CANADIAN:
A Dream Journey Through Canada

Simply speaking, the Canadian, VIA Rail Canada's flagship train, is one of the great rail journeys in the world.  Starting from Toronto, the trip takes passengers past the enchanting lakes and forests of Northern Ontario, across the wide expanse of the Canadian prairies, through the majestic Canadian Rockies and on to the Pacific coastal city of Vancouver.  A full three-day adventure, the Canadian offers travelers an up-close look at the country's wondrous natural landscape and wildlife.  The service, which departs three times per week year-round, has two classes - Silver & Blue and Comfort. 

VIA Rail's award winning Silver & Blue Class is heaven on rails.  Features include:  cozy private and semi-private sleeping compartments, scenic "dome" cars, lounges and activity centers, and the tail-end  "Park car" with wraparound windows.  Meals are included and feature an array of entrées prepared by an on-board chef; a selection of fine Canadian wines are available for purchase.  

Also available on the Canadian is VIA's pampering Romance by Rail package, featuring two double-bedroom sleeping compartments combined to form one spacious suite, his-and-hers washrooms and robes, complimentary fresh flowers and breakfast in bed upon request.

VIA Rail's Comfort class (economy), offers stretch-out comfort with footrests and reclining seat backs; meals, snacks and beverages are conveniently available from both the seating area and a nearby take out counter.  VIA pillows and blankets are also complimentary. 

In the winter months, VIA, in partnership with Alberta and British Columbia hotels and tour operators, offers the "Snow Train to Jasper", a series of touring programs that combine a journey aboard the Canadian with your choice of Jasper's premier accommodations and superb skiing and snowboarding and a winter in the Rockies resort vacation.

Along the way, passengers can also take advantage of VIA Rail's convenient connections to other trail-blazing routes.

Some of the great cities, attractions and events along the route of the Canadian include:

Toronto is perhaps best known for its theater.  Third only to New York and London in English-speaking theater, the city is home to several award-winning plays and musicals.  Other attractions around town include the CN Tower, the world's tallest freestanding structure, fascinating museums like the Royal Ontario Museum, and year-round sporting events at The Rogers Center and the Air Canada Center.  Areas like Yorkville and Bloor St. West are home to fascinating museums and galleries and offer a variety of great places to shop and dine. 

Highlighting a packed schedule of events in Toronto is the annual Winterfest, which features non-stop concerts, world-class skating shows, performance ice sculptors, daring thrill shows and street theater, and the Celebrate Toronto Street Festival, a Summertime weekend starring more than 1200 performers on 10 different stages - all for free.

Among the many splendid attractions in Edmonton is the West Edmonton Mall - the largest mall in the world.  With over 800 stores, 110 places to dine including several acclaimed restaurants, and theme park attractions such as roller coasters and a water park, the mall truly has something for everyone.   Another worthwhile attraction is Old Strathcona, a historic section of Edmonton containing some of the best-preserved landmarks in the city.  The streets are alive with sidewalk cafés and exciting shops.  In the heart of it all lies the Old Strathcona Farmers' Market, an open-air market with fresh produce, baked goods and local crafts.

One of Edmonton's great annual events is the Klondike Days Festival, a ten-day, citywide, gold rush-themed celebration of Edmonton's early days as a frontier community. The festival features a fun-filled parade, great regional food and professional chuck wagon racing.  

Renowned for top-notch skiing, hiking and outdoor sports, Jasper attracts visitors from around the globe and is one of Canada's most picturesque places.  A true winter wonderland, the city also boasts great dining and shopping.

With awe-inspiring natural wonders like Maligne Canyon, Sunwapta Falls, Mount Edith Cavell and Miette Hot Springs, Jasper National Park contains some of the most remarkable landscapes in the world.  The largest park in the Canadian Rocky Mountains, Jasper National is also a wildlife sanctuary perfect for viewing all kinds of animals in their natural habitats. 

Visitors to Jasper should consider a drive south on the Icefields Parkway, one of the world's most scenic routes.  Continue to the village of Lake Louise, a resort featuring more tremendous skiing and snowboarding, as well as hiking, camping and mountain biking in the summer.  Along your route you will pass through two other spectacular national parks in the Canadian Rocky Mountains: Banff National Park and Yoho National Park.  The nation's first national park, Banff is home to several historical sites as well as rugged mountains, beautiful blue cold-water lakes, and hot mineral springs.  Yoho, situated in the shadow of the Great Divide, contains unique plant and animal communities along with dazzling waterfalls, spectacular glaciers and soaring peaks.

Vancouver offers a countless number of attractions, such as Granville Island which features fresh markets, superb dining, great shopping, and activities for all ages, with something new at every turn.  A trip to historic Gastown, Vancouver's oldest section, is a must.  Cobbled streets, quaint courtyards and narrow passageways spin a maze through this classically Victorian area. Along the way is a bevy of fine dining and rustic shops.

Offering over 200 feature-length films and almost 100 short productions over a two-weeks span, the annual Vancouver Film Festival is one of several great events where the "Action!" is in Vancouver. The festival provides an opportunity for filmmakers to display their latest works of art, as well as the chance for movie buffs to see flicks not viewable anywhere else.

The Canadian is commissionable to travel agents at 5%.  Many North American tour operators also highlight the Canadian service in numerous touring programs for both independent and group travel.  Check out VIA's train packages search engine to view your options now!