Solo Trips and Tips blog posts and photos about traveling in Canada including road trips, hiking, kayaking, and travel tips.
I was born in Canada and raised in Calgary, Alberta so I have a lot of blog posts covering some of the best places to visit in Alberta, including national parks, hiking trails near Calgary, and amazing road trips.
I’ve also driven across Canada and lived in Nova Scotia for a year and I highly recommend visiting the maritime provinces of Canada, as well as Newfoundland.
Enjoy exploring Canada!
Peyto Lake hike to the upper lookout trail at Bow Summit along the Icefields Parkway is the best place to view Peyto Lake. Skip past the tourists at the viewing platforms and do Bow Summit hike instead. I’ve seen Peyto in sunshine, gusting winds, drizzling rain, and through snowflakes or sleet. Peyto is unmistakable for …
Hirtle’s Beach Gaff Point hike is my favorite hike in Nova Scotia. So far. A return trip to Nova Scotia is necessary to hike more of this glorious Maritimes province. During a month staying in Bridgewater Nova Scotia I visited many of the South Shore beaches, along with trips to Annapolis Royal, Bay of Fundy, …
Grassi Lakes is a beautiful Kananaskis hike with views of Canmore, a gorgeous waterfall, and two stunning aquamarine glacial lakes. There are two trails leading to the lakes. One is steeper and more difficult while the other trail is on a gravel road with gradual incline but lacking the views. If you are new to …
Nova Scotia sea kayaking is an adventure of a lifetime! Out of all my east coast outings, the kayaking at Blue Rocks Nova Scotia, near Lunenburg, stands out as one of my favorite trips. I’m not going to lie, paddling in the open sea was equal parts exhilarating and scary at first. The beautiful thing …
Cutest cottage on Cape Breton Island Nova Scotia could be yours for a few nights. If you’re lucky like me. A few people recommended that I visit Ingonish during my visit to Cape Breton Island from mainland Nova Scotia. From bartenders to RCMP officers, for real! Seriously, I received Cape Breton travel recommendations from an …
Looking for a scenic drive in the Alberta Rocky Mountains? This Icefields Parkway itinerary will get you the best photo ops at the most stunning spots between Lake Louise and Jasper. This road trip is rated as one of the Top 10 most scenic drives in the world and it takes you through the top …
My first outing after the long road trip to Bridgewater Nova Scotia turned into a day trip touring a bit of the South Shore area with a stop at Ovens Natural Park. I enjoyed the views from atop the cliffs and the interpretive sea cave trail. In addition there is a café as well as …
Looking for the perfect day trip from Calgary, tourists most often think of the Canadian Rockies with panoramic mountain views, gorgeous waterfalls, tons of hiking trails, and beautiful glacier lakes. But one of the best day trips from Calgary is actually in the other direction. Only 130 km (80 miles) from Calgary, the Drumheller Badlands offer plenty …
While spending time with family in summer my sister and I decided to take a road trip mini vacation to Jasper. Hoping to avoid the biggest crowds we left Calgary on Tuesday and returned Friday. While planning our 4 day Jasper getaway we looked for a great day hike on the way to Jasper from …
Fullerton Loop trail near Bragg Creek in Kananaskis Country is an easy day hike if you are driving from Calgary. What I love about this trail: Beautiful Elbow River views The elevation gain gives me a decent workout There’s plenty of parking at the trailhead Fullerton Loop Trail Kananaskis Looking for good solo hikes near …
Ptarmigan Cirque hike is one of the most scenic of the Kananaskis hiking trails. It’s an easy drive from Calgary, Canmore, or Banff. There are beautiful mountain views along Hwy 40 (aka Kananaskis Trail or Bighorn Hwy) to Peter Lougheed Provincial Park. Kananaskis Country is home to some of the best hikes in Alberta. Every …
Johnston Canyon hike is one of the easy trails in Banff and it’s one of the most popular. It’s nicely shaded in the canyon with two beautiful waterfalls plus a more difficult trail up to the ink pots. Located 25 km (16 miles) from the town of Banff, this hike follows along the Johnston Creek. …
