Stop By Stop: William And Kate's Royal Tour Of Canada
Prince William and his blushing bride are headed on their first trip as man and wife — and her first trip to North America. Landing first in Canada, the pair has a fully packed schedule of some of the country's greatest sights, sounds, eats, and sleeps, from Ottawa to Yellowknife and from the Calgary Stampede to Canada Day celebrations. And while you may not be met by Canadian Prime Minister
nd Regiment, you can follow the lead of the prince and princess (read: their genius trip planners) on their tour of our northern neighbor.
Ottawa
Their first stop will be Ottawa, where they'll celebrate Canada Day (July 1) with hundreds of nationals dressed in red and white on Parliament Hill.
Take a walk by the scenic Rideau Canal, visit the Cold War Museum, and pass by Parliament Hill. Even after all that sightseeing, no trip to Ottawa would be complete without sampling shawarma from local favorite, Maroush, or the much-loved fare at Black Tomato or Tennessy Willems. (Photo courtesy of Flickr/zen!)
Montreal
An easy second stop, William and Kate will then move to Montreal where they'll attend a cooking course at the Institut de Tourisme et d'Hotellerie du Quebec before taking an overnight trip aboard the HMSC Montreal toward Quebec City.
Ateliers et Saveurs on your Montreal trip. Tuck into beef carpaccio, lobster bisque, duck jambonneau, or the seared halibut at La Salle a Manger before taking a walk around the Parc Jean-Drapeau (the former site of the 1967 World's Fair) and finding your favorite poutine. (Photo courtesy of Flickr/EssG)
Quebec City
Once they've met (and inspected) the troops of Canada's Royal 22nd Regiment, they'll tour the Citadel before moving onto Charlottetown.
If, like the royals, you have but one day in Quebec City, taking a peek at The Citadel is not a bad first stop. Watch the changing of the guards at 10 a.m., before taking a stroll in the Place-Royale. Then, having an old fashioned afternoon high tea at the Chateau Frontenac is well worth dressing up for, as is dinner at Patriarche.
Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island
Spending a night at Government House — the official residence of the Lieutenant Governor of Prince Edward Island — the newlyweds will stroll down Great George Street before heading to Dalvay Lake where Prince William will take part in a search and rescue demonstration and the couple will both participate in a dragon boat race. The evening will hold a show highlighting Aboriginal, Acadian, and Celtic cultures.
The royal couple has been promised chocolate-covered potato chips and lobster while on Prince Edward Island, which are local treasures you should plan on enjoying as well. Charlottetown, the island's capital, is a good landing base for your trip to PEI and you should take full advantage of the food scene and active lifestyle. Rent a bike, go fishing, or go sea kayaking to work up an appetite for fresh seafood from the Water Prince Corner Shop or a fancier meal at the Inn at Bay Fortune. (Photo courtesy of Flickr/Stephen Dyrgas)
Yellowknife
William and Kate will then move onto Yellowknife, the capital of the Northwest Territories — a decidedly more remote and small-town stop on their tour. They'll attend a ceremony at Somba K'e Civic Plaza with First Nations people, before watching a street hockey game. Then they'll move to Blachford Lake for an event with the Canadian Rangers.
Any visitor to Yellowknife should know it is an outdoor-lover's paradise, though it is still an affluent town with plenty to see and do. Dog sledding, wildlife viewing, and fishing should come before tucking into a hearty meal at Fuego's or sipping on a glass of wine at Le Frolic.
Calgary
Upon arrival, the couple will be given a gift of white cowboy hats in preparation for the legendary Calgary Stampede. The stop in Calgary will also include a tour of the zoo before they move onto a
To plan your trip to Calgary around the famous Stampede is well advised. A tour through Calgary's Chinatown should also make your itinerary, as should the Devonian Botanical Gardens. Find a table at the Orchid Room for spicy tamarind seafood soup, pho soups, and veggie spring rolls or stop into Tubby Dog for a truly oversized hot dog topped with classic and inventive additions. (They even have a PBJ dog, which has peanut butter, jelly, and the option to add Cap'n Crunch... though that doesn't sound very royal to us.) (Photo courtesy of Flickr/gabri_micha)