Until April 8, 2018, the Canadian Museum of History in Gatineau, Québec, is deep in dragons, teeming with trolls and packed with penguins as DreamWorks Animation: The Exhibition – Journey from Sketch to Screen celebrates 20 years of movie magic. Visitors will discover the secrets of digital animation from the makers of How to Train Your Dragon, Trolls, Madagascar and other modern classics. The exhibition highlights rare and never-before displayed models, photographs, posters, props, concept drawings, storyboards and original artwork from the DreamWorks archive, as well as interviews and behind-the-scenes footage that follow the animation process from sketch to screen. historymuseum.ca
Gatineau Park, located just 15 minutes from Parliament Hill in downtown Ottawa, is the place for winter fun, with more than 200 kilometres of ski trails, 60 kilometres of snowshoe trails, 28 kilometres of snow biking trails and 10 kilometres of hiking trails winding through the park’s forests and along its frozen lakes and river valleys. You can even spend the night within the park in a cabin, yurt or four-season tent. Stay during the week for a 30 to 50 per cent discount. Buy a pass and rent snowshoes at the Gatineau Park Visitor Centre in Chelsea. ncc-ccn.gc.ca/places-to-visit
Renowned for its theme parks, Orlando, Florida, promises new thrills this summer. Brave the new rainforest river rapids ride, Infinity Falls at SeaWorld Orlando, considered the world’s tallest river rapid drop. Meanwhile, Fast & Furious — Supercharged at Universal Studios Florida takes you on a high-octane adventure into the world of underground racing alongside stars from the Fast & Furious films. Ray Rush at Aquatica, SeaWorld’s Waterpark, offers three new ways to slide, splash and soar. With wild water jets, a colossal water sphere and swoops into giant manta wings, the raft ride is scheduled to debut in spring. At LEGOLAND, the new Great Lego Race VR Coaster is the first virtual reality rollercoaster designed for children, while the new short film, LEGO NINJAGO – Master of the 4th Dimension, combines 3D computer animation with 4D real-world effects at the LEGO Showplace Theater. VisitOrlando.com
Arctic Kingdom invites you to participate in an unforgettable seven-day Kings of the Arctic experience. Fly from Ottawa into the heart of Canada’s High Arctic this summer to capture stunning photographs of walrus, whales and polar bears as you explore the floe edge and vicinity by boat in the spectacular northern environment of Foxe Basin. Guests are accommodated in a tented safari camp featuring warm and spacious tents and meals, guide services, land and boat trips, and return transfers to the airport in Igloolik are included. Priced at CDN$8,995/person based on double occupancy plus return air fare from Ottawa to Igloolik, NU, and taxes, departures are scheduled for July 4 and 11. ArcticKingdom.com
Hiking in New Zealand just became more fun with the addition of 14 short walks and five day hikes for trekkers looking for shorter, more manageable experiences than the island’s popular multi-day trails. The tracks were chosen for their beauty and variety of environments, as well as for their accessibility and good visitor facilities. Short walks, ranging from 30 minutes to three hours, will appeal to those with more compact itineraries. Three- to eight-hour day hikes will encourage visitors to stay longer in a region without the need to commit to more full-on, multi-day trails. newzealand.com/ca/walking-and-hiking
Here’s your chance to circumnavigate Canada with One Ocean Expeditions and see the country like never before. To mark the company’s 10th anniversary, this all-inclusive voyage invites two intrepid travellers to explore our country’s most iconic locations by sea, air and rail over 57 days. Departing July 24, One Ocean’s ship, Akademik Ioffe, will travel up the East Coast from Louisbourg, NS, to the High Arctic and through the Northwest Passage for sightings of polar bears and Arctic wildlife and visits to Inuit communities. From Cambridge Bay, guests will fly south to Vancouver to board Via Rail’s Canadian for a first-class journey east to Halifax, enjoying the Rocky Mountains, endless prairie sunsets and cities along the way. oneoceanexpeditions.com
Jules’ Undersea Lodge, located 6.4 metres beneath the surface of Key Largo Undersea Park, Florida, has reopened following Hurricane Irma. The former research laboratory has two bedrooms, a shower and toilet, and can host six scuba-certified guests. Divers deliver supplies such as linens through an underwater opening, while food items, ranging from pizza to Florida lobster and key lime pie, are delivered in a weighted waterproof case. Over the past 30 years, the only underwater hotel in the U.S. has hosted more than 10,000 overnight guests including Pierre Trudeau. jul.com
Featuring more than 200 stores under one roof, New Jersey’s largest outlet mall, The Mills at Jersey Gardens, is the place to shop for any occasion. Buy a US$5 Savings Passport from Guest Services and find the perfect item at Swarovski Crystal, lululemon athletica, Francesca’s and more. Clothes and shoes are tax free. Relax in one of 30 restaurants or take in a movie at the 20-screen AMC theatre. With daily transportation from the Port Authority Bus Terminal and Newark Liberty International Airport, The Mills is a great day trip if you’re visiting New York City. If you’re driving, take Exit 13A on the New Jersey Turnpike. simon.com/mall/the-mills-at-jersey-gardens
Crystal River in West Central Florida is the only place in North America where you can legally swim with manatees and winter is prime time to snorkel among hundreds of them in their natural habitat at the Plantation on Crystal River. The resort’s one-night Swim with the Manatees package includes garden-view accommodation, a snorkelling tour for two among the gentle sea cows (including equipment and wetsuit) and breakfast for two at a local restaurant. For more adventure, check out the two-night Adventure Center package, which includes a guided tour for two along the Rainbow River, dinner plus a guided sunrise or sunset kayak tour. PlantationonCrystalRiver.com
Air Canada has introduced its first Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft, with 18 due to enter the fleet by the end of 2018. The new 169-seat narrow-bodied jet is quieter and more fuel-efficient than older models and features spacious overhead storage bins, improved seats and LED mood lighting along the ceiling to alleviate jetlag. Upgraded inflight entertainment allows passengers to stream video and audio to their own devices. MAX’s first North American flights include service to Toronto, Calgary, Vancouver and Montréal. International flights are scheduled this summer to Ireland and Keflavik, Iceland. The new aircraft offers two levels of service, economy and North American business. aircanada.com
