Canada named 2017's top travel destination by New York Times
The New York Times decided to give Canada a little gift for its 150th birthday: travel buzz. In its list of "52 Places to Go in 2017," the popular newspaper put Canada right at the very top, adding to the hype and excitement for the country's sesquicentennial anniversary.
In the write-up for Canada's ranking, the author emphasized that the US's northern neighbour "is rolling out the welcome mat" in 2017. He specifically touched on the busy, year-long schedule of events that will be taking place in Ottawa to commemorate the special occasion, as well as those that will be happening in Montreal in honour of its 375th birthday. Some of those Ottawa events are typically held every year but are collectively converging on the capital for the next 365 days (the Junos, the Grey Cup, Red Bull Crashed Ice, etc.), while others are tailored specifically for the celebration (a Stanley Cub tribute, and arts & culture hub called Inspiration Village, a Sky Lounge experience that offers fine dining while taking in Ottawa's views from above, etc.).
Aside from these celebrations, the other time-specific draw that was cited was the fact that the loonie is far behind the American dollar right now, meaning that US citizens stand to benefit greatly by spending money in Canada.
But beyond the hooplah of 2017, the author made sure to recognize that Canada is an enticing destination in any year, noting that it's "a world unto itself, with cosmopolitan cities, barely explored natural wonders and everything in between." He went on to address the diversity in the landscapes, touching on the blend of peaks and clear lakes in Banff, the beautiful sandy terrain in Prince Edward Island, and the glacial mountains on Maritime coasts. A list of reader comments went on to discuss many other Canadian locations to visit, many of which are fairly under-the-radar destinations within the country, or more regional specific.