Travel Knowledge

Your Guide to Planning a Road Trip

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 Matthew G. 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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Canadian Languages

By Matthew G. Bailey 3 Comments

Canada is a huge country and a country of immigration, so it should come as no surprise that we have more than one Canadian language. Officially, Canada is a bilingual country, with two official Canadian languages: English and French. Despite this official status, however, the majority of Canadians speak English. Some, especially those living in Quebec or New Brunswick speak both English and French, and fewer speak only French or English with another second language. Ask anyone who lives here though and they’ll tell you that this relationship between English and French continuously forms much of Canada’s political drama.

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Everything You Need to Know About Canadian Money

By Matthew G. Bailey 6 Comments

Canadian Money is often referred to as monopoly money thanks to its bright colours and unique artwork. Unlike the less interesting “greenback” used in the United States of America, which all looks more or less the same, Canadian currency is truly beautiful. In fact, Canada’s bills and coins all feature pictures of important national symbols, which make them works of art. In this article, we’ll teach you all about Canadian money.

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Canada Flags – The History of Flags in Canada

By Matthew G. Bailey 5 Comments

Canada flag in Banff National Park. — Proudly waving the Canadian Flag from the spectacular Athabasca Glacier.

Despite Canada’s small population, the Canada flag, which is Red and white with a maple leaf in the middle, is one of the most recognized flags and symbols in the world.

Canada flags come in all shapes and sizes. From little pins worn on a jacket to massive flags being flown outside a business or a home, there are many Canadian flags to choose from. However, there are also 13 provincial and territorial flags that represent the local symbols of each place.

In this article, we’ll talk about the different Canada flags, including their history and how they came to be, as well as diving into the other popular flags spread out amongst this vast country.

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These are the 100 ‘Most Instagrammed’ Attractions in Canada

By Matthew G. Bailey 37 Comments

There’s certainly no shortage of attractions in Canada. From world-famous Niagara Falls to massive ski resorts and mountain lakes, there are loads of things to do in Canada. While we could certainly put together a list of what we feel are the best attractions in Canada, we thought we’d use Instagram to find out what everyone else is taking photos of. After all, Instagram is used by more than a billion people and has become an influential tool in promoting tourism in Canada and around the world. So, we waved our magic Instagram wand and found the…

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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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