Destinations
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What to Pack for the Berg Lake Trail
I’ve done a fair amount of backpacking, but I had some trouble deciding what to pack for my trip on the Berg Lake Trail in early September. The trail is at a high elevation in the Canadian Rockies, so I knew the weather would potentially be colder and wilder than…
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How to Cycle Tour the Natchez Trace Parkway
As you might have guessed, I love being outside. (The website is called “Happiest Outdoors” after all!) My favourite adventures are accomplished on my own two feet: hiking and backpacking. But I do dabble in biking as well. Mostly that’s because my amazing husband Greg loves to bike. He rides…
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The Worst Hikes in Vancouver (And Where to Hike Instead)
Let me just start out by saying that any hike that gets you outside into nature is a good hike. But the reality is that most of us don’t have infinite time to spend hiking. So when we go outside, we want to hike a trail that doesn’t suck. I’ve…
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The 10 Best Hikes in Vancouver – A Local’s Guide
Vancouver is blessed with tons of gorgeous trails a short drive from downtown. There are a lot of articles online claiming to list the best hikes in Vancouver or the top 10 hikes near Vancouver. I’ve looked at them all and realized that often… I just don’t agree with all…
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Things to Do in Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks
Ever since I spent a quick couple of days in Yosemite National Park, I’ve been itching to get back to California to explore of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. I heard that south of Yosemite were two other less visited but equally spectacular National Parks: Sequoia and Kings Canyon. SoCal native…
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Explore Summerland’s Wineries by Bike
On the Canada Day long weekend I headed to Summerland in British Columbia’s Okanagan region to combine two things that the area is known for: wineries and biking. It’s a great way to spend a summer afternoon. You work up a bit of a sweat biking uphill, cool off in…
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Wild Side Trail: Hiking and Camping Guide
When most people think of Tofino, BC, they think of surfing or walking on one of the many sandy beaches. But did you know that by taking a short water taxi ride you can escape the crowds in town and hike and camp on a remote wilderness beach? Head over…
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Pacific Marine Circle Route Road Trip Guide
You don’t have to go far in BC to really get out into the wilds and off the grid. One of my favourites is a road trip on the Pacific Marine Circle Route on Southern Vancouver Island. This road trip starts and ends in Victoria, one of BC’s biggest cities,…
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How to Visit Avatar Grove, Big Lonely Doug and Other Big Trees on Vancouver Island
The southern end of Vancouver Island in British Columbia has the perfect climate for growing trees: It gets plenty of rain and the climate is fairly mild (for Canada!). The area around the little town of Port Renfrew sits right in the middle of this perfect climate, so it’s no…
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What to Pack for the Annapurna Base Camp Trek
When I was planning Annapurna Base Camp Trek in Nepal, I wasn’t sure exactly what to pack. I had done lots of overnight hiking and camping trips at home in Canada but I’d never trekked in the Himalayas and I wasn’t sure what to expect. What would the weather be…
