So you’re visiting Canada and you’d like to catch an NHL Hockey game? I don’t blame you. It’s the best game on earth!

Here’s your primer on Canada’s professional hockey teams, including logos, links and venue information. GAME ON!

	Montreal Canadiens Official team website Where they play: Centre Bell How to get there: VIA Rail trains
	Ottawa Senators Official team website Where they play: ScotiaBank Place How to get there: VIA Rail trains
	Toronto Maple Leafs Official team website Where they play: Air Canada Centre How to get there: VIA Rail trains
	Calgary Flames Official team website Where they play: Pengrowth Saddledome
	Edmonton Oilers Official team website Where they play: Rexall Place How to get there: VIA Rail train
	Vancouver Canucks Official team website Where they play: General Motors Place How to get there: VIA Rail train

All logos remain the property of their respective teams. Their use here is simply to help identify foreign travellers identify Canadian hockey teams.

The squirrels have it right. There’s nothing like the arrival of fall to make you eat and eat and eat in preparation for the cold winter months ahead. To help satisfy the appetites of readers in Western Canada for delicious fall yummies, I have lovingly prepared this list of top food and wine festivals this November.

Get your napkins ready!

West Coast Chocolate Festival (Coquitlam, Port Moody, Port Coquitlam)

Until November 10, 2009

This festival celebrates the magic of chocolate and how it appeals to the senses! Events include chocolate pairings with beer, wine and scotch, a pancake breakfast, chocolate-making workshops and “Chicks and Chocolate”, a popular girls-only event featuring live entertainment, booths and tastings.

Cornucopia (Whistler, BC)

November 12-15, 2009

Sample gourmet food and fine wine in one of the most beautiful places on Earth! Festival highlights include seminars with wineries, critics and wine professionals, multi-course dinners, numerous tasting events, and various after-parties and brunches.

Rocky Mountain Wine and Food Festival (Edmonton, AB)

November 5-7, 2009

One of the largest and most exciting wine and food event in Alberta, this multi-city festival offers visitors a chance to sample an extensive variety of wine, scotch, beer and spirits, along with gourmet food from local restaurants and hotels. And they’ve expanded the exhibition hall this year!

If you’re always on the look-out for new culinary discoveries, visit the Tourism Canada website for updated festival listings.

Bon appetit!

I’ve been to Quebec City countless times (a major perk of working with VIA!) and I’ll let you in on a secret… the city’s never more magical than in the fall. Here’s why:

1.	Start with the panoramic sweep of Vieux Quebec and the St. Lawrence River from high atop Terrasse Dufferin. Cobblestones and copper roofs are a perfect foil for fall’s colours!
2.	Now brave l’Escalier Casse-Cou (Break Neck Steps) to reach the Quebec-Levis ferry, for crisp fall views of Chateau Frontenac and the Citadel.
3.	Debark for a stroll (or fall shopping spree) along the city’s most branché avenues – Maguire and Cartier. From niche boutiques to an incredible fine dining scene, it’s all very bon chic, bon genre!
4.	With chefs revelling in the season’s harvest, you’ll want to work off some of those meals… on a bike tour. Try the old King’s Road or Ile d’Orleans.
5.	Finally, don’t miss one of nature’s most spectacular migrations – Quebec’s snow geese. Every autumn, the region is blanketed by thousands of these all-white birds.

And the most stress-free way to get there? With VIA Rail, course!

I hate to say it but summer is almost over. The good news is… FALL IS HERE!

I can’t wait for the return of sweaters and scarves, for the swooshing sound of feet pushing through piles of gold and red leaves, for crunchy apples picked fresh from the tree.

To get us primed for this (my favourite) season, I flipped through the latest VIA destinations mag and pulled out their list of top fall destinations in Canada.

• Annapolis Valley, Nova Scotia
• Cape Breton Highlands National Park, Nova Scotia
• Fundy coast, New Brunswick
• Charlevoix, Quebec
• Eastern Townships, Quebec
• Ottawa Valley, Ontario
• Algonquin Park, Ontario
• Niagara Peninsula, Ontario

If you want to read more about these beautiful areas, read the VIA destinations magazine!

True music fans have been talking about this two-day outdoor festival for months – and for good reason.

Not only are international acts like Coldplay and the Beastie Boys set to wow crowds during the first weekend of August, but the line-up also features an impressive list of indie rockers, pop idols and alternative sweethearts.

Jason Mraz ∙ Lykke Li ∙ Yeah Yeah Yeahs ∙ Arctic Monkeys ∙ The Roots

And let’s not forget our own national treasures!

K’naan ∙ The Stills ∙ Rufus Wainwright ∙ Beast ∙ Hey Rosetta!

Good news is, our other national treasure – VIA Rail – is offering you 50% savings on train travel to MTL for Osheaga. So what are you waiting for? GO PACK YOUR BAGS!

If you pop over to VIA Rail today, you’ll spot a brand spanking new website! After intensive, behind-the-scenes work, VIA’s got a fresh look packed with revamped navigation, search, content and design. Give it a whirl, then let us know what you think of our facelift…

Looking forward to reading your comments here on the blog, or in our survey!

The Montréal Impact will be playing their season opener this Saturday, May 9 against the Rochester Rhinos. If you don’t already have your tickets, allow me to provide five reasons for calling the box office like… now!

1. The Impact finished in third place overall in 2007 and last season, they finished second. Do the math… 2009 is their year to finish FIRST!

2.  Cute boys with great legs running around. Joey Gjertsen, will you marry me?

3. It’s a good excuse to book a weekend in MTL. See a game, take a stroll on the mountain and eateateat!

4. VIA Rail is a proud sponsor!

5. It’s an affordable family outing with plenty of exciting action and ambience!

Start planning your visit to Montréal and the Saputo stadium now!

All my ski-crazy buddies really enjoy this time of year – the limitless slopes still left to discover, the comforts of old favourites, new tricks to try and the quality of the apres ski. And what better exercise is there? Skiing tones your entire body, provides an excellent cardiovascular workout, and it improves delivery of oxygen to muscles.

So as part of my continuing commitment to your New Year resolution to get in shape, I gently suggest some great hills where you can kick-off your new winter exercise regimen!

1. Sun Peaks, near Kamloops, has 3,678 skiable acres on three mountains with 122 runs, including 12 gladed areas. This popular resort boasts “dry, easy-to-ski powder”, a world-class spa (Swedish massage, anyone?) and a very family-friendly environment.

2. Marmot Basin in Jasper offers 84 trails distributed over 1,675 acres of skiable terrain. This Rocky Mountain destionation is known for its uncrowded atmosphere and breathtaking landscapes. And what’s your best way to travel to Jasper and Marmot Basin? VIA’s Snow Train to Jasper, of course!

3. Considered one of the busiest resorts in Canada, Blue Mountain is located about two hours north of Toronto. Check out this line-up: 36 trails ranging from beginner to double black diamond, 2 terrain parks, 1 super pipe, and 14 lifts, including 4 high-speed express chairs.

4. Not to be outdone, St. Sauveur, located just 45 minutes north of Montreal, attracts skiiers from around the world with 38 slopes and the longest ski season in Quebec – 7 months! It goes without saying that St. Sauveur also offers a memorable apres ski – so don’t leave too hastily.

5. Not only does Le Massif near Quebec City have almost 50 trails and glades, but the mountain also has a stunning view of the sea. In fact, you may feel as if you’ll ski right into the water! Beauty and thrills. An excellent choice for spring break!

I’d join you but… pixels can’t ski!

For more photos by A Tea With No E, visit her Flickr profile.

Naturally, I can’t get enough of the Web. Helloooo, I’m made of pixels!

The social web allows me to share my fabulousness with… well, everyone. And since I want you to also embrace the best things in life – I thought I might take a moment to help you decide which platform best suits your passions.

		The world’s favourite online sharing site for photos and videos. Posting your photos is easy and your friends can leave comments too!	View my Flickr photostream!
		The place where millions of people keep their friends up to date with photos, links, videos, etc. There is also a lot of poking.	Visit my Facebook fan page!
		Blogging too long? Love Facebook status lines? Join Twitter and keep your friends updated with unlimited snippets from your life.	Follow me on Twitter – or follow VIA Rail!
		This social bookmarking service lets you share the web pages you love with friends. Extremely useful if you like to read, but don’t care to browse.	Check out my bookmarks on delicious!
		Have friends with too many profiles (like me)? Follow it all on their FriendFeed account – that way, no switching between different sites!	Track me on FriendFeed!

So… how are those resolutions coming along? If you – like me – have vowed to refresh your image for 2009, and are in need of some inspiration, let me share with you some of my latest fabulous finds!

• Vitamin Daily: Once you’ve chosen your city edition, dive into style tips, shopping guides and insider news on the coolest stuff. A very useful little site if you’re ready to renovate at home!
• Living in the Queen’s City? Then check out the Toronto Style Blog – a fun way to discover hot Canadian designers, the latest and best make-up tips and other girlie things.
• Daily Candy: The latest in fashion, food and fun delivered right to your inbox. There’s no Canadian edition – and many items may be out of your wallet’s league – but oh, what fun to look at!