Want to take an exotic winter holiday while still observing pandemic protocols and travel advisories? Winter camping fits the bill. It’s a completely different experience from camping at other times of the year, with a lot of advantages. For starters, you don’t need ice for your cooler. Many parks are almost deserted, making social distancing […] Read more
Tag Archives Tales from the Road
Light displays make Christmas holidays merry and bright
The COVID-19 pandemic has certainly affected many of our plans this Christmas. One bright spot is drive-through light displays where we can safely experience the magic of the holiday season from our vehicles. Here are a few options from across the Prairies, keeping in mind that anything could be altered or cancelled on short notice […] Read more
International travel promises to be extra challenging this winter
The official Canadian government travel advisory is clear: “Avoid non-essential travel outside Canada until further notice.” Yet many Canadians are either making plans or thinking about a winter vacation in warmer climes. Most face a mind-boggling array of constantly changing regulations as to where they are allowed to go, where it might be safe to […] Read more
Waterton Lakes’ major attractions have now reopened
While all national parks went through tough times due to COVID-19, Waterton Lakes National Park in southwestern Alberta had to contend with a double whammy. The pandemic struck while it was still rebuilding after the massive Kenow Fire of 2017 that burned more than one-third of the park. The townsite was spared, barely, but the […] Read more
Small family farms dominate Colombia’s coffee country
If you’re reading this while sipping your morning coffee, chances are that the coffee beans came from a farm like the one run by Nicolas Spath. We recently visited the heart of Colombia’s famous coffee region where Spath showed us around his small farm with 2,000 coffee trees. We were in the town of Filandia, […] Read more
British Columbia’s Kootenay National Park turns 100
Kootenay National Park celebrates its 100th anniversary this year. In 1920, the federal government agreed to build a road linking Banff and the Columbia Valley in return for British Columbia donating land on either side of it to be preserved in a national park. When the Banff-Windermere Highway opened three years later, it became the […] Read more
Human rights museum is a top attraction in Manitoba
If the Canadian Museum for Human Rights looks familiar, it may be because the unusual-looking building appears on our $10 bill. The distinctive architecture is not the only unusual feature. Unlike other museums that primarily display artifacts, this one is more about ideas. It’s the first of its kind in the world dedicated to human […] Read more
Phoenix has a natural side that is worth exploring
The most surprising part of Phoenix, Arizona, is the easy access to nature and outdoor activities, even though it is one of the larger cities in the United States. Phoenix is in the Sonoran Desert, a striking landscape dominated by huge saguaro cactus. The best place to get oriented is at the Desert Botanical Garden […] Read more
How to receive the best value from your Aeroplan miles
If you’re confused over what is happening with Aeroplan, you’re not alone. Aeroplan started out as Air Canada’s frequent flyer program. Then Air Canada sold it, bought it back again early in 2019, but announced that it will roll out a new program to replace Aeroplan in June 2020. They made a few changes in […] Read more
Independent travel in South Africa is worth the road trip
Earlier this year, we took our sixth trip to South Africa. Over the past decade or so, we’ve visited parts of all nine provinces and most major national parks, plus many minor parks. We’re often asked why we keep going back and how we travel, so we thought it’s time to discuss what it’s like […] Read more
