An Overview of our Canada and USA travels February & March 2014

Almost at the end of our 6 week journey and I have given up hope of trying to keep our travel itinerary up to date with posts from each of our destinations.  My best hope is to load some photo's and a brief idea of where we have been.

After our short break in Honolulu and a brief catchup with son Nicolas (on his way back to Australia from Whistler, Canada) we landed in Vancouver for  a short stay before boarding our VIA Rail Canada train for the start of our trip across Canada by train.

The old quarter of Vancouver called Gastown, with a gas driven clock, and also a visit to the colourful brewery and market area of Vancouer called Granville Island. A trip through the inner  harbour to Victoria on Vancouver Island. BC Ferries boat to Vancouver Island.

After exploring a small area of Vancouver it was off to take the ferry over to Victoria on Vancouver Island for a few days.

Once back in Vancouver it was time to make our way to the station for the 8:30pm departure from the station.  After getting settled in and our gear stored in our little cabin, it was time to make our way to the club car for champagne and refreshments, a great start to any journey I believe.

Snow snow everywhere, which was a very unique opportunity to experience for us.

Winding this way and that through the Rockie Mountains.  The frozen waterfalls along the way and enjoying the scenery from the dome viewing car.

At Winnipeg we left the train for a few days and stayed with a friend who lives there.  We hadn't made the realisation that Winnipeg is one of the coldest places in Canada before we planned our break there, however, it was great to be able to see our friend and live the Winnipeg lifestyle for a short time.

Cleaning the snow from the driveways and seeing the local Curling League games was all part of the fun.

Back on the train in Winnipeg to make the final 2 night journey into Toronto.  After crossing Canada in the winter, even the the space between the train carriages is showing signs of being just too cold.

There was a short visit to Toronto, only stayed a few days, enough to have a few wanders in the main part of the city. Checked out the completely frozen Lake Ontario.

After a few days in the intense cold of Toronto, we boarded a plane and headed south to Tennessee in the hope of striking some warmer weather.  We had a great week dividing our time between Memphis and Nashville.  Both cities were a treat with the home of Elvis to explore and Beale Street just off main street for the Blues music, and then onto Nashville, the home of country music.

Our hotel in Memphis was just across the street from Graceland and even the hotel is a shrine to Elvis with his music playing at all times throughout the hotel.

On to the greyhound bus for the trip over to Nashville, with great excitement for the show we would go to at the Grand ole' Opry. The night at the Opry was so fantastic seeing legends of country music as well as new, up and coming talent. Took the backstage tour the next day which was also great.

In between visiting the Country Music Hall of fame and Museum and other attractions, we enjoyed roaming the main music street of Nashville, called Broadway, listening to country music in every bar and venue.

Our week in the home of country music drew to an end and it was back onto a plane for the trip to New York, there certainly was excitement at getting the first glimpse of the famous Brooklyn Bridge from the air.

We saw as much of the sights of New York as it is possible to see in one week and with a few spare days we took a 2 day trip on the train out of New York's Penn station bound for Montaug on Long Island, part of the Hampton's. Stayed in a very cute BnB across from the beach.  It was a refreshing change of pace after Manhattan and even though it is out of season, it was beautiful and very peaceful, not having the crowds of summer there.

It was back to New York for one last evening, then onto our next train journey, an all day train trip north to Niagara Falls.  We spent 2 nights staying on the US side of Niagara Falls and our last night we crossed over the Rainbow Bridge as pedestrians to spend our last night on the Canada side.  It gave us an opportunity to see both falls (American and Horseshoe Falls) from their best angles.

Canada's Horseshoe Falls

USA's American Falls

And that brings us to the end of our travels here for now, shortly we leave Niagara to travel back to Toronto for our flight home tomorrow.  We have a short day stopover in Honolulu to break our journey, then it is onto Coffs by week's end.  For our last night here in Niagara we were treated to one last snow fall on this journey, a good covering of overnight snow as a farewell to this winter wonderland trip.

This is what we saw when we awoke on our last morning in Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada, early spring weather ?? March 2014.

Cheers for now, see y'all back in Coffs soon.