Summer

Lake Superior Circle Tour in Canada

(This story was originally written by Kristal of adventuredawgs.ca and has been expanded to create a more extensive guide to the area. All photos by Kristal unless otherwise mentioned.)

Over the years, my dogs and I have driven all over Canada and the United States, visited both oceans, and several mountain ranges. In spite of all the amazing places we have been privileged to explore, my favourite part of Canada is still the Trans-Canada Highway, or Highway 17, between Sault Ste. Marie (affectionately called “the Soo”) and Thunder Bay (or T-Bay).

With so many things to do and places to see around massive Lake Superior, the best way to see it all is to do the Lake Superior Circle Tour, which takes place in both Canada and the USA and makes for a wonderful Lake Superior vacation. However, for this article, we’re going to focus on the Canada-side of the tour. Maybe we can call it the Lake Superior Half Circle Tour?

Let’s begin. [Read more…] about Lake Superior Circle Tour in Canada

Things To Do in Calgary, Alberta

By Matthew G. Bailey

Although Calgary’s biggest draws might be the Calgary Stampede or its proximity to the Canadian Rockies, there’s actually a lot of things to do in Calgary that have nothing to do with those two things. In fact, Calgary is one of Canada’s most beautiful cities, surrounded by prairies, foothills, and mountains – combined with a dazzling city skyline and two beautiful rivers snaking their way through the city.

So, whether you’re looking for fun things to do in Calgary for adults, things to do in Calgary with kids, or cheap things to do in Calgary, here is a list of fun things to do in Calgary! [Read more…] about Things To Do in Calgary, Alberta

Things To Do In Canmore

By Matthew G. Bailey

If there was an award for the most beautiful mountain town in Canada, Canmore would likely take the title. Fringed by the towering Canadian Rocky Mountains, Canmore sits in one of the most beautiful locations on Earth, just minutes from world-famous Banff National Park.

While it has become very popular over the years, Canmore is basically the “local” version of Banff. Whereas Banff was specifically designed for tourists and caters to millions of people each and every year, Canmore is the town where locals live, which is a mere 15-minute drive from Banff and about 60-minutes from Calgary.

It’s just as beautiful as Banff and is close enough to be another option for accommodation and sightseeing.

Things To Do In Canmore Alberta Canada

With such close proximity to Banff National Park, the Kananaskis, and the stunning Icefields Parkway, there are many things to do in Canmore and the surrounding area. While there are four seasons in Canada, the most distinctly different seasons are summer and winter, so we will separate all the things to do in Canmore between these two seasons. [Read more…] about Things To Do In Canmore

How to Get the Best Views of Niagara Falls

By Matthew G. Bailey

best views of niagara falls ontario canada — *Take a cruise at Niagara Falls. Photo by Matthew G. Bailey.*

As one of Canada’s most popular natural attractions, Niagara Falls has been attracting visitors for more than a century. Some even consider it one of the world’s natural wonders. It is a very beautiful place and a very popular place to visit, both on the Canadian side and on the American side.

As you may know, Niagara Falls splits the border between Ontario, Canada, and New York, USA. You can view the falls from both the American side and the Canadian side but, in our humble opinion, the best way to see them is from the Canadian side. This is where you can get up close and personal with Horseshoe Falls, the most impressive of the three falls that make up Niagara Falls. Horseshoe Falls is the one you’ve all seen in photos. However, there’s also American Falls and Bridal Veil Falls.

Before we get into how to get the best views of Niagara Falls Canada, I wanted to share some cool facts about Niagara Falls with you.

The 3 waterfalls (Horseshoe, American, and Bridal Veil) combine to produce the highest flow rate of any waterfall on earth.
The largest vertical drop is over 50 metres (165 feet).
The Niagara Falls are a major source of hydropower, producing a lot of electricity
Although the force of Niagara Falls is controlled, they let it go strong during the popular summer months, when up to six million cubic metres of water flows over the crest each minute.
Niagara Falls occurs as water drains from Lake Erie into Lake Ontario.
If erosion continues at its current rate, scientists believe that Niagara Falls will be gone in approximately 50,000 years. Get there fast!
Roughly 30 Million people visit Niagara Falls each year
People have gone over the falls, despite it being illegal to do so. Some have even survived, but many were injured or killed.
People have tight-roped across the falls. First in 1859, and again in 2012.
Niagara Falls is one of the most popular things to do in Ontario.

As you can see, Niagara Falls has been a source of inspiration for years, whether that inspiration has been to go over them and survive or simply kick back and enjoy the wonderful views.

If you do make it to this beautiful area, there are many different ways to see Niagara Falls. [Read more…] about How to Get the Best Views of Niagara Falls

Unique Canadian Wine – Tantalizing Tastebuds in Three Wine Regions of Canada

By Matt Browman

If you’re already visiting wine country, you may as well venture off the main tasting routes of icewine, chardonnay, riesling, cabernet, and the pinots and try some truly unique wines from truly unique people. And these aren’t your “we do it differently but they taste weird” wines. These are outstanding examples from proven masters.

Whether you’re in looking for Okanagan wine tours, Niagara wine tours, or Nova Scotia wine tours, these three wineries will introduce you to something different.

Tips for Driving the Icefields Parkway from Banff to Jasper

By Matthew G. Bailey

Few drives match the beauty and majesty of the Icefields Parkway Canada. Ranked as one of the most scenic drives in the entire world by a number of popular publications, the Icefields Parkway takes you from Lake Louise to Jasper, winding through two national parks, jagged mountains, pine forest, turquoise lakes, glaciers, and beautiful rivers. There are dozens of scenic points to stop and admire, as well as dozens of hikes that could take you anywhere from an afternoon to complete or a couple of weeks if you just want to get lost. This is the wilderness after all. Sure, this area attracts a lot of tourists, but for anyone who wants to get off the beaten track, there’s plenty of opportunities for that too – as long as you’re prepared for the wild country and the animals that live there, which includes wolves, cougars, and bears.

The drive Jasper to Lake Louise (or vice versa) takes approximately three hours, but you’ll want to double that to take full advantage of the beauty surrounding you. If you’re coming from Banff, the Banff to Jasper drive will take around four hours to get to Jasper and roughly three hours to get to the Columbia Icefields. [Read more…] about Tips for Driving the Icefields Parkway from Banff to Jasper

Hiking Newfoundland – Five Great Hiking Trails

By Leigh McAdam

Hiking in Canada is a very popular thing to do and Newfoundland is blessed with an abundance of excellent hiking trails, usually with a backdrop of rugged, world-class scenery. But there’s a downside – though only if you’re short on time. Many of the trails are some distance from each other. From my experience, the best hiking is along the East Coast Trail – not far from the capital of St. John’s and in Gros Morne National Park. There are a couple of other hiking trails in newfoundland you could access if you’re planning a drive across the province.

These five Newfoundland hikes are some of the best in the province…

Sugarloaf Path

The Sugarloaf Path is but one section of the 265-kilometre East Coast Trail Newfoundland. It’s one of the prettiest sections of the trail that can be done as a one-way day trip from St. John’s. I recommend either a shuttle should you have two cars or a 15-minute taxi ride to the Logy Bay trailhead at the Ocean Science’s Centre.

The East Coast Trail Association rates this hike as a difficult one, largely because the elevation gain is more than 150 metres. In my books, coming from the Rockies I’d give it a moderate rating. Allow four to five hours, more if you’re an avid photographer.

From the trailhead, it’s 8.8 kilometres to the scenic Quidi Vidi village. Along the way, it’s non-stop rugged coastal views with stunning cliffs and a good chance of iceberg sightings if you visit in June. Birders will love all the activity along this hike.

While in theory, the hike finishes in Quidi Vidi, I’d recommend adding another four kilometres and a little more than an hour of hiking time to finish in downtown St. John’s. There is the option of picking up a bus from the village as well. Look for the signs directing you to the Cuckold Cove Trail. Follow it to Signal Hill and from there into the city. [Read more…] about Hiking Newfoundland – Five Great Hiking Trails

Vancouver Whale Watching – A Magical Orca Experience

By Matthew G. Bailey

It wasn’t long before a black dorsal fin broke through the water. Like a sharp blade, it sparkled as the sunlight hit the beads of water falling from the fin and back into the Pacific Ocean. It’s an incredible experience to see these beautiful whales off the coast of Vancouver and there’s really no better place to see them in the wild.

It was an incredibly lucky day for everyone on the water. It wasn’t more than 20-minutes from the time we left the pier before the first killer whale graced us with its presence. It was a quick start to what turned out to be an unforgettable day. Over the next three hours, we must have seen various orca whales breach the surface more than 100 times. [Read more…] about Vancouver Whale Watching – A Magical Orca Experience