With international visitors staying away due to the pandemic and border restrictions, this will be a summer like no other and presents an opportunity for Canadians to rediscover many world-renowned attractions and locations in their own backyard.
As the majority of national parks opened earlier this month, Nick Schlachter was waiting in his truck at the front of the line to access Banff National Park’s Lake Minnewanka, a picturesque glacial lake surrounded by towering mountains and lush forests near Banff, Alta.
He couldn’t wait for the park to open for the first time this season and get his boat on the open water.
“It’s been a long three months. Everyone has been cooped up, and it’s time to get out and get some lake trout,” said Schlachter, who lives in Canmore, Alta. “It’s time to go.”
The lake is a tourist magnet, but this year, the water will be noticeably quieter, as will the nearby bike paths, cafe and campground.
With international visitors staying away due to the pandemic and border restrictions, this will be a summer like no other and presents an opportunity for Canadians to rediscover the many world-renowned attractions and locations, such as Banff, Montreal and Victoria.
Montreal and Victoria
Normally, the cobblestone streets of Old Montreal are jammed this time of year with slow-moving crowds of people stopping to snap photos with tablets and selfie sticks held high in the air.
The thought of navigating so many people is a strong deterrent for most locals to keep out of the area. Now, it might be refreshing to take a stroll through the greystone buildings and appreciate the Notre-Dame Basilica and other historical beauties.
The same can be said for cities such as Victoria, which won’t see temporary population spikes as cruise ships dock and hundreds of thousands of travellers pour out into the city.
