INSPIRATION & EXPERT ADVICE FOR INDEPENDENT TRAVELLERS
Torres del Paine National Park, in Chilean Patagonia, is an incredible destination for day hiking and overnight treks. One of the park’s most famous routes is the W Trek, a 4-5 day hike that visits three stunning valleys with overnight stays in refugios or campsites. If a multi-day backpacking trip doesn’t appeal to you, the...
If there ever was a place you have to see to believe, it’s Salisbury Plain on South Georgia Island. Before our expedition cruise to South Georgia and Antarctica, I’d heard about the massive king penguin colony at Salisbury Plain, packed tight with hundreds of thousands of beautiful, buzzing birds. It was actually a picture of...
Torres del Paine National Park is known for its impressive glaciers and beautiful lakes, and one of the best ways to experience both is by hiking to Grey Glacier (Glaciar Grey) at the end of Lago Grey. As the biggest and most spectacular glacier in Torres del Paine, Grey Glacier is not to be missed....
There are several great hiking trails in Bryce Canyon National Park that showcase the park’s impressive collection of hoodoos, but one that should not be missed is the Fairyland Loop Trail. While it might be tempting to shy away from this hike in favour of shorter, equally scenic trails, like the popular Queen’s Garden and...
The hike to the French Valley in Torres del Paine National Park is a scenic route that takes in plenty of quintessential Patagonia scenery, from glacier-fed turquoise lakes to distinctive mountain peaks. Valle del Frances, as it’s known locally, is home to the French Glacier (Glaciar Frances) and several points for admiring Cerro Paine Grande,...
The abundance of animals in Antarctica make the continent a bucket list destination for wildlife lovers, bird watchers, and those looking to see some of Earth’s most well known creatures. Antarctica is a wonderfully wild place where you can see huge concentrations of marine mammals and seabirds living side by side, thriving in one of...
Torres del Paine National Park, in Chilean Patagonia, is known for its spectacular hiking trails, but the most iconic hike is to Mirador las Torres, a lookout at the base of the park’s three distinctive granite peaks. Known as Torres del Paine, or the “blue towers”, these rocky peaks overlook a dazzling turquoise lake nestled...
The Mount Edith Cavell area in Jasper National Park is home to one of the park’s most beautiful hiking routes- the Cavell Meadows Trail. For the entire duration of this day hike we were surrounded by classic alpine scenery. We admired a colourful pond, walked alongside piles of moraine, climbed into an upper-subalpine forest, passed...
I’ve found myself at a loss for words but filled with emotion ever since our trip to Antarctica, South Georgia, and the Falkland Islands. I know I’m not doing our Antarctica cruise, and the places we visited, any justice when friends ask about it and all I can say is, “It was incredible! Best trip...
Jasper National Park has long been a favourite place of mine. Ever since I was a little kid, I’ve been fascinated by Jasper’s rocky mountains, pristine lakes, icy glaciers, roaring waterfalls, and abundant wildlife. It wasn’t hard for Jasper to capture my heart, but even after countless trips, I’m still head over heels in love...
There are plenty of hikes near Palm Springs but one that really impressed us with its variety of scenery and adventurous spirit was the Painted Canyon and Ladder Canyon Trail. Whether we were walking in the shade of towering canyon walls, climbing up rickety ladders, or meandering through a slot canyon, we were completely engaged...
One day in Joshua Tree National Park was all it took to become completely mesmerized by this unique protected area in California. It was a weird and fascinating landscape, almost cartoonish, and I wouldn’t have been surprised to see Dr. Seuss’ Lorax or everybody’s favourite Stone Age family, the Flintstones, go walking by. The desert...
I’ve been visiting Jasper National Park ever since I was a kid, but had never got around to enjoying one of the park’s most iconic experiences- the Maligne Lake cruise to Spirit Island. I can honestly say, I saved the best for last! The scenery I saw during the Maligne Lake cruise epitomized everything I...
It’s well known among locals of Québec that the Laurentians (Laurentides in French) is a terrific destination for a weekend getaway from Montreal. With 9,012 lakes, 103 rivers, forested trails, and part of the Laurentian mountains, the region is ideal for outdoor adventures and reconnecting with nature. Despite its popularity as an all-season tourist destination,...
The more I visit Québec the more I fall in love with its vast wilderness. One region that exemplifies the province’s natural beauty and appreciation of outdoor adventures is Abitibi-Témiscamingue. The region’s Algonquin name describes it accurately- Abitibi means place where the waters divide and Témiscamingue means place of deep waters. Abitibi-Témiscamingue’s location on a...
Valley of Fire State Park is known for its astonishing rocky landscape and there’s no better trail to experience the diversity of its beauty than White Domes Loop. During our hike on White Domes Trail, we walked in the shade of towering sandstone formations, passed through a small slot canyon, and marveled at colourful rock...
I don’t think I’ve ever been somewhere more appropriately named than Valley of Fire State Park. As the sun reflected off red Aztec Sandstone, Nevada’s oldest state park glowed in warm light, the surrounding rocky outcrops resembling huge masses of burning embers. The landscape instantly grabbed my interest and held tight throughout the entirety of...
If you’re looking for a hike in Zion National Park that offers beautiful views away from the crowds, then Watchman Trail is a fantastic option. The Watchman Trail hike showcases the south end of Zion Canyon and its most magnificent rock formations, especially the trail’s namesake, The Watchman. While hiking Watchman Trail, we experienced much...
For an adventure-filled winter holiday, we decided to spend 3 days in Zion National Park hiking among the sandstone canyons, towers, and cliffs. Zion’s larger-than-life scenery, fascinating geology, and exciting hikes, quickly made it climb the ranks as one of my favourite national parks in the United States. It’s a powerful place that filled me...
We ended our 3 days in Zion National Park by checking out Observation Point Trail, one of the park’s more strenuous hikes. Over the next six hours, we followed a rough trail through a canyon, along steep ridges looming above sharp drop offs, then up to a plateau high above Zion Canyon. While hiking Observation...
We are Rhonda and Mike, a Canadian couple who make it a priority to travel every chance we get!
We describe our travel style as "laid back luxe" and enjoy a mix of outdoor adventures and historic sites.
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