The Independent travel podcast: Canadian cities in winter

Welcome to The Independent’s Travel Podcast Service, which is designed to give you an insider's guide to destinations all over the world. You join our travel editor, Simon Calder, who always knows where to stay, where to eat and what to do in destinations at home and abroad.

The Independent's Travel Podcast Service is recorded to the highest broadcast standards, and the guides are free to download. This time, Simon explores the beauty and excitement of Canadian cities in winter.

For his podcast, click here . Here are some of the highlights:

Simon is joined by Tam Leech, a leading writer on active travel author of The Rough Guide to Skiing and Snowboarding in North America, and Stephen Wood, the Executive Editor of Conde Nast Traveller and ski correspondent for The Independent. His journey begins in Vancouver, where the world's biggest oceans meets the mountains, and which incorporates one of the most popular destinations for winter sport - Whistler.

Heading over the provinicial border (and moving forward an hour!) Simon then explores all Alberta has to offer, before moving on to Calgary and the Olympic Museum and Ski Jump where Britain's own Eddie "The Eagle" Edwards came last in 1988. Simon describes his personal favourite - Banff - and the 2,300 moose, bears and wolves that roam within the national park boundary.

Simon's expert companions provide their insights into the further destinations of Montreal, New Brunswick and Newfoundland... while Simon tucks into the delightful smoked beef of Montreal's Hebrew delicatessen!

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Click here for Canada: Part I.