It was also an opportunity for local media to find out what’s new in their own country. Here’s a sample of what I learned:
Cliffhanger in B.C.
Vancouver’s Capilano Suspension Bridge, whose promotional tag line is “Naturally Thrilling Since 1889,” will open its newest and scariest adventure yet in the spring. “Cliffhanger” is a single-direction walkway, which, at its highest, is 90 metres above the Capilano River, and 213-metres long.
Each one of the attraction’s 16 anchor points are drilled into the rock face. In some sections of the narrow walkway very strong glass is all that separates the visitor from the canyon below. Check capbridge.com Grasslands National Park, Saskatchewan Stargazers will appreciate a visit to Grasslands National Park, which recently joined Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park in becoming a designated Dark Sky Preserve. DSPs are sanctuaries from pollution of artificial lighting, and provide a better environment for nocturnal animals and stargazers alike. The Grasslands DSP, in southwest Saskatchewan, is one of 11 in Canada and currently the largest in the world, encompassing 527 sq km. Check sasktourism.com.
Northern Lights live!
It used to be if you lived in the south, you had to travel to see the Northern Lights. Now the Northern Lights will come to you.
Anyone with a computer can now view the Aurora Borealis live on-line. A web camera in Yellowknife, considered the prime location for aurora observation in Canada, captures colour images of the Northern Lights as they move through the sky. The camera goes live just in time to catch the dramatic increase in the intensity and frequency of the Northern Lights as the Sun approaches Solar Maximum (expected to be in 2013). The live feed is available at astronomynorth.com and on the Canadian Space Agency website asc-csa.gc.ca/eng/default.asp.
Dino tracks in Tumbler Ridge
Did you know that Tumbler Ridge is the dinosaur capital of B.C and home to the province’s longest track-way of dinosaur footprints (26), which were found in Flatbed Creek?
Now visitors can see these recreated dinosaur trackways, as well as interactive displays and skeletons of the great beasts responsible for the prints at the recently opened Tumbler Ridge Dinosaur Discovery Gallery.
A unique way to explore the footprints is with Wolverine Lantern Tours where special lights, dinosaur sounds and rushing water at the riverbank site create an otherworldly experience. Children can also explore in free Dino camps, while adults can take advantage of learning excursions. Check visittumblerridge.ca.
Adventure park
The new adventure park that opened at Horseshoe Resort near Barrie this summer has Ontario’s only zorb ride, which involves rolling downhill inside a transparent rubberized sphere about 3 metres in diameter. The park’s other main attractions include summer and winter tubing, one of Canada’s longest Zip Flyers, climbing wall, skateboard park and downhill mountain biking.
Prices vary depending on the season. Visitors can purchase tickets for individual attractions and an all-day access pass if available in the summer. Check horseshoeresort.com or call 1-800-461-5627.
Fundy a finalist
Only one Canadian attraction - the Bay of Fundy - has made it to the list of
28 official finalists in the “New 7 Wonders of Nature” campaign.
Swiss-born Canadian adventurer Bernard Weber is the brainchild behind this campaign and a previous one - the New 7 Wonders of the World.
New Brunswick tourism organizations have come up with a list of 11 reasons why their entry should win. The Bay of Fundy has the world’s highest tides
(16 metres - five to 10 times higher than any other), and is visited by 12 species of whales during the summer. Chosen by popular vote, the final 7 Wonders will be declared in 2011. For details or to cast your vote, check new7wonders.com or votemyfundy.com Mine Museum revamped The Britannia Mine Museum (formerly the BC Museum of Mining), which offers a unique glimpse into an industry that helped shape the province, has just undergone a $14.7 million refurbishment. The new Beaty Lundin Visitor Centre is complete with a theatre, mineral exhibits and interactive entertainment.
Visitors can also stroll the boardwalk, and take a peek at the community of restored historic buildings, the oldest dating back to 1905.
All this in addition to its popular existing attractions: An underground mine train, machine shop and the 26-storey landmark Mill Building (a National Historic Site). The museum is just north of Vancouver along the region’s famed Sea to Sky corridor. Check bcmm.ca.
writer@interlog.com
