on tour O
marty de souto, ctc
Once Upon A Time ONCE UPON A TIME there was a
America. Here your group can visit
Louise and other locations with leg-
country that fell on hard times. No one
famed Notre Dame Basilica, built in
endary hotels built by Canadian Pacific
wanted to go anywhere; they just
1656, shop the underground city (and
in the 19th century in its westward push
wanted to curl up by the fireside at
thus stay out of the cold) and enjoy
across the continent. Another recom-
home with loved ones and wait for the
French cuisine at fine restaurants.
mended source is Canada’s national rail-
next calamity to come knocking on their door. If the above scenario sounds famil-
road system known as VIA, which TIPTOE THROUGH THE TULIPS
operates rail/motorcoach combined
May brings the Canadian Tulip Festival
trips.
iar, maybe it’s time you give them what
in the nation’s capital, Ottawa. The fes-
Finally, the West Coast port of
they want – some trips closer to home,
tival originated in 1953, commemorat-
Vancouver is an attractive city with its
some trips to places where they feel
ing a gift of 100,000 tulip bulbs given
Stanley Park totem poles and nearby
safe, some trips that could include the
to Canada by Queen Juliana of the
Victoria on Vancouver Island, reachable
whole family, and even some trips from
For safe, close-to-home trips, consider the scenery and cities of Canada.
which they could scurry home quickly and easily if the going gets rough. Often in our search for challenging, interesting and appealing trip offerings, we tend to think that farther away is somehow always better. I know I’m often guilty of that kind of thinking, es-
Netherlands at the end of World War
by ferry. Highlights in Victoria include
chewing a trip to the state next door
II. The gift was a thank you for keeping
high tea at the famed Fairmont Empress
for my latest trips to Russia, Brazil and
Holland’s exiled royal family safe at
Hotel, opportunities to shop for fine
Italy. But perhaps now is a good time
Government House during the war and
English bone china and the renowned
to look to our neighbors – perhaps to
to recognize the role Canadian troops
Butchart Gardens.
Mexico to the south or Canada to the
played in freeing the Netherlands from
north, both of which have a lot of ap-
German occupation. Festival highlights
interest for nearly every type of group—
peal but places we may be overlooking
include concerts, cabaret nights and
young or old, active or more sedentary,
because they’re always “there.”
tulip viewing along the Rideau Canal.
motorcoach traveler or rail buff. Con-
Canada is appealing to Americans –
All in all, Canada has something of
Calgary is home to July’s Calgary
sider our neighbor to the north, give
it’s seen as safe, clean and English-
Stampede, complete with Chuckwagon
yourself nine to twelve months’ lead
speaking (even if part of it is French-
Races, agriculture and livestock exhibits,
time to promote the trip properly and
speaking). And, if you’re thinking of
and the Rodeo and Grandstand Show.
go for it! It may be your best trip yet.
Canada for your group, you’re in luck
Calgary is the portal to the Canadian
because Canada has a wealth of special
Rockies, where motor-
festivals and activities year-round to
coach trips are available
tempt the visitor. February brings Que-
from such companies as
bec City’s Winter Carnival, a two-week
Globus, Collette and
celebration of snow, ice and winter
Brewster, a well-known
sports. A visit to Quebec would be
Canadian operator.
paired nicely with nearby Montreal,
Overnights are recom-
largest French-speaking city in North
mended in Banff, Lake
8 February 2009
Marty is founder and chair of the travel industry training program at Berkeley City College in Berkeley, California, where she teaches all aspects of group travel. You can reach her by e-mail at josemarty@yahoo.com. For information on her latest book, How To Plan, Operate and Lead Successful Group Trips, click on Premier Tourism Marketing’s educational web site, groupuniversity.com. LeisureGroupTravel.com