This was published 7 years ago
Going to Canada instead of the USA: The Canadian equivalents of America's attractions
By Ben Groundwater
Instead of Yellowstone, try Banff.
Don't worry, you're not alone. If the thought of "President Donald Trump" scares you enough to consider changing your plans to visit the USA, spare a thought for those who actually live there. It's no wonder Canada's immigration website crashed after news of the new leader was confirmed.
There is, after all, much to like about Canada – and much that, right now, seems the polar opposite of the USA. Instead of Donald Trump as leader, Canada has Justin Trudeau, the smiling, puppy-hugging, baby-kissing, equal-opportunity-loving liberal that many people are probably wishing right now was born south of the border. Instead of screams of "Make America great again", Canada just has a whole lot of people apologising all the time.
That's why so many Americans are apparently thinking about moving north. It's also why so many tourists might be considering spending their holidays in a similar place. If you, too, are keen on Canada instead of tangling with Trump's new kingdom, then here are the places to go.
(Special note: This story should be taken as it was intended, with tongue in cheek. Canada is great, but so is the USA – just because its leader will soon be an orange-skinned, small-fingered megaphone named Donald Trump, does not mean you should cancel any plans. In fact, some of the reddest states in the country are among the best to visit, as I wrote last week.)
Instead of… New York
Go to… Montreal
If it's a buzzing, culture-soaked metropolis you crave, then look no further than Montreal. This Quebecois hub does all of the good things in life well: the food is amazing (check out the smoked meat sandwiches at Schwartz's, or the bagels at Fairmount), the café culture is friendly and fun, the music scene is great, and there's never a shortage of other live entertainment. Montreal isn't as large as the Big Apple, but there's still plenty of it to love.
More: www.tourisme-montreal.org
Instead of… Yellowstone National Park
Go to… Banff National Park
In Yellowstone, the USA can boast one of the world's great national parks. However, Canada doesn't exactly have a shortage of natural beauty. You could take your pick of dozens of reserves that boast unique and stunning features, but perhaps the most spectacular of them all is Banff National Park in Alberta. It's here you'll find rugged snow-capped peaks, dense cedar forests, and flawless mountain lakes, all of which can hiked, biked, paddled or camped on.
More: www.banffnationalpark.com
Instead of… Colorado
Go to… British Columbia
This is no secret to the bulk of Australian snow bunnies. While Colorado boasts world-famous ski resorts like Aspen, Vail, Breckenridge and Steamboat, British Columbia boasts… Whistler. You may have heard of Whistler, given at least 10 people you know have probably been there in the last 12 months. There's more to the BC ski scene, however, including great mountains like Silverstar, Big White, Kicking Horse and Revelstoke. All have world-class terrain and reliable snowfalls.
More: www.hellobc.com.au
Instead of… Alaska
Go to… The Yukon
Those with a thirst for wide-open spaces, for mountain ranges that seem to go on forever, for rivers, for plains, for silent, brooding wilderness that's completely devoid of man or politician, could very easily plump for Alaska, or they could head to the Yukon, the Canadian territory right next door. The Yukon is all about the great outdoors, from fishing to hiking, canoeing to dog-sledding. There's culture, too, in the First Nations people who still inhabit this beautiful part of the world.
More: www.travelyukon.com
Instead of… New England
Go to… Nova Scotia
Here's a neat bit of symmetry. Just as, in the post-Brexit world, people might prefer to visit Scotland instead of England, you can also visit "New Scotland" instead of New England. Nova Scotia boasts plenty that its southern neighbour can also claim, from the lobster-rich ocean to the rugged coastlines and the spectacular colours of its forests during the autumn months. In northern Nova Scotia don't miss the Cabot Trail, a 300-kilometre road trip through the province's best scenery.
More: www.novascotia.com
Instead of… Chicago
Go to… Toronto
What's great about Chi-town? The music, definitely. It's a hub of blues and jazz. Plus there are all the sports teams to watch. And the lakeside location is pretty sweet as well. In fact, it sounds a lot like Toronto. The Ontarian capital not only has the best music scene in Canada – this is where you'll find City and Color, Death From Above 1979, Barenaked Ladies, deadmau5, Crystal Castles, and plenty more – but it's also home to the Maple Leafs (hockey), Blue Jays (baseball) and the Raptors (basketball), and is perched on the edge of Lake Ontario.
More: www.seetorontonow.com
Instead of… Nashville
Go to… Winnipeg
It's a surprise to find that Winnipeg, perched in the middle of prairie country, with pretty much nothing of interest for hundreds and hundreds of kilometres around it, is actually a cultural hotspot. The city has a great live music scene – maybe not a rival to Nashville's, but thriving all the same – as well as excellent food, friendly bars, and an uber-arty fringe theatre culture.
More: www.tourismwinnipeg.com
Instead of… Route 66
Go to… Trans-Canada Highway
Sure, Route 66 is great. But on the Trans-Canada Highway you get to drive more than 8000 kilometres through every single one of Canada's 10 provinces. You'll see snow-capped mountains, endless flat prairies, forests, lakes, cities, towns, villages, and everything in between. There's no better way to understand this great country than by hitting the road and seeing what's out there.
More: www.canada.travel
Instead of… Texas
Go to… Alberta
OK, so it's cowboy culture you want. It's belt buckles and boots, it's big hats, it's hardy stockmen and women, it's horse-riding and cattle-herding. You could definitely go to the Lone Star State in the USA. Or you could head up to Alberta, home of the famous Calgary Stampede, an annual rodeo and festival of all things country-fried, as well as plenty of working cattle ranches that allow guests to come and stay and experience true Albertan cowboy culture.
More: www.travelalberta.com
Instead of… Portland
Go to… Vancouver Island
Portland – and indeed most of the Pacific North-West – is becoming well known for its craft beer scene, and the good news is that that hipster love of a tasty brew has crossed the border into Canada. Head to Vancouver Island, a small but beautiful area that is home to more than 20 craft breweries churning out some of Canada's most delicious beer (yes, even better than Labatt Blue, hard as that is to believe). Even if you're not a beer drinker, the natural beauty of Vancouver Island will be enough to keep you amused.
More: www.hellobc.com.au
See also: Why America's Trump-loving states are not what you'd expect
See also: The top countries to visit in 2017 named
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