Canada

First time in Canada and I tried to approach it with open eyes rather than preconceptions. Banff was the base and a good one — central, manageable, and with strong food options including the best Montreal bagels I've ever had. Old Quebec was the big set piece and fully justified the trip. Two thing…

This was my third visit to Canada and I keep finding new reasons to return. This time I explored beyond Quebec City and discovered a completely different side of the country. Banff National Park never loses its impact no matter how many times you've seen it. The food still makes me happy in ways I …

Canada is undeniably beautiful. Icefields Parkway and the area around Quebec City have a visual quality that photographs don't capture fully. I enjoyed butter tarts and appreciated stunning national parks. That's all real. But very expensive in tourist towns was more of a problem than I expected ba…

I went to Canada with modest expectations and left completely won over, largely thanks to time spent in Montreal. The city has a pace and character that travel guides undersell. Found a great spot for fresh maple syrup on day two and went back every day after that. Niagara Falls was the big planned…

Did Canada on a shoestring for 8 days and it was absolutely manageable. Based in cheap guesthouses near Montreal centre and ate mostly at local spots — butter tarts from street stalls cost almost nothing and was better than anything in a tourist restaurant. Rocky Mountains has an entry fee but wort…