Cruise around the waters of Alta Lake with a private guide, scoping out the mountain scenery and local wildlife as you paddle along the shoreline in a voyageur-style canoe. Named for the French word for traveler, these sturdy vessels with room for 10 were used by the area's early fur trappers.

Meet up with your guide in the village or get picked up from your hotel for the short ride to Wayside Park on the shores of beautiful Alta Lake. Grab a seat in a large voyaguer canoe, modeled after the boats used by French trappers who paddled up and down Canada's waterways to transport valuable furs. Your guide handles the steering, so you can help out with paddling and just focus on the view.

Skim across the lake's calm surface, and take pictures of the snow-capped mountains, distant glaciers, and multi-hued greenery that blankets the surrounding hills. Watch the banks for wildlife, and keep your eyes on the sky to try and spot bald eagles. As you cruise, your guide rattles off facts and stories about the Whistler region, its natural history, and the role of voyageur canoes in the area's past before heading back to shore.