Prairie pathways to natural wonders

The prairie provinces of Canada are largely known for their farmland and, in Alberta, oil reserves. But Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta are all dotted with freshwater lakes and streams, offering avid fishermen spectacular opportunities to cast a line. In addition to plentiful pike to fish, Northern Manitoba is the gateway to Arctic splendor. A rail journey north to Churchill will introduce travelers to the watery residence of beautiful Beluga whales and those other, fiercer marine mammals: Polar bears. Western Alberta is divided from neighbouring British Columbia by the Rocky Mountains, home to bears, moose, elk, and more creatures. Spectacular rail trips and world-class resorts such as Banff and Jasper offer visitors modern amenities at the edge of Canadian wilderness.