Going to Canada? Get Real!

Aussie travellers are going out of their way to keep it real in Canada. They're heading off the beaten track for authentic North American adventures and spending time with local characters to immerse themselves in the essence of each destination. Authentic, unique hotels and lodges are in demand for the travellers desiring a bona fide, memorable experience. Quebec's Ice Hotel, Ottawa Jail Hostel, Skwachays Aboriginal Arts Hotel and Alberta's Skoki Lodge are four such places.

HI-OTTAWA JAIL

Spend the night behind bars in Canada's capital city of Ottawa at the HI-Ottawa Jail hostel. Set in the heart of downtown, walking distance to Parliament Hill, the National Gallery of Canada, Byward Market and trendy boutiques, the hostel is housed in a 150 year old former Carleton County gaol – steeped in history and built on fun! This is the only hostel in Canada where you can sleep in an authentic gaol cell between walls made of traditional stone and brick. Enjoy a drink with your inmates at Mugshots, Canada's only gaol bar, rated as one of the city's best underground performing venues. Take the Crime and Punishment tour of the heritage building and find out why the ex-gaol is considered one of the most haunted buildings in the country. And don't worry, even though you're behind bars, you'll still have access to free wifi!
http://www.hihostels.ca/Ontario/1166/HI-Ottawa-Jail.hostel

SKWACHAYS LODGE, BRITISH COLUMBIA

Immerse yourself in Canada's rich First Nation's culture at the Skwachàys Lodge, Canada's first Aboriginal arts hotel, which opened in May this year. The 18-room boutique arts hotel features distinctly cultural accommodations, built within two floors of the Vancouver Native Housing Society, between Gastown and Chinatown. The building includes an aboriginal art gallery and 25 residential units for the artists. This experiential hotel, designed by six aboriginal artists and Vancouver-based interior design firms, includes unique themes such as animal spirits, indigenous carvings, blankets and paintings. Guests at Skwachàys will also have the opportunity to meet with local aboriginal artists and express their own creativity through hands-on First Nations experiences, such as carving, weaving and painting classes. With experiential-style hotels 'with a conscience' gaining popularity worldwide, Skwachàys is a great example of a sustainable business which provides social benefits to the local community. http://skwachays.com/

ICE HOTEL, QUEBEC

Spend a wintery night in an igloo – it doesn't get more authentic than this! The Hôtel de Glace, located 10 minutes from downtown Quebec City, is a fantastical 36-room, cathedral-ceilinged hotel built lock, stock and barrel entirely of ice. This is the definition of true romance. Picture the Inuit snoozing in their igloos. Bliss. The difference is, tomorrow you don't have to get up and chase your breakfast across the tundra. Gloves might be a good idea while clinking your cocktail glasses at the ice bar, and coats won't be out of place in the public areas. But come night time, you'll want to strip right down and slide into the warm bedding. True, the bed sits on blocks of ice, but you'll never feel it through a sleeping bag over a thick fleece and foam mattress atop a wood deck. Live the ultimate Nordic adventure from January 5 until March 22, when this ephemeral work of art celebrates its 15th anniversary. www.icehotel-canada.com

SKOKI LODGE, ALBERTA

High in the alpines of Banff National Park, at the end of an eleven kilometer trail from Lake Louise, lies Skoki Lodge, the gateway to breathtaking mountain ridges, valleys and crystal lakes. This backcountry Lodge is only accessible by hiking or skiing and has a true back-to-nature mentality. There's no electricity and the toilet is outside, which means evenings are romantic candle-lit affairs. Just ask Prince William and Kate, Duchess of Cambridge, who stayed at the rustic lodge in 2011 (though it is reported that their cabin was retrofitted with a bathroom for the duration of their stay). Chef, Katie Mitzel, hovers over the wood-fired stove at Skoki creating gastronomical masterpieces from scratch for guests to the lodge, making the most of local ingredients and seasonal fare. Think seafood chowder, Alberta beef, Canmore coffee, cheese and wine. http://www.skoki.com/