When and if spring ever arrives, with summer not far behind, think about touring Canada by bicycle! What a great way to see the country! Check out these great books from Calgary Public Library!!

Ride across Canada with the Metal Cowboy, his wife and three young sons.

Crossing Canada by bicycle means 7,000 km of pedalling over a constantly changing terrain, from the high peaks of the Rocky Mountains to the flat farming fields of the prairies and through isolated fishing villages in the Maritime provinces. Canada by Bicycle traces the bike tour that Steve did from west to east across Canada in the summer of 2009 and includes lots of good solid tips.

For a shorter trip why not try the Kettle Valley Railroad route in British Columbia?

Closer to home, check out the fantastic bicycle trails in Calgary!

In Calgary's Best Bike Rides and Trails, Lori offers Calgarians the opportunity to explore the city on their bikes, on brand new routes that include smooth pathway pedalling with dips and climbs on hilly side streets, and more adventuresome rides on bumpy dirt paths through wilderness parks. (Syndetics)

Slow travel is all about getting to know a place and connecting with the people. What better way to see a country than to walk the highways and biways?

The library has some great books that you can check out on walking vacations for locations both near and far.

One of our newest is by Countryfile, Great British Walks. This book features 100 unique walks through the British countryside and has clear, easy-to-follow routes and ordnance survey mapping. It includes notes on what you will see and some lovely colour photographs. It has everything from gentle strolls through the countryside to challenging hikes into the wilderness.

"With its strong binding, attractive photographs, and variety of walks, this guide will make a wonderful companion for enthusiastic country walkers. (Library Journal Review)

You can walk through Provence or Paris:

Or perhaps you would like to walk Down Under.

Or you can stay close to home:

Whether you are a meanderer or a serious hiker, there is something here for you. Happy trails!!

Looking for a great winter staycation. Why not visit Jasper in all its snowy glory?

I visited Jasper on the long weekend in September for the first time in many years and was blown away by the beautiful drive up the Icefields Parkway. It must be that much more beautiul now with the snow on the mountains.

Think about downhill skiing at the Marmot Ski Resort, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing, ice skating on a frozen lake, winter hiking and even dog sledding. There's lots to see and do, including Maligne Canyon, beautiful in summer and winter.

To find out about visiting Jasper in the winter, visit Calgary Public Library and check out some of our great guidebook.

Frommer's British Columibia and the Canadian Rockies is also available as an eBook.

We also have a DVD, Jasper National Park: 360 Degrees of Inspiration which has beautiful footage of the park, its people and its spectacular landscapes.

The Maligne Canyon ice walk offers a chance to see frozen waterfalls and fanciful ice formations. The Jasper tourism site lists the tour companies which will guide you through this frozen wonderland.

Jasper in January is the annual winter festival, taking place from January 14 - 30, 2011. There are many fun activities, including the Annual Polar Bear Dip at Lake Edith.

Jasper, a winter paradise!!

Check out this absolutely beautiful book that has recently arrived at the library.

Arctic Eden "is a stunning celebration of the Arctic by its most passionate explorer. Jerry Kobalenko describes a series of journeys he has taken over the past twenty years around the Canadian High Arctic by foot, skis, kayak, and ship that provide a multifaceted view of this most beautiful and most vulnerable part of the Arctic. Combining natural history, exploration, and personal experiences gathered during twenty years of Arctic travel, the book also contains magnificent photographs of the region, capturing wildlife such as walrus, muskoxen, and Arctic wolves and stunning geographical features from towering icebergs to virgin snowscapes..." (Syndetic)

Jerry has been interviewed by Canadian Geographic. During his recent author reading at Central Library, which was informative and entertaining, he demonstrated his vast knowledge and love of the North. As his wife says, "His spiritual home is Ellesmere Island