The north shore of Lake Superior ranks among Canada’s great road trips. The 700-kilometre stretch of the Trans-Canada Highway between Thunder Bay and Sault Ste. Marie passes through splendid Canadian Shield landscapes lining the world’s largest fresh-water lake. A scenic gem about halfway along this route is Pukaskwa National Park, preserving 135 kilometres of rugged […] Read more
Robin And Arlene Karpan
Stories by Robin And Arlene Karpan
Plenty of advantages to visiting Banff in the wintertime
Banff is famous for its magnificent landscapes, no less so in winter when a blanket of snow brings an added dimension. Besides striking scenery, winter has other advantages. Canada’s most famous national park can get so busy in summer and fall that just finding a parking spot at many top sights is challenging. Fewer people […] Read more
Emerging recreational trends affect camping choices
While much of the travel industry has been devastated by the pandemic, camping has seen tremendous growth. Campgrounds are filled with everything from tents to truck campers, trailers, vans and motorhomes that can dwarf a city bus. Each has its pros and cons. Tents remain the classic option. They allow people to stay in places […] Read more
Many choices available when looking for camera
Full-frame, cropped sensor, mirrorless, DSLR, action cameras — the choices seem mind-boggling. If you’re thinking of buying a new camera or are just getting into photography, be prepared to be overwhelmed. Rapidly changing technology and recent trends may influence the decision. The gold standard for years has been the DSLR (Digital Single Lens Reflex) camera, […] Read more
Time to get ready for winter wildlife photography season
Winter is a special time for photographing wildlife in the west. Fur-bearing animals sport their lustrous winter coats. Fewer birds are around, but those that stay are usually easier to photograph. Animals and birds could be anywhere, but prime places include national and provincial parks. Just as productive are rural areas, especially for deer, pronghorn, […] Read more
International travel will require planning this winter
Pandemic-induced travel complications have changed a lot in a year, primarily because of the development of COVID-19 vaccines and the opening of more destinations. Now, however, it’s a big hurdle to clear the rapidly changing array of travel restrictions and requirements. For a professional travel adviser’s take on the current environment, we spoke to Barb […] Read more
Fall travel season is ideal for honing photography skills
Fall is our favourite time for travel in the West. The weather is still usually comfortable for camping, hiking, and fishing. Showy fall colours reach their peak and wildlife tends to be more active. A bonus is that the bugs have gone, along with summertime crowds. The highlight for us is that it’s the ideal […] Read more
Fall migration ranks among greatest wildlife spectacles
Folks living on the Prairies have a ringside seat to one of Canada’s greatest wildlife spectacles. Starting in September and running well into October, millions of waterfowl take to the Central North American Flyway. The most plentiful are snow geese, often accompanied by greater white-fronted geese and other Arctic-nesting species that stop along the way […] Read more
Backcountry adventure reveals another side of Banff
It didn’t take long before we entered a completely different world. As we rode away from the Banff Trail Riders stables on the outskirts of Banff, Alta., we passed the last of the hikers and cyclists. We were headed to Sundance Lodge in the Banff wilderness, and until we returned two days later, we saw […] Read more
Paying a visit to Saskatchewan’s most famous waterfall
A trip to Nistowiak Falls is ideal for those who want to get into the wilderness, but not go too far. It’s the most famous waterfall in Saskatchewan, both because of its beauty and accessibility. Less than 20 kilometres from the end of the road at Stanley Mission, most visitors get there by canoeing down […] Read more
