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Alberta’s New Kananaskis Conservation Pass

Backpacking in Kananaskis

The Alberta Government budgetrecently announced a new $15/day or $90/year Conservation Fee for access to Kananaskis Provincial Park.  Kananaskis is a favourite playground of a lot of Albertans and many Calgarians consider it to be an extension of their backyard.  It’s important to conserve the area, but this plan will not achieve that goal.

We’ve written many times about the beauty of Kananaskis, including fantastic hikes like Tent Ridge, larch hikes in the fall, some of the great cycling opportunities, incredible cross country skiing, or more challenging backpacking trips like Northover Ridge.  Seriously, I could go on, but the point is that Kananaskis has long been one of Alberta’s prized gems.  It’s important to conserve Kananaskis for future generations and we’re happy to contribute financially to our Parks, but this fee is not the right approach.

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All About The Tent Ridge Hike

The Tent Ridge Hike in Kananaskis

The Tent Ridge hike is a relatively easy hike in Kananaskis Country that delivers extraordinary views without a huge amount of effort.  This hike, also referred to as the tent ridge horseshoe as it follows a horseshoe-shaped loop along the ridge, is likely one of the best hikes in Kananaskis and is well worth your time.  The trail follows an open ridge which means you have fantastic views for almost the entire duration of the hike.  It belongs on any hiker’s bucket list, read on to learn more about hiking Tent Ridge.

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7 Beginner Cross-Country Ski Trails Near Calgary

Looking to get outdoors during the pandemic and curious about cross-country skiing?  Alberta boasts some fantastic cross-country skiing and most shops have been having a hard time keeping gear in stock this year.  So with that in mind, we’ve put together a list of some of the best beginner-friendly cross country ski trails near Calgary to ease you into the sport and help you get comfortable on your skis.

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About Cancelled Track-Setting in Kananaskis

west bragg creek

We don’t often get political here since above all else, this is a travel website. It’s meant to inspire people to get out and enjoy the world and if we help just one person have a delightful adventure, we’re happy. Now that the world is shuttered because of the pandemic, getting out and exploring your own backyard is more important than ever. So why then is the UCP government attacking Alberta’s Parks at the very moment that Alberta needs them the most? Continue reading “About Cancelled Track-Setting in Kananaskis”

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16 Easy Bike Rides Near Calgary

Red Rock Canyon Parkway Waterton

Hello everyone, we are indeed alive! We have been taking some time away from writing about travel to a) follow the medical professionals’ advice and lie low and b) to do landscaping on our new house. As unexciting as that may be to some of you, it’s been great to have a project to keep us busy during these strange and trying times.

While we may have been busy staying close to home and this might be a bit late given the time of year, we couldn’t help but be encouraged by how many people took up cycling this year.  Most local bike shops were sold out, had long waitlists, and it was even hard to find a good used bike on Kijiji or Facebook Marketplace.  Cycling is an activity we have loved doing around Calgary for years so we’re happy to share some tips for easy bike rides near Calgary to get you dreaming about cycling next year when the snow is gone (or maybe even this winter if you’re a brave frost biker!)

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Travel to Bardia National Park in Nepal

Why is it that the best places are often the hardest ones to get to? Travelling to Bardia National Park in Nepal (sometimes spelled Bardiya) is no exception. It takes at least 15 hours to travel to Bardia by a gruelling and bumpy bus ride from Pokhara or 17 hours from Kathmandu. But it’s worth it, we promise! This is because Bardia is the natural home to majestic royal Bengal tigers where you may see them the way they are meant to be seen: wild and free.

bardia national park gate
The Gates of Bardia National Park

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Kayaking in Antarctica: The Experience of a Lifetime

Kayaking in Antarctica

Kayaking in Antarctica is the ultimate bucket list item.  As lovers of adventure travel, when we found out that we had the opportunity to go sea kayaking in Antarctic waters on our expedition cruise we basically said “shut up and take my money”.  It’s probably one of the coolest, most badass things we’ve done in our lives.  Warning: this post may make you extremely jealous and cost you a lot of money when you decide to book an Antarctica Cruise.  You’ve been warned!

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