Julie Phimister – Canada Expert

First-hand Travel Experience in Canada   

From epic rail journeys and setting sail on an unforgettable Alaska cruise to witnessing the sheer beauty of grizzly bears in the wild, these are some of my top highlights from holidays in Canada. 

A relaxing and rewarding VIA Rail journey 

My VIA Rail itinerary saw me travel through the Canadian Rockies to Vancouver. Watching endless mountains, forests, rivers and tiny towns passing by from the comfort of the train was an unforgettable experience. There's something wonderfully relaxing about letting the scenery come to you, rather than rushing between stops. I stayed in a private cabin, and sleeping on the train was a real highlight. Waking up to changing scenery outside the window, with a coffee in hand, is one of those experiences that's hard to beat.   

My awe-inspiring Alaska cruise 

I set off on my first-ever Alaska cruise from Vancouver, sailing on Holland America Line's Koningsdam. I was absolutely blown away by the standard of the ship. Upon boarding, I was in awe of my surroundings. Koningsdam is elegant yet relaxed, and the staff were friendly and helpful throughout. On this round trip from Vancouver, each day brought us towering mountains, deep fjords, glaciers and charming frontier towns. 

I sailed beneath the famous Lions Gate Bridge before making my way up the scenic Inside Passage. Along the way I watched bald eagles soar overhead, and whales occasionally appeared alongside the ship. There's something quite special about spotting wildlife from the comfort of your balcony, coffee in hand, with the coastline sliding past. 

Close encounters with grizzly bears 

During my visit to Alaska, one of the most remote and powerful wildlife experiences of my life was watching grizzly bears in Lake Clark National Park. I flew in by bush plane, landing on a stretch of beach with nothing but sky, trees, and tidal flats. September is a magical time. The bears are hyper-focused on fishing and fattening up for winter, which means they’re active, visible, and less distracted by humans. 

I watched in hushed awe as massive grizzlies lumbered through creeks, jaws snapping at silver salmon. One stood just yards away, shaking off water like a dog, completely indifferent to my presence. It wasn’t a zoo – it was a real, raw, and deeply humble experience. 

Julie's Expert Advice 

Top 3 Must-Do Experiences in Canada 

• Grizzly Bear Tours – Nothing beats seeing these magnificent animals up close in their natural habitat.     
• Niagara Falls – Without doubt one of the top highlights for any visitor to Canada. The sheer power of the Falls will take your breath away. 
• Helicopter Glacier Landing Alaska – Once the helicopter touches down on a living glacier, stepping out onto it is like setting foot on another planet.  

Hidden gem destination most people miss 

• Peggy’s Cove, Nova Scotia – A picture-perfect spot where the famous lighthouse is one of the most photographed in the world.  

What our clients say about Julie 

Julie was brilliant and professional in tailoring our holiday. 

Excellent service from Julie she did really well getting us a direct flight from Manchester to Toronto. Booked really good hotels so we didn't have to walk far to all the attractions. Julie also booked breakfast in all the hotels . The itinerary is brilliant. Thank you Julie for all your help. We haven't been yet, but will write another review when we return.

Mrs Fieldhouse - Client 

Great experience using My Canada Trips

The service from Julie has been brilliant. She is very knowledgeable and found lots of information out for us. I changed things on several occasions and she was so patient and helpful.

Mrs Turner - Client

Canada motorhome trip 

Excellent. The website is very informative and any questions we had were answered by Julie, who had previously done a holiday the same as ours so had real experience.

 Mr Preedy - Client

Excellent service 

This is the 2nd time we have booked via Julie at my Canada as everything about our first trip was perfect. We have booked a 2027 package with multiple stays, stampede and car hire. Julie is knowledgeable, patient when moving things around, very quick to respond, friendly and supportive.. I would highly recommend My Canada Trips. 

Mrs Wilson -Client