I want to again visit Canada in the New Year. I’ve spoken to friends and read about the train to tour this country, as well as researched sailing its waters. I came across Vacations By Rail offering dozens of rail options in Canada as well as the rest of the world. The company uses rail travel as all or part of its tours so you can choose how much train travel you want to incorporate into your adventure.
If you’ve read my Bucket List on my website, you’ll know I want to visit Nova Scotia. During my research I found just the right tour that includes this province — Eastern Canada Coastal Explorer.
The tour begins with three days in culturally-rich Montreal, Quebec. There’s plenty of time to explore on my own as well as take an included cruise along the St. Lawrence River. Another included tour is Flavors and Aromas of Montreal. I’ll be able to meander through Old Montreal and stop at four eateries to sample local fare.
The tour includes train travel from Montreal to Halifax, Nova Scotia. On the train, I’ll head down the coast of the Baie-des-Chaleurs before arriving in Halifax. Here I’ll visit the first wine producing region in North America stopping at three local estates producing wine or cider.
The next leg of the trip is by rental car. I’ll drive to Wallace, Nova Scotia and Fox Harb’r resort. All along the way there are small towns and historic sites to explore, plus resort offers everything from golf and hiking to a wellness center and spa.
The last day will be spent on Bay of Fundy whale watching, hiking, visiting Cape d’Or Lighthouse and Joggins Fossil Cliffs, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
I chose this tour because it offers some rail travel, but not exclusively so. This way I will learn if I want to journey further next time by train in Canada or some other country.
This particular tour includes accommodations in Montreal, on the train, Halifax and Fox Harb’r, some meals, car rental and three tours.
Eastern Canada Coastal Explorer is one of Vacations By Rail’s newest tours. Also new are Ontario Food & Wine Experience — “Authentic Canadian cuisine, fine local wines and an abundance of history and culture lie ahead on this amazing 8-day journey.” Quebecois Holiday — “Spend a week experiencing the beauty and excitement of a Canadian winter on this festive tour through Montreal and Quebec City.” And Western Canada & Rockies Wildlife Adventure — “Set your sights on the scenic beauty of Canada’s western seaboard and the wild adventures of the Canadian Rockies on this 13-day journey.”
There are, of course, many tour companies offering rail trips. Vacations By Rail came to me highly recommended. Always read the fine print so that you know exactly what the tour fee includes, and check reviews and independent ratings.
Happy travels in 2019!
