Getting out on the water is one of the best ways to experience nature. In a kayak or on a stand-up paddleboard (SUP), you can enjoy the weather, spot wildlife and get some exercise. If you don’t own a kayak or paddleboard, paddle gear, or the right vehicle to transport them from lake to lake, accessing these activities can be difficult. West Country Rentals has the...
Few outdoor reality shows have had the impact of Alone. This televised survival competition drops contestants into the remote wilderness with limited gear. We watch them rely on their knowledge, resourcefulness, and ability to adapt. The series has introduced millions of viewers to bushcraft and wilderness survival skills that many people might otherwise never have...
If you’re looking for an easy hike in Banff National Park that delivers beautiful mountain scenery without a time commitment, the Johnson Lake Trail should be on your list. Only a 10-minute drive from the Banff townsite, this peaceful lakeside walk offers stunning views of Cascade Mountain and Mount Rundle, and offers one of Banff’s only sandy beaches. Whether...
Jasper National Park is home to breathtakingly beautiful lakes and waterways. Glacier-fed lakes almost glow stunning turquoise and are so clear you can sometimes see fish swimming below your canoe or kayak. With easily accessible launch points and paddlecraft rentals in town and throughout the park, canoeing, kayaking, or stand-up paddleboarding in Jasper is an...
Jasper National Park has always been one of our favourite places to hike as a family. With lots of nature to explore close to the welcoming town of Jasper, kid-friendly adventures are easy to find. Picture the combination of mountain views, turquoise lakes, wildlife sightings and well-maintained trails, and that is what you’ll find in this list of kid-friendly hikes...
The Icefields Parkway is one of the most scenic drives in the Canadian Rockies, connecting Jasper and Lake Louise via Highway 93. The drive takes you by majestic mountains, turquoise lakes, waterfalls and glaciers. With several viewpoints, trails, campgrounds and sites along the way, you can easily make a day or weekend out of this drive. The Icefields Parkway is...
Chester Lake: A go-to snowshoe (or hike) in Kananaskis Country, Alberta The Chester Lake Trail in Peter Lougheed Provincial Park stands out as a go-to hike in Kananaskis, especially in the winter. The trail gives the best samplings of scenery in the Canadian Rockies, including Christmas card spruce and pine trees, snow-covered meadows and a beautiful frozen lake with...
Having visited Banff several times a year for most of my life, I had never ridden the Banff Gondola up Sulphur Mountain. While standing on a mountain top can be pretty chilly in the winter, we decided to take the ride up and enjoy the views. Is the Banff Gondola worth it in the winter? Tickets for the Banff Gondola are expensive, so you might be wondering whether...
Edmonton, Alberta, is known for its cold winters, but that doesn’t deter locals from celebrating and making the most of the chilly season. This northern city embraces winter, and there are plenty of things to experience and do in the snow, including skiing in Edmonton. The North Saskatchewan River valley is the largest urban parkland in North America and home to four...
If you’re a diehard skier or snowboarder, waiting for the ski resorts to open might make you feel like a little kid waiting for Christmas morning. Thanks to snow machines and tireless snow-making crews that work through the night, the resorts can open a few runs in early-mid November. Is it worth making the trip when only a handful of runs are open? In the Alberta...