Destination Fly4free: Western Canada

There are so many reasons to love Western Canada! This diverse and rugged region offers tourists a breathtaking, pristine mountain scenery, glaciers, lakes and huge attractions for skiers and snowboarders. As the federal government is providing free entry into national parks in 2017, this is the best time to explore the natural wonders of Canada!

Canada, the second largest country in the world, offers beautiful landscapes and unique sites for travelers to explore. The western region includes the four provinces (Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba and Saskatchewan), that are truly immense and incredibly varied. British Columbia is culturally, economically, geographically, and politically distinct from the other parts and is often referred to as the “West Coast” or “Pacific Canada”, while the other provinces are grouped together and most commonly known as “The Prairies”.

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Vancouver and Victoria

Located in the West Coast, Vancouver is one of the most safe cities of the world. The scent of the Pacific Ocean, mountain scenery and pine forests make this place a really nice vacation spot. The city has a pulsating downtown with numerous public parks, like the 405-hectare Stanley Park, situated on a peninsula. The park is home to huge red cedar trees and numerous totem poles, some of which were erected more than 100 years ago.

Few Canadian cities have done such a beautiful job of developing their waterfront area as Victoria and its Inner Harbour. While this recreation area is popular year round, it is particularly lively during the summer months. The city also offers a great variety of museums, like the Royal BC Museum, presenting the natural and human history of the area.

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How to get there:
Take a look at the flight deals to Western Canada:

• Flights from Gothenburg to Vancouver and Calgary from €370 >>
• Flights from Sydney to Vancouver for AU$961 >>
• Flights from Oslo to Vancouver for €383 / 3484 NOK >>
• Flights from Beijing to Vancouver for $468 >>
• Flights from Seoul to Vancouver for $360 >>
• Flights from London to Calgary or Vancouver from £276 >>

Where to stay:
In Vancouver, we encourage you to stay at The Empire Landmark Hotel with reasonable pricing and good reviews.

In Calgary you can choose to stay at BEST WESTERN PLUS Suites Downtown with good reviews.

In Victoria we suggest you to book Hotel Rialto with excellent reviews!

In Edmonton we recommend Radisson Hotel & Convention Center with very good reviews.

What to do:
If you’re somebody who loves outdoor adventure of any kind, in the Western Canada you can explore the incredibly varied landscape which includes endless snow-capped mountains, glaciers, lakes, rivers, valleys, canyons, forests and prairies. The list is practically limitless, and there is no doubt something for everyone here.

There are plenty of easy short walks you can take on clearly marked trails (e.g. Wild Pacific Trail). There are some excellent eco tours available, as well as cultural attractions, such as the ten-day Calgary Stampede (July) – one of the most widely anticipated events in Western Canada.

The Rocky Mountains offer world class skiing, as well as all kinds of other outdoor recreational opportunities (hiking, caving, rafting, climbing, paragliding, fishing, kayaking, wildlife watching and much more). Many resorts are also open during the summer, allowing for some of the best mountain biking in the world. Cruise along the Inside Passage Route, a marine highway for oceangoing vessels. Taste the coastal flavours of fresh seafood in Prince Rupert and explore the islands of Haida Gwaii. You can also try golfing in the Skeena Valley or wine tasting in the Okanagan Valley – British Colombia’s premier largest grape growing region.

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Western Canada from Dave Dworkind on Vimeo.