by Katriina L.

Created on: August 08, 2008

Besides being where I'm from, Canada is one of my favourite places to travel. It's a huge country with a variety of different travel experiences on offer. Most people think of great wildnerness experiences, pristine lakes and polar bears when they think of Canada. And Canada does have all of these things! But Canada also has vibrant cosmopolitan cities that should make any traveler's list. In no particular order, here are some of the "must-sees":

1) Toronto
Within Canada, Toronto is known as the heart of Canadian business. It's a bit like a mini New York, and somewhat reminiscent of Melbourne, Australia. It's the cultural and music capital of Canada, brimming with clubs, festivals, celebrities and award-winning restaurants. The pace of life in Toronto is very fast. People walk quickly, speak quickly and act quickly. Toronto is the epitome of urban chic and a busy lifestyle. Yorkville, Yonge and Queen streets are home to Toronto's fashionistas. West Queen West is full of artsy bars like the Gladstone Hotel and the Drake Hotel. The business district is home to upscale restaurants like Ki (Japanese sushi and fusion) and Canoe (aptly named for a Canadian landmark restaurant). The atmosphere in Toronto is dark, sexy, artsy, rich and sophisticated. It has great architecture too, exemplified by the buildings on the University of Toronto campus near the downtown core, and the plethora of Victorian and Georgian housing throughout the residential districts (visit Concord St. near Ossington subway station for row after row of great examples). If you love film, you should visit in September, as Toronto's International Film Festival is second in popularity only to Cannes.

2) Quebec City
Visiting Old Quebec City is like stepping back in time. It's a little piece of Europe in North America. French is the official language, but as a tourist you can get by in English. If you CAN speak French, though, even only "un petit peu", you are advised to do so. You'll likely get better service, and you'll have a whole lot more fun. Old Quebec is strikingly beautiful with the Chateau Frontenac (now a hotel) on the top of the hill and the St. Lawrence River at the base. The atmosphere here is romantic and magical. In the summer, enjoy the buskers as you walk along the boardwalks by the river. In the winter, enjoy the Carnival complete with ice sculptures and a giant ice slide. And don't forget the ice hotel! One of the few in the world, you can spend a night sleeping on caribou skins instead

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