the fresh wild salmon that spawn in British Columbia's waterways to slow-roasted venison and bison found in Alberta. Wild mushrooms that grow in passing forest land wind up in a marvelous soup.

Chef's focus is on foods local to the region [Staten Island Advance]

TAGS:

COMMENTS ( 0 )
EMAIL THIS

SEARCH