Let’s Party Like It’s 1867

Canada has now officially embarked on its 150th anniversary party, kicking off 2017 with frigid all-Canadian weather across the country.

Cold weather will not dent celebrations that will start rolling with snow and ice still on the ground, but that will quickly ramp up as spring and summer warmth returns – making Canada a hot destination for 2017, reports western editor, Ted Davis in this week’s digital edition of Canadian Travel Press.

Those green and lazy days are already in sight for those who have made reservations for a Parks Canada Discovery Pass.

For all of 2017, the annual Parks Canada Discovery Pass will give users unlimited opportunities to enjoy all national parks, national marine conservation areas and national historic sites across the country for free.

There is a huge selection of these, ranging from the Cape Breton Highlands National Park in Nova Scotia to Thousand Islands National Park in Ontario to the Dawson Historical Complex National Historic Site in Yukon to Yoho National Park in B.C. – and of course including Banff National Park in Alberta – a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the first National Park of Canada (1885).

Demand for these passes is already reportedly running high – not unexpectedly – and there is some concerns that overcrowding will be a factor at the infrastructure adjoining the parks and sites.

Parks Canada says that 900,000 of the passes had been ordered in the first two weeks since becoming available on a complementary basis in December.

For the full story, check out this week’s digital edition of Canadian Travel Press by clicking here.