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Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island↑ Back to top
French explorer Jacques Cartier described it as “the fairest land ‘tis possible to see!” With its 500 miles of smooth, sandy beaches, vast stretches of verdant woodland and peaceful rolling pastures, Prince Edward Island is indeed one of the fairest spots to be found. It was here that Canada’s founding fathers envisioned the Dominion of Canada.
Halifax, Nova Scotia↑ Back to top
You can walk on hillside streets to the Citadel, a star-shaped fort built in 1749, where the traditional Noon Gun recalls the British garrison. There are also restored wharves of Historic Properties, now filled with shops, and the Halifax Public Gardens, the oldest formal Victorian gardens in North America. A highlight is a visit to the rustic fishing village of Peggy’s Cove, a postcard-perfect Nova Scotian fishing village with lobster pots, fishing boats, and a shining Atlantic seascape just offshore.
Lunenburg, Nova Scotia↑ Back to top
This charming port may well be “the prettiest town in Canada” as some claim. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, it also opens the way to other picturesque South Shore villages like Mahone Bay, and to whale-watching excursions on the nearby bays.
Montreal, Quebec↑ Back to top
Founded by fur trappers, Montreal is now the largest French-speaking city outside France. Cosmopolitan and lively, it is a center for cinema, high fashion and finance. Here the finest shops are underground, around the modern subway. You can visit Mont-Royal for a view, or venture into the Laurentian Mountains for stunning wilderness scenery.
Quebec City, Quebec↑ Back to top
The only walled city in North America and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Quebec City has a distinct French flavor and is blessed with a spectacular location on a cliff overlooking the St. Lawrence River. Quebec City is an explorer’s delight with cobblestone streets, 17th- and 18th-century buildings, an immense star-shaped fortress and a funicular that you can ride between the upper and lower towns. The Petit Champlain quarter, the oldest part, has the Place des Armes and Plains of Abraham, all with a genteel, European character.
Saguenay Fjord↑ Back to top
The largest fjord in eastern North America, this majestic fjord was created during the last Ice Age when glaciers deepened an ancient river bed. In some places the cliffs tower 1,500 feet above the river and you’ll delight in watching for cavorting whales at the junction of the Saguenay and St. Lawrence rivers.
Saint John, New Brunswick↑ Back to top
Canada’s oldest incorporated city, Saint John sits at the juncture of the Saint John River and the Bay of Fundy. Here, visitors may witness the world renowned phenomenon of the reversing falls, created by the Bay of Fundy’s 28 1/2-foot tide swell rising above the level of the Saint John River at high tide. Saint John is also home to Canada’s oldest museum and Market Square with its charming shops and restaurants. Saint John has the quaint atmosphere of a small American city in the 1950’s.
Saint-Pierre/Miquelon, France (in Gulf of St. Lawrence)↑ Back to top
These are the only French possessions remaining in North America which once was a critically important and large French possession. These are small fishing villages, interesting to walk through and soak up the atmosphere.
St. John’s, Newfoundland↑ Back to top
North America’s oldest European-settled city is also home to the easternmost point of the continent: Cape Spear. A good vantage point for viewing the city is Signal Hill, where Marconi received the first transatlantic wireless message. You can also hike the dramatic coast, or try your hand at sea-kayaking.
Sydney, Nova Scotia↑ Back to top
Nova Scotia’s second-largest city, Sydney is located on Cape Breton Island. While the tradition is definitely Scottish, one of the highlights of a visit to Sydney is the restored French fortress at Louisbourg – where shopkeepers and inhabitants dress, live and produce goods in the tradition of the 18th century. At Sydney, you’ll also find some of Eastern Canada’s most beautiful parks and trails. The Alexander Graham Bell Museum is worth a visit, too.
Vancouver, British Columbia↑ Back to top
In Vancouver, you’re never out of sight of mountains or of the sea. It is a prosperous city adorned with flowers lining the streets and lush greenery. Museums offer fine collections of the dramatic northwest native arts. Vancouver’s Chinatown is the second-largest in the world. The waterfront Gastown district recalls the city’s colorful past as a premier Pacific port since the days of the Clipper ships. The very large and pleasant Stanley Park offers a cool respite from city shopping and sightseeing.
Victoria, British Columbia↑ Back to top
Prim and proper, neat and clean, friendly little Victoria Island is like a breath of fresh air. Its British heritage is apparent in the double-decker buses, the Royal British Columbia Museum and in the elaborate tea at the Empress Hotel. Go out to the renowned Butchart Gardens, where sunken floral beds reflect international themes.Some content provided courtesy of CLIA (Cruise Line International Association)