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The Best Things to Do in Canada

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8 Ways to Enjoy Ottawa in the Winter

By Matthew G. Bailey 2 Comments

Ottawa in the winter.
Parliament Hill in the winter.

Ottawa in the Winter last updated: December 25th, 2022

With snow covering the ground and temperatures reaching far below zero, Canada may not seem like a desirable place in the winter. But that’s truly not the case. Not only is there fewer crowds and cheaper prices, but winter is also an incredibly beautiful time to visit and Ottawa is one of the best places to do so.

Canada’s capital is a great place to visit in the winter. Not only is it a great place to experience winter activities such as skating, snowshoeing, and cross-country skiing, but it’s also very beautiful to see the frozen Rideau Canal, the snow-covered Ottawa River, and the stunning gothic-style parliament buildings surrounded by a white blanket.

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Banff Festivals in the Winter

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Banff Winter Festivals

Last updated: February 11th, 2020

If you’ve been following us for a while, you know how much we love Banff. Part of it is because we live so close but part of it is just because it’s so darn beautiful. Throw in some of the world’s best skiing, hiking, snowshoeing, and cross-country skiing, and it’s easy to see why we spend so much time there.

For those of you thinking of visiting Banff National Park, you might be wondering when is the best to visit. That’s a tough one to answer as it depends on a variety of factors but if you’ve already decided that winter is the best time to visit Banff, then you may also want to consider timing your visit with one of the many festivals that happen throughout the colder months.

There are quite a few festivals and events that happen, especially in late fall and early winter, including the Banff Centre Mountain Film and Book Festival, the Lake Louise Ski World Cup, the Banff Craft Beer Festival, the Banff Christmas Market, Mountaintop Christmas at the Banff Gondola, and the Santa Claus Parade. As we get later into winter, however, there’s another incredible festival that comes to Banff, bringing artists from around the world and all sorts of winter fun. It’s called Snow Days. [Read more…] about Banff Festivals in the Winter

Your Guide to Calgary Skiing

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Calgary Skiing

Last updated: February 4th, 2020

Situated in the heart of the foothills, just an hour’s drive away from the majestic Canadian Rockies, Calgary is an epic destination for those seeking adventure. Due to its proximity to the mountains, it’s also become a winter mecca, often used as a base for exploring the mountains while also experiencing one of Canada’s fastest-growing cities.

For those seeking the snow, Calgary is a great location for skiers and snowboarders alike. Whether you want to learn how to ski within the city or head out to some of the best ski resorts in the entire world, Calgary is the place to be. [Read more…] about Your Guide to Calgary Skiing

Your Ultimate Guide to Ski Banff

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Ski Banff Lake Louise Ski Resort

For those looking to shred some serious powder, whether on skis or on a snowboard, Banff is one of the best places you can visit. Located in the Canadian Rocky Mountains, Banff is home to some of the best ski resorts in Canada. Not just Banff either, but the entire surrounding area. Within the national park, however, there are three ski resorts. Known as the “Ski Big 3” collective, these mountains are absolutely incredible. From experiencing a heated chairlift to soaring down an eight-kilometre (five-mile) ski run, this is a winter wonderland for those who like to shred powder. [Read more…] about Your Ultimate Guide to Ski Banff

Edmonton to Jasper

By Matthew G. Bailey 9 Comments

Jasper National Park is easily one of the best things to do in Alberta.
An aerial view of Jasper National Park reveals the beautiful colours of the fall.

Last updated: February 4th, 2022

While Edmonton is not as close to the Rocky Mountains as Calgary is, it’s actually a pretty good base for starting a road trip to Jasper. Situated at the northern tip of the incredible Icefields Parkway, Jasper is an exquisite mountain town with an array of outdoor activities, jaw-dropping natural attractions, and world-class restaurants. It’s less touristy than Banff, which is exactly what makes it such a special place to visit.

We’ve actually done this drive in reverse, going from Jasper to Edmonton and it’s a very straightforward 4-hour drive. The roads are well maintained and there are plenty of small towns along the way to find services in. It’s also home to a variety of wildlife, which means you might see deer, elk, or bears.

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Winter in Canada

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things to do in panorama Bc

Last updated: February 2nd, 2020

Winter in Canada might be chilly, but it has plenty to offer both the adventure seeker and the city slicker. Travelers who visit Canada in the winter typically do so for winter activities like skiing and snowboarding, but even those who aren’t cold weather fans will find plenty of reasons to enjoy the winter in Canada. For one, the scenery is spectacular during the winter as it becomes covered in a layer of sparkling snow.

It’s also a great time of year for budget-conscious travelers as most places see a sharp discount on hotel prices and airfare. Even in popular towns like Banff, Alberta, hotel prices are often 50-70% cheaper than in the summer months. Plus, there’s lots of availability for you to pick and choose. [Read more…] about Winter in Canada

Calgary to Lake Louise

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things to do in lake louise

Last updated: April 2nd, 2022

Lake Louise, which is also named Lake of the Little Fishes by the Stoney Nakota First Nations people, is a vibrant turquoise glacial-fed lake in Banff National Park and is one of the most visited destinations in all of Canada. In the summer, you’ll find people canoeing across the lake or hiking up one of the mountains whereas in the winter it becomes a frozen skating rink and home to the incredible Ice Magic Festival.

Living in Calgary, we drive to Banff and Lake Louise a lot. After all, it’s one of the most scenic destinations in the world and it’s only two hours away! There are so many things to do in Banff National Park and in Lake Louise, so whether you’re wanting to just admire the lake from the luxurious Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise or go for a hike into the thick pine forest, visiting Lake Louise is an absolute MUST-DO when exploring the Canadian Rockies.

In this article, we’re going to share with you all the different ways you can get from Calgary to Lake Louise, Alberta.

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The ULTIMATE Guide to Things To Do in Jasper

By Matthew G. Bailey 10 Comments

best things to do in alberta
An aerial view of Jasper National Park reveals the beautiful fall colours.

Things to Do in Jasper Last updated: February 9th, 2023

Located a little further off the “beaten track”, Jasper is like a smaller, more local Banff. Nestled at the north end of the Icefields Parkway in Jasper National Park, Jasper is surrounded by vast valleys, towering mountain peaks, and hordes of wildlife. If you’re looking for a quieter version of Banff, this is it.

Just like Banff, Jasper is an epic destination for outdoor enthusiasts. You’ll find Alberta’s tallest mountain, stunning Maligne Lake and Instagram-famous Spirit Island, the world’s second-largest dark sky preserve, more than 1,200 kilometres of hiking trails, and the incredible Jasper SkyTram. There’s also a variety of delicious restaurants, accommodations, and souvenir shops – everything a traveller could possibly want.

In this guide, we’ll describe all the things to do in Jasper so that you can plan the best trip ever.

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Exploring the Arctic From Canada to Greenland

By Matthew G. Bailey 4 Comments

Greenland Iceberg

Iceberg, straight ahead!

Unlike for the Titanic, however, this was actually good news. After all, we all wanted to see icebergs and now we had one cruising right by our ship. I took a long, admiring look at it and then whipped out my camera to get some photos. After it went by, another one cruised by on the other side of the ship. I ran over to see that one as well. It was a little bigger and had some interesting crevices that had such a deep blue colour. This time, I whipped out my binoculars as well to get an up-close look at it. Then I noticed another one right behind it. Then two more were coming on the other side. Suddenly, there were hundreds of icebergs. Some were cruising by, quite close to the ship. Others were in the far distance, dotting the seascape like giant ice cubes. I couldn’t believe my eyes. No matter where I looked out at sea, there were dozens of icebergs. I thought back to some of the trips I had taken to Newfoundland in hopes of seeing icebergs and feeling so lucky to see one or two. Now, I had hundreds of icebergs surrounding me, flowing by under a clear, blue sky. It was incredibly gorgeous. [Read more…] about Exploring the Arctic From Canada to Greenland

Exploring Canada’s High Arctic in Nunavut

By Matthew G. Bailey 8 Comments

Pond Inlet Inuit Sod House

We had just gone to bed. It was after midnight and the sunlight was still shining through the tiny portion of our window that wasn’t covered by our curtain. It didn’t even feel like we were on a ship. There was no motion. No swaying left to right or right to left. Just stillness. It had been a long day of both adventure and education. We had learned from experts about the history and biology of the area we were visiting. We had met a handful of the 150+ people we’d be sharing the experience with over 12 days. We had seen a variety of incredible landscapes and bird colonies. But now it was time to rest. After all, we’d be going on another adventure tomorrow.

It seemed like I had just closed my eyes when the PA-system came on.”Ladies and gentlemen, sorry to wake you, but we’ve spotted a mother walrus and her calf on a piece of flow-ice.” Just like that, we were putting back on our pants, socks, shoes, and jackets. We grabbed our binoculars, and our camera and made our way to the deck to see what all the fuss was about. [Read more…] about Exploring Canada’s High Arctic in Nunavut