- Hey everybody, how do you do, I'm still gunnarolla
And today I'm sharing with you my five favourite
Canadian road trips.
When we think of what's essential for a good road trip:
music, snacks,
and quality tires.
Today's video is sponsored by Michelin.
I've swapped out my winter tires for
the MICHELIN CrossClimate 2 tires,
and I'm ready to go when it's safe to do so.
The world is slowly opening up to travel
and until we're ready, here's some inspiration.
Roll clip.
First up, probably the most iconic road trip
you can take in Canada, Banff to Jasper.
This is a drive that takes you through the Rocky mountains
and it's full of highlights.
Be prepared to stop every 10 minutes because everything
looks like a postcard, but no postcard could ever
capture what it's like to be there in person.
First, grab lunch in the town of Banff.
There are plenty of cute spots
but Farm & Fire is a newer favourite.
Then drive out to Lake Louise,
one of the most recognizable natural landmarks in Canada.
You can canoe, you can hike, you could spend the night
at the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise,
or you can head out to Moraine Lake nearby.
It's just as picturesque and if you're lucky,
a little less crowded.
After that, you're driving on the Icefields Parkway,
a more than 200-kilometer stretch
of more mountains, valleys, lakes, and waterfalls.
Stop at the Columbia Icefield, currently home to
the largest glaciers south of the Arctic Circle.
You can spend the night at
the all-inclusive Glacier View Lodge,
which includes dining and a glacier tour.
Or you can check out the Glacier Skywalk
at your own leisure.
It's an observation platform with a glass floor.
(gasping and laughter)
Once you arrive in Jasper National Park
you'll make a stop into the town of Jasper,
which has shops, restaurants, and lodging.
On my most recent visit, we actually drove
out just under an hour to Maligne Lake,
yet another super serene and stunning location.
You can canoe or take a cruise
out to Spirit Island and grab lunch at The View Restaurant
patio dining with an unreal backdrop.
Our next drive takes us
from Vancouver to Whistler on Highway 99,
also known as the Sea to Sky Highway.
There are a number of stops you can make
on your journey from Vancouver to Whistler.
You'll find mountains, the ocean, beaches,
suspension bridges, and even a gondola,
and that's all before we've even reached our destination.
Of course, Whistler Village is your playground
all year round for hiking, biking, skiing, and snowboarding.
Personally, I'm more of a food and relaxation traveller.
Grab some baked goods at Purebread before making a stop
at the Scandinave Spa and Nita Lake Lodge, the lake house
of my dreams.
Cap off your evening with dinner and drinks
at Alta Bistro in the Village.
If you can't make it out to BC
there are plenty of great drives in Ontario.
One of my favourites is the journey
from Toronto to Blue Mountain in just about two hours.
This region of Ontario is home
to some incredible orchards and wineries.
Check out the Apple Pie Trail, a collection of
spots that feature dishes and products incorporating apples.
Make sure to stop into the historic Ravenna Country Market
for some of the tastiest fresh pressed sandwiches.
Blue Mountain Resort is open year-round,
and it's just as fun in the summer as it is in the winter.
In the Village you'll find shops, dining and accommodations.
Make sure to get your passes and tickets
to enjoy all of the activities.
My favourite is the Ridge Runner,
a coaster that runs around the mountain.
When you're done at Blue Mountain
you can continue north up to Tobermory and Georgian Bay.
This is a trip that I used to take
with my family on multiple occasions.
You are guaranteed to come back refreshed.
Now, all of Atlantic Canada is stunning
but New Brunswick has personally given me some of my
best road trips, and that's why it's my next recommendation.
Stop into Moncton as your hub for exploration
within just 20 minutes to two hours, you can drive
out to somewhere completely different or even
another province.
Visit Cape Enrage where you can rapel
and zip-line along cliffs.
In Shediac you can find some great lobster.
Kelly's Bake Shop in Alma has
those world-famous sticky buns, while Saint John,
not to be confused with St. John's,
offers a great diversity of food.
Make sure to stop into the Saint John City Market
and Saint John Ale House.
It's the best seafood you can get.
You can hop onto a Zodiac in St Andrew's
and go whale-watching in the Bay of Fundy,
or you can walk on the ocean floor
during low-tide at the iconic Hopewell Rocks.
Just make sure to keep an eye
on the clock because the tide comes back in quick.
The drives around New Brunswick are fairly peaceful
and thanks to everything being
within a relatively short distance, you won't feel
like you're spending the entire day in the car.
Last but not least, Gaspé, Québec.
This is a road trip that could take up to a week
with stops in a different town each night.
Starting in Québec City you'll trace the Gaspé Peninsula
with some jaw-dropping scenic views
and Canadian history lessons along the way.
One of the major highlights of this trip
is Percé Rock, a naturally-formed arch
that's more than 375 million years old
and recognised by UNESCO.
This was one of my most memorable family road trips
and I would love to do it again.
So there you have it, my five favourite road trips.
When I was younger,
we didn't fly to sun destinations for vacations.
We picked a direction in Canada and we drove,
and I'm so thankful for that because it encouraged me
to explore more of this beautiful country.
We have so much incredible stuff in our backyard.
Big thanks to Michelin for taking us
on this virtual road trip across Canada.
I'm super excited to get out there again
once it's safe to do so,
so make sure to follow your local public health guidelines
and get some quality tires
for those long drives.
In the comments below,
leave me your favourite road trip memory
and hopefully we'll be able to hit the road again very soon.
I'll see you next time.
À la prochaine!