Bicycle Tours – Mark's Travel Journal

6 Unique Road Trips in Canada

Exploring one of the most beautiful countries in the world needs to be something special. Don’t settle for ordinary sightseeing tours. Go on a road trip and tailor your travel according to your preferences. You can make it one of a kind experience where you’ll get a whole new level of enjoyment. Hop in your car and see some of the most beautiful natural sights – and we’ll show you where to go. Exploring this huge country can make you feel puzzled, not knowing what direction you should choose. Well, we’re here to help you. Here are the six unique road trips in Canada – get some gas, pack some snacks and let’s go on a road trip!

Reasons to go on a road trip

Road trips are quite a unique way to explore a certain part of the country. Even though they require a bit of organization and planning, they guarantee many travel benefits. The reasons you’ll enjoy going on a road trip are many:

It’s a great way to relax – Driving through the countryside is a way to get some time to think about certain things and relax while enjoying a beautiful view
Explore more than just a beaten path– Road trips give you the freedom to make stops and visit places that are not in common sightseeing routes
Get closer to your travel companion – Whether you’re traveling with your partner, family, or friends, road trips are a great way to get closer to each other. You’ll share stories, explore new things together, and bond. Also, traveling by yourself is fantastic for getting to know yourself. It gives you time to rethink certain choices and make plans for the future
Explore potential places to move to – Road trips are the chance to visit specific locations and see what it’s like to live there. It’s perfect for those looking for a place to move – explore potential homes while traveling. Professional Movers Canada suggests people always visit their future homes and try to find out more about life there. These visits will give you more insight into the life in that area so you can be sure you’ll enjoy it.

A man looking at the sky on a road trip in Canada — Let yourself have the best adventure – explore unique road trips in Canada and plan your next trip.

Icefields Parkway, Alberta

This adventure spreads across 235km (146miles) of the most amazing scenery. Waterfalls, Glaciers, turquoise lakes, and breathtaking valleys – all of these will blow your mind if you opt for Icefields Parkway. This wild route will surely lead you to many amazing spots where you stop to take a picture or simply grasp the beauty of our planet. Some of the stops to include in your itinerary are surely Lake Louise, Bow Lake, Crowfoot Glacier, Peyto Lake, and more. However, be smart with the gas situation – there are not so many gas stations along the route. However, there are increased once-in-a-lifetime chances to see common wildlife creatures in the area.

Interlake Region, Manitoba

This is a longer route that you can enjoy for about two or three days. Interlake region is one of the unique road trips in Canada as you can see history and nature connect. This is the place where you can hear stories about Vikings, as many communities here proudly tell about their roots. The region gets its name due to its location. You can find it between Lake Winnipeg and Lake Manitoba. The area offers spectacular views, but it’s also a favorite place for families to enjoy the beach, birding, and boating. Spots you shouldn’t miss are certainly the wooden piers of Winnipeg Lake, Narcisse Snake Dens, Gimli and Hecla, etc.

Bay of Fundy, New Brunswick

If you want to see the world’s highest tides and rare whales, head to the Bay of Fundy. Start with visiting Moncton, then continue to the Hopewell Rocks. These massive formations are surely a sight to see and even walk among. Next, make sure you visit Saint John – a charming old town that is a must-see stop when visiting Canada. This can be your last stop before you reach the final destination – St. Andrews fishing village, located right next to the border of Maine.

Cabot Trail, Nova Scotia

If you have a couple of days to spend on a road trip, Nova Scotia can be a perfect destination. Even though this trail can be driven in only one day, it’s best to give yourself time to enjoy all the great things on this route. This coastal drive can begin at Margaree Harbour and finish all the way in Baddeck. This route will lead you through Cheticamp, Pleasant Bay, Cape North, and Ingonish Beach. This road trip is on many travelers’ wish lists, and you should find out why!

Vehicles on the road in Canada — Choose a vehicle and begin the road trip of your life.

Wild Yukon Trail

This wild, mountainous, and sparsely populated region is a place to go on a road trip if you’re a true nature lover. Dempster Highway is one of the most unique roads here that can take you on a one-of-a-kind adventure. It’s isolated, it’s wild – it’s beautiful. The highway is about 700 kilometers long, so it will take a bit to prepare. Your vehicle needs to be suitable for this dirt road, and you need to organize the long drives. Warmer months bring more safety to the road, whereas autumn’s foliage makes the scenery even more spectacular.

Sea to Sky Highway, British Columbia

If you’re in the Vancouver area and want a shorter route, then the Sea to Sky highway should be your next choice. This is a much shorter road trip than the previous item on this list, but it’s surely one of Canada’s best and most unique road trips. On this 129km drive, you can start with Vancouver and then make stops at Shannon Falls, Capilano Suspension bridge, Whistler, Brandywine Falls, Train Wreck Trail, etc. This can even be a multi-day trip; just be sure to organize your stops and find accommodation in advance.

An aerial view of a road in Canada — British Columbia is the home to spectacular views like this.

Start one of the most unique road trips in Canada

Now, it’s time to choose among these unique road trips in Canada. What will be your next destination? A road trip can be an extraordinary experience – just choose a companion and hit the road.

12 Smart Tips To Improve Your Traveling Experience

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Like most areas in life, you are not born a savvy traveler; smart travel comes with experience and with making a lot of travel mistakes! Some traveling mishaps can be avoided and some of them are just a part of traveling. You cannot plan for everything, however, keeping a few things in mind will make your travels more enjoyable and make you a better traveler.

Now that things are opening up once again, I want to start booking trips and visiting new places. These smart tips to improve your traveling experience will enable you to save money, sleep better, and be safe.

1. Do Your Research

When you are planning a holiday, you are going to want to find the best deal when it comes to flights and accommodation. The best way to do that is to investigate deals from different travel companies as well as independent travel sites.

When traveling, research can significantly impact your time for the better. Researching prior to setting off can give you deep insights into the area, telling you places to avoid and places that you must go.

When you have settled on a destination, here are some things that you should research:

What are the country’s visa requirements?
What’s the weather/climate going to be like?
Are there any public holidays going on?
What is the tipping etiquette?
What clothing is culturally appropriate?

As well as being completely relaxed before you even leave, being prepared to travel in advance will make your time in-country a more joyful experience as you will have reduced any potential risks. Here are 5 things you should research when you have chosen a destination:

Currency and exchange rates
Mode of transportation
Accommodation
Culture – what is acceptable and what is not

2. Get Travel Insurance

Travel insurance can give you extra protection if our holiday doesn’t go ahead as planned especially when it comes to the COVID pandemic. It is particularly important to take out travel insurance if you are traveling independently because you may find yourself stranded due to unforeseen traveling problems.

If you are planning to engage in holiday activities such as water sports, it is vital that you check that your insurance policy covers you for activities like diving for example.

3. Make A Packing List

Before your trip, you should make a list of everything you need to pack. Writing a packing list is a great way to stay organised whilst traveling. It is important to write a list so that you do not forget vital travel documents and essentials that you will need. Using a list when you are getting ready to pack can save you time as well as reduce stress.

4. Stay Near Or At The Airport The Night Before

If your funds allow staying overnight either at or near the airport, you’ll start your holiday a little earlier! Instead of rushing to the airport on the day of your flight, you can relax and have a slower start to your day. You will be able to eliminate the stress and worry of being stuck in traffic or missing your train.

5. Take A Credit Card For Emergencies

Disasters can happen. It is always a good idea to have a backup in case you lose your card or even worse, you are robbed. You do not want to be stuck somewhere without access to your funds. It is important that you check your bank when it comes to withdrawing money abroad to ensure that you do not incur any fees. Also, let your card company know that you are traveling and where you are going before you leave. This will enable them to track any fraudulent activity on your account.

6. Take The Correct Plug Adapters

Different countries have different plug sockets, so ensure that you have the right one – do your research! Better still, invest in a universal adapter (covers all sockets worldwide), so that you don’t need to worry. You don’t want your camera, phone, or electric toothbrush to run out of charge!

7. Make Extra Copies Of Your Passport And Important Documents

Don’t forget to email yourself a copy as well. You never know when you might need to have some sort of documentation with you as you may not want to carry the originals. Additionally, if your passport is stolen, having a copy will be helpful for your police report and any trips to the embassy that you may need to make.

8. Don’t Forget An Extra Camera Battery

You never want to reach for your camera to take a photograph of a memorable moment and realize that your camera battery is dead. By bringing an extra battery, you can always ensure that you have one on charge and you can alternate. That way, you’ll always be ready to capture those favorite moments!

9. Roll Your Clothes!

The best way to prevent creases and make the most of your space is to roll your clothes. Lay tops face down, fold in the sleeves, and roll from the bottom up. For trousers, put the legs together and roll from the waist down. Place your shoes and heavier items in first and place your clothes around them. Alternatively, once you’ve rolled your clothes, put them in packing cubes – another space saver.

10. When You Go Out, Take Only What You Need

You should limit the amount of cash and bank cards you carry with you, so if something does go wrong, you can easily recover.

11. Drink Responsibly

This has to be one of the most important safety tips for travelers. There is nothing wrong with exploring the local nightlife. However, keep in mind that it’s even more important to drink responsibly when abroad. When you are away from home, you are more likely to get lost or end up in a dangerous neighborhood. Keep an eye on your drink at all times and don’t accept any from strangers.

12. Make Sure That You Know The Phone Number For The Emergency Services

Be sure to look up the emergency services number for your destination, even before you get there. It is also a good idea to look up the number for your home country’s nearest embassy before you leave. Save them in your phone, so you will have easy access to them in the event of an emergency.

What Are Your Travel Tips?

These are my top 12 travel tips to help you have a safe, enjoyable, and stress-free holiday. What is one travel tip you would give? I’d love to hear in the comments.

This post was written by Lauren, Bournemouth Girl. She is a creative and personal development blogger from Bournemouth, England. Lauren is a lover of travel among other things.

Tech That’ll Make Your Road Trips Safer

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Ah, technology, is there anything that it can’t do? From helping us to stay in touch with loved ones to keeping us entertained, it’s always there when we need it. And increasingly, that includes when we’re on a road trip, too. There’s a whole host of gadgets — some high-end, some primitive but effective–that we can use to keep ourselves and our families safe on the road.

In this blog, we’ll run through some of the best options, ones that you’ll want to invest in before you set off on your next adventure.

Looking out the front of a car — Pexels – CC0 Licence

Coverage Boosts

Most of the time, being without cell phone coverage is just a little inconvenient. When you’re on a road trip, it can be positively dangerous. If you’re far from civilization and break down, you’ll rely on your cell phone to call for help. If you’re without coverage, then what will you do? You can greatly enhance your coverage range by investing in a cell phone signal booster. This handy device works with many data providers across the world. Plus, it’s handy even when you’re not on a road trip. You’ll use it more than you think!

Staying Warm

One thing that people often forget about the great outdoors: it can get very cold. With minimal shelter, plus altitude changes, it can be freezing cold in nature areas even when it’s warm just an hour away in the city. If you break down, you could find that you’re battling the cold as well as other problems. The solution? A plug-in electric blanket. Just plug it into your care, and you’ll be warm within minutes. It’s much easier to wait for help to come to your rescue when you’re not shivering.

Looking Out The Back

There’s an uncomfortable truth about road trips: they can be dangerous. Rural areas are less regulated than cosmopolitan areas and also have more trucks, which are involved in more accidents. While you can never fully be safe, you can push yourself in the direction of safety by investing in a rearview camera. It could be the difference between a safe journey and having to get in touch with a truck accident attorney. Plus, this handy bit of kit will make you feel like you’re driving a new vehicle, which typically have a rearview camera as standard.

Jump Starts

If your battery dies when you’re in the city, then all you need to do is wave someone down and ask if they have jumper cables. But when you’re miles from society? There will be no passing cars, at least not quite as regularly. You can take the self-sufficient route by investing in a portable battery booster. With this by your side, you’ll be moving in no time.

Getting Out Of Emergencies

Finally, look at investing in an escape tool. With this, you’ll be able to cut your seatbelt loose and smash through your car window with ease. You never know what will happen on a road trip, and it’s best to be prepared.