Trans-Canadian Rail Journey: to 2017 12-Day Grand Circle Tour{TRIPOperatedBy}

Extend your trip

Pre-Trip & the 1000 Islands

Post-Trip Victoria,

Your Day-to-Day Itinerary Grand Circle Travel

Grand Circle Travel, founded in 1958 to serve the American Association for Retired Persons (AARP), is the leader in international travel and discovery for Americans over age 50. Grand Circle vacations have been recommended by The New York Times, Conde Nast Traveler, The Los Angeles Times, Travel + Leisure, The Wall Street Journal, Arthur Frommer’s Budget Travel, and oth- ers. But our most impressive reviews come from our travelers. More than one million people have traveled with us, and 96% say they’d gladly do so again.

Included in Your Price

»» Choose to purchase Grand Circle’s »» 5% Frequent Traveler Credit toward airfare, and your airport transfers, your next Grand Circle trip—an average government taxes, fees, and airline fuel of $203 surcharges are included. Or, make your own air arrangements

»» Accommodations for 8 nights in comfortable hotel rooms with private baths and 3 nights onboard the in private sleeper cabins

»» 21 meals: 11 breakfasts, 6 lunches, and 4 dinners

»» 7 included features: 6 guided tours and 1 exclusive Discovery Series event: Stanley Park lawn bowling experience

»» Exclusive services of a local Grand Circle Program Director (assigned to no more than 42 travelers)

»» Gratuities on your main trip for local guides and motorcoach drivers

»» Personal headset for all included and optional tours on your main trip

»» Private motorcoach land travel

»» Baggage handling for 1 piece of luggage per person, including tips

Itinerary subject to change. For information or reservations, call toll-free 1-800-221-2610. What This Trip is Like

Pacing »» Weather in the mountains can be »» 5 locations in 12 days, including 2 single- unpredictable throughout the year and night stays change quickly

Physical Requirements Cuisine »» Walk 3 miles unassisted and participate »» Meals will be based on the local cuisine in 3-5 hours of physical activities daily, including stairs

»» Not accessible for travelers using wheelchairs or scooters

»» Travelers using walkers, crutches, or other mobility aids must travel with a companion who can assist them

»» We reserve the right for Program Directors to restrict participation, or in some circumstances send travelers home, if their limitations impact the group’s experience

Terrain & Transportation »» Uneven walking surfaces, including unpaved paths, hills, stairs, and cobblestones

»» Travel by 55-seat motorcoach, overnight train, Ice Explorer snowcoach, and boat

»» Cabins for two aboard the VIA Rail train feature bunk beds with upper and lower beds

Climate »» Daytime temperatures range from 45- 78°F during touring season

»» June-August are the warmest months

»» May and October are the coolest months, when snow and frozen lakes are common

Itinerary subject to change. For information or reservations, call toll-free 1-800-221-2610. Trans-Canadian Rail Journey: Toronto to Vancouver 2017

Extend your trip

Pre-Trip Montreal & the 1000 Islands

Post-Trip Victoria, British Columbia

From modern cities to the sublime scenery of the Rocky Mountains, immerse yourself in all that has to offer on this transcontinental journey. Travel by rail, with three nights aboard the world-class VIA Rail, and two days aboard the award-winning , and by land as you explore the Canadian Rockies in Jasper, Banff, and . Bookending your trip are Toronto and Vancouver, two vibrant waterfront cities.

Itinerary subject to change. For information or reservations, call toll-free 1-800-221-2610. Detailed Itinerary

Your Grand Circle Program Director

During your exclusive Grand Circle vacation, you’ll have reliable assistance available at all times from an on-site Grand Circle Travel Program Director. Your Program Director is fluent in English and can give you an inside perspective on your destinations. He or she is supported along the way by local tour guides, who guide you expertly through particular sites and cities.

Many Grand Circle Program Directors are graduates of professional education programs for travel guides. In addition, they receive specialized training directly from Grand Circle, training that is based on what we’ve learned from thousands of past travelers about how to make the trip most enjoyable. Your Program Director offers both a deep knowledge of the region and a commitment to make this a very pleasant, informative, and rewarding travel experience for you.

Your Program Director will provide sightseeing trips, handle all travel details, reserve optional tours you choose to take, oversee your Discovery Series events, and provide any other as- sistance you may need. You will be in the company of a Program Director throughout your vacation.

DAY 1 Arrive Toronto, DAY 2 Toronto Travel to Toronto today—your arrival time This morning, gather with your Program will depend on your departure city. Your Director and fellow travelers, including those Program Director will greet you in the lobby who took the pre-trip extension to Montreal of your hotel and help you check in. This & the 1000 Islands, for an orientation briefing. evening is yours to settle in and enjoy dinner After, you’ll set out on a city tour of Toronto. on your own. Set along Lake Ontario’s northwestern shore, Toronto is Canada’s largest city and the country’s cultural hub. Once a small French settlement, the city is now a modern, ethnically diverse metropolis, home to art museums, skyscrapers, and a burgeoning restaurant scene. Your tour will reveal the

Itinerary subject to change. For information or reservations, call toll-free 1-800-221-2610. city’s signature sights, including Union made—including the area’s famous Icewine, Station, the Hockey Hall of Fame, and the pressed from grapes that have naturally grandiose St. James and St. Michael’s cathe- frozen on the vine. drals, constructed in the mid-19th century. Tonight, after dinner on your own, bid From there, you’ll see a slice of everyday life farewell to Toronto and transfer to the train at Eaton Centre shopping mall and witness station, where you’ll board the VIA Rail train Massey Hall, Toronto’s famous concert that will be your home for the next three venue. nights as you journey across the continent to After your tour, you’ll have time to explore Jasper, . the bustling St. Lawrence Market and enjoy Breakfast lunch on your own.

Next, set off on a one-hour harbor cruise and take in views of Toronto’s beautiful DAY 4 VIA Rail Train skyline, pierced by the iconic CN Tower. Arise today and enjoy the first full day of your rail journey across Canada, traveling The afternoon is yours to spend as you through the area of northern Ontario known wish. Tonight, you’ll join your group for a as the “,” a landscape of Welcome Dinner at a local restaurant. boreal forests dotted with thousands of lakes Please note: St. Lawrence Market is closed on embedded into black granite hills. Keep your Sundays and Mondays. eyes open for sightings of caribou, moose, grizzly bears, and other iconic critters who Breakfast, Dinner make their home in this region.

Your seat aboard the VIA Rail Train offers DAY 3 Toronto • Niagara you an unparalleled viewpoint from which Falls • VIA Rail Train to observe the majesty of the Canadian Today, you’ll set out for an included tour wilderness. Throughout your passage, you’ll of mighty Niagara Falls. Two hours from have the freedom to move about the wide Toronto, the Canadian side of the falls offers aisles of the train as you please, settling no shortage of stunning vistas and points of into a spacious and comfortable seat in one interest along the Niagara River. You’ll arrive of the train’s panoramic dome cars, which at the falls and board a boat for a cruise into offer 360 degree views of the scenery around the waters below, where you’ll sail right into you, as well as the sky above. From the the mist for a truly unique look at the pow- , you can witness pink-streaked erful natural forces at work here. After your dawns illuminate the landscape, and then boat tour, you’ll have lunch on your own at watch the sun set over the horizon and give the town of Niagara on the Lake, followed by way to the starry, unspoiled night sky. Each free time to explore independently. day will also feature brief stops as the train moves from station to station, giving you the Later, you’ll return to Toronto, stopping on chance to step outside for a little fresh air. the way for a tour and a tasting at a local family-owned winery, for an opportunity In addition to the unforgettable scenery, to sample vintages and see how they’re you can enjoy a grand social experience, too. Along with your fellow Grand Circle

Itinerary subject to change. For information or reservations, call toll-free 1-800-221-2610. companions, you’ll be sharing the train with DAY 6 VIA Rail Train • Jasper, Alberta other travelers from around the world, as Today marks the conclusion of your train well as Canadian citizens making their way journey as you cross into Alberta and enjoy from city to city. Whether you’re taking in your first glimpse of the majestic peaks of the scenery, or settling in for a meal in the the Rocky Mountains. While the VIA rail , you’ll have the opportunity to route continues on to Vancouver, you’ll be meet new people and make cultural connec- getting off this afternoon in Jasper, an old tions as you traverse the countryside. trading post in , for a All of your meals aboard the train will more in-depth introduction to the natural be included, each one prepared fresh by treasures of the Canadian Rockies. onboard expert chefs. You’ll enjoy different Upon arrival, you’ll check into your hotel cuisine each day, with every meal featuring and enjoy dinner on your own in Jasper. Your ingredients inspired by the specialties of the Program Director can offer suggestions for region that you’re currently in. Plus, you can nearby places to dine. enjoy a host of onboard activities, including movie screenings, wine and beer tastings, Breakfast, Lunch and educational lectures presented by VIA Rail’s onboard Activity Coordinators. DAY 7 Jasper • Columbia Icefield • Banff Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Set off today on a full day of sightseeing. Your destination is Banff, and to get there DAY 5 VIA Rail Train you’ll travel along the Icefields Parkway, a surreal stretch of highway that weaves This morning, your train will make a stop at through two national parks and showcases Winnipeg, where, if the train’s schedule per- the rugged beauty of the Rockies. mits, you’ll have a few hours to disembark, stretch your legs, and see some of the nearby Your route will take you past several glaciers sights of the city. You might decide to spend that make up the massive Columbia Icefield. some time at The Forks, a historic market Here, you’ll stop to ride the Ice Explorer and green space near the scenic junction snowcoach onto the Athabasca Glacier—at of the Red and Assiniboine Rivers, or visit nearly 1,000 feet thick, this frozen monolith the Canadian Museum for Human Rights, is the largest glacier accessible by road in the which features moving exhibits documenting Canadian Rockies. struggles against injustice around the world. Continue on to Lake Louise, stopping for Board the train again just before noon a picnic lunch en route, to take in the pic- to continue your journey west—today’s turesque alpine views Canada is known for. route will take you through the prairies The lake stays frozen through mid-June, but of and , where in the warmest months, the water turns a you’ll see vast stretches of plains and open distinct shade of turquoise. sky, with farming communities scattered throughout.

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Itinerary subject to change. For information or reservations, call toll-free 1-800-221-2610. Arrive in Banff in the early evening and Today’s journey takes you through the check into your hotel. Dinner is on your own Rockies from Banff to Kamloops. You’ll tonight. follow the rushing waters of Kicking Horse River through breathtaking mountain passes, Breakfast, Lunch flanked by tall coniferous forest trees, snowcapped peaks, foothills carpeted with colorful wildflowers, and dramatic narrow DAY 8 Banff • Buffalo Nations canyons. Museum • Banff National Park Today, discover Banff National Park, a It’s a view unlike any other, and there’s no UNESCO World Heritage Site and Canada’s better way to take it in from a seat on the oldest national park. You’ll begin with a Rocky Mountaineer. You’ll ride in full day- guided tour of the Buffalo Nations Museum, light from the comfort of a spacious seat in a which celebrates the cultures and tradi- panoramic dome car, offering a 360-degree tions of the First Nations People, who first view of the Rocky Mountain majesty sur- inhabited the Northern Plains and Canadian rounding you. Rockies. Each car features two expertly-trained Next, visit the Bow Falls, whose rushing onboard tour guides, who will provide live white waters are particularly impressive in commentary to put what you’re seeing into springtime after a snowy winter. From here, context. They’ll help you spot local wildlife you’ll take a scenic ride through the Tunnel such as bears, , and deer, aim you Mountain Drive, passing park highlights towards the best photo opportunities, and such as Lake Minnewanka and the cone- explain the significance of the sites you’ll be shaped hoodoos, whimsical rock formations passing by—such as the Continental Divide, molded by years of erosion. the spiral tunnels, or Craigellachie, where the last spike was driven into the Canadian Back at the hotel, enjoy the rest of the day at Pacific railroad track. leisure with lunch and dinner on your own. Lunch will be served onboard during your Breakfast ride, where you’ll have a choice of gourmet meals prepared by executive chefs, and made from the finest local ingredients. DAY 9 Banff • Rocky Mountaineer train ride • Kamloops, British Columbia This evening, you’ll arrive in Kamloops, a 19th-century fur trading post set along the After breakfast, head to the rail station to . Transfer to a nearby hotel begin your passage west on the famous to rest up for tomorrow’s journey. Dinner is Rocky Mountaineer train, where you’ll get on your own tonight. a front row seat to the scenery of western Canada that people come from around Breakfast, Lunch the world to see. You’ll ride for two days, enjoying full daylight transits of the historic Canadian Pacific track, famous for uniting Canada from east to west.

Itinerary subject to change. For information or reservations, call toll-free 1-800-221-2610. DAY 10 Rocky Mountaineer From here, explore downtown, the epicenter train ride • Vancouver of business and government, and Gastown, the historic city center established in 1867 This morning, head back to the station to by riverboat captain John “Gassy Jack” board the train and leave the Rockies behind Deighton. You’ll also tour Vancouver’s as you head west across beautiful British Chinatown—the second largest in North Columbia toward Vancouver. Today’s ride, America. Notice the influences of 15th- which includes another gourmet lunch, takes century China as you pass Ming-dynasty you through an alluring landscape of semi- architecture and manicured grounds. arid deserts, rolling forest hills, crystal lakes, expansive plains, and rocky cliffs. You’ll ride Spend an afternoon at leisure and enjoy parallel to the clear blue Thompson River, lunch on your own in the city. Tonight, and watch the striking contrast as it con- gather with your fellow travelers for a verges with the muddy waters of the Fraser Farewell Dinner on your final night in River, which you’ll follow the rest of the way Canada. into Vancouver. Breakfast, Dinner This evening, you’ll arrive at Vancouver, where you’ll check into your hotel and enjoy dinner on your own. The city offers DAY 12 Vancouver • Return to U.S. an eclectic dining scene and is known for Transfer to the airport for your return home its Asian restaurants and seafood, so your today, or continue your Canadian discoveries Program Director is sure to have several on our optional Victoria, British Columbia recommendations. extension. Breakfast, Lunch

DAY 11 Vancouver • Stanley Park lawn bowling experience Today, take a sightseeing tour of cosmopoli- tan Vancouver, a bustling seaport set against a backdrop of soaring peaks and blue waters.

Your first stop is Stanley Park, dedicated by Lord Stanley in 1889 for “the use and enjoy- ment of of all people of all colors, creeds, and customs for all time.” Home to miles of lush trails and beaches, Stanley Park is also a popular spot for lawn bowling, which you’ll learn more about during an exclusive Discovery Series discussion with members of the local lawn bowling club.

Itinerary subject to change. For information or reservations, call toll-free 1-800-221-2610. Pre-trip Montreal & the 1000 Islands

Included in Your Price

»» Accommodations for 4 nights »» All transfers

»» 6 meals: 4 breakfasts, 1 lunch, and 1 dinner

»» 2 included tours: Montreal, 1000 Islands cruise

»» Exclusive services of a Grand Circle Program Director

»» Gratuities for local guides and motorcoach drivers on your extension

Itinerary, Pre-Trip Extension

Before your main trip, discover the proud heritage and European charm of Canada. Wander the cobblestone streets and take in the cultural attractions of Montreal, Quebec’s largest city. Then, spend a night in the picturesque 1000 Islands, where you’ll set sail on a boat tour along the scenic shores of the St. Lawrence River.

DAY 1 Arrive Montreal, Quebec Notre-Dame Basilica, Place d’Armes Travel to Montreal today, with your arrival square, and the nearly 200-year-old McGill time depending on your departure city. University. After your tour, you’ll have the rest of the DAY 2 Montreal day at leisure. Lunch is on your own—ask your Program Director if you’d like help nar- This morning, set out on a guided tour of rowing down your options from the diverse downtown Montreal. Quebec’s largest city, array of well-known culinary delights of Montreal is set against the St. Lawrence Old Montreal. Enjoy a free afternoon before River and boasts the Old World flair expected gathering with your fellow travelers tonight of a French Canadian hub—along with for a Welcome Dinner at a local restaurant. a vibrant cultural scene. Explore some of the city’s main attractions, including Breakfast, Dinner

Itinerary subject to change. For information or reservations, call toll-free 1-800-221-2610. DAY 3 Montreal the 1000 Islands,” to begin an hour-long After breakfast at the hotel, the day is yours boating excursion on the waters of Lake to pursue your own interests. Perhaps Ontario. As you cruise the 1000 Islands, you’ll marvel at the widely diverse species you’ll pass charming lighthouses and local on display at the vast Jardin Botanique, cottages. Watch for osprey, blue heron, the third-largest botanical garden in the geese, and the Least Bittern, a wading bird world that includes 20 thematic gardens. native to this region. Or, learn about the city’s history at Musée Following your cruise, you’ll transfer to d’Archéologie et d’Histoire Pointe-à- your hotel in the city of Kingston and enjoy Callière, view an art collection spanning dinner on your own. millennia at the Musée des Beaux-Arts de Montréal, or witness contemporary pieces Breakfast, Lunch by both Canadian and international artists at the Musée d’Art Contemporain. DAY 5 Kingston • Toronto To take in the scenery, take a ride up to the After breakfast, transfer to Toronto to begin top of Mount Royale, where you can enjoy a your Trans-Canadian Rail Journey: Toronto to panoramic view of the city below. Or maybe Vancouver vacation. you’ll choose to check out Olympic Park, the site of the 1976 Summer Olympic games. Breakfast

You can also return to the Notre-Dame Basilica to witness its ornate interior, com- plete with gilded sculptures, detailed wood- work, and colorful stained-glass windows.

Breakfast

DAY 4 Montreal • Kingston, Ontario • 1000 Islands Cruise Today, depart Montreal for the 1000 Islands, an archipelago actually made up of more than 1,800 islands along the border of New York and southeastern Ontario. Once patrolled by pirates and bootleggers, these waters (part of the St. Lawrence River) are now a popular vacation destination brim- ming with lighthouses, castles, maritime museums, outdoor activities, and waterfront dining.

After your arrival, you’ll enjoy an included lunch at a local restaurant before setting off for Gananoque, the “Canadian Gateway to

Itinerary subject to change. For information or reservations, call toll-free 1-800-221-2610. Post-trip Victoria, British Columbia

Included in Your Price

»» Accommodations for 3 nights »» Gratuities for local guides and motorcoach drivers on your extension »» 4 meals: 3 breakfasts and 1 dinner »» All transfers »» 1 included tour: Victoria & Buchart Gardens

»» Roundtrip ferry transfer between Vancouver and Victoria

»» Exclusive services of a Grand Circle Program Director

Itinerary, Post-Trip Extension

After experiencing the rugged allure of the Canadian Rockies, discover the charms of Victoria, the “Garden City.” This sophisticated seaside community still has a British colonial feel to its streets and offers visitors high teas in the afternoons, but also a character that is distinctively Pacific Northwest. Explore its award-winning gardens and parks, walk rainforest trails, view galleries of local art, and stroll the flower-bedecked streets.

DAY 1 Vancouver • Victoria magnate Robert Butchart and his wife After breakfast on your main trip, embark Jennie, it first opened to the public in 1904, on a 90-minute ferry ride to Victoria, the and today, more than a million plants thrive provincial capital of British Columbia since within these gardens over the course of a 1871 on the southwestern tip of Vancouver year. The roses are particularly stunning: Island. There are 117 varieties of tea rose plants and 400 grandiflora roses. Upon arrival, tour Butchart Gardens, a 55- acre floral extravaganza of rose, Japanese, Then, enjoy a city tour of Victoria, seeing Italian, and sunken gardens built from old a host of unique landmarks, including the rock quarries—considered one of the great- magnificent British Columbia Parliament est displays of floral artistry in the world. Buildings. After lunch on your own, the A gift from the estate of Canadian cement group will head to your hotel via scenic

Itinerary subject to change. For information or reservations, call toll-free 1-800-221-2610. coastal route. The remainder of the day is DAY 4 Return to U.S. yours to discover this charming, English- Return home today, transferring to the flavored city, with dinner on your own airport after breakfast. tonight. Breakfast

DAY 2 Victoria The day is yours to discover Victoria’s won- derful blend of patrician charm and modern excitement.

While always true to and protective of its romantic and distinctly British heritage, the city has carved out a niche as a fresh, vibrant hub of burgeoning creativity. There is plenty to do while you’re here: You may wish to wander the halls of the Royal British Columbia Museum, shop in the Inner Harbour, or enjoy some active pursuits like whale-watching or kayaking.

This evening, join your fellow travelers for a Farewell Dinner at a local restaurant to toast your discoveries.

Breakfast, Dinner

DAY 3 Victoria • Vancouver Board a ferry again and travel back to Vancouver, a city regularly named among the best to live in the world. Surrounded by both mountains and water, Vancouver’s beauty is only part of its charm—as you’ll enjoy on your afternoon at leisure here. With great food, good music, and a vibrant and multifaceted culture, this is a world-class city at the doorstep of one of the planet’s great wildernesses. Dinner is on your own this evening.

Breakfast

Itinerary subject to change. For information or reservations, call toll-free 1-800-221-2610.