Travel tips: Where to go, how to stay safe

Get physical
• Wild Women Expeditions Guided canoe trips, cycling, kayaking and mountain-biking adventures in and around Lake Huron's North Channel and “mystery tours” near Killarney. June to October, Sudbury, Ont., (705) 866-1260

• Ziptrek Ecotours Fly from tree to tree and glide over rivers and gorges using a zip-line harness system. Learn about ecology and old-growth forests on an adrenaline-charged holiday. For children and adults. Whistler, B.C., 1-866-935-0001.

• PaddleFoot Natural Adventures Learn to paddle, kayak and embrace a wilderness challenge. For children and adults. In various Ontario and Quebec locations, 1-888-388-3668.

• Riding Mountain National Park. Hiking, horseback-riding, biking and camping
in a wilderness setting surrounded by the prairie. Wasagaming, Man., (204) 848-7275, e-mail: rmnp.info@pc.gc.ca.

Way-cool holidays
• Dog Sledding at Haliburton Forest Harness up a team of Siberian huskies and enjoy a wintry ride through the forest. Haliburton, Ont., (705) 754-2198.

• Ice Hotel Quebec-Canada Inc. (Hôtel de Glace) Spend the night in a hotel made of ice and participate in a host of winter fun, including skiing, skating, tobogganing and more. Saint-Catherine-de-la-Jacque-Cartier, Que., January to April, 1-877-505-0423.

• Nighttime Skiing in Seymour Provincial Park Strap on your skis and spend the evening on the slopes outside Vancouver.

The wild life
• Grand Manan Island Reachable only by ferry or air, this island, 27 kilometres from the New Brunswick coast, is the perfect spot for birdwatching. The 363 species include the tundra swan and the peregrine falcon. Best time to visit: early April to early June during the spring migratory period. New Brunswick, 1-888-525-1655.

• Great Divide Nature Interpretation Join accredited nature guides for outdoor adventure in Lake Louise and Banff National Park. Theme tours include Birds of the Rockies, Following the Grizzly and Gold Larches – A September Pilgrimage, among others. June to September. Snowshoeing season, Dec. 27 to March 31, Alberta, 1-866-522-2735.

• Family Holidays in Algonquin Park Have Morning Tea with a Moose or join the Alqonquin Wolf Howl. Assorted trips for all ages. Algonquin, Ont.,
1-800-953-3343.

• Whale Watching in Forillon National Park, Gaspé Bay Seven species of whales live in the waters of Gaspé Bay, including the humpback whale and blue whale.

Heritage and culture
• The Royal Nova Scotia International Tattoo Enjoy a week of highland dancing competitions, the Black Watch Association Pipes and Drums, military displays, gymnastics and more. July 1 to 8, Halifax, 1-800-563-1114.

• Nitobe Memorial Garden Situated on the grounds of the University of British Columbia, the Nitobe Memorial Garden is considered one of the most authentic Japanese Tea and Stroll Gardens in North America, complete with streams, waterfalls, a pond full of koi fish and traditional tea ceremonies.

• Head-Smashed-in-Buffalo Jump Designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1981, this site (18 kilometres from Fort Macleod, Alta.) is one of the world's oldest, largest and best preserved buffalo jumps known to exist and an important part of the Blackfoot culture. (403) 553-2731.

• Fort Gibraltar Situated on the banks of the Red River, Fort Gibraltar will transport you back in time 200 years to the age of the voyageurs and the fur trade. Winnipeg, (204) 237-7693.