COVID-19 reminder. As we go to press, we are still in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. If we still aren’t able to travel when you read this, save these coast-to-coast walking tours for when we can.
Get to know Montreal
L’Autre Montréal
Founded in 1984, this non-profit community group offers history buffs more than 40 thematic or neighbourhood tours that deal with the myriad social, cultural and historical characteristics of the city. Knowledgeable guides go in-depth to share little-known insider info on subjects such as cultural diversity, social challenges, art and architecture. Discover how Montreal has changed over the years while you wander through the town on foot or by bus. You will see Old Montreal in a new light. autremontreal.com
Eat up the Eastern Townships
Cheesemakers Circuit Les Têtes Fromagères
With 14 potential stops, this Quebec cheese trail serves up the art of fromageries, one after another. Explore the flavours created by the region’s passionate artisan cheese makers for a couple of hours or a whole weekend, meeting the producers and hearing their stories. From the organic pastures of the family-owned Fromagerie La Station to the grazing goats at Fromagerie Cornes et Sabots to the Gregorian chants of the Benedictine monks at Abbaye de Saint-Benoît-du-Lac, this experience will be both memorable and delicious. easterntownships.org/tourist-routes
Forage the woods in Newfoundland
Cod Sounds
Food purists will delight in the time spent in Avondale, near St. John’s, with chef Lori McCarthy. As a champion of the eat-it-wild food movement, she takes travelers on walking tours to learn about the foodways of her province. Depending on the season, guests try their hand at meat curing and smoking, berry picking, coastal foraging, and more, as McCarthy relates tasty tales of Newfoundland’s colourful culinary history. Sessions conclude with a variety of homespun treats from land and sea. Visitors come away with an appreciation for the natural way of looking at food — and a full belly.
Hit the pubs in Ottawa
Brew Donkey
Get in on behind-the-scenes fun on private tours through the local craft breweries of Ottawa and the Rideau Valley, which promise to be both entertaining and educational. Craft beer warrior Brad Campeau curates experiential bus tours, working with a diverse collection of almost 50 local breweries, from bestsellers to the little-known gems. Hit the road on Friday, Saturday or Sunday, year-round. Smaller, private tours can also be arranged along a route mapped out specifically for you. brewdonkey.ca
Trek the escarpment in Ontario
The Bruce Trail
This oldest and longest marked hiking trail in Canada meanders 840 kilometres, with another 440 kilometres of secondary trails leading out from it. Year-round, it’s visited by more than 400,000 people in hiking boots or snowshoes, who take in the wildlife along with the true beauty of the Niagara Escarpment, which is one of only 12 UNESCO World Biosphere Reserves in Canada. The moderately hard/easy section of the trail located near Milton, Ont., is about 45 kilometres long and just one of its nine legs. It’s a great getaway for a few hours or a few days, depending on your schedule. ontariotrails.on.ca/trails/view/bruce-trail
Search for clues in Regina
Let’s Roam
During an epic two-hour scavenger hunt of Regina, from downtown to Wascana Lake, you and your team meet an eccentric premier, a courageous chief and a theatrical prince while searching for clues. There are 20 puzzles in this modern-day treasure hunt, which takes in the Saskatchewan Legislative Building, Frederick W. Hill Mall and Wascana Centre. Each participant is texted photo challenges and activities to work through with the group — the answers can be found on public plaques, statues, art or just about anywhere. Enjoy about two and a half miles of happy hunting. letsroam.com
Follow the birds in British Columbia
BC Bird Trail
New to the province last fall, the BC Bird Trail is a network of routes through the Richmond Delta, the Fraser Valley and Central Vancouver Island that are just waiting for you to walk on them, binoculars in hand. Birders and hikers can poke about what’s known as the Pacific Flyway, an avian migratory path that runs from Alaska to Argentina, and enjoy easy-to-follow trails for the day or a whole week. The meditation, mindfulness, fresh air and exercise they offer are the perfect way to give back to your body and soul. bcbirdtrail.ca
Taste your way through Tofino
Tofino Food Tours
When you’re not boating, whale-watching, fishing or surfing in Tofino, you’re eating. This tiny town anchoring Vancouver Island’s far west side is a culinary adventure — if you know where to look. Tofino Food Tours can take care of that, with morning and afternoon treks delivering insider info on the best clam chowder, craft beer, oysters, charcuterie and cheese. Along the way, you get local lore, making the walk a little history lesson as well. Smoked jerk salmon? Yes, please. tofinofoodtours.com
