Canada: Cities and Regions

Toronto The “New York City” of Canada may feel tame on the surface – perhaps because, unlike most major metropolises, it’s actually clean – but beneath the polite, shiny veneer, an artistic energy percolates. The city owes much of its richness in art, dining, and shopping to its international residents (over 50 percent of Torontonians hail from around the world). Still unsure of its place on the world stage, the city nonetheless holds its own as a cultural capital.

Montreal Head up north for a bit of debauchery à la française in Montreal. Here, you’ll find a blend of sophistication and sass, and culture without pretense as well as scintillating nightlife and a certain je ne sais quoi. Here you’ll find the beauty of an old city (think narrow, cobblestone streets) with all the cosmopolitan amenities. The city’s appeal reels in its fair share of tourists year round, but summer is the favorite when popular seasonal festivals abound.

Quebec City A hotspot for history buffs and antiques aficionados, Quebec City transports visitors to another place and time, yet still manages to impress even the most progressive of epicureans. See our Quebec City Travel Guide

Vancouver Nestled between the Pacific Ocean and British Columbia’s Coast Mountains, cosmopolitan Vancouver appeals to lovers of the outdoors and culture vultures alike. See our Vancouver Travel Guide

Whistler Canada's top winter resort boasts truly tremendous powder, which is why Whistler is hosting most of the ski events during 2010’s Winter Olympic Games. While skiing, snowshoeing, snowboarding, and snowmobiling lure snowhounds here in the winter, mountain bikers, runners, and spa aficionados take their place come summer. See our Whistler Travel Guide

Banff The young, jagged, elk- and grizzly-patrolled Alberta Rockies are a wild tangle of glaciers, granite, and evergreen so ravishing that UNESCO accorded them World Heritage Site status. Add champagne powder and challenging slopes and Banff is a skiers' heaven in winter; come summer, adrenaline junkies mountain bike, climb, and hike the same steep inclines. See our Banff Travel Guide