When you think of travel to Canada, the first destination that might come to mind is Vancouver.   If you’re a skier or snowboarder, you might say Whistler.   Quebec also gets some attention due to its history and French character.   Finally, you might get a mention about beautiful Banff National Park, or even the vast nothingness of the Canadian Arctic. Very rarely do Americans think of far Eastern Canada (this is especially true of West Coasters).   I speak of the Maritime Provinces, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island.   Further afield is Newfoundland, and beyond that is Labrador, where tourists fear to tread.   These are undervalued, picturesque, sparsely habited locations.   This makes them fantastic and inexpensive destinations for a vacation. Eastern Canada, in my mind, represents what New England was no doubt like around the turn of the century.   I am not talking about Boston or other big cities, but rather of Old New England, places like Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine.   I envision a landscape that is very beautiful, a little windswept, with lots of small fishing vessels, crisp air, winding dirt roads, and winter snowstorms that keep you stuck in your house for days.   The smell of the ocean brine permeates every facet of life.   This is fast disappearing in New England.   But for Eastern Canada this is still often a reality. New Brunswick has the famous Bay of Fundy, home to the fastest, most extreme tides in the world.   It is also known for its large number of quaint-looking covered bridges, giving it an old-timey feel.   By the time you reach Nova Scotia, the feel of the country is distinctly different from the busy rush of the United States.   Everything is decidedly more rural, relaxed, and slower.   Halifax is a charming city with rich maritime history.   By the time you reach Cape Breton and the highlands, you will be convinced you have somehow stepped into a strange time and space capsule, and are actually in Scotland circa 1890. My favorite destination here is the island of Newfoundland.   Every schoolchild knows about the pilgrims at Plymouth Rock, and Columbus’ famous 1492 voyage to the Americas.   Yet almost no attention is given to the northern tip of Newfoundland, the site of a Viking colony (likely belonging to Leif Erikson) dated to AD 1000.   L’Anse aux Meadows should be a household name in the Americas, and yet most people do not even know it exists. Newfoundland and Labrador truly are frontiers, extraordinarily sparsely populated regions with miles of stunning, rugged coastline for the most part devoid of human intrusion.   They are a perfect destination for the “slow” vacation, a relaxing, unhurried jaunt without the usual crush of people.   It is quite easy to explore by car.   If you would rather not pay the exorbitant ferry fee, there are also a few outfits that offer Newfoundland tours to see St. John’s, go hiking in Gros Morne National Park, see L’Anse aux Meadows, or watch for the thousands of Humpback and Minke whales that call this area home.   If you are looking for a low-stress vacation, quiet times alone, and a glimpse into a simpler, slower lifestyle, than look no further than rugged Eastern Canada.

And while it can be a lot of fun to pick out your new kitchen or the new floors for your bathroom, it also requires your full attention. That’s a luxury members with children don’t always have.

The 23 DirectBuy franchises serving Canada in seven provinces—Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Ontario and Saskatchewan—have developed a “Kids Zone” area in their respective clubs so parents can focus on the task at hand and kids can enjoy the DirectBuy experience, too.

Though not a supervised area, the Kids Zone features a number of things to keep school-age children occupied and entertained: books, puzzles and games. The Kids Zone also includes a flat screen television so children of members can watch movies or play video games.

“Let’s face it, most kids would rather go to the dentist than watch their parents shop for their next home improvement project. By the same token, it’s difficult for members with children to get the most out of the experience and do the research they need to do if they’re concerned about the kids getting fidgety. The Kids Zone gives children of DirectBuy members a place to play games, watch TV or even make new friends with other members’ kids while the grown-ups have their ‘fun’,” said Jade Allen, co-owner of DirectBuy of Vancouver.

Creating fun things to do for children is nothing new for DirectBuy. DirectBuy franchises across North America regularly donate equipment to youth organizations like the Boys & Girls Clubs, YMCAs and children’s hospitals.

“Because we are entrenched in the local community, we have an even greater incentive to make this a one-of-a-kind, unique shopping experience because many of the members are our friends, neighbors, even relatives,” said Allen. “The Kids Zone and donations to youth groups are just an extension of that philosophy. ”

Since 1971, DirectBuy has helped consumers enjoy enormous savings on home furnishings, home improvement items, entertainment and outdoor products, and accessories, by providing an avenue to purchase directly from the manufacturer. With 23 convenient locations in Canada, DirectBuy offers consumers a comfortable, country-club setting, where they finally have the financial control of buying direct.

For more information on DirectBuy, you can visit www. directbuy. com or www. directbuycares. com.

About DirectBuy

Since 1971, DirectBuy has helped hundreds of thousands of families enjoy a better quality of life, enabling them to buy directly from more than 500 manufacturers and their authorized suppliers. Buying direct makes members’ hard-earned money to go much further, while having the selection and choice not available at any retail store. With access to confidential prices, local suppliers, and unparalleled selection, DirectBuy helps make members’ dream projects a reality. It’s a comfortable, country-club setting, where you finally have the financial control of buying direct. The 23 showrooms serving seven provinces in Canada are part of more than 150 franchise locations throughout North America.

Locations of DirectBuy by province are:

Alberta:

DirectBuy of Calgary Unit 17 3900 106th Ave. SE, Calgary, 403-543-1620

DirectBuy of Edmonton, 10427 174 St. NW, Edmonton, 780-413-8242

British Columbia:

DirectBuy of Greater Vancouver, 91 Golden Drive Unit #1, Coquitlam, 604-552-5252

DirectBuy of Vancouver, 2659 Lillooet St. , Vancouver, 604-251-5822

DirectBuy of Central Okanagan, #5 2260 Hunter Rd, Kelowna, 250-763-4130

DirectBuy of Greater Victoria, 350B Bay Street, Victoria, 250-412-0238

Manitoba:

DirectBuy of Winnipeg, 180-117 King Edward Street East, Winnipeg, 204-925-4190

New Brunswick:

DirectBuy of New Brunswick, 950 Mountain Road, Moncton, 506-384-3009

Nova Scotia:

DirectBuy of Halifax, 60 Williams Avenue, Dartmouth, 902-446-4355

Ontario:

DirectBuy of Toronto Northwest, 2500 Williams Parkway E Unit 37, Brampton, 905-793-0639

DirectBuy of Ottawa, 1392 Cyrville Road, Ottawa, 613-749-2700

DirectBuy of London, 4093 Meadowbrook Dr. Unit 108, London, 519-652-0552

DirectBuy of Toronto North, 205 Torbay Road, Unit #2, Markham, 905-948-1911

DirectBuy of Mississauga, 4120 Ridgeway Drive Unit 26, Mississauga, 905-608-9244

DirectBuy of Kingston, 1121 John Counter Blvd, Kingston, 613-545-1200

DirectBuy of Toronto East, 1735 Bayly Unit 17, Pickering, 905-839-7747

DirectBuy of Hamilton – Niagara, 589 Barton St, Suite 102, Stoney Creek, 905-643-8271

DirectBuy of Toronto Downtown, 20 Banigan Drive, Toronto, 416-467-0078

DirectBuy of Waterloo, 755 Bridge St. Ste. 14, Waterloo, 519-885-3231

DirectBuy of Windsor, 2705 Kew Drive, Windsor, 519-945-3200

DirectBuy of Barrie, 320 Bayfield Street Unit 63, Barrie, 705-719-2999

Saskatchewan:

DirectBuy of Saskatoon, 201 Robin Crescent, Saskatoon, 306-683-3490

Consumers interested in becoming members may obtain a Visitor’s Pass to attend an Open House by contacting DirectBuy at 1-800-DIRECTBUY or visiting www. directbuycares. com.

You can learn more about the superior value and benefits of a DirectBuy membership also by visiting www. directbuycares. com.

1. Canada is the only country in the world which borders three oceans 2. Vancouver is regarded as one of the most livable cities in the world and is rated the tenth cleanest. 3. Yonge Street in Toronto is the longest street in the world and the city’s CN Tower used to be the tallest building in the world 4. Canada has more cars per person than any other country in the world 5. The Chateau Frontenac located in the city of Quebec is the most photographed hotel in the world 6. Edmonton has the largest shopping mall in the world 7. There are 15 million cattle in Canada 8. The baseball glove was invented in Canada in 1883 9. Montreal is the second largest French speaking city after Paris 10. 8. 4% of Canadians suffer from asthma 11. Calgary means ‘cove garden’ 12. The longest highway in the world is the Trans Canada Highway 13. 41% of Toronto residents were born outside of Canada 14. Montreal’s sister cities include Manila, Bucharest, Paris, Shanghai, Hiroshima, Algiers and Lyon 15. The worlds smallest jail at 270 square feet is located in Rodney, Ontario 16. The LG2 in Quebec is the largest underground hydro-electric power plant in the world 17. The board game, Trivial Pursuit, was first published in Canada 18. On average Calgary has thunderstorms for more than 22 days a year 19. Edmonton is known as the City of Champions due to its success in both team and individual sports 20. Canada is over 40 times the size of the UK 21. The city of Quebec is one of the oldest European settlements in North America 22. The port of Montreal is the largest inland port in the world 23. Toronto born cartoonist Joseph Shuster created Superman along with American writer Jerry Siegel 24. Located between Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, the Bay of Fundy has the highest tides in the world 25. Despite having an average temperature of around freezing point during part of the winter, Vancouver still has palm trees 26. Quebec means ‘where the river narrows’ 27. Ottawa has 850 parks 28. A Canadian, Louise Poirier invented the Wonderbra in 1964 29. The band, The Crash Test Dummies hail from Winnipeg 30. 25% of films produced by Hollywood are filmed in Toronto

The landscape in New Brunswick is one of the most spectacular in the world, with a magnificent sea view and the Appalachians in the vicinity. If the natural beauty of the region of New Brunswick on foot or by car, there will certainly have memories that make it family album.
The Appalachian Trail, along the coast of New Brunswick and the region is famous for its wonderful walks that it offers. You can find your way through the days of hiking alone, or you can rent one of the leading companies in the region, which will take you through the more secure parts of the mountains.
Some other attractions in the province are the New Brunswick Museum, Kouchibouguac National Park, Mactaquac Provincial Park, Les Jardins de la Republique, Parlee Beach, Hopewell Rocks, La Dune de Bouctouche, Saint John Reversing Falls, Magnetic Hill Zoo, the Beaverbrook Art Gallery King's Landing Historical Settlement, Crystal Palace, Magic Mountain Water Park, Cape Jourimain National Wildlife Preserve, Sugarloaf Provincial Park, Sackville Waterfowl Park, Fundy National Park and the Fundy Trail. Areas with greater population density includes the city of San Juan, the capital city of Fredericton, the beautiful Grand Manan Iceland, the world-famous St. Andrews, the northern town of Grand Falls, Miramichi and the Restigouche area.
There are over a hundred species of birds in the prosperous region of New Brunswick, making it an ideal place for bird watching. Among the species that live in the region, is the giant woodpecker, which is always a delight for bird watchers to see North American Studies.
There are a number of mammals in the region, is worth the time it takes to find and observe, are in their natural habitat. These include the lynx and the white deer. They definitely need to bring your camera on a journey through the range of the Appalachians as the lynx is a rare find.
If you prefer to marine life in the area then you will not be disappointed to observe. Bay of Fundy in New Brunswick is one of the few places in the world where you can view the sea lions that, with over a dozen different species of whales. The Bay of Fundy is also home to the highest tides in the world because of the unique geography of the Bay of self
City life in New Brunswick can be compared to the more cosmopolitan of the world. You can find the dining experience, art exhibitions and museums of the beautiful shopping centers and tourism in the region secretly.
The city of St. John is one of the best places to go on a spending spree and the various activities that can offer the city's life fun. You can enjoy a stay in a first class hotel in the city and quickly find that there are shopping malls in the immediate vicinity of your hotel.
St. John's is also home to the famous Reversing Falls running back, as the tides come This is a very interesting sight to see, and it will be remembered for a long time.