17 Mar
Vancouver Tours Blog

Adventure Travel In Australia

Adventure travel developed as a segment of the tourism market during the latter half of the 20th century out of the more general traditional notion of outdoor recreation. Adventure travel differs from from earlier forms of outdoor recreation, however, in that it offers travelers greater opportunities to experience specific physical activities (eg. Rock climbing, diving, snow-boarding, kayaking, abseiling) that involve greater levels of skill and, within acceptable limits, risk. With traditional outdoor recreation, the primary attraction is the specific setting: with adventure travel, however, travelers are attracted primarily by the activities offered. Adventure travel is therefore primarily associated with travel products where the primary purpose is to engage in activity and participatory experience rather than the more passive sightseeing associated with traditional outdoor tourism.

The travel industry has evolved considerably since the 1970s. Changes include sociodemographic shifts which have seen a growth both the disposable income and available leisure time of many travelers. Travelers generally have become more discerning, have more travel experience, and have come to enjoy the benefits of cheaper, more convenient transport and other technological advances. As a result, substantial changes occurred in the demand for international travel products. The 1990s saw rapid growth in the evolution of specific segments of the tourism market including ecotourism, nature tourism and other special interest tourism which catered for the new breed of sophisticated traveler with both the means and the will to travel.

While travel costs will always remain a significant factor in decision-making for most travelers, the notion of tourist satisfaction is today of increasing importance. Increasingly, travel products must provide something other than simple value for money to attract tourists pursuing deeper, more satisfying purposes. In short, new patterns in travel choices have emerged to accommodate a much greater spectrum of travel interests, activities and experiences. Adventure travel today is numer the travel mode of choice for sophisticated travelers seeking to experience a holiday rather than simply sit in a tour bus passively sightseeing.

The increasing interest of many travellers in actively experiencing their holiday has also been matched with a rapid expansion in the range and quality of travel-related equipment available, extending the capability of tour operators to deliver more diversified adventure travel products. Australia has been at the forefront of these developments, and adventure travel is now one of the fastest-growing travel market segments in that country. Continuing to grow in their scope and appeal, it appears today that the variety and availability of adventure travel products for a broad spectrum of abilities and interests and abilities is almost limitless.

In Australia, the notion of adventure in travel is inextricably linked to that of the Outback. This means that true adventure travel is more likely to be found away from the comfortable, urban east coast, and in particular away from the area located south of the Brisbane-Adelaide line where over 80% of Australians live in urban and suburban settings oblivious to the geographic, climatic and cultural realities of the majority of the Australian continent. High on the list of authentic Australian outback adventure travel destinations therefore are Central Australia and the Northern Territory, far north and western Queensland, Western Australia and South Australia. The island of Tasmania also provides many exciting opportunities for adventure travel in unique wilderness areas.

Quality outback adventure tours in Australia are characterized by many factors, including the use of four-wheel-drive vehicles rather than buses, access to spectacular remote sites, provision of challenging adventure activities, and active hands-on participation in daily routines. The use of 4×4 vehicles typically allows tour operators to access more remote, difficult and spectacular country. By encouraging active participation in daily routines such as cooking, cleaning, setting camp and packing up, adventure tours engage travelers in the complete outdoor adventure experience rather than simply waiting on passive participants hand and foot.

But the real adventure element provided by the best quality tours takes the form of specific adventure activities ranging from bushwalking, rock climbing, swimming, snorkeling, fishing, sailing, through to more extreme activities such as diving, canoing, abseiling, jet-skiing, quad riding, white water rafting and hot air ballooning.

Source by Miguel Scaccialupo

17 Mar
Vancouver Tours Blog

The Harder the Climb – The Sweeter the Prize

From the first time I laced up my stiff leather boots and hiked up the Lions in Vancouver, Canada, I was hooked. I love the challenges of a steep climb. The harder I work, the more I sweat, and the more my thighs burn, the sweeter it is when I reach the top of the mountain – the place where I feel free, without a care in the world.

But one day something went terribly wrong. It started with a light mist and soon the fog surrounded me like a thick blanket. I was spinning in circles, frantic for a way out.

Suddenly I woke up and realized I'm not hiking. I am sitting in a doctor's office and he is telling me that my husband, Dave, 57, has Frontotemporal dementia. He scored average on math tests, but well below in language and problem-solving. He shows me the CT scan with blackened areas filled with fluid, where Dave's brain is dying. I feel like I am floating, half listening to the doctor as he talks about wills, power of attorney, and … no hope for a cure.

It has been 3 years since I started climbing the most challenging hike of my life. At first I denied my reality. I was bushwhacking through dense underbrush, thinking I had to be tough. If I worked hard enough, I wouldn't feel the pain and grief of losing my husband of 31 years.

Last year I reached a point when I was sick of hanging on by my fingertips. I wanted to do more than just survive this journey. With the help of friends, life counselors and months of soul searching, I started letting go of tears I had carefully buried. I recognize the emptiness when I see couples in their 50s holding hands, or traveling in their motor homes. I had no idea how much I miss the emotional and physical intimacy of being a couple.

To fill the voids in my life, I make time to go out with friends-to laugh and talk about something other than the weather and which way the clouds are moving. I am learning to balance 'doing' and 'being'. Every day I exercise, eat well and spend time 'alone' to recharge my soul. Meditating – morning and night – helps to calm the chatter in my brain. When I write in my gratitude journal, it reminds me of what I have in my life, instead of what I don't have.

Changing my perspective is helping me to find humor when Dave asks if he should put the box of Ziploc bags in the freezer because there is a picture of steaks on the front; or when he can't find words and tells me about the 'helmets' (cow skulls) on the trail, and Halloween … 'the social where people go from room to room'.

Living with dementia isn't easy. There are many times when I wish for a more stable and predictable life. Answering hundreds of questions (how, what, why) is testing my patience far more than raising two children. But I am noticing how much it helps me in other parts of my life-dealing with sales people who are having a bad day, or flights that are delayed. This journey is challenging my ability to adapt … to be flexible … and to stop resisting something I can't control (Dave's seizures in a restaurant, or passing out in a standing position on a brick patio).

Traveling this path with dementia is the hardest climb of my life. It is also the most rewarding. I am feeling a deep sense of calm (which I did think was possible) and a knowing that I don't have to be on top of a mountain to be free.

Source by Holly Eburne

16 Mar
Vancouver Tours Blog

Vancouver, A Year Round Vacation Destination

Vancouver, British Columbia has consistently been ranked n the top of the world's most desirable places to live in the world. The openness, quality of life, the diversity of outdoor activities in the surrounding mountains and the ocean at your doorstep as well as the modern cosmopolitan city center and natural beauty all help to make this world class city truly unique. Not planning on living in Vancouver? Well you should at least visit to see for yourself what all the excitement is about!

Any time of the year you visit this gem of the Pacific Northwest will prove to be a memorable one. In the winter season you have all the mountain activities from heli-skiing to dog sledding in Whistler to snowshoeing or romantic log cabin dining in the Coastal Mountains. Enjoy an authentic Canadian mid-winter evening by catching a National Hockley League game at the Rogers Arena in the heart of downtown as the local Canucks team takes on a visiting challenger. Demand for tickets are extremely high so be sure to book your seats in advance or you can always see what's available, usually at a premium, outside the stadium right before game time. Dining in Vancouver is wonderful year round; However, it is especially delightful in one of the many cozy restaurants on a brisk night with perfectly prepared local seafood hot out of the kitchen served with wine from one of british columbia's growing and acclaimed vineyards. The fireside ambiance in a dimly lit soothing environment really is the perfect evening out.

During the summer season the ocean is made more accessible by the perfectly hot temperatures from June to August but that does not mean the mountains are out play. You can hike on established or less trekked trails throughout the surrounding area of ​​Vancouver and feel as if you are 1000 miles away into the wilderness. You must be careful and take the proper precautions with local wildlife but a single or multi-day trip into the mountains and surrounding valleys is always a rejuvenating and empowering experience. Getting into the ocean by boat or on one of the many world-class beaches that surround the city will give you a real sense of the delights of these West Coast paradise. Sailing, swimming, yachting, kayaking, whale watching or just chilling on the beach, your day with the Pacific Ocean will be unforgettable. Spend the evening in one of the many restaurants of Vancouver or go for a stroll around Stanley Park to watch the sunset. Be sure to check out what festivals and shows are going on in Vancouver while you are there are the city attracts many international events and acts. Annual events that often draw a great deal of attention are the Celebrations of Lights fireworks show, Bard on the Beach Shakespear Festival, International Jazz Festival, Vancouver Sun Run and much more.

When planning your vacation to Vancouver be sure to pick the time of year that best suits what you're looking for. Also, the city and surrounding area is quite large and the sites are not always accessible through the public transportation system. Consider renting a vehicle for you stay to ensure you get to see everything you want to on your schedule with the efficient guidance of a GPS so you don't get lost on your way.

Vancouver has established itself as a world-class livable city and since the 2010 Winter Olympic games is establishing itself as a top vacation destination. Any time of the year it provides everything you would want from a relaxing destination holiday or an action packed adventure. Ensure you get to where you want to go in a timely manner by renting a vehicle to eliminate any hassles or unnecessary travel time.

Source by Sean Stagen

16 Mar
Vancouver Tours Blog

ESL Book Review – Vancouver Stories

This simple, 50 -page book will give adult students a real grounding in Vancouver's past. It tells the stories behind four places whose names become known to anyone who spends time in Vancouver: Granville Island, Kitsilano, the Lions Gate Bridge, and Deadman's Island.

Although it's meant for literacy students, it can also help adult ESL students feel more at home in the city, whether they've settled there or are just there to study.

Most of the stories begin in the late nineteenth century, when Granville Street was a loggers' skid road, the width of a wagon. Of course, the city has changed greatly in some ways since then – in others, not so much. Political squabbles, Native land claims, and the homeless have been issues right from the beginning.

The book is written at a level suitable for upper intermediate to advanced students. The text is broken into sections with subheadings, which should probably be assigned one at time so students aren't overloaded with facts. It's illustrated with vintage photos. A separate workbook is available, but the text can stand on its own as the basis for a reading activity.

The subject matter, in places, is really only suitable for adults or mature adolescents. For example, one story tells how the city squabbled with the federal government over Deadman's Island, which meanwhile was being used as a quarantine station:

While the arguments went on, the island became a kind of "red light district" where the quarantined prostitutes, sailors and others were having quite a party.

The party's since been let out of quarantine, and maybe it's never really stopped. See what your students think.

Vancouver Stories: Places in its History, by Rene Merkel and Don Richardson, was published by the Province of BC in 1998. It is available from the Vancouver Community College bookstore (King Edward campus).

Source by Jane Wangersky

15 Mar
Vancouver Tours Blog

Famous Living Walls

Living walls are often used to enhance the appearance of a building and provide a dramatic facade. Here are a few examples of some famous green walls from around the world.

1. Van Gough Wall – The National Gallery – London

The National Gallery in London's Trafalgar Square delighted tourists in 2011 with a Van Gogh inspired green wall. 'A Wheatfield with Cypresses' was re-created with vertical planting. Excitingly, once the plants grew and became more established, the picture became more visible. The wall incorporated over 8000 plants and was located immediately outside the gallery itself. It took only three days to install, and remained in place throughout the summer months.

2. Musee du Quai Branly – Paris

Installed in 2005, this vertical garden wall covers 4 stories and 8600 square ft of wall, in fact, the entire north west wall. It's prominent location (on the banks of the Seine close to the Eiffel Tower), makes this example one of the most famous (and most photographed) living walls in the world.

3. Semiahmoo Library Green Wall – Vancouver

The Semiahmoo library in Vancouver, Canada, is the largest of its type in North America. It covers 3000 square feet and contains over 10,000 plants, including perennials, shrubs and even small trees. The design company aimed to encourage 'bees, butterflies and hummingbirds' to the area. The wall was installed in 2010 and continues to flourish and delight.

4. Caxia Forum – Madrid

Installed on the side of an old power station, the vertical garden wall of the Caxia Forum is four stories high and contains 15,000 plants. Now a modern art gallery and museum, the building contrasts the green of the wall with the rusted iron on the surrounding roof, to provide a dramatic landscape in this cultural Spanish hotspot.

5. Crystal Cruises Living Wall

Amazingly, living walls have now made their way onto the high seas, in the form of a green wall on board a cruise ship. The wall measures 37.7 ft by 7.9 ft with its design incorporating, quite fittingly, a map of the world.

6. Hampton Court Flower Show & Chelsea Flower Show

In recent years, green walls and vertical gardens have become a regular feature of the main horticultural shows, including Chelsea and Hampton Court. Many show gardens feature living walls heavily. As a rule, once they have appeared at Chelsea, it's only a matter of time before they start appearing in back gardens across the land.

Source by Armando Raish

15 Mar
Vancouver Tours Blog

Benefits and Styles of Patio Covers

Patio covers install over your outdoor space to offer protection from various elements. When you want to get the most out of your yard, this installation can help you achieve this goal. Explore various materials and styles to enable you to choose the unit that meets your needs.

Benefits

The furniture and other accessories you keep outdoors on a patio will receive ongoing exposure to weather. Whether you have wood, plastic, or metal furnishings, these items will wear down from the elements. Cushions and throws could also get wet in the rain. Even the patio itself will receive ongoing wear from the weather. Sun and wind can result in fading and damage over time. Rain, hail, and snow can also cause significant damage to furniture.

The shade provided by patio covers can keep the temperature lower on the patio. This temperature difference can be as much as 10 degrees. The shade can also help keep your home cooler due to the shaded windows. The result of this shade can be a lower cooling bill during the summer.

With a shaded outdoor space, it's likely that your family will use this area more often, even during the summer. This can add to the total living space of your home. Many homeowners find that adding this structure will increase the overall value of a home.

Materials

Wood lattice or solid covers are a popular choice. With lattice, you control the amount of shade with the spacing of the slats. It's possible to achieve up to 60 percent shade with lattice. Many people choose lattice because it allows some sun to shine through, which can benefit potted plants growing in this area. For full shade, opt for a solid expanse overhead made out of wood.

Aluminum patio covers are environmentally friendly and durable. They come in a variety of styles and colors and are suitable for any style and decor. Aluminum materials are inexpensive, yet attractive and effective for providing shade and protection from the elements.

Some aluminum structures have baked enamel surfaces. Baked enamel has a variety of benefits because it will not peel or chip. The baked enamel also comes in a variety of colors to match any home exterior and patio style.

Maintenance

Many homeowners keep their patio covers in place year round, especially those who live in warm climates. Even in regions that get snow, leaving the structure in place can help protect this area from damage from precipitation. It's best to dismantle an aluminum cover at least once each year to perform cleaning. Annual cleaning will prolong the life of the cover by reducing cracking and dulling. Wash a wood structure periodically. You may also need to seal and stain or paint the wood surfaces to protect them from moisture. With regular maintenance and cleaning, it's likely that these structures will last for years.

Boost the usefulness and beauty of your outdoor space by adding an attractive structure over it. Your family will enjoy the space more, and you can help preserve the life of your furniture for many more years.

Source by Aaliyah Arthur

14 Mar
Vancouver Tours Blog

Tours To Europe – What Are The Best Student And Train Tours In Europe?

Travel is a fantastic experience and whatever your budget, tours to Europe provide fantastic value for money. If you’ve always wanted to see the Eiffel Tower, throw a coin in the Treves Fountain or catch a river boat down the Danube, there’s a destination for you. Europe is a continent of contrast with many culturally diverse countries within easy reach of each other. There are many ways to view Europe: perhaps you fancy taking one of numerous European cruises or seeing it all from a train window. Whatever your approach, there’s a mode of transport for you and a bustling and vibrant country ready to offer you a warm and friendly welcome.

Student tours europe

Whilst many students may struggle financially during their studies, travelling around Europe still represents good value for money since there are various incentives specifically designed for those in education. Moreover, vacation periods tend to be relatively long and responsibilities minimal with many students taking gap years to travel or work abroad. But where are the best places to travel to if you’re planning on taking a student tour around Europe? Often, the best place to start is by looking around online where there are countless websites which offer cut-price deals specifically designed to cater to the student market. There are a number of tours designed for students and, whether travelling on your own or in a large group, they can provide you with the security of fixed price travel and a pre-planned route. They also represent an excellent opportunity to meet fellow travellers and learn about other cultures and different ways of doing things.

Those on the most limited student budget can ‘backpack’ around Europe. This is a hugely popular option and essentially involves throwing a few items in a rucksack and travelling from place to place staying in hostels and inexpensive hotels. This approach is often favoured by many students since it gives you the opportunity to visit a large number of places for the least amount of money. There are many websites offering advice on planning this type of trip including tips on what to pack (backpackers can often be away for a number of weeks, months or even years!), where to stay and how to save money. The most important thing here is to plan. Plan your route by deciding on the countries that you’d most like to visit and then determine how you intend to travel between them. This gives you the best opportunity to estimate travel costs and look for discount vouchers.

Train tours Europe

An extremely popular place to start looking when booking your trip is by considering train travel. It has numerous advantages over hopping on an aeroplane including offering high-speed travel in a comfortable and relaxed environment. Perhaps most appealingly, you don’t have to go through the same security checks which airline travel demands and, of course, there’s the added benefit of being able to look out of the window and view some stunning scenery. Planning your journey can seem daunting at first and the list of your favourite destinations can help you immeasurably. There are many high-speed train routes across the length and breadth of Europe; from Portugal to Russia and London to Bulgaria, the list is endless. Simply grab a map and load up your favourite internet search engine to plan your itinerary – many websites now offer this sort of service as standard.

Source by Michael R Thomas

14 Mar
Vancouver Tours Blog

Anne Klein – the Past and the Future Extraordinaire!

Fashion designer Anne Klein was born Hannah Golofski in New York City. She started as a sketcher on Seventh Avenue in 1938. In 1948 she launched Junior Sophisticates and in 1968 Anne Klein & Co was born.

Anne Klein was a fashion pioneer well known for understanding what women wanted. She was known for creating chic, sophisticated, wearable comfortable clothes that women would wear. She designed sophisticated sportswear for young women. She knew each woman's wardrobe needed a blazer, trousers, and separates.

Her designs were very popular within the USA. Her clothes were synonymous with American style and were relevant to the lives of the women she designed for.

The sportswear of today has its basis in Anne Klein, who defined what what women's sportswear should be. In 1968 Anne Klein launched Anne Klein & Co. The company goal was to design and market sportwear separates that could be mixed and matched. She became an industry leader overnight.

Anne Klein & Co continued to grow and received numerous honors and award. Just at the height of her success Anne Klein died in early 1974 from breast cancer.

After years of financial difficulties and ownership changes Klein's vision has once again become the label's guiding light. The company was recently taken over by Jones Apprale Group with Mark Mendelson taking over as president.

Mark recently stated "The purpose of Anne Klein New York collection is to make fabulous clothes." The company says the changes are going to be gradual and subtle. The Anne Klein collection is now being designed by Michael Smaldone.

You can find the Anne Klein Collection Online At
Neimanmarcus http://www.neimanmarcus.com/store/catalog/template/catB6.jhtml?itemId=cat3650742&parentId=cat000034&masterId=cat000009
Or Nordstrom
http://store.nordstrom.com/category/cat_boutique-medium.asp?category=2376778~2372811~2383417~2383694&siteid=d * BO / tAXm6A-fn1GDIWS7xH3c4eapLbpkA

In the USA Store Locations can be found at:

Anne Klein New York 417 West Broadway New York

Bloomingdales 59th Street New York

Lord and Taylor 5th Avenue New York

Macy's Herald Square New York + 1-212-695-4400

Saks Fifth Avenue 5th Avenue New York

Parisian's Phipps Plaza Atlanta

Rich's Lenox Square Atlanta

Marshall Fields State Street Chicago

Dillards Northpark Store Dallas

Neiman Marcus North Park Dallas

Macy's Union Square San Francisco

In Canada Store Locations are

Holt Renfrew Stores Canada

Wear Else? Vancouver British Columbia

Blu's WomensWear Edmonton & Calgar Alberta

Jas. A. Ogilvy Montreal Quebec

The current collection is fashionable without being trendy. This line of clothes is very fashionable but also very wearable. Their object is to give the customer wardrobe items they can get plenty of wear out of.

While at the same time presenting clothing women can get excited about.
Be sure to check out this seasons fabulous wardrobe additions for some very pleasant surprises. Make your fashion statement!

Source by Sher Matsen

13 Mar
Vancouver Tours Blog

Searching For Old Sailing Ships

Without old sailing ships the world that we know today wouldn't exist. There wouldn't have been pirate stories, no great seal battles, no one would go on a treasure hunt, and Christopher Columbus wouldn't have even tried to sail across the ocean in 1492, searching for silk and spices. If the oceans hadn't once been filled with old sailing ships there wouldn't be any reason to explore the oceans depths looking for the remains of the ones that never made it to shore.

The stretch of Atlantic coastline that stretches from the Outerbanks of North Carolina all the way north to the entrance of the Chesapeake Bay is known to sailors as the Graveyard of the Atlantic, a name bestowed on the stretch of water because of the sheer numbers of ships that have sunk to their death in the blue water. Some sailors scorn feel that Sable Island, a long wedge of sandbar near Nova Scotia, can also be a part of the Graveyard of the Atlantic. The tiny island is believed to be responsible for a minimum of 350 shipwrecks. Still others feel that it isn't right to exclude Cape Cod from the graveyard. The Massachusetts town's shoals are constantly shifting and changing making it treacherous for the old sailing ships of long ago to sail into the harbor. Today the there are 21 lighthouse's on the small chunk of land o help ensure that sailing vessels safely reach their destination. It isn't uncommon for people to find the long forgotten remains of an old sailing ship when the winds shift and dunes move, exposing a skeletal hull of a once magnificent ship.

Not to be outdone by the east, the Pacific coast also has a stretch of coast sailors of old sailing ships dreaded approaching. The Graveyard of the Pacific was the stretch of coastline that spans Oregon, Washington, and all the way north to Vancouver. Sailors believe that the reason this stretch of Pacific coastline was so treacherous for old sailing ships was a combination of dense fog, strong currents, abusive storms, and rampant winds. Although the Graveyard of the Pacific is still treacherous, the numbers of fatal shipwrecks have increased since the early 1900's. Historians believe that there were over 2,000 ships that sank in the Graveyard of the Pacific and at least 700 men never returned home.

Source by Jessica Schira

13 Mar
Vancouver Tours Blog

Shopping In Canada – Part 2

CONSUMER RIGHTS AND SERVICES

Smart shoppers always check a store's refund policy before buying an item. Policies vary, some stores will refund money on unwanted items, others offer store vouchers, and many will not exchange or refund sale merchandise. Reputable stores will take back defective merchandise within 28 days as long as it is accompanied by the original bill. As credit card fraud increases, it is wise to be cautious about buying by telephone using cards.

COMPLETELY CANADIAN

Products made in Canada offer shoppers a wide variety of choice. Although most specialty items are on sale across the country, many goods are less expensive in their province of origin. Hand knitted sweaters and pottery are particularly good value in Atlantic Canada, as is the much-praised Seagull pewter made in Nova Scotia. The Prairie provinces and Alberta specialize in cowboy attire; tooled belts, vests, cowboy hats, and boots. Farther west, British Columbian artisans produce elaborate carvings, jewelry, from locally mined stone, is also reasonable here.

Local specialties from Quebec and Ontario include maple syrup and sugar-related products. Quebec artisans make beautiful wood carvings too. In Ontario, native basketwork is good as a lasting souvenir.

For those who need an extra suitcase to carry their finds home, the renowned Tilley travel cases and products are made and sold locally throughout Ontario. Native carvings can be found across Canada, especially in the far north. Genuine Inuit carvings are inspected and stamped by the federal government.

A sticker featuring an igloo marks a true piece; it will also be signed by the artist. Since the 1950s, the Inuit have been producing prints of traditional scenes, which are popular, as is native jewelry. Beautifully handmade parka jackets, embroidered panels, and soft deer hide moccasins make excellent gifts.

Contemporary Canadian art features highly in gift shops and galleries countrywide. Photographs and prints are recommended for the budget conscious shopper. Recordings of Canadian music are freely available: Europeans will be pleased to find that tapes and CDs are at least 50 percent cheaper in Canada. Modern sportswear and outerwear is both durable and beautifully designed. Camping, hiking, and boating equipment are fine buys, as is fishing tackle. With such a strong tradition of outdoor life, a wide range of products is usually available at well below European prices.

DEPARTMENT STORES

The bay is the major middle range department store chain across the country. Canadian department stores have suffered financially during the last years of the 20th century. They are changing to meet the competition of US chains, such as Wal-Mart and discount stores, and membership stores including Costco and Price Club. Chains such as Sears and Zeller's occupy the middle to lower end of the market place. Canadian Tire sells everything from auto parts to sporting goods and has become a national institution.

MALLS AND SHOPPING CENTERS

Suburbia may not offer the most culture in Canada, but some of the malls are fine destinations in themselves. The renowned modernist Eaton Center in Toronto is enclosed by a glass and steel arched roof, with a wonderful sculpted flock of geese soaring over shoppers. Over 42 million visitors annually enjoy this showcase of modern architecture, though it has been derided as "brutalism" by conservative Torontonians. Canada has the world's largest mall, the West Edmonton Mall in Edmonton, Alberta. Over 800 stores, more than 100 restaurants, 34 movie theaters, a huge water park, an amusement park, a theme hotel, a mini-golf course, an ice rink, and a zoo with dolphins are just some of the sights that draw Canadians and visitors alike to this retail paradise.

Exclusive stores are largely found in the country retail capital, Toronto. Bloor Street and Yorkville Avenue are lined with status brands known the world over, such as Tiffany, Holt Renfrew, Ralph Lauren, and Gucci. Both Vancouver and Montreal have their own selection of world-class luxury stores. Montreal is notable as the fur capital of the country; good department stores will stock a selection of winter and summer furs at very reasonable prices. For those unable to travel to the north, Inuit art features highly in craft shops here.

Source by Mamta Dhingra

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