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!
What was the biggest highlight of my solo road trip from Vancouver to Calgary? Most definitely the glacial lakes in the Rocky Mountains. Unbelievable turquoise color lakes. Yes the colors truly do show up in magnificent hues of emerald green to turquoise all due to a special ingredient in glacial lakes. People often ask me …
I dreamed of living a nomadic life for many years and on September 30th 2015 I left Austin Texas to live a life of slow travel. Starting out with a long-term road trip around the USA and Canada, I am not sure where or when my lifestyle experiment with location independent living will end. As …
The first afternoon of my solo trip to Ottawa I decided to go for a walk along the Ottawa River and I discovered the wonderful Rock Art exhibit at Remic Rapids. I glimpsed a grouping of stones balanced on one another like an inukshuk. Walking further down the river I saw dozens of balanced rock art sculptures. It …
On my recent solo trip to Ottawa I visited the Ottawa Locks on the Rideau Canal, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A series of eight locks allow boats to travel between the Ottawa River and the Rideau Canal with a total lift of 79 feet. Located between Parliament Hill and the Chateau Laurier Hotel, the …
On my third attempt I enjoyed a visit to the Peace Tower on Parliament Hill during my solo trip to Ottawa Canada. My first attempt failed due to a scheduled protest on Parliament Hill in the afternoon. My second attempt I arrived too near closing time but I did receive some useful information from the …
The National Gallery of Canada on Sussex Drive is near the Parliament Buildings in Ottawa. It is housed in a magnificent building designed by architect Moshe Safdie. The gigantic spider sculpture Maman by Louise Bourgeois is visible from a distance. The National Gallery of Canada opened in 1988 and the focus is Canadian art but there …
On my recent solo trip to Canada my favorite public art in Ottawa was the sculpture Maman by Louise Bourgeois. The giant spider stands in front of the National Gallery of Canada at 380 Sussex Drive. I first visited Maman on my way back from a tour of the Royal Canadian Mint and returned a second time when I viewed …
Ottawa is a great city for outdoor activities. On my solo trip to Ottawa I chose an overcast day to walk from Wellington West to Dows Lake and along the Rideau Canal to the Ottawa Locks near Parliament Hill. I wanted to visit the Rideau Canal since I was a kid in Calgary Alberta. I …
My first solo trip to Ottawa was in August and it’s the perfect time to visit the capital of Canada. I took the train from Montreal and stayed in beautiful Wellington West, a neighborhood just south of the Ottawa River. It was easy to get around on the local buses in Ottawa and I did …
Hotel vs hostel – which is better for a solo traveler? In 2014, I spent one night at the 5-star Ritz Carlton hotel followed by a night at Montreal Central Hostel. I didn’t plan to spend a night at the hostel but sometimes travel plans require flexibility. If you’ve never stayed in a hostel before …
Montreal graffiti and street art is easy to find while walking around the city. I love street art finds while strolling around a city like Montreal – murals and graffiti are plentiful. My third solo trip to Montreal began with a welcome coolness in the air. August in Austin TX brings hot dry weather and …
In this post I’ll tell you about my tour of the Royal Canadian Mint in Ottawa. Tours are offered daily starting at 10 am with the last tour at 4 pm. Allow 45 minutes for the tour. On my recent solo trip to Ottawa I visited the Parliament buildings and wandered around the ByWard Market …
