If you’re looking to vacation in Canada this summer, Quebec is a great option. It gives you a unique culture and some great landscapes, a combination that makes you feel a world away from home instead of in the province next door.

One of the most charming areas of ‘la belle province’ is the Saguenay region. From majestic natural sights, to historic villages, and from seals to whales, this region has it all.

Located northeast along the St. Lawrence River, the region is named after the Rivière Saguenay and Lac Saint-Jean, which links the Saguenay River to the mighty St. Lawrence. 

The Saguenay River also winds through a majestic fjordwith impressive rock walls reaching a height of more than 350 metres. The Saguenay fjord, amongst the ten longest in the world, is a gigantic glacial valley which stretches for 126 km - and it is the perfect place to spot sunbathing seals!

Stay the night in Tadoussac, a picturesque village established over 400 years ago as France’s first trading post in Canada. Rising above all else, The Hotel Tadoussac with its red roof, is like a beacon. From the hotel terrace, you’ll see one of the most beautiful bays, and in the distance, whales.

And whales are what you’ve come to see. This region offers whale-watching cruises that take you to the original fishing grounds of the Basque whalers.  In fact, the mouth of the Saguenay River is a feeding ground for many whales, and as a result, many species gather here. There are 12 species that visit the area on a seasonal basis, along with the only full time resident: the beluga whale.

Whale-watching tours began here in 1979. By 1997, a total of 50 whale-watching boats have carried approximately 300,000 tourists in the Tadoussac area.

Watching a whale burst through the water's surface is an unforgettable sight. And during my trip I saw 4 kinds of whales – not 4 whales, but 4 KINDS of whales!

I saw humpback, minke and fin whales, as they leapt from the water. And if you’re as lucky as I was, you will catch a flash of white floating on the waves – the elusive beluga, one of the smallest species of these gentle giants.

Julia Bryan handles communications and public relations for DeNure Tours in Lindsay. 

Halifax was Canada’s first permanent British town, and it is located on the shores of the world’s second largest natural harbour. And it is precisely this harbour that will be highlighted from July 19-23, 2012 as it plays host to the Halifax Tall Ships Festival.

This Festival, which was last hosted in Halifax in 2009, will see more than 40 Tall Ships from 30 countries docking in the harbour.  So in addition to the sights of Halifax, you can take in the action of the Festival from different points along the city’s delightful boardwalk. 

The tall ships will be docked all along the Halifax waterfront and a variety of events taking place as well. Musical performances, nautical displays and exhibits, children’s activities, pirate camp, cannon battles and historical re-enactments, are just some of the activities taking place.

A pass to the Festival also includes the chance to board some of these unique vessels. Or perhaps you’d enjoy a view of the skyline while cruising aboard a Tall Ship. The Parade of Sail is the best opportunity to see all of the ships with their rigging out and crews on board. The ships move from their docks, past the reviewing station, and head out to sea through the mouth of the Halifax Harbour.

In addition to the Tall Ships Festival, Halifax is also an official port of the Tall Ships Challenge - Atlantic Coast 2012 Race.  This year’s event commemorates the bicentennial of the War of 1812, an important period of history for the people of Canada and the United States.

The Tall Ships Challenge Race is a series of races, cruises, crew rallies and maritime festivals organized by Tall Ships America in conjunction with American and Canadian ports. These traditionally-rigged sailing vessels are crewed by youth ages 13-25 who are part of sail training programs under the supervision of captains and professional crew members.

For 2012, other ports include Newport Rhode Island, Greenport New York, Charleston South Carolina and Savannah Georgia. In between ports, official Tall Ships Challenge races and cruises will be held at sea.

So this summer, take the opportunity to see these majestic ships from one of the most fascinating cities in Canada by planning to visit during the Halifax Tall Ships Festival.

Julia Bryan handles communications and public relations for DeNure Tours in Lindsay.  

Explore Boston, a vibrant city renowned for its place at the forefront of American history, and for being the home of the world-renowned Boston Symphony Orchestra.

The city’s history brings many tourists who delve into the past with a walk along The Freedom Trail.  This is a red, mostly brick path that winds through downtown Boston and leads to sixteen significant historic sites.

The Trail starts in Boston Common, the oldest park in America. The "Common" has been used for many different purposes throughout its long history including cattle grazing and public hangings!

Then it’s on to Faneuil Hall, the site of several speeches by Samuel Adams who advocated for independence from Great Britain. Because of this, Faneuil Hall is sometimes referred to as "the Cradle of Liberty." Other famous Trail sites include the Paul Revere House and the Old North Church. 

But for those whose love of music inspires their destination, no ensemble is more compelling than the Boston Symphony Orchestra (BSO), and their unique program of music known as the ‘Boston Pops.’

The Boston Pops Orchestra was the vision of BSO founder Henry Lee Higginson who wanted to re-create his memories of the outdoor concerts he attended as a youth in Vienna. 

Now celebrating over a century of performances, the goal of the Boston Pops was two-fold.  First, it would employ members of the Orchestra during the summer months, a time that many would have to find other work.  Secondly, it would provide a less formal way to bring the beauty of an orchestra to the masses by playing more mainstream music.

In July 1885, the musicians of the Boston Symphony Orchestra gave their first "Promenade" concert, offering both music and refreshments, and fulfilling Higginson's wish to give "concerts of a lighter kind of music." These concerts, soon to be given in the springtime and renamed first "Popular" and then "Pops," fast became a tradition. Since then, the Boston Pops have thrilled audiences with their countless arrangements of popular, film, and Broadway music. 

Today, the Orchestra is conducted by Keith Lockhart, and the 2012 season will delight audiences by paying tribute to The Streisand Songbook, and featuring the vocal performance of Ann Hampton Callaway.

Thanks to the music-inspired memories a young Austrian, thousands of music lovers are able to create new soundtracks for their travel memories.

Julia Bryan handles communications and public relations for DeNure Tours in Lindsay.

In Dawson City, they have a saying “come for the history, but stay for the adventure.” A small town with a dramatic history and an endless number of attractions, Dawson City offers it all in a rugged and majestic setting.

In 1896, George Carmack, Dawson Charlie, and Skookum Jim found gold in what is now called Bonanza Creek, and changed the history of the Yukon forever. Their discovery triggered one of the world's greatest gold rush stampedes as nearly 100,000 prospectors yearned to strike it rich in the Klondike gold fields.

Designated as a national historic site, Dawson City has re-created the Klondike Gold Rush, and many of the city’s buildings have been restored to evoke the ambience of the original gold rush days.  

Today, gold seekers still visit Dawson City. The Klondike Visitors’ Association maintains the original claim at Bonanza Creek, and welcomes anyone to give gold panning a try. If you don’t have your own gold pan, you can rent one, and they even offer panning lessons!

They say there’s still gold to be found if you have patience and a little luck. So take your pan to Bonanza Creek, dig some dirt from the surrounding banks and wash it out in the river. Remember - any gold you find, you can keep!

If you’d rather try your luck at gambling, visit Dawson City’s world famous casino named after the bona fide dance hall queen “Diamond Tooth Gertie.”  Offering can-can dancers and a singing master of ceremonies named Gertie, Canada’s oldest gambling hall gives you a chance to re-live the Gold Rush era, all while playing blackjack, roulette, poker or an array of glittering slot machines.

But for those that prefer the majesty of nature to the glitter of the gold rush, some of the most spectacular views in the Yukon can be found in nearby Tombstone Territorial Park. 

The Tombstone mountain range has been referred to as the Patagonia of the Northern Hemisphere, and it is home to flora and fauna that cannot be found anywhere else in North America.  Here, visitors can experience the awesome beauty of a northern mountain wilderness.

With so many unique things to do and see in Dawson City, is easy to see why there’s another local saying: “some come for the golden moments in the wild, and others for the golden memories that will last a lifetime.”

Julia Bryan manages the communications and public relations for DeNure Tours. 

When you’re getting ready to go on vacation, it’s not unusual to focus more on packing and planning, than about protecting your home while you are away.  This can mean taking precautions against burglary or ensuring against damage like fire or flooding.

Research shows that if it takes more than five minutes to break into a home, a burglar will go elsewhere.  But, if they do get in, don’t make it easier for them to steal your valuables.  Some simple rules:

• Make sure you have strong doors. Outside doors and frames should be made of metal or solid hardwood and be at least 1¾ inches thick. Even the best lock will not deter a burglar if it is installed in a weak door.

• Don’t forget about the garage or shed doors!  They also need strong locks since burglars can use the tools inside to break into your home.

• Keep valuables locked up and well hidden. Do not leave personal documents or valuables in a place where burglars might expect to find them.  For example, personal documents should be somewhere other than your home office and jewelry should be hidden somewhere other than the bedroom.

As you prepare to leave on vacation, remember that a would-be thief has even more time to commit their crime, so you’ll make the house look inhabited: 

• Arrange to have your lawn mowed or driveway shoveled.

• Arrange to have mail, newspaper and flyers picked up.

• Be careful not to discuss your vacation plans at the supermarket or hairdresser or other public places where you don’t know who may be listening.

Now that your house is secure, make sure that you have also protected it from damage. 

A few years ago, my mother went on vacation and her homecoming gift was a leaking toilet that had flooded the entire house!  This could have been prevented if she had simply turned off the water supply to the toilet before she left.

If you are headed south during the winter, do not turn off the heat.  By setting the thermostat to at least 18˚C (65˚F), you will help to stop pipes from freezing and causing them to burst.

You really can’t take anything for granted when you leave your home alone.  But with a little forethought, you can protect your home from itself, and from those who wish to steal your personal treasures.

Julia Bryan handles communications and public relations for DeNure Tours in Lindsay.