Category: Travel

Prior to the pandemic my bestie and I try to see each other at least once a month and we also try to plan a longer girls’ trip to a far away locale as often as we can. We have our packing down to a fine science. Since I am taking off to be reunited with my bestie in Calgary soon I thought I would share my staple suitcase items. I always adhere to the packing “+1 rule”  for bras, undies and socks…just in case. Sometimes, I am accused by my husband of over packing; but I am always prepared and my packing choices allow me flexibility.

-Toiletries
I have been following a strict Kate Somerville acne treatment regime and it has been working; I don’t want to have a skin backslide so I pack it all! Along with my make-up of course! I have a permanent make-up case  at the ready. Packed with travel-sized deodorant, toothbrush, toothpaste, body, shampoo and conditioner in addition to a hairbrush, extra hair ties, a razor, Advil and spare feminine products.

*Also, I don’t like counting on the hotel or B&B having toiletries (if we happen to be lodging at one).

-Bras & Undies
-Socks
-Pajamas

-Shoes
We put on A LOT of miles usually whenever we get together so I always pack a pair of…

Runners

Flip Flops (for those hot days and they also double as shower shoes if I find the hotel/B&B bathroom sketchy; Crocs have been my go to brand!)
-dress shoes (depending on the season or activity these may be wedges or pumps)

-“Everyday” Outfits
These are meticulously coordinated with the planned itinerary. More often than not they include a pair or jeans, Lululemon studio pants and a pair of two of leggings With a variety of tops: tanks, t-shirts and long-sleeves.

-Fancy-Wear
Without fail we ALWAYS do one fancy thing on our trips; whether that is a vineyard tour, dinner at a nice restaurant or a show; so it is important that I pack a “fancy outfit” this is usually a wrinkle-resistant dress.

-Workout Clothes
Sometimes we plan on doing a workout; whether yoga or spending an hour at the gym or going for a walk with the pups. Having a workout outfit at the ready is great. Leggings, sports bra, tank and lightweight pullover.

-Outerwear
A lightweight rain jacket and hoodie

-Accessories
These are tailored to the weekend we have planned just like the “everyday outfits” but always include…

-a clutch purse (to switch to from a larger purse)
-jewellery: necklace, earrings & cocktail ring
-sunglasses

-Electronics
Phone charger, earbuds and Chromebook or iPad

-Amusement Item
This is usually a book but can be a magazine, an updated playlist on Spotify, Sudoku or a new iphone game.

-Travelfolio (for international travel)
This contains all my essential travel documents; tickets, passport, itinerary, booking receipts, etc. However; a lot of those things come in e-versions so all you really need is your phone

Last summer my husband, four of our closest friends and myself set off on an adventure to South Leland Lake which is located in the northeast corner of Alberta for six glorious days of (un-guided) fishing…totally unplugged! These trips had been a yearly event. Between the six of us we had done a lot of fishing in northern Alberta;  North Charles, Cornwall, Colin and Wylie lakes. It had been just a little over three years since we had done a fly-in fishing trip together, so we were ecstatic to say the least.

With the trailer loaded with fishing gear, we kicked off the five hour drive to Fort McMurray with a stop at Wal-Mart to stock up on boat snacks and supplies for our communal meals (every couple cooks once). We offloaded the gear and weighed-in at the airport and spent a sleepless night in the Mac eagerly waiting for our flight in the morning. After a quick refueling stop in Fort Chipewyan, which happens to be one of the oldest European settlements in Alberta (1788) we headed off to the lake.

At South Leland, we had the opportunity to fish for Northern Pike, Walleye and Lake Trout from our 15 foot Lund boats. We caught so many fish, a few of us remarked that we were “tired of it” because it seemed like everytime we casted, there was a fish on the line. The biggest fish (pike) caught were 23 lbs, 21.5 lbs and 19.9 lbs (none of them were caught by husband or myself, unfortunately). It was my first time downrigging on the lake; I had done it on our honeymoon when we went salmon fishing near Port Hardy, B.C. Our boat caught 10 Lake Trout, my largest being just shy of 6 lbs (a personal best). And, we were able to fry up and bring home some yummy Walleye to enjoy with our family.

To make things interesting we always have a little friendly competition…complete with prize money and a trophy. Our boat took home a bit of cash but sadly, no trophy… Perhaps one day it will sit proudly on our coffee table.

The weather was really good for the most part; we had a few windy and rainy days but overall we were able to spend HOURS and HOURS and HOURS of our days on the water. I currently am sporting quite the impressive ‘raccoon eyes’ courtesy of the sun/wind and large sunglasses.

To spice things up a little bit on day two; we ventured through a narrow creek and spent some time fishing in North Leland Lake. It took some manvoerving on the part of the captains but we managed. We got to see some black bears, beavers building their homes, loons (and their adorable little babies), eagles and even a cow moose with her calf.

Although I like to think that we were “roughing it” we really weren’t. We had two barbeques, generator, lights, fridge, freezer, propane cooktop, wood burning stoves, stocked cooking equipment and a shower house. Even the bunks were comfortable!

Personally, I wouldn’t mind trying out the rest of the lakes that are part of the Andrew Lake Lodge & Camps network; Boquene, Andrew, North Leland, and Lynx Tundra in the years to come. If you are looking for an Alberta fishing adventure I highly recommend this! I was impressed with the camp and the treatment we received from the owner –he takes a lot of pride in his facilities, boats and other supplies and goes above and beyond to meet the needs of his guests.

As a result of the pandemic, I haven’t been able to see my best friend in months. I know I am not alone; EVERYONE on this planet is missing their friends and family greatly. Facebook often reminds me about the memories I have made. I have spent a fair amount of time scrolling through photos looking at all the fun my bestie and I have had. This is why I wanted to flashback and remember it all!

Last year, my best friend and I did a “gift card weekend.” This is when you pool all the gift cards you’ve received over the past year and just “go to town.” That girl’s weekend was jam packed with fun; it included breakfast at Brokin’ Yolk, seeing Aladdin at the Cineplex VIP theater and completely indulging in food and beverages, shopping, a brewery crawl and a stop at the Calgary Zoo! 

The zoo features over 1,000 animals and 272 different species. The 120 acre facility comprises six zones: Africa, Canadian Wilds, Penguin Plunge, Dorothy Harvie Botanical Gardens (with butterfly enclosure), Eurasia and Prehistoric Park. An added bonus was that while we were there we got to see the pandas!
My favourite parts were the: flamingos, the giraffes and the penguins.

The Social 20 curriculum in Alberta is all about nationalism and the role it plays in the world; students wrestle with this question: “What does it mean to be Canadian?” While this is a loaded question with a plethora of answers; there is a variation of this question which is MUCH easier to respond to… “What do you love about Canada?” Since it is our country’s birthday today, I figured I’d share a ‘few’ of my favourite things about this great nation from West to East!

In general…
1. Rights & Freedoms 2. Landscape: Our Great Geographic Variation  3. Safety 4. Kraft Dinner 5. Our signature drink, The Caesar 6. O Canada 7. Hockey 8. Canadianisms & Humor  9. The Maple Leaf 10. Bilingualism 11. The Canadian culinary scene that has exploded!

British Columbia…
12. Sturgeon fishing in the Fraser River 13. Haida Gwaii 14. Vineyards of the Okanagan 15.Walking the Seawall in Stanley Park 16. Barkerville & the Cariboo Road 17. The Empress Hotel in Victoria 18. Whistler-Blackcomb 19. Great Bear Rainforest 20. Hiking the West Coast Trail & Grouse Grind 21. Sailing in the Pacific Ocean

Alberta…
22. Calgary Stampede 23. National Parks: Banff, Jasper, Waterton, Elk Island & Wood Buffalo 24. Edmonton Ice Castles 25. Royal Tyrrell Museum 26. Views from the Calgary Tower 27. Pioneer & Fur Trade Experiences: Dunvegan, Fort Edmonton, Stephansson House, Ukrainian Cultural Centre, Victoria Settlement, etc 28. Quirky Tourist Attractions like the Gopher Hole Museum, Curbside Museum, World’s Largest (perogy, sausage, pysanka egg, beaver, etc) and seemingly random art installations. 29. Head Smashed in Buffalo Jump 30. WinSport/ Olympic Park 31. Fly Fishing (Forestry Trunk Road & Bow River)

Saskatchewan…
32. Sunsets in Saskatchewan (after all it is the “land of the living skies”) 33. Tunnels of Moose Jaw 34. The last two Fuddruckers are located in Regina & Saskatoon 35. RCMP Heritage Centre in Regina 36. Little Lake Manitou 37. Athabasca Sand Dunes Provincial Park 38. Mosaic Stadium  39. Lake Diefenbaker  40. University of Saskatchewan’s stunning campus

Manitoba…
41. Polar bears in Churchill 42. The French Quarter 43. Experiencing Metis History and Culture  44. The Forks 45. The Spirit Way 46. Buffalo Point Resort 47. Little Limestone Lake 48. Festivals like Gimli’s Icelandic Festival & Festival du Voyageur 49. The Royal Winnipeg Ballet 50. Canadian Museum of Human Rights

Ontario…
51. Niagara Falls 52. Parliament Hill 53. Algonquin Provincial Park 54. Distillery District 55. Great Spirit Circle Trail 56. Thousand Islands 57. Casa Loma 58. Ice Skating on Rideau Canal 59. Stratford Festival 60. Toronto International Film Festival

Quebec…
61. Underground City of Montreal 62. Old Quebec  63. Parc National de la Jacques- Cartier 64. Montmorency Falls 65. Quebec Winter Carnival 66. Gespeg Mi’gmaq Interpretive Centre 67. Plains of Abraham 68. Mont Tremblant 69. Sugar Shacks 70. Biosphere Museum of Montreal

New Brunswick...
71. Village Historique Acadien 72. It is the ONLY officially bilingual province in the country 73. Boasts year-round glamping 74. Metepenagiag Heritage Park 75. Indulgent spas 76. The Bay of Fundy 77. Historic Fredericton 78. Camp Enrage 79. St.Andrews-by-the-Sea 80. Sugarloaf Mountain

Nova Scotia…
81. Lobster 82. Bird Islands to see the Puffins 83. Mahone Bay 84. Peggy’s Cove Lighthouse 85. Lunenburg 86. Eskasoni Cultural Journey 87. Cabot Trail 88. Incredible breweries 89. Fortress of Louisbourg National Historic Site 90. Bluenose II

Prince Edward Island…
91. Clam digging 92. Golfing at Crowbush Cove 93. Beautiful Charlottetown 94. Legacy of Anne of Green Gables, Lucy Maud Montgomery & Avonlea Village 95. Drives along the coast 96. Confederation Bridge 97. The music scene & pub life 98. Rock crab fishing 99. Seal watching 100. Biking the Confederation Trail

Newfoundland & Labrador…
101. Experience the oldest English founded city in North America: St. John’s 102. Whale watching  103. Getting “Screeched” 104. L’Anse Aux Meadows 105. Mistaken Point Ecological Reserve 106. Torngats Mountain 107. Cod fishing 108. Iceberg viewing 109. Gros-Morne National Park 110. Fisherman Museum & Memorial Garden

Yukon…
111. Yukon Wildlife Preserve 112. Dawson City 113. Sign Post Forest 114. Watching the Northern Lights 115. Bonanza Creek 116. Jack London Museum 117. Donjek Glacier 118. Takhini Hot Springs 119. Caribou hunting  120. Emerald Lake

Northwest Territories…
121. Great Slave Lake 122. Inuvik 123. Experiencing Dene art and culture 124. Old Fort Providence 125. Ice Roads 126. Canoeing in the Keele River 127. Northwest Passage 128. Canol Trail 129. Yellowknife 130. Dempster Highway

Nunavut…
131. Wildlife of Ellesmere Island 132. Beauty of Pond Inlet 133. The reclamation of Inuit control over their lives, culture and governance 134. Dogsledding experiences 135. Glaciers of Sirmilik National Park 136. Inuit arts and cultural experiences/festivals 137. Belcher Island Walruses 138. Ability to camp at the “Top of the World” 139. Remote and tranquil Repulse Bay 140. Baffin Island

In general…
141. Publicly funded health care 142. Democracy 143. Multitude of natural resources 144. Our “funny money” 145. Peacekeeping participation 146. We are “Hollywood North” 147. We are the second largest country in the world (sq km) 148. Heroes like Terry Fox, The Famous Five, Chris Hadfield, Tekahionwake (AND SO MANY MORE) 149. Being a land of opportunity 150. High level of quality of life 151. Solitude 152. Multiculturalism 153. Canada Day Celebrations

Initially every Friday on the blog was supposed to be dedicated to travel because not only is it summertime but I absolutely LOVE to travel. This love of travel is on hold due to the pandemic; so our series will shift slightly… I’d like to introduce you to: “Flashback Friday: The Travel Edition”

I am a total history geek and I had the privilege to be able to travel to Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump; which is a “UNESCO-designated World Heritage Site that preserves and interprets over 6,000 years of Plains Buffalo culture. [Where] through vast landscapes, exhibits, and diverse programming [you can] learn about the cultural significance of this cliff to the Plains People [of Alberta].” It is located about 15 minutes northwest of Fort MacLeod. 

According to Blackfoot legend, a young brave wanted to watch the buffalo plunge off the cliff from below, but was buried underneath the falling buffalo. He was later found dead under the pile of carcasses, where he had his head smashed in.

With restrictions on travel, regulations regarding self-isolation, reduced airline service and of course increased travel costs stemming from the pandemic; this summer’s vacation will consist of exploring new local areas and hiking, provided those areas are open. I do a fair amount when hunting and fishing however, I do enjoy leisurely to moderate treks with friends and family members. My favourite trails include…

Jasper
-Jasper Discovery Trail
-Lake Annette Trail
-Pyramid Trail
-Valley of the Five Lakes
-Maligne Canyon Trail
-Mary Schäffer Loop
-Pocahontas Mine Trail
-Source of the Springs
-Toe of the Athabasca Glacier
-Path of the Glacier Trail

Banff/Lake Louise
-Marsh Loop
-Johnston Canyon
-Sulphur Mountain
-Twin Lakes
-Lake Taylor
-Moraine Lake

Canmore
-Bow River Loop
-Three Sisters Pathways

Now you know my favourite spots; what about my favourite gear???

Three pieces I am really loving include…

–RedHead Women’s Skyline Waterproof Mid Hikers
*so comfortable; the only pair of hiking boots that have not given me a blister and offer great support|

–Sitka Cloudburst Jacket
*you can’t go wrong with any of the Sitka gear; it is a little pricey but so worth it; excellent quality!

–Yeti Rambler Water Bottle
*I love all the Yeti gear; keeps water refreshingly cool!

Have a hiking expedition we should check out? Leave a comment!