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Must Do Canada

The Best Things to Do in Canada

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Canada's big but you asked for it. Below are the best adventures and activities from coast to coast.

Ha Ling Peak – One of the Best Kananaskis Hikes

By Matthew G. Bailey

hiking trails near me

For a couple that lives just over an hour from the Canadian Rockies, we haven’t done as much hiking as we should be.  It’s almost ironic that my first big hike was actually in New Zealand when I went overseas for my first six-month solo adventure. When I told people where I was from, they were surprised to hear that I had not done many hikes. After all, Banff hiking trails are some of the best in the world. It’s the Rockies! At the same time, New Zealand is just as beautiful and lacks bears, cougars, wolves, and other dangerous animals. That’s mostly what kept me off of the trails. As I thought about it though, I realized that if I can love scuba diving with sharks, I should be okay doing some hiking near Banff National Park. So, that’s what we did. We made it a mission to do at least one or two hikes each summer. [Read more…] about Ha Ling Peak – One of the Best Kananaskis Hikes

What Makes Canada Special?

By Matthew G. Bailey Leave a Comment

What makes Canada special?

From May 15th – October 11th, my wife and I, along with filmmaker Justin Brunelle, traveled the whole of Canada, coast to coast to coast, to find out what makes Canada special. We experienced so many of the best things to do in Canada but we also interviewed people from all backgrounds to ask them what they think makes Canada such a great country.

We interviewed a wide variety of people, including celebrity astronaut Chris Hadfield, interpreters from Parks Canada, museum curators, tour guides, and even Syrian refugees. We heard many different answers to our question and it was so inspiring and heartwarming to hear the love that everyone had for their country, whether they had been here for generations or had just arrived.

It was an incredible trip, to say the least, and we actually experienced all of the things that people said they loved about Canada. They talked about their love for immigration and we heard the stories of many refugees. They talked about their love for the people and we met so many friendly and welcoming people from each province and territory. They talked about their love for the diversity of the country and we met with dozens of different cultures along the way. And of course, they all mentioned the nature and the landscapes and how vast Canada really is. This we really experienced, as we drove all the way from Newfoundland to Tuktoyuktuk and beyond. [Read more…] about What Makes Canada Special?

Heli-Snowshoeing in the Canadian Rockies

By Matthew G. Bailey 24 Comments

Helicopter Tour in the rocky mountains

No matter where we go, taking a helicopter tour is one of our favourite activities. It’s such a great way to see beautiful scenery from the sky and to get a different perspective of the area. We’ve taken helicopter rides in many different areas but one of our favourite places to take a helicopter tour is in Banff National Park.

We recently had the opportunity to go heli-snowshoeing with Rockies Heli Canada, which is located almost half-way between Jasper National Park and Banff National Park. It’s basically in the middle of the famous Icefields Parkway and right next to the Instagram-famous Abraham Lake. They offer a variety of helicopter tours and the one we did was the 20-minute flight with a 1-hour snowshoeing tour.

[Read more…] about Heli-Snowshoeing in the Canadian Rockies

Travel Across Canada in 150 Seconds!

By Matthew G. Bailey 2 Comments

Road Trip Canada 150 seconds

As many of you know, we road-tripped across Canada from coast to coast to coast for 150 days in 2017. We started at Canada’s furthest Easterly point (Cape Spear, Newfoundland) on May 15th, driving West to Alberta, then North to Tuktoyaktuk, South to British Columbia, and back into our home province of Alberta to finish the trip on October 11th.

It was truly an unforgettable and epic trip, utilizing every single day to experience the best of Canada while taking a dip in the Pacific, Atlantic, and Arctic Oceans. [Read more…] about Travel Across Canada in 150 Seconds!

Exploring Kicking Horse Resort Via Ferrata

By Matthew G. Bailey 3 Comments

suspension bride kicking horse resort

There’s something special about looking down at the Columbia Valley from 7,700 feet. The blue-tinged river snaking its way around the lush green valley and the seemingly endless array of mountains surrounding my 360-degree view. Then again, I’m actually hanging off one of the mountains as I make my way up to Terminator Peak via Ferrata.

New to Kicking Horse Resort (created in 2015), the Via Ferrata is a great activity for thrill-seekers looking for a chance to experience mountain climbing with few of the risks. I love trying new things so it wasn’t hard to convince myself to go. My wife, Karla, joined as well.

[Read more…] about Exploring Kicking Horse Resort Via Ferrata

Experiencing Humanity at Winnipeg’s Museum for Human Rights

By Matthew G. Bailey 4 Comments

Human Rights Museum Winnipeg

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” – Margaret Mead

I was told that the most impressive feature of the Canadian Museum for Human Rights was the building itself but this couldn’t be more wrong. Sure, the building is gorgeous. It was carefully and thoughtfully designed by Antoine Predock, who incorporated meaning into every facet of the facility. From the darkness of humanity simulated by beginning the museum partially underground to the beacon of light symbolized by reaching the top floor with expansive views of the city, the Canadian Museum for Human Rights is an architectural marvel.

However, the museum itself is equally fantastic. I thought that one 3-hour morning would be enough but that wasn’t the case. If you really want to dive into everything, you’ll need longer. I decided to jump on the 1.5-hour tour, which is a great way to get oriented with the museum and its different floors. The tour gives you insight into the building, the layout, the galleries and the intention of the museum. Unlike most museums that layout artifacts and historic items, this museum is designed to provoke discussion and inspiration into the movement of humanity.

[Read more…] about Experiencing Humanity at Winnipeg’s Museum for Human Rights

Enjoying a Warm Dip in Radium Hot Springs

By Matthew G. Bailey 3 Comments

Radium Hot Springs

I wish I was sinking into the pools at Radium Hot Springs right now.

This past weekend, my family and I travelled to Radium Hot Springs to enjoy a 2-night stay at Bighorn Meadows, some ice fishing with Reel Axe Adventures, skiing at Panorama Mountain Resort and spending some much needed relaxation time in the neighbouring hot springs.

There was something special about fishing all day on a frozen lake and then driving out to Radium Hot Springs for a warm (or even hot) dip in the developed natural hot springs. Walking out into the cold weather and feeling the warm sensation of the water when it first hits your feet is a delicious experience.

We ended up visiting Radium Hot Springs twice, thoroughly enjoying the deep relaxation caused by hot soothing water and surrounding mountain scenery. As I sat in the warm waters, I’d look to my right and see a frozen waterfall backlit by bright colours and when I looked to my left I’d see the cliff of a mountain with trees standing tall and covered in hoarfrost. It was magical.

One night we stayed in the hot springs for two full hours, only leaving because our skin was getting very wrinkled.

There are plenty of things to do in the town of Radium Hot Springs including nearby skiing, snowmobiling, ice fishing, snowshoeing, golfing, white water rafting and much more. After partaking in the suite of adventures in the area, there’s nothing better than swinging by the hot springs to sooth those tired muscles.

As I sit here typing away, I simply cannot wait to be surrounded again by the mystical steam of Radium Hot Springs as I soak in the hot waters.

Bliss.

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Follow me on Instagram for mouth-watering photography. You can find me at instagram.com/matthewgbailey

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Our trip to Radium Hot Springs was graciously sponsored by Bighorn Meadows. This in no way influences my opinions of any activity. My readers are everything and I am always 100% truthful. 

Fabulous Skiing at Panorama Mountain Village

By Matthew G. Bailey 5 Comments

One of my favourite feelings in the world is soaring down a mountain on skis, going as fast as I can and then making sharp turns so I can almost touch the snow like a surfer touching the water in a tube wave.

I had plenty of those moments this past week at Panorama Mountain Village. The ski runs are fantastic. The views are incredible. The amenities are plentiful.

snowboarding Panorama Mountain Village

One of my favourite runs was at the top of the champagne chairlift, which is almost the peak of the mountain. From there, it was 6 or 7 minutes of all-out speed as I raced down the mountain with nothing but jaw-dropping scenery in front of me. Even the ride up the chairlift itself is fabulous with tree after tree covered in hoarfrost.

[Read more…] about Fabulous Skiing at Panorama Mountain Village

Snowshoeing, Tubing and Magnificent Views at Mount Norquay

By Matthew G. Bailey 6 Comments

Situated in one of the most beautiful national parks in the world is Mount Norquay, an amazing mountain for skiing and snowboarding. Known as one of the mountains where olympians train, it’s also the closest and smallest ski area to the town of Banff.

But when most people think of Mount Norquay or with any of the mountains for that matter, thoughts of skiing and snowboarding are the only things that typically come to mind. That’s the only thing I ever thought about when visiting the area during the winter time…

Not anymore.

[Read more…] about Snowshoeing, Tubing and Magnificent Views at Mount Norquay

Walking through Historic Quebec City

By Matthew G. Bailey 3 Comments

quebec city wall mural

Quebec City is a magical place in Canada. First, it’s just different than the rest of the country. It feels like you’re in Europe more than North America. Secondly, it’s full of history. Whether your walking around the walled city of Old Quebec, taking a picture of the famous Fairmont Frontenac or strolling through the plains of Abraham, You’re bound to enjoy your time in this wonderful city.

My family and I were visiting Quebec City in late July as we drove across the country. I was excited to see Quebec City and walk the cobblestone streets of Old Quebec. We used Priceline to our advantage and scored the Best Western Plus, which was only a 20-minute walk from the heart of the city. For a room that was normally $170 per night, $80 was a great deal!

We had two days to wander around before we went up north to Tadoussac for some whale watching. Our days were packed full of activities. [Read more…] about Walking through Historic Quebec City