Keep you cool; close to home

Title: Toronto Star
By: Corinne Mcdermott, Heather Greenwood
Date: Jul 14, 2012
Section: Travel
Publication Type: Daily Newspaper

Yeah, it's smokin' hot here in Ontario, but there are plenty of places where the temperature is a whole lot lower. 

We here in Southern Ontario love to complain when it's too cold in winter. Now that summer's here, some folks are cursing the heat. Luckily for us, there are plenty of places to cool off and bring our body temperatures back from the top of the needle. There are, of course, lakes and swimming pools nearby. There also are parts of the country where you can go right away and chill out. Here's a look at some chilling possibilities:

A glacier in Alberta
Surround yourself with snow and ice in the summer months, by taking a drive through the Rocky Mountains and heading to the Columbia Icefield. Tucked beside the boundary between Banff and Jasper National Parks is the Athabasca Glacier, six square kilometres of ancient ice that's up to 1,000 feet thick.

Venture out on the glacier and join the club of more than 10 million visitors from around the world who have stood on the mass of ice. Brewster Tours' fleet of 22 specially-designed "Ice Explorers" take you out to a safe spot on the glacier's surface, so you can cool off by standing on the ice formed from snow that fell as long as 400 years ago.

Brewster Tours also offers a two-hour guided hike along the Forefield Trail, detailing the Athabasca's glacial path and exploring the habitat of local wildlife and hardy alpine flora. Even if it's July, bring a coat, hat, and gloves!

Up north and down east
Temperatures, of course, are a lot cooler in the Canadian north. You could do a wilderness canoe trip on the Nahanni River in the Northwest Territories. Or take a scenic plane ride in the Yukon and check out the glaciers in Kluane National Park and fly over Mt. Logan, the highest point in Canada.

Ice cream in Canada
Whether this summer's travels take you east or west; whether you like it in a cone or a cup; whether you prefer chocolate, vanilla or rhubarb. . . any of these spots will be worth the trip for the flavourful knockout punch they deliver. Here are some great options.

Bella Gelateria, Vancouver. Easy to spot with a lineup that runs right out the door of its West Cordova street location, Bella is the inventing grounds of 52-year-old James Coleridge who recently took first place in the Firenze Gelato Festival. Twitter announcements of flavours in the making bring in fans from across the city who are always pleased to learn that with only 7 per cent fat they can justify a second scoop. Flavour to try: Dulce de Leche, Cows Creamery, Charlottetown. You can take the factory tour to get the inside scoop on this national treasure, but all you really need is a taste or two. Made with all local ingredients and 16 per cent butterfat it has turned heads around the world, recently beating out Ben and Jerry's and others to be named the number one ice cream in the world by Tauck World Discovery. Flavour to try: Gooey Mooey

Hollywood Gelato, Leaside, Toronto. This Bayview Ave. standby has more than 200 recipes on store but lucky for you there's never more than 22 available to choose from. The family-owned business delivers an authentic Italian gelato experience every time. Flavour to try: Roasted Marshmallow.

Caption: Illustration: • Kids age 5 and younger enter free at the Columbia Icefield Glacier Adventure. That's good because they can't get enough of it. Corinne mcdermott photo