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Must Do Canada

The Best Things to Do in Canada

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Cowboys, Mountains, Beef, Prairies and Oil. The West is full of Adventure!

Snowshoeing, Tubing and Magnificent Views at Mount Norquay

By Matthew G. Bailey 6 Comments

Situated in one of the most beautiful national parks in the world is Mount Norquay, an amazing mountain for skiing and snowboarding. Known as one of the mountains where olympians train, it’s also the closest and smallest ski area to the town of Banff.

But when most people think of Mount Norquay or with any of the mountains for that matter, thoughts of skiing and snowboarding are the only things that typically come to mind. That’s the only thing I ever thought about when visiting the area during the winter time…

Not anymore.

[Read more…] about Snowshoeing, Tubing and Magnificent Views at Mount Norquay

Little Chicago – Learning About Scarface in the Tunnels of Moose Jaw Saskatchewan

By Matthew G. Bailey 3 Comments

 

tunnels of moose jaw

It’s not what I expected in the little town of Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. Who would have thought that a gangster from Chicago, Al Capone, would be bootlegging alcohol in tunnels under Moose Jaw?

It must have been a big change for Mr. Capone, who was raised in New York and then controlled Chicago’s crime scene, to visit a town hundreds of times smaller.

My family and I arrived at 7 PM for the Chicago Connection Tour. We were guided across the street where we met Miss Fanny, otherwise known as the lady of the bar. The tour is an interactive show with a couple of actors who do a great job at entertaining, complete with old Chicago accents and lingo.

Gangster

We were shown a quick video in the bar that gave us some history of Al Capone and the alcohol bootlegging industry. We were then treated as bootleggers ourselves and brought into the tunnels to meet gangster Gus, who guided us through the rest of the tunnels. The accents were great. The way it’s all organized is great. There was suspense. Some people even got scared (like my mom).

All in all, it was a great show and if you ever find yourself passing through southern Saskatchewan, it’s worth the visit.

You can also enjoy a latte across the street where the tour begins.

Learn more at www.tunnelsofmoosejaw.com.

Have you been to the tunnels of Moose Jaw before?

 

Skiing the Continental Divide | An Amazing Day at Sunshine Village

By Matthew G. Bailey 5 Comments

Gondola sunshine village banff

Skiing (or boarding) is one of those sports that remains magical all throughout life. It’s fun, exciting, physically exhausting and often takes you to some very beautiful places that are covered in white sparkling snow. Sunshine Village near Banff, Alberta is one of those magical places. Not only does it offer some of the best scenery in the world but it also gives you the chance to ski in two different provinces in one run.

That’s right – the Continental Divide Quad chair crosses the provincial boundary between Alberta and British Columbia, giving you a very unique run and a chance to witness an area where mountain melt-off makes it into two different oceans; the Atlantic and the Pacific. Sunshine Village also offers a vertical drop of 3,514 feet, which is the longest in the Canadian Rockies and offers the longest season, which ends in late May with the incredible wrap-up party known as href=”https://www.mustdocanada.com/skiing-in-bikinis-a-tribute-to-sunshines-slush-cup/”>Slush Cup.

Powder ski sunshine village banff

Another special feature of Sunshine Village is the fact that it is situated 7,000 feet up a mountain, making the snow softer, drier and longer-lasting than other ski resorts in the area. The gondola ride to the village itself is a breathtaking experience, transporting up to 2,800 people per hour if need be for a 13-minute ride past beautiful mountain scenery.

We couldn’t have picked a better day to go ourselves. Warm weather mixed with bright blue skies created a picture-perfect backdrop for tear-worthy landscapes. Every time we got on a chair lift and ascended to the top of a run, we found ourselves marvelling at the views around us. Even as we sped down the mountain runs, we found ourselves stopping and staring in disbelief at the views surrounding us. It was like the scene from the movie Into The Wild where Chris McCandless spots a couple hundred caribou gathering nearby and begins to tear up at how truly magnificent it is.

sunshine village banff

At the top of each chair lift, you’ll find yourself with a nearly 360-degree view that battles anything you’ve ever seen in National Geographic. Finding it difficult to peel your eyes away from postcard-perfect views, you’ll need to remind yourself that world-class skiing also awaits. With 109 named runs on three mountains including chutes and bowls, you’ll want to dedicate time to explore what the resort has to offer.

Sunshine Village is suitable for all types of experience levels. Nestled amongst 3,300 acres of skiable terrain, which ranges from basic beginner runs to the some of the best off-piste destinations in the world, you’ll have no trouble finding something that suits you. Sunshine also has a 12-acre terrain park with more than 50 features for those more into doing tricks.

sunshine village banff must do canada

For those visiting Alberta, a trip to UNESCO World Heritage Banff National Park is an absolute must-do activity. Sunshine Village is located in the park and is a must-do activity any time of the year. If skiing/boarding is your thing, the season runs from early November until Mid-May. Located just 135KM west of Calgary, Alberta, Banff and Sunshine Village also makes the list of top things to do in Calgary.

The gondola runs from 8 AM until 5:30 PM on most days (with Friday closing times at 10:30 PM) and is open 7 days a week. For more information on this truly one-of-a-kind experience, visit SkiBanff.com.

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Picture of Banff Gondola is by Must Do Canada. All other pictures credited to Sunshine Village / Adam Locke.

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Jaw-Dropping Views and World Class Skiing

By Matthew G. Bailey 1 Comment

things to do in banff in winter

No matter what time of year you make it out to Lake Louise, you’re in for a treat. Beautiful turquoise lakes, stunning mountain views and in this case, world-class skiing.

Situated just 2.5 hours west from Calgary, Alberta, Lake Louise Mountain Resort is a life experience that should be on everyone’s bucket list. As if 139 ski runs weren’t enough, the resort also offers some of the best views in the world. From many of the resort’s chairlifts, you’ll be greeted with panoramic views of glaciers, valleys and the Rocky Mountains that surround them. At times I didn’t want the chairlift to end as I sat there twisting my neck to watch the stunning view that was passing us by. You’ll truly feel on top of the world. [Read more…] about Jaw-Dropping Views and World Class Skiing

Skiing in Bikinis | A Tribute to Sunshine’s Slush Cup

By Matthew G. Bailey 1 Comment

Sunshine Village slush cup

It was a beautiful day to be outdoors. Sunshine, blue skies and +20 degree weather. Some people went camping. Some people had a BBQ. We (and thousands of others) went skiing at Sunshine Village near Banff, Alberta. It wasn’t a typical ski day either – It was the 85th anniversary of Slush Cup.

Slush Cup is a special time of year. A celebration of springs arrival and the last day of lift-ticket skiing. It’s a day when people from all over come out dressed in their silliest costumes (or bikinis) to watch or take part in the annual celebration, which consists of 65 competitors skiing or boarding down a hill, off a jump and into (or across) a 30-meter-long, 2.5-meter-deep pool of ice-cold water. [Read more…] about Skiing in Bikinis | A Tribute to Sunshine’s Slush Cup

Becoming a Speeding Bullet | Experiencing the Olympic Bobsleigh at Canada Olympic Park

By Matthew G. Bailey 9 Comments

Canada Olympic Park Calgary

Last week, I had the opportunity to feel like a bullet. Nestled inside a black Olympic 4-person bobsleigh, me, my fiancee, another lady, and Canadian winter Olympic silver medallist Helen Upperton (our driver) went soaring down a 1500-meter ice track at more than 120 km/h.

It was a crazy feeling. A rough one as well. The air was a crisp -25 Celcius and while most people were indoors drinking hot chocolate, we were getting ready to pull 5 G-forces of pressure while trying to keep our heads tucked into our shoulders like a turtle.

[Read more…] about Becoming a Speeding Bullet | Experiencing the Olympic Bobsleigh at Canada Olympic Park