How do you protect wild places if you’ve never spent time in them? Without being exposed to nature, how do you foster a love for it? Those are two of my big concerns with the population at large as I get older. Backpacking with kids –…
Locals already know what a fabulous hike the North Head Trail is, one that’s likely been in use since the 1500’s. The trail takes you from the Battery neighbourhood within the city of St. John’s up to the Signal Hill National Historic Site…
Beautiful Lacombe County is in Alberta’s picturesque heartland – roughly halfway between Calgary and Edmonton. The county is home to scenic multi-use trails, mostly quiet backroads, along with a heavy dose of rural charm and exceptionally…
John and I thoroughly enjoyed a week of biking from Pittsburgh to Washington, DC on the Great Allegheny Passage and C&O Canal Towpath trails in the spring of 2023. We were keen to experience more of the rail trails in the US, so decided to…
Kelowna is a popular city to visit year-round because there’s so much to do. Its famous for its food and wine, great weather – particularly in spring and fall when it isn’t very nice in other parts of Canada, quick access to nature and…
It’s spring again and time for my annual outdoor lover’s spring gear guide. I write one every year to showcase new products that have hit the market just in time for summer. I’m lucky to have individuals and companies reach out to me to…
I’ve done a lot of hikes in the Highway 66 corridor near Bragg Creek, Alberta but never had I done a backpacking trip. There is an excellent family friendly option that takes you to the Romulus Campground via the Little Elbow hike. It’s…
One of the best cycling trails in the western US is the 73-mile-long Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes in northern Idaho. It’s a fully paved, mostly flat trail located in the Idaho panhandle between Plummer and Mullan. The Trail of the Coeur…
The Lofoten Islands were on my radar for decades – long before drool-worthy Instagram photos made an appearance. It all started with a slide show (remember those?) put on by a kayaking company in Boulder, Colorado. While we never did kayak…
I love camping especially in the backcountry when I don’t have a cell signal – but scoring campsites – whether front country or backcountry – is getting harder with every passing year. Tourists are nothing new, but COVID showed the locals…
The southernmost tip of Vestågøya in the Lofoten Islands is the home of the Nonstinden and Ballstadheia hike combination – offering up spectacular views over Ballstad and the Vestfjord. Make it into a seven kilometre loop hike and include…
The Fay Canyon trail in Sedona is a great introductory hike to the area. The scenic canyon is short – just a mile each way, the way forward obvious, and there are lots of interesting flowers, trees, and cacti to admire. It’s a good choice…
One of the less well-know hikes in the Sedona area is the short Schuerman Mountain trail. The trail ascends to a viewpoint at the edge of an ancient volcano overlooking the full expanse of Sedona and Oak Creek. You can knock this out and…
One of the most popular trails in Sedona, Arizona is the Soldier Pass Trail – Soldier Pass cave combination. The trail takes you past some of the top Sedona landmarks including the Devil’s Kitchen sinkhole and the Seven Sacred Pools on…
I know my outdoor adventures have an impact on the earth’s health. Ditto all my outdoor gear and clothing. But I love to camp, hike, bike, paddle, snowshoe and more – as these are the activities that bring me great joy and give meaning to…
Hike the Bear Mountain Trail in Sedona if you’re looking for a challenge. It’s the second highest point in Sedona County (6,463 feet), so you are assured of a workout, especially as the trail climbs close to 2,000 feet in just 2.5 miles.…
Years ago, I came across a post on the McGillivray Canyon hike and filed it away as a hike that looked interesting. And what a unique hike it turned out to be! The trail takes you from the parking lot near the noisy Trans-Canada Highway,…
Cozy log cabins in Banff are perfect for romantics and those of you looking to reconnect with nature. The rustic charm of the Banff log cabins described below harken back to a simpler time when you didn’t rush back from a day outside to…
The Rocky Mountain National Parks including Banff, Jasper, Yoho and Kootenay are not the only places with mind-blowing backpacking experiences in the Canadian Rockies. Head to Kananaskis Country and check out this range of amazing…
Hiking on Gran Canaria was better than I expected. However, what I didn’t realize before we visited was what a popular and busy island it is. Las Palmas, the capital of Gran Canaria, has a population of almost 400,000 and it’s a favoured…
Kananaskis Country in Alberta is home to the Blackshale Suspension Bridge, located on the southern section of the 80-kilometre High Rockies Trail that stretches from the Goat Creek parking area above Canmore to Elk Pass on the border with…
Nova Scotia’s license plate “Canada’s Ocean Playground” says it all. There are hundreds of beaches dotting the 7,500 plus kilometres of coastline that make up Nova Scotia. And while I’ve spent several years in the province, I am most…
Hiking in La Gomera exceeded my expectations. The bar was set high as I’d first heard about La Gomera from a book author who writes about the best hikes in the Canadian Rockies. I trust his opinion, but the island wasn’t quite what I…
The Crack hike in Killarney Provincial Park is a fun one to do – but only if you’re prepared and experienced. It’s the hardest day hike in the park by far and one of the most difficult day hikes in Ontario. Even if you have a lot of hiking…
The Maligne Canyon hike is one of the premier hikes to do in Jasper National Park. It’s an easy one with multiple ways to shorten or lengthen it, so you can get a taster in as little as 15 minutes or the full experience over roughly three…
The Invermere area in BC’s Columbia Valley is an outdoor lover’s dream, especially when it comes to hiking – with much of it accessible year round. There are a wide variety of easy Invermere area hikes from short walks in meadows in…
If you’re a big hiking enthusiast like me, and are always looking for new stunning views, Norway should definitely be added to your travel bucket list. Why Norway? For me it’s all about the landscapes. The mountains, lakes and Scandinavian…
John and I hadn’t planned to do the Mannen hike in Norway’s Lofoten Islands. We had started off on Haukland Beach on the west coast of the Lofoten Islands with the intention of doing a loop hike along the coast that included Uttakliev…
December is now within spitting distance so it’s time for my 2023 HikeBikeTravel outdoor lover’s holiday gift guide. I’ve got lots of suggestions from experiences to unique hand warmers, camping gear and some cozy winter wear. All of these…
Fall in Door County, Wisconsin is home to one of the best foliage displays in the Midwest. That’s reason enough to visit! But it’s also far quieter than summer, beaches are deserted, apple orchards are at their peak, parking and traffic…