North America

The exhibit “Ultimate Dinosaurs: Giants from Gon­dwana,” focusing on dinosaurs of Gondwana, the supercontinent that became Africa, Madagascar and South America, continues until March 17, 2013, at the Royal Ontario Museum (100 Queen’s Park, Toronto, ON, M5S 2C6, Canada; 416/586-8000).

Casts of unique and some of the biggest dinosaurs recently discovered are featured. Among multimedia exhibits are “reactive walls that use body-scanning technology.” Open 10-5:30 daily, closing at 8:30 p.m. Fridays. CAD25 (near $24) adult.

Transitioning from paper to polymer currency, Canadian banks began issuing plastic 100-dollar bills in November 2011. In March 2012, plastic 50-dollar bills were issued, followed by 20-dollar bills in November; these are available through ATMs. The remaining denominations should become available in 2013. The partly transparent bills have holographic features difficult to counterfeit.

9-day / 8-night polar bear habitat tour in CANADA, October and November 2012 and 2013. Highlights: Toronto / tastings at four wineries near Niagara / Churchill, “polar bear capital of the world” / trek through the tundra to see bears, caribou, wolves, foxes / small-plane aerial tour / view bears from a Tundra Buggy. Land, from $9,060 per person. Kensington Tours (Wilmington, DE; 888 / 903-2001, www.kensingtontours.com).

“Star Wars Identities: The Exhibition” is being hosted at the Montréal Science Centre (at the foot of Saint-Laurent Boulevard, on King-Edward quay; 877/496-4724) until Sept. 16, 2012 (CAN26.50 [near $27] adult or CAN23.50 senior), then at the Telus World of Science (11211 142nd St., Edmonton, Alberta T5M 4A1, Canada; 780/451-3344) from Oct. 27, 2012, until at least April 1, 2013. The 5-year exhibition continues to Europe and Asia.

The Canadian Tourism Commission (#1400-1055 Duns­muir St., Box 49230, Vancouver, BC, V7X 1L2, Canada) has unveiled its new website, and the app “Explore Canada Like a Local.”

Seven-day/six-night cycling tour, easy to moderate pace (mostly flat; 25-45 miles per day), in CANADA, departing July 29 & Aug. 5, 2012. Highlights: Cycle along the Ile d’Orleans (Orleans River)/ferry on St. Lawrence River from Quebec City to Chaudiere-Appalaches/apple wine tasting at La Pomme St. Laurent/taste wild berry wine at Le Ricaneux winery/Quebec City walking tour/cycle to Montmo­rency Falls. Land, $2,889. Single supp., $600. Classic Adventures (Hamlin, NY; 800/777-8090).

Eight-day/seven-night tour in CANADA. Highlights: Titanic history in Halifax/Sherbrooke Village, a re-created19th-century lumber town/Prince Edward Island National Park/Cavendish, setting for “Anne of Green Gables”/lobster fishing and feast in Shediac. Land, $2,125. Single supp., $610. Brendan Vacations (Chatsworth, CA; 800/421-8446, www.brendanvacations.com).

I read with great interest Yvonne Michie Horn’s article on Kings Landing Historical Settlement (Dec. ’11, pg. 60). ITN readers may also like to know about the Acadian Historical Village (14311 Rte. 11, Rivière-du-Nord, N.B., E8N 2V6, Canada; 877/721-2200 — open 10-6, June 10-Sept. 22; $16 adult, $14 senior, and children six and under free).

KINGS LANDING, New Brunswick — For over 200 years, the buildings that make up Kings Landing Historical Settlement served well those living in Canada’s St. John River Valley. There, in an area so fertile that it was quickly dubbed “little Egypt,” thousands of refugees from colonial America found a new home in the aftermath of the American Revolution.