Fitness
Headed North: 8 Canadian Cities to Visit Now That the Border Has Opened
Published
3 years agoon
By
Terry Power
The Canadian border reopened to American travelers on Aug. 9 (and is now open to tourists from other countries as well), meaning all 3.8 million square miles of the country are once again yours to explore—provided you’re fully vaccinated. If you are, then you might be wondering about the best Canadian cities to check out this fall.
The Great White North has always been a popular destination among Americans, which is no surprise given that the two countries share the largest bi-national land border in the world. These days Canada is arguably more alluring than ever as it’s closer and easier to visit than many other international hotspots.
But which cities across Canada’s ten provinces and three territories should you check out first? That’s a matter of taste, of course, but to get you started, our resident Canuck (the author) has you covered with this list of the best Canadian cities to explore.
The 8 Best Canadian Cities to Visit
1. Vancouver, British Columbia
Vancouver, located on Canada’s West Coast, has a lot going for it. It’s home to incredible restaurants and bars. Its expansive public transit system—highlighted by the famous SkyTrain—makes it easy to get around. It boasts all kinds of museums, galleries, and annual festivals, many of which are free to attend. And it’s populated—for the most part—by friendly, laid-back locals.
Vancouver’s real strength, though, is its closeness to nature. Perched on the Strait of Georgia, its coastline is dotted with picturesque beaches—Kitsilano and the clothing-optional Wreck Beach are local favorites—and criss-crossed with trails. Look inland, and you’ll spot towering mountains that can be hiked in the warmer months and skied or snowboarded in the winter (Cypress Mountain and Mount Seymour are both close by).
2. Toronto, Ontario
Toronto, which towers over Lake Ontario, is not only Canada’s biggest city, but also its most visited. Before the pandemic put the travel industry in a stranglehold, the city saw more than 27 million tourists a year—and for good reason.
Toronto has something for everyone: incredible restaurants, bustling nightlife, plenty of art, tons of live music and live sports, some incredible architecture—you can’t miss the CN Tower—and far more green space than you’d expect from a city of its size. Visitors to the city also gain access to Toronto Island Park, a sprawling island complete with an amusement park, hiking trails, live events, and more.
3. Montreal, Quebec
Historic. Gritty. Artsy. All words that can be used to describe Montreal, the largest city in La Belle Province—the French-speaking province of Quebec.
Montreal sits on an island in the Saint Lawrence River. It has long been one of Canada’s most important shipping ports, but that’s not its only claim to fame. The city is jam-packed with incredible shopping for all tastes and budgets, and it has some of the country’s very best restaurants (make sure you get some poutine, one of the region’s most famous dishes). It’s also a hub for the arts with frequent concerts and festivals in its many public parks, including the famed Mount Royal Park. And rest assured, while you might have a handful of clumsy interactions with French-speaking locals, the city is very welcoming to travelers, so there’s no need to spend hours on Duolingo before you arrive.
4. Halifax, Nova Scotia
Way out on Canada’s easy-going East Coast you’ll find Halifax. It’s a small city—the population is less than 450,000 people—but that’s a strength, not a disadvantage: Think small town charm with big city amenities.
Halifax is home to famously friendly locals and dozens of placid parks and beaches, including the postcard-worthy Point Pleasant Park in the South End. The city also boasts one of Canada’s burgeoning culinary scenes, and the seafood and craft beer in Halifax are particularly noteworthy. Don’t miss the donair, a local take on a Greek gyro, and fresh shellfish at The Press Gang.
Halifax is also one of Canada’s top live music destinations. Walk into any bar on Barrington Street or along the waterfront, and there’s a good chance you’ll be greeted by a rousing live performance, often from artists with Scottish and Irish influences.
5. Ottawa, Ontario
Ottawa is Canada’s capital city. It used to get a bad rap as a fun-free government town, but it has definitely shaken off that reputation in recent years. Today, it has all of the shopping, dining, nightlife, and cultural attractions you’d expect from a world-class city. It’s also surrounded by some spectacular natural beauty, thanks to its position along two majestic rivers—the Rideau and the Ottawa—and its proximity to expansive wildernesses like Gatineau Park. In the winter, it’s also the home of the world’s largest skating rink: the Rideau Canal Skateway, where you can skate the length of a frozen canal that winds right through downtown Ottawa. Bring your blades if you got ’em, and rent ’em if you don’t.
6. Victoria, British Columbia
On the south tip of British Columbia’s Vancouver Island you’ll find the charming city of Victoria. Like Halifax on the East Coast, it’s a small city that punches well above its weight in terms of attractions. Victoria’s main claim to fame is its prime location right on the water and the many opportunities for outdoor adventure that presents. Paddle boarding, kayaking, fishing, swimming, diving, and whale watching are all great ways to spend time here. But that’s not all you’ll find in Victoria. This charming coastal city is also home to superb food, a thriving live music scene, and incredible history that you can explore at attractions like the Royal British Columbia Museum and Craigdarroch Castle.
7. Whitehorse, Yukon
Whitehorse, the capital of Canada’s rugged Yukon Territory, is a long way up on the map, but it’s well worth the trip for adventurers and nature-lovers.
While Whitehorse is home to some solid restaurants and shopping, it’s generally used as a jumping off point to explore nearby attractions. Highlights include hiking rugged Miles Canyon and exploring the 700-acre Yukon Wildlife Preserve, which is home to 13 species of Northern Canadian mammals living in their natural habitats, including moose, musk ox, wood bison, and woodland caribou. Whitehorse is also one of the best vantage points in the world to view the northern lights. Definitely bring your camera on this trip.
8. Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island
Charlottetown is a tiny city on an island that most people outside of Canada likely haven’t heard of before. That’s a shame, because it has a lot going for it. What Charlottetown lacks in skyscrapers and crowded nightclubs it makes up for with rustic lighthouses, cozy pubs serving local beer, delicious fresh seafood, and charming art galleries. Its location on the water also means visitors have ample opportunities for boating, fishing, swimming, whale watching and more. And if you’re a history buff, you’ll find plenty of interesting sites to explore in this city, including St. Dunstan’s Basilica Cathedral and Beaconsfield Historic House.
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There’s no doubt when the weather turns colder as we settle into winter, stouts take center stage. And while we enjoy all its iterations: standard stout, imperial stout, and robust barrel-aged stouts, we think this malty, chocolate-filled beer’s close cousin deserves a little respect as well. Of course, we’re talking about the oft-overlooked porter. And the best porters, oh buddy, they’ll have you rethinking your seasonal bevvie of choice.
For those uninitiated, the porter style had its genesis in England like many other iconic beer styles. It first appeared in the 1700s and is (you guessed it) named after porters—individuals tasked with transporting luggage.
A confusing origin story
“Stout is the direct descendant of porter. In the 1700s, it was common to use the word ‘stout’ to refer to a bolder, higher-alcohol version of any beer style, much in the same way we use the word ‘imperial’ today,” says Zach Fowle, advanced cicerone and head of marketing for Arizona Wilderness Brewing Co. in Phoenix, AZ. “Porter was the most popular beer of the day, and over time, “stout porter” became a popular variant. But by the late 1800s, demand for regular porters evaporated, and stout porter shortened simply to stout.”
But more has changed between the 1800s and today than just our penchant for wearing top hats. “Today, most brewers seem to market beers as either stout or porter based on vibes, rather than on any notable stylistic differences,” he says.
Specifically, porters are known for their dark, almost pitch-black color and rich, sweet flavor profile. If you were to drink a porter and a stout side by side, you might even have difficulty discerning the differences between the two.
Stout versus porter is an enduring topic of discussion in the brewing industry. “While there’s no debating the porter came first—and stout used to be called stout porter, so it was a stronger version of a porter—the lines have become very blurred over the years,” says Rob Lightner, co-founder of East Brother Brewing in Richmond, CA.
“I would venture that even among professionals, a blind taste test would often yield inconclusive results,” says Lightner.
The difference between porters and stouts
Porters tend to be on the milder, more chocolatey end of the spectrum, Lightner says, whereas stouts are typically a little stronger and more roasty. Of course, this isn’t a hard and fast rule
Fowle agrees, “Porters tend to be fruitier, sweeter, and less bitter than stouts, with cocoa and caramel flavors in balance with dark malt bitterness. And stouts are usually hoppier, drier, maltier, and more coffee-forward—and may even have a touch of acidity.”
Whether or not they fit neatly into boxes, one thing’s for sure: both make for incredible cold-weather brews.
“As the nights grow longer, drinking a light, summery beer just doesn’t seem right,” says Fowle. “Porter is the perfect style for the transition to winter: warming and toasty yet not too heavy, with flavors of coffee, chocolate, and pie crust that correspond with autumn weather and holidays.”
It’s the perfect time to broaden your repretoire. Sweet, robust, warming, and well-suited to the season, here are the best porters to drink now.
1. Deschutes Black Butte Porter
There are few porters more well-respected than Deschutes’ iconic Black Butte Porter. It’s brewed with Cascade and Tettnang hops as well as 2-row, Chocolate, Crystal, and Carapils malts as well as wheat. This 5.5% ABV year-round offering is great for cold-weather drinking because of its mix of roasted malts, coffee, and chocolate. It’s a robust, subtly sweet beer perfect for imbibing on a crisp fall night.
[$10.99 for a six-pack; deschutesbrewery.com]
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Fitness
Best Time-Under-Tension Workout for Total-Body Strength
Published
2 years agoon
9 November 2022By
Terry Power
The key to 360-degree muscle: 90-degree eccentric isometrics. It might seem like we’re throwing a lot of geometry at you, but the concept behind time under tension (TUT) is simple, says Joel Seedman, PhD, owner of Advanced Human Performance: “Perform the lowering phase of a movement in a slow, controlled fashion, usually 3 to 5 seconds; pause in the stretched position, typically around 90 degrees; then perform the lifting phase in a powerful yet controlled fashion.” Believe us, a time-under-tension workout can humble even seasoned lifters…Eccentric isometrics are like the pressure cooker of training.
“Rather than mindlessly performing slow-tempo reps, you’re using the increased time under tension as a means to fine-tune your body mechanics and alignment, which requires more mental engagement and focus,” Seedman adds.
If you want to forge functional muscle mass and strength while simultaneously bulletproofing the joints and connective tissue, give this 10-move, full-body eccentric isometrics workout a go.
Directions
Perform the following moves as 90-degree eccentric isometrics following the above protocol. Use heavy weight, but not at the detriment of proper form. Rest 60 to 90 seconds between sets and 2 minutes between circuits. Perform once every 2 to 4 days for optimal results.
Best Time-Under-Tension Workout for Total-Body Strength
Circuit 1
A. Barbell Back Squat
Set a squat rack up with heavy weight, then grasp bar and step under it. Squeeze shoulder blades together, then stand to unrack bar and step back with feet shoulder-width apart. Inhale, hinge at hips and slowly bend knees to 90 degrees. Pause, keeping natural arch in low back, then extend through hips to powerfully stand. 3 x 4-6 reps
B. Renegade Row
Start in the top position of a pushup with hands shoulder-width apart on moderate-to-heavy dumbbells (shown). Explosively drive right elbow back to row dumbbell toward ribs while balancing on opposite hand and feet. Pause, then slowly lower weight, stopping a few inches above floor. Switch sides after all reps are done. 3 x 5 reps each side
Circuit 2
A. Dumbbell Bentover Row
Stand with feet hip-width apart, holding two moderate-to-heavy dumbbells in front of thighs, palms facing you. Push hips back and hinge torso forward so it’s nearly parallel to floor, soft bend in knees. Dumbbells should be near shins. Drive elbows back to row weights toward ribs. Pause, then slowly lower down for 3 to 5 seconds. 3 x 4-5 reps
B. Incline Dumbbell Chest Press with Legs Raised
Set an adjustable bench to a 30- to 45-degree angle and lie back with dumbbells in either hand. Engage core and lift legs off floor, flexing feet. Press weights overhead, palms in. Slowly lower to 90 degrees, staying tight and compact. Pause, then drive weights up directly over chest. 3 x 4-5 reps
Circuit 3
A. Dumbbell Bulgarian Squat
Stand lunge-length in front of a flat bench, holding heavy dumbbells in each hand by your sides, palms facing in. Rest the ball on top (shoe’s laces) of your right foot behind you on the bench. Slowly lower your body until your front thigh is parallel to the floor. Pause, then drive through your heel to stand. Switch sides after all reps are complete. 2 x 3-4 reps each side
B. Single-leg Romanian Deadlift
Stand with feet hip-width apart holding dumbbells or kettlebells. Drive right leg up, foot flexed, knee aligned with hip, making a 90-degree angle. Hinge at hips as you slowly lever your torso toward floor, lowering weights and driving right leg back for counterbalance. Hold, then squeeze glutes to reverse. 2 x 3-4 reps each side
Circuit 4
A. Pullup
Hang from a pullup bar using an overhand grip with legs extended and feet flexed. Engage lats and draw shoulders down your back, then pull yourself up until chin is higher than hands. Pause at the top, then slowly lower. Pause at bottom, then reset before your next rep. 2-3 x 4-5 reps
B. Kneeling Overhead Barbell Press
Hold a bar with moderate-to-heavy load at shoulder level with forearms perpendicular to floor. Kneel at end of bench with feet flexed to grip edge for support. Inhale, engage your core and glutes, then press the bar overhead, pushing your head forward so it passes your face, exhaling at the top.
Slowly lower until elbows are at 90 degrees, then hold to maintain tension. Begin your next rep from here. 2-3 x 4-5 reps
Circuit 5
A. Dumbbell Pushup
Place hands on dumbbells (this provides greater range of motion) at shoulder width and feet wider than shoulder width with just toes touching the ground. Keep head neutral and hips high to increase tension on core, chest and tris and reduce stress on spine. Slowly lower to the floor. Stop
once elbows hit 90 degrees, pause, then push up to start. 1-2 x 6-8 reps
B. Biceps Curl
Stand with feet hip-width apart with moderate-to-heavy dumbbells in each hand hanging by sides. Engage biceps to curl the weights up, keeping upper arms still. Pause at the top, then lower slowly. Don’t let arms drop all the way down to keep greater time under tension on biceps. 1-2 x 6-8 reps
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Fitness
The Best Jump Ropes for a Killer Cardio Workout
Published
2 years agoon
9 November 2022By
Terry Power
If you haven’t picked up a jump rope since elementary school, you’re missing out on a fantastic cardio workout. Not only will you burn a ton of calories in a short amount of time—200 to 300 calories in 15 minutes—but jump ropes can also improve your coordination and agility. Better yet, jumping rope doesn’t require much space, so it’s easy to do at home, and it’s often more mentally stimulating than jogging or swimming.
Choosing a Jump Rope
When deciding which jump rope is best for you, it’s important to determine what your goals are. While lightweight speed ropes are popular for cardio-focused training, weighted or drag ropes will be best for those focused on strength training.
No matter what your training goals are, we’ve got you covered with this roundup of 10 jump ropes from top brands including Crossrope, TRX, Rogue, and more.
The Best Jump Ropes of 2022
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