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Your Guide to Planning a Road Trip

By Matthew G. Bailey 209 Comments

One of the best parts about planning a road trip is deciding where to go.
The Fundy Trail Parkway is one of the best road trips in Canada.

If there’s anything we’re known for here at Must Do Canada, it’s probably road trips. From the Icefields Parkway to the Dempster Highway, we’ve been on many of the best road trips in Canada, not to mention all the road trips we’ve done in the USA, Mexico, Australia, and beyond.

For short road trips, we tend to just jump in the vehicle without thinking too much about it. We pack what we need, of course, but we don’t always plan for the potential setbacks that could happen, such as a flat tire or something else.

But just like travel insurance, it’s good to be prepared, especially for longer adventurous road trips.

So, in this guide to planning a road trip, which is sponsored by MotoMaster, SIMONIZ, Reflex and Bluehive, exclusive brands found at Canadian Tire, we’re going to cover everything you need to prepare for a road trip, including vehicle safety tips, vehicle accessories, road trip essentials, and more.

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Family Travel Tips to Make the Most of Your Family Vacation

By Karla Bailey 1 Comment

family insurance is a good thing to have once you have children.

This article is brought to you by PolicyMe.

Let’s get out of town! After a few summers of staycations and sticking around the house, many of us have caught the travel bug, making plans for bigger trips further away from home. These family trips are great for making memories and spending quality time with the kids, but it can be stressful to pack and prepare, particularly if it’s your first time travelling with children. 

Here are some family travel tips and tricks, including family insurance, to make it go smoothly. 

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The BEST Things To Do in Banff, Alberta in 2022

By Matthew G. Bailey 27 Comments

Banff Tunnel Mountain Hike
Enjoying views from Tunnel Mountain.

Last updated: April 28th, 2022

Canada’s first national park, which also happens to be one of the first national parks in the world, is also the country’s busiest and most popular. A “fairytale” mountain town surrounded by towering mountain peaks, there are lots of incredible things to do in Banff, Alberta. Living just over an hour away in Calgary, we’ve been to Banff well over 100 times and never get tired of visiting this beautiful slice of alpine paradise.

Attracting approximately 3-4 million visitors each and every year, it’s no secret that this is a bustling tourist town. But that’s okay. With that comes a variety of hotels, activities, bars, restaurants, and, of course, plenty of souvenir shops as well. If you’re looking for things to do in Banff, you’re in the right place.

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120 of the Best Travel Quotes

By Matthew G. Bailey 9 Comments

One of the best travel quotes is: "Stop being afraid of what could go wrong and think of what could go right."
This is one of my favourite travel quotes.

“Everyone likes travel quotes” – Matthew Bailey

That’s right. I just started an article about the best travel quotes by making up my own quote…about a quote.

Isn’t it true though? There’s something beautiful about a good quote, whether it be about travel or not. A great quote is often inspiring, funny, or just has a special poetic way of summing up a unique feeling in just a few words.

Quotes can inspire us to make a change in our lives and can provide some meaning for experiences we’ve had. Quotes can be funny, entertaining, and can bring a slice of joy to our lives.

In this article, I’ve researched a number of websites and books to pick some of the best travel quotes that you can use to inspire your next trip or adventure or for your life in general. Maybe you can use them to sum up the experiences you’ve already had.

Although it can be very hard to separate the quotes into specific types, I’ve tried my best to put them into categories as a way to make them easier to read. Without making up a category for blocks of quotes, it can be quite difficult to read through them and even harder to come back to your favourite one from time to time. By separating them out, it’ll make it easier for you to follow this article and return.

I hope you enjoy this list of 120 travel quotes.

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What You Need to Know for Taking the Newfoundland Ferry

By Matthew G. Bailey 14 Comments

This is the Newfoundland Ferry, operated by Marine Atlantic

When it comes to taking the Newfoundland Ferry, most people are referring to Marine Atlantic, the company that transports people, vehicles, and products across the North Atlantic from Nova Scotia to Newfoundland and from Newfoundland to Nova Scotia. Due to tourism, locals who work in other provinces, and all the goods that make their way to the province, the ferry leaves every day and is quite popular.

In this article, we’ll fill you in on everything you need to know about taking the ferry to Newfoundland or from Newfoundland to Nova Scotia.

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32 of the Best Road Trip Essentials

By Matthew G. Bailey 21 Comments

Driving Icefields Parkway Jasper
The Icefields Parkway highway cuts through the Canadian Rocky Mountains during the fall season.

Road Trip Essentials: Updated June 30, 2022

Whether you’ve got a few weeks or just a few hours to get out and explore our country, road trips are a great way to feel more together with your friends and family.

If you’ve been following us for a while, you know much we love road trips. In fact, it was a 150-day road trip across Canada that launched our Youtube channel back in 2017. What’s not to love about a road trip? You have a vehicle that gives you the freedom to go where you want to go, the comfort of having a bunch of things with you, and you get to see the scenery as you move from place to place. It’s the ultimate form of travel in our opinion, and Canada is one of the best places to do one.

But planning what to pack for your road trip can be a daunting task, especially when you don’t do it very often. That’s why we’ve created this article to help you pack the best road trip essentials for your next road trip.

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Banff to Jasper: What You Need to Know for Driving the Icefields Parkway in 2022

By Matthew G. Bailey 27 Comments

Icefields Parkway Banff to Jasper
Driving the Icefields Parkway from Banff to Jasper in the fall.

Last updated: September 3rd, 2020

Alberta is home to some of the top road trips in Canada, including the stretch from Banff to Jasper (or from Jasper to Banff), which is perhaps the most beautiful road trip in the country. In fact, various publications have awarded the Icefields Parkways as one of the most scenic road trips on the planet as it takes you through two Canadian Rockies national parks and all kinds of natural beauty including towering mountain peaks, turquoise lakes and rivers, glaciers, and lush alpine forest. 

The Icefields Parkway itself stretches for approximately 233km from Lake Louise to Jasper, but it clocks in at 288km if you include the drive from Banff to Jasper. Without stopping, it would take around four hours in good weather. However, it would be silly to drive this beautiful route without stopping to admire the natural attractions or take part in one of the many activities. If you can’t make the drive yourself, there are plenty of tour companies offering the experience as well. 

The drive is also located in the middle of the Canadian Rockies, which can be home to some inhospitable weather, especially during the winter months. Before setting out on the adventure, be sure to check in for road closures and hazards. You’ll also want to take particular care during the winter months as the roads are slippery and the weather can be very cold should your vehicle decide to break down. Even in the summer, there are hazards though, including wildlife encounters both on the road and on the trails, not to mention a lot of traffic. 

In this guide, we’ll help you plan your trip from Banff to Jasper as well as learn all the best things to do along the Icefields Parkway.

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Romantic Things to Do for Valentine’s Day in Canada

By Matthew G. Bailey 3 Comments

Skating in Banff

Updated: January 25th, 2021

With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, many of you are likely trying to think of romantic things to do or see. February 14 in Canada is right in the middle of winter, which typically means cold weather and lots of snow. But that doesn’t mean there’s nothing to do. In fact, sparkling snow can be just what it takes to create that magically romantic winter wonderland.

You may want to sleep under the Yukon Northern Lights or admire them from the Northwest Territories. You may want to take a helicopter ride over Niagara Falls or go winter wine tasting in Niagara-on-the-Lake. Maybe you want to check out live theatre in the big city of Toronto or go for a graffiti tour in trendy Montreal.

Whatever it is, there are tons of places to go for Valentine’s day and things to do. Leave the family members behind, grab your partner and choose a Valentine’s activity from this list.

Best Things to Do on Valentine’s Day, Canada

So whether you choose to ditch the roses and chocolate altogether or bring them with you on an unforgettable adventure, here are 14 ideas for things to do on Valentine’s Day in Canada. [Read more…] about Romantic Things to Do for Valentine’s Day in Canada

Best Road Trip Ever | Canada’s Road to 150

By Matthew G. Bailey 6 Comments

icefields parkway canada

Updated: January 19th, 2021

It’s not very often that someone has the opportunity to travel across Canada for 150 days. That’s 5 months of travel across one of the biggest countries on Earth. But in 2017, that’s just what we did.

After a rough 2016, we were trying to come up with a big passion project for 2017. After mulling it over for some time, I wanted to do something that capitalized on the Canada150 momentum that seemed to be taking the world by storm. Wanting to create something that had “marketing flare”, I came up with the idea to do a 150-day road trip across. However, no one cares about a personal road trip. So, I decided to turn it into a documentary about what makes Canada special. The idea was to travel to each and every province and territory while interviewing people of all backgrounds as to why they think Canada is such a great country.

There was just one problem. We needed funding. [Read more…] about Best Road Trip Ever | Canada’s Road to 150

The Best Things to Do in Winter in Canada

By Matthew G. Bailey Leave a Comment

Ski Banff with Matt and Karla

With winter in Canada taking up the better part of a year, it really makes sense to get the most out of it. Those who choose to just bundle up and stay indoors are bound to not only have a miserable 4-6 months but also lose out on all the wonderful winter activities available from coast to coast to coast. 

For visitors, the winter can be such a beautiful time to visit Canada. Yes, it’s colder and darker, but it’s also home to some really fun and unique activities, as well as cheaper accommodation and fewer crowds.

While we don’t love the extreme cold, we do love the winter! Plus, if you buy the right winter clothes, the cold is much more manageable. Most importantly though, winter brings out the best activities and we always look forward to getting out in the snow and enjoying this bug-free time of year. [Read more…] about The Best Things to Do in Winter in Canada