The Lake Country |
Attractions
Confederation Centre for the Arts
Founded in 1964 as a National Memorial to the Fathers of the Confederation, the Confederation Centre of the Arts is more than a tribute to those who formed the notion of a united country; it is also a celebration of the diversity, talent and character of Canada and its history. Situated on the site of the old Charlottetown marketplace, the Centre takes up a city block and is home to an art gallery, several theatres, a gift shop and restaurant. The annual Charlottetown Festival, begun in the mid-1960s, is a firm favourite hosted by the Centre and runs from late May to mid-October. A celebration of musical theatre and comedy, the Festival has spawned several highly successful musicals, including the immensely popular Anne of Green Gables - The Musical - Canada's longest running musical, now in its 42nd year. The Confederation Centre Art Gallery has over 15,000 pieces of contemporary, modern and historical Canadian art work, and is well worth a visit.
Address: 145 Richmond Street, Charlottetown; Telephone: 902 628 1864; Website: www.confederationcentre.com; Opening time: Art Gallery: Daily 9am to 5pm (13 June to 30 September); Wednesday to Saturday 11am to 5pm; Sundays 1pm to 5pm (30 September to 13 June). Show times vary ; Admission: Admission to the Art Gallery is free; show prices vary
Deadwood
Deadwood grew into a mythical Wild West town in the 1800s, when gold was discovered in the Black Hills. It quickly became home to a colourful cast of prospectors, gunslingers and gamblers. Today, the brick-paved streets, frontier architecture and turn-of-the-century streetlamps have been carefully restored. The entire town has been designated a National Historic Landmark. Visitors can relax in a historic hotel on Main Street, have a drink at the local saloon, try their luck at the casino, pan for gold at the Broken Boot Mine and climb to the Mount Moriah Cemetery to visit the graves of notorious Old West legends like Wild Bill Hickok and Calamity Jane and enjoy a breathtaking view of the hills. Deadwood's notorious reputation inspired the hit television series Deadwood, which takes place during the town's early rough and tumble days.
Address: Western South Dakota, about one hour’s drive from Rapid City; Telephone: 800 999 1876; Website: www.deadwood.org
Founder's Hall
Founder's Hall is one of Prince Edward Island's highly popular attractions, located at the Historic Charlottetown Waterfront. Also known rather grandly as Canada's Birthplace Pavilion, the Hall is a well-designed heritage attraction set in a restored 1906 building that previously housed a CN rail car repair shop. The Hall incorporates state-of-the-art technology with history, allowing visitors to enjoy interactive exhibits, holovisuals, various exciting displays and an absorbing 'Time Travel Tunnel' that allows visitors to trace the development of Canada and its provinces. The aim of Founder's Hall is to celebrate the spirit of co-operation shown by the Fathers of the Confederation, and to educate the public about Canada's heritage. Far from boring, the exhibits and displays continue to delight visitors, and for those tired of all the culture, a boutique selling island crafts, memorabilia and souvenirs is also within its walls.
Address: 6 Prince Street, Charlottetown; Telephone: 902 368 1864; E-mail: info@capitalcommission.pe.ca; Website: www.foundershall.ca; Opening time: Opening times vary according to season, usually open daily. Closed December and January; Admission: C$7 (adults); C$3.75 (youth). Concessions available
Green Gables House
Nestled in the Prince Edward Island National Park in Cavendish is the charming and picturesque Green Gables House that, in the early 1900s, inspired author Lucy Maude Montgomery to create her much-loved story about a precocious red-headed orphan Anne Shirley, entitled Anne of Green Gables. Thousands of visitors flock here to enjoy a ramble around the famous house and its surrounds (originally owned by relatives of the author) that served as a setting for the treasured tale and also to drink in the sights and sounds of the beautiful park that houses Green Gables. The house itself is filled with displays (including audio-visual), a gift shop, the charming Butter Churn Café, a visitor's centre and restored rooms. There are trails to be explored (fans of the book will recognised Lovers Lane and the Haunted Wood), guided evening walks, children's activities, restored gardens and many other treasures to be enjoyed.
Address: 2 Palmers Lane, Cavendish; Telephone: 902 963 7874; E-mail: peinp-pnipe@pc.gc.ca; Website: www.pc.gc.ca/lhn-nhs/pe/greengables; Opening time: Open daily May to October; Wednesdays 10am to 4pm (March to April); Admission: C$7.25 (adult); C$3.50 (youth 6-16 years); concessions available
Nahanni National Park Reserve
Centred on the river valleys in the southwest of the Northwest Territories, and accessible only by air, is the 1,840 square mile (4,766 sq km) Nahanni National Park, an outstanding example of northern wilderness with rivers, canyons, gorges and alpine tundra. One of the park's key features is the South Nahanni River, which originates as a small stream in the remote Mackenzie Mountains. In the park the silt-laden waters meander through scenic mountain valleys and hurtle through a series of deep canyons. Along the river are the Rabbitkettle Hotsprings, the Virginia Falls (with a vertical drop twice that of Niagara Falls), a series of river canyons and caves. Wildlife includes Dall sheep, mountain goats, woodland caribou, wolves, black bears, grizzly bears and trumpeter swans. Nahanni National Park was the first site in the world to be granted World Heritage status by Unesco in 1978. The very intrepid can reach the park via the badly maintained road (often impassable) to Tungsten, and then onwards by river, but most visitors fly in by chartered floatplane from nearby towns. Many operators offer day trips
Address: Box 348, Fort Simpson, NWT; Telephone: 867 6953151; E-mail: nahanni.info@pc.gc.ca; Website: www.pc.gc.ca/pn-np/nt/nahanni/index_e.asp; Transport: Floatplanes may be chartered in many of the regional communities, including Fort Simpson, Fort Liard and Yellowknife in the Northwest Territories, Fort Nelson and Muncho Lake in British Columbia, and Watson Lake, Yukon. There are three licensed outfitting companies that legally offer guided trips in Nahanni National Park Reserve; Opening time: Visitor season is from 15 June to 15 September and the park office is manned 24 hours a day during this period; Admission: Excursion/camping fees C$24.75 daily; fishing C$34.65 annual
Excursions
Events
The Festival in the Desert held annually in January since 2001 is incomparable to most other music festivals. Taking place in Essakane, outside the legendary town of Tombouctou (Timbuktu), the event is a celebration of the local music of the Tuaregs, other nomadic peoples as well as popular world music. Mali has a fascinating musical heritage boasting legends such as Ali Farka Toure and Salif Keita. The temperature may rise to over 100°F (40°C) at midday and during the evenings may drop below zero. Those wishing to attend should bear in mind that there are no hotels although there is much food available on site.
Venue: Essakane, 40 miles (65km) from Tombouctou; Date: January 2009, TBC; Website: www.festival-au-desert.org/index.cfm
PEI International Shellfish Festival
Not everything on Prince Edward Island is Confederation related, and islanders certainly know how to have a good time. The PEI International Shellfish Festival is a combination of seafood, music, fun and laughter. Gourmet chefs, celebrity cooks and food lovers gather together at the Historic Charlottetown Waterfront to celebrate the humble shellfish. The highly acclaimed Culinary Institute of Canada hosts culinary demonstrations by talented chefs and students, and visitors have a chance to sample some of their masterpieces, including fresh PEI mussels and clams, seafood chowder, oysters and quahogs. Various competitions take place at the festival, including a Chowder Championship and an Oyster Shucking showdown. Its not all about food, however, and toe-tapping Maritime music is a perfect accompaniment to all the delicious dishes on offer. Various Celtic-influenced bands, as well as Country Music stars and local groups get the crowds moving, making this 'traditional island kitchen party' a fun and lively, not-to-be-missed affair.
Venue: Historic Charlottetown Waterfront, Charlottetown; Date: 9-21 September 2008; Website: www.peishellfish.com
Annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally
Each year, hundreds of thousands of motorcyclists journey to the American capital of motorcycling culture, Sturgis, South Dakota, to celebrate the freedom of the open road. In addition to concerts, food and camaraderie, visitors can enjoy events like the traditional ride down Main Street, a series of concerts, demo rides, races and tours.
Venue: Sturgis, South Dakota; Date: 4-10 August 2008; Website: www.sturgismotorcyclerally.com
Those who wish they'd been around to see the days when the bison ruled the plains should plan a visit to South Dakota during the Custer State Park Buffalo Roundup. Visitors to this key area in the campaign to save bison from extinction can experience the rumble of hundreds of bison stampeding past, as South Dakota cowboys herd them to corrals for yearly testing, branding and auctions.
Venue: Custer State Park, South Dakota; Date: 29 September 2008