Soft Adventures In Canada

The other options are dogsled tours, horseback rides, hiking, etc. Glacier Skywalk, Jasper National Park, Rocky Mountains: Here, a gondola rather than a helicopter does the mountain-climbing for you. This experience is truly exhilarating as our friends vouched for.

The visitor is taken via a gondola to a cliff-edge walkway which leads on to a glass-floored observation platform which extends out of the cliffedge and stands 918 ft above the valley! From here you get breathtaking view of the Rockies with large glacier-formed valleys, ice-capped mountain peaks, gushing waterfalls, etc. Stanley Park, Vancouver: We loved this park-miles and miles of greenery and impeccably maintained at that.

Some parts of this park are densely forested while the rest have open spaces between tree clusters and then there are the manmade exhibits, a miniature train, etc.

We saw some very impressive First Nations totem poles too at which we posed for pix-it took time to get our turn, given how many people were crowding this area. These totem poles are very popular photo-ops. Peak to Peak Alpine Experience, Whistler Blackcomb: Here you can get to experience one of the most famous gondola rides in the world.

This offers the world's longest and highest lift which offers breathtaking views of the rainforest below, ice-capped mountain peaks, etc. Once you get off, you have the option of going for wildlife viewing, scenic walks, etc.

Not for those with fear of heights, though. Granville Island, Vancouver: You can do many things here beginning with shopping and you can also watch craftsmen and chefs at work, enjoy theatre, watch street performers, dine at the many cafes and restaurants, etc. Besides, as our group did, you can try out the white-water rafting which is fairly gentle so it is fun for those who like their adventures mild.

There are zip-trekking and whale-watching activities too if you want more. Polar Bear Sighting, Manitoba: These marine animals can be viewed in different times of the year though October- November is the peak season. Churchill, where you can see plenty of them, is also a hotspot for Beluga whales. You can get into local tundra vehicles which are designed for navigating terrain with ice and snow and for protection of passengers from the animals.

For a longer experience you can stay in lodges constructed along the migration route of the bears-with due security and safety measures in place of course. Canoes and guided walks are other options to view the bears. Northern Lights, Manitoba: Churchill is also famous for its Northern Lights. It is considered the top three places in the world to see this glorious spectacle. You can also see these lights at other locations across Canada. Often described as dancing curtains of multicoloured light and Aurora Borealis artistry, this is a surreal natural phenomenon. It's stunningly beautiful according to all my friends who have witnessed it. The adventure part comes from the stay in log huts or camps for this experience.