Between the current political environment in the U.S. and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's boyish good looks, many Vermonters might already be thinking O Canada! But this summer, our friendly northern neighbor is really pulling out the stops to court visitors. For starters, there are two big birthday parties: the country's 150th and the province of Québec's 375th. Both entail numerous activities to mark the milestones. Celebration of the confederation anniversary includes events ranging from K-Pop flash mobs to a Prince Charles appearance on Canada Day (July 1). Officially, the festivities take place June 21 through July 2 (see canada.pch.gc.ca). But perhaps more relevant to Vermonters are the ways in which visitors are invited to explore the country throughout the year. Parks Canada is offering a free discovery pass to anyone — Canadian, American or otherwise — that can be ordered online and grants entry to any national park. A map to help you find the nearest ones is included with the pass, which comes in the form of a rear-view-mirror hanger adorned with a cute beaver. The discovery pass will get you into 148 places, including historic sites and marine conservation areas. In Québec, La Mauricie National Park in the Laurentian Mountains features a number of hiking trails, lakes and waterfalls. Driving a little farther will take you to Thousand Islands National Park, a great destination for quiet summer camping. Of course, in the province where Je me souviens adorns license plates, there's always a sense of competition with, and even animosity toward, anything the federal government chooses to impose — even if it's just a cute beaver. Besides, Québec can claim a much earlier foundation than that whippersnapper confederation. So Québec is having its own fête (375mtl.com). 2017 marks 375 years since Jeanne Mance arrived, along with Soeur Dominique de la Maisonneuve, to found the community of Ville-Marie on the island later renamed Montréal. The city is celebrating with numerous festivals and exhibits throughout the summer. For visitors, they present a great opportunity to break out of the Peel-Crescent downtown corridor and explore some of Montréal's unique communities. Two examples: Chats de Rouelle, or Alley Cats, is a series of parties in different neighborhoods in each of the city's 19 boroughs. Circus performers, outdoor movies and food trucks will make their way to various hoods to set up shop for a day. The Streets of Montréal events guide…
Between the current political environment in the U.S. and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's boyish good looks, many Vermonters might already be thinking O Canada! But this summer, our friendly northern neighbor is really pulling out the stops to court visitors. For starters, there are two big birthday parties: the country's 150th and the province of Québec's 375th. Both entail numerous activities to mark the milestones. Celebration of the confederation anniversary includes events ranging from K-Pop flash mobs to a Prince Charles appearance on Canada Day (July 1). Officially, the festivities take place June 21 through July 2 (see canada.pch.gc.ca). But perhaps more relevant to Vermonters are the ways in which visitors are invited to explore the country throughout the year. Parks Canada is offering a free discovery pass to anyone — Canadian, American or otherwise — that can be ordered online and grants entry to any national park. A map to help you find the nearest ones is included with the pass, which comes in the form of a rear-view-mirror hanger adorned with a cute beaver. The discovery pass will get you into 148 places, including historic sites and marine conservation areas. In Québec, La Mauricie National Park in the Laurentian Mountains features a number of hiking trails, lakes and waterfalls. Driving a little farther will take you to Thousand Islands National Park, a great destination for quiet summer camping. Of course, in the province where Je me souviens adorns license plates, there's always a sense of competition with, and even animosity toward, anything the federal government chooses to impose — even if it's just a cute beaver. Besides, Québec can claim a much earlier foundation than that whippersnapper confederation. So Québec is having its own fête (375mtl.com). 2017 marks 375 years since Jeanne Mance arrived, along with Soeur Dominique de la Maisonneuve, to found the community of Ville-Marie on the island later renamed Montréal. The city is celebrating with numerous festivals and exhibits throughout the summer. For visitors, they present a great opportunity to break out of the Peel-Crescent downtown corridor and explore some of Montréal's unique communities. Two examples: Chats de Rouelle, or Alley Cats, is a series of parties in different neighborhoods in each of the city's 19 boroughs. Circus performers, outdoor movies and food trucks will make their way to various hoods to set up shop for a day. The Streets of Montréal events guide…