More Articles

 2020: Predictions for the Next Decade and Beyond

 Egyptian Pyramids

 The Face of Belmez

 Mayan Prophecy (The New Age of Man)

After a long winter, the time you’ve all been waiting for is here at last…summer. Time to brush off those cobwebs and get out. And in this vast land of ours, there’s always something for an
adventurous reader like yourself to see or do. Like speed? Got it. Like the outdoors? Right here. Adrenaline? You’ve come to the right place. So sit back, relax, and come across the country to see just what our great country has to offer you! Let’s start in…

SASKATCHEWAN
Think Saskatchewan is nothing but fields of grain? Think again. In fact, over half of the province is covered in forest. Here’s your chance to explore some of that wilderness.

RANCHING: Nestled next to the Pasquia forest lays the Eastview Wilderness Guest Ranch (http://www.sasktourism. com/wildernessranch/). “(This forest) has many trails from the days of when my grandfather logged in the area,” says Larry Kapeller. “These trails are excellent
for horseback riding. Our horseback riding consists of 50% forest trail riding and 50% open prairie riding.” People with no riding experience can get lessons and even participate in the working aspects of the ranch.

Unlike the old west, some things are decidedly more modern. “Guests can stay in our comfortable ranch houses with all modern facilities and can enjoy privacy,” says Kapeller. “Air conditioning, fireplaces and a hot shower.” And all this for only $125 per day.

Ok, so you want action in Saskatchewan. Try Adventure At Altitude (http://www.altitude.ca), where you can hang glide at sunrise ($99), or go for an “X-treme Altitude ‘Mile High’ Cross Country Sky-Ride” for $225. Awesome!

BRITISH COLUMBIA
Ah, the beautiful west coast. Land of sea and sky. Speaking of sky, let’s look skyward for our first thing that you have to try to get your heart racing:

PARAGLIDING: Well, there’s few things that’ll make sure you have a pulse like jumping off a cliff. Or at least you’ll know you have a pulse when you jump. The rest is up to you.

At Vancouver Island Paragliding (www.viparagliding.com), you can learn to do what man has only done in his dreams from the dawn of time: fly. If you’re not sure that you’re up for the task, check out their “Day Taster” program. For $250 and tax, you get a full day on the hill, starting off with short jumps, just to get a feel for it. After that, you build up to a full tandem flight, soaring over the landscape below.

Suspension Bridge: Taking a flying leap not your thing? Try the Capilano Suspension Bridge, just minutes from Vancouver. This 230-foot footbridge stretches over the gorge below.

MANITOBA
Another area of majestic wilderness is Manitoba. This oft-forgotten province has plenty to offer the explorer, if you’re willing to take the time.

WHITE WATER KAYAKING: It’s time to get wet and wild. It’s time to meet the Manigotagan River. Operating out of Winnipeg, Wilderness Spirit Adventures(http://www.wildernessspirit.com/) offers four-day excursions to this river, a combination of placid waters and wild rapids. Not an experienced paddler? No matter…this river is easy enough for beginners, but also has enough rapids and falls to keep your interest. The four-day trip costs $585.

ALBERTA
Now that you’ve come to the Rockies, you might as well enjoy the natural history under your feet. It’s time to climb!

ROCK CLIMBING: Here we go with the heights again. If you’ve ever been to a fitness club with a climbing wall, you’ve probably thought about doing the real thing. Well, here’s your chance. Located an hour west of Calgary, Yamnuska Mountain Adventures’ (www. yamnuska.com) qualified instructors will teach you the basics on the real thing. And they don’t get much more real than the Canadian Rockies. For $250, you get instruction on the equipment and techniques. Oh, yeah…and some great views. It IS the Rockies, after all.

Calgary Stampede: It’s time to experience the spirit of the Canadian West. It’s the Calgary
Stampede (www.calgarystampede.com), held this July 7-16th. Over 10 days, the city of Calgary opens its doors each year to one million visitors, with great entertainment, and food. Stetson hats are optional.

QUEBEC
Salut! It’s time for you to get acquainted with a different side of Quebec. See if these adventures might get your attention:

BUNGEE JUMPING: If you’re looking for another infusion of adrenaline, you’ve sure come to the right place. Let me introduce you to Great Canadian Bungee (www.bungee.ca), home
of the most extreme bungee experience in North America. Take a leap of faith into an amphitheater of solid limestone below, 200 feet deep. As you leap, you plummet downwards toward a 160 foot deep lagoon, larger than 3 football fields, before the cord snaps you back upwards over 160 feet. First jump costs $86.95, with each additional jump costing only $44.50.
Formula 1: Do you feel a need for speed? Then make your way to Montreal June 24-26th, when you’ll get to experience some of the fastest racing you’ll ever see on land! Only at the Grand-Prix (www.grandprix.ca) will you see cars travelling at speeds reaching 297 km/h, making your head whip around like Jessica Alba just passed you by. General admission is $90 for the three days, while some of the best seats will run you $440 for the whole event.

La Ronde: What’s that? You want another shot of adrenaline? Then make your way to La Ronde (http://www.laronde.com/ en/), a member of the Six Flags line of theme parks. Here
you’ll encounter the biggest and fastest roller coaster in Canada, Goliath, measuring 53 metres in height, 1,231 meters in length, and travels at speeds reaching 110 kilometres an
hour.

ONTARIO
Okay, you’ve probably had enough outdoor adventure for a little while. Want to keep things
urban for a while? Then visit the largest city in Canada, the big T.O.

SPELUNKING: Caves have always fascinated me. The weight of the earth is above, below, and around you. It’s almost like being entombed in stone, except that you have room to move. For only $110, One Axes Pursuits (www.oneaxepursuits.com) will take you to the Niagara Escarpment, deep within the earth where you can explore. After being lowered 100 feet into the crevice below, the cool air hits you in the face while your tour crawls deeper into the abyss with only the light from your headlights to guide you. There are three caves to explore in total, giving you plenty of stories to tell your friends.

NEW BRUNSWICK
What, you think that our country ends in Quebec? Think again. New Brunswick is your gateway to the Eastern coast of Canada. Check out some of the adventure that awaits you.

SKYDIVING: If I told you to go jump out of a perfectly good airplane, is your first thought: 1) WHY? or 2) Hell, yeah! If you answered #2, you should swing by Skydive Moncton (http://www.skydivemoncton.com). After paying your $220 and an intensive 5-hour training course, you’ll be taken aloft to 3,000 feet with a qualified instructor. The door opens, and you take a step outside. After that, gravity has its way with you, albeit with your chute open, slowing you down so you can enjoy the view. And the much softer landing.

Kayaking: Nestled up in the Bay of Fundy, about 45 minutes outside Saint John, lays the sleepy community of St. Martins. There are two things that make this area interesting. First, natural sea caves to explore at low tide, where the bay goes out – far out. Second, the incredible Fundy Trail.  Check both of them out through River Valley Adventures (http://www.rivervalleyadventures.com/). They offer an impressive 3-day / 2-night
Multi-Day Fundy Coast Adventure package for $350.

NOVA SCOTIA
Welcome to the Atlantic Ocean. We’ve almost made it across the country, but there’s still more to see and do here. The province is almost completely surrounded by water, so of course, there’s lots of water activities for you to explore.

SHARK DIVING: If you’d rather get up close and personal with marine life, check out shark diving with Lunenburg Ocean Adventures (http://www.lunenburgoceanadventures.com/cage.html). Get a few of your friends together with
you, though. Cost is $600 for six people. But once there, it’s just you in a cage, along with blue and mako sharks in freshly chummed water. Can you say frenzy? If this doesn’t get your pulse
racing, you’re already dead. I can just hear the theme to Jaws now…

Deep Sea Fishing: Of course, you could just fish for the sharks instead. Several outfitters in NS offer deep seafishing, including shark fishing. Arr…

NEWFOUNDLAND
Well, here we are, at the other end of the country at last. It’s as far as you can go east on the continent. So why don’t we see what we can do for some relaxation, now that we’ve come this far?

ICEBERGS: Situated on what’s known as “Iceberg Alley”, Newfoundland’s Terra Nova Adventures offer a unique opportunity to the adventurer. Why not show the Titanic how it’s done and paddle a kayak around icebergs? These monoliths drift quietly by, hiding most of their mass under the water. What you DO see will undoubtedly take your breath away. Or if you prefer, kayak with whales, as they play around and beneath you. It’s $59, plus $10 for transportation. Paddle over to: www.terranovaadventures.ca for more information.

So be sure to see more of what our great nation has to offer the adventurer. It’ll be a summer that you’ll never forget for the rest of your life.

Gros Morne: If you feel like going for a hike then check out Gros Morne (http://www.grosmorne.com/). While hiking one of the many rugged trails in this incredible park you can see where mountains meet the sea, or kayak into glacial fjords. While there, visit L’Anse aux Meadows National Historic Site, the site where Vikings set up camp centuries before Columbus stumbled upon the Americas.

PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND
On PEI, things are laid back. WAY back. So if you want a good place to unwind, this could be the place for you.

GOLF: Okay, if lying back on the beach isn’t for you, you could always try some of the world-class golf courses found here. The Stanhope Beach Resort has a golf package for several days of golf at the Stanhope Golf & Country Club, and accommodation at their resort. Or
if you want more variety, there is also an upgrade package for play at The Fox Meadow, The Links at Crowbush Cove and Glasgow Hills Resort & Golf Club. Rather have romance? They have romantic packages as well. Golf packages start at $350 for summer rates. Take a
swing at their website: http://www.stanhopebeachresort.com/

NUNAVUT
For a REAL change, perhaps you should try going north. Polar Sea Adventures(www.polarseasadventures.com) offers dog sledding excursions. These nine-day trips include travel from Ottawa, two nights in a hotel, and the remainder sleeping in either a tent or an igloo, while spending the days exploring the Pond Inlet area. An journey like this isn’t for the faint of heart: the cost is $4,995 (from Ottawa), but will give you a truly unique outlook on our country and your life. Polar Sea Adventures also offers a 14-day sea kayaking journey in the Pond Inlet area for $5,695.

FINAL NOTE: Ah, thought that we couldn’t count? Here are two more things that you can do that you should definitely check out: In the day that we celebrate all that makes this country great, where better to party than at the largest Canada Day festival in our capital, Ottawa! http://
www.canadadayfestival.com  And the last one? Well, it’s not one that I can give you the city to check out. It happens across Canada, and it’s not something to be missed. It’s the UMM party,
and it’s happening at a city near you. Keep checking www.umm.ca for a location near you!