Fair rides at Whoop Up Days in Lethbridge, Alberta. Every August Lethbridge hosts Whoop Up Days. A four-day event featuring fair rides, yummy greasy snacks, live music, exhibits and rodeo events.

Traveling as a family can be a lot of fun, and sometimes a little expensive if it’s you + 3 or more people. But being on a budget doesn’t mean you have to miss out on great destinations and fabulous experiences. All it takes is a little more planning and research.
Banff has a reputation of being expensive (almost every town in a National Park has this rep). Hell, if all you’re going to do is shop along Banff Avenue, than yeah, you’re going to get that impression. However, if you dig a little deeper and venture OFF the avenue, there are a lot of price-friendly options.

Sleeping

A drive along Banff Avenue will show you that Banff has a lot of hotels.  The question is, which one do you choose? If you’re looking for a hotel that has lots of activities for the kiddos and offers great views of the mountains, then driving off Banff Avenue is required.

Douglas Fir Resorts & Chalets is located on Tunnel Mountain Rd and offers reasonable rates. Unlike your standard hotel, the Douglas Fir has amenities such as a waterpark, a 2-level playzone, arcade, swimming pool, sauna, fitness room, BBQ area, convenience store, coin laundry and more.  All their rooms come with a wood-burning fireplace (You can gather more wood from a shed on the property) and full-size kitchens that are fully stocked with everything you would need. *The hotel also offers a ‘Cook Your Own Breakfast’ or ‘BBQ Your Own Dinner’ specials where they stock your fridge with all the necessary food for one night of your stay.

HI Banff Alpine is another great family option. Located off Tunnel Mountain Road, on Hidden Ridge Way, HI Banff Alpine Centre is away from the hoopla of the main town centre and offers stunning views.  As with most hostels, the HI Banff Alpine has a self-catering kitchen, family rooms, laundry facilities, a games room and more. If you’re planning a drive along HWY 93 during your stay in Banff National Park there are some amazing HI hostels along the way. These hostels are secluded and offer a unique experience.

Eating

Self-catering is obviously the cheapest option when you travel, but sometimes a break is needed. Finding a cheap place to eat with good food can be a challenge.  There are some amazing restaurants in Banff, but they’re not exactly on the cheap side.

Old Spaghetti Factory is located on the second floor of the Cascades Plaza, and is a great family restaurant and pocketbook friendly. Did I mention the food is yummy? Who doesn’t love a spaghetti & garlic bread dinner?

Magpie & Stump is located on the corner of Caribou & Bear Streets. The menu is TexMex and the prices are along the lines of Tony Roma’s or Boston Pizza.

Aside from local restaurants, Banff is also home to the usual chains, McDonald’s, Subway, Boston Pizza, Tony Roma’s, Chili’s etc. There is also a food court on the bottom floor at the Cascade Plaza.

Activities

When you’re in a National Park there are ALWAYS a ton of things to do that are cheap or free.

Hiking is a big one. There are a ton of hikes in Banff for all levels of hikers. If you prefer to travel without a guidebook ask locals for recommendations or stop by the Information Center and speak with a Parks Canada staff member. They’re a wealth of information and they have handy maps!

Canoe/ Kayaking is another fabulous activity in Banff National Park. There are a lot of beautiful lakes and rivers in the park that are begging to be explored. If you didn’t bring your own canoe, you can rent on from Blue Canoe and paddle the Bow River or Vermillion Lakes for about $34/hr. Cheaper than rafting!

Banff Upper Hot Springs is on the way to the Gondola. Located on Sulfur Mountain, the springs contain Sulphate 572 ppm, Calcium 205 ppm, Bicarbonate 134 ppm, Magnesium 42 ppm and Sodium 6.6 ppm. Cost for the springs is $7.30 for Adults & $6.30 for children.

The Whyte Muesum -started by artists, Catherine Robb & Peter Whyte, the museum houses stunning works of art based on the Canadian Rockies. Admission to the museum is $20 per family (2 adults and 2 children), or $8 for Adults, $5 for Children 5 and Up (Children under 5 are FREE).

Take a Drive- Banff National Park is ruggedly gorgeous. One of my favourite activities is to pack a lunch and go for a drive. The Bow Valley Parkway is beyond gorgeous, as is the Icefields Parkway. No matter which road you decide to explore, you won’t regret it.

Check the local paper- Depending on the time of year there are usually FREE events happening that you and your family will enjoy. Be sure to check the local paper and talk with people who live in the area. Festivals, live bands, art show and the like are always a lot of fun.

Going on a family vacation is about having fun and making memories. It’s not about how much money you spend. You and your family can have a lot of fun on very little money. That being said, it’s always nice to treat yourselves from time to time. Either way, sit down before you leave home and make a plan. Talk about what you’d like to do and be open to changing plans once you arrive at your destination.

I truly, deeply love traveling. Whenever I am feeling beaten or swamped in my day-to-day life, I jump on to Twitter to immerse myself in the travel lifestyle and talk with you guys.

But as much as I (and you and others) love travel, some recent backlashes against the perma-travel lifestyle reminded me of a question I asked myself on my last major jaunt:

Is traveling selfish?

I don’t mean selfish as in “a traveler will steal candy from a baby” type selfish. The real question I’m asking is, at what point have you had “your fill” and should you then turn your attention back home?

For me, it was 2006 and I found myself traveling the Baltic countries and the former Soviet Bloc with my younger brother and another friend. In Wroclaw (Krakow for your English-speakers) we found the more centrally located hostel we could find and set up shot. Late into the night, the thump-thump of the disco across the street and the making out of the newly-made couple in the bunk across the room got to me like never before. At that point, I made the decision to take my experience and truly build something, a business based off my passion for travel.

Simultaneously I also realized that leaving every opportunity I could for prolonged periods meant I missed birthdays, anniversaries and all-around good times back home. I’ve sent more birthday messages than I would like to admit via email across international borders and oceans. While in Europe in 2003, I came back to find my best friends had arguably the best summer in man history.

Independent backpacking is after all, independent. It involves ME going wherever I want, whenever I want. If I want to see Pisa tomorrow, I’m there. If I think my tan’s fading a bit too much, a few days on Koh Tao just makes sense.

But, of course, like all good things, travel is (often times) best served in moderation. At least for some people. Some folks seemingly travel forever, while for some, a weekend in Vegas is all you need.

So, I’m tossing a few questions at you, the passionate traveler, to ask yourself…

Is there a point at which you’ve traveled too much? If so, how can you tell?

Beyond blogging, have you thought of any new ways of building something back home with your travel experiences?

——————–

PS – Despite my newfound sense of needing to “build something”, I would still give anything to get away to a new country I’ve never been to.

Garrett is the man behind Hostel Dog, a travel products company specializing in travel shirts, travel posters and travel cards.

“Our inspiration for our shirts comes from remembering the idiosyncrasies of travel: the overnight trains, the packed hostel rooms, the late nights.Traveling isn’t just a momentary experience, it’s a way of life. When you come back from your travels abroad, it’s the little things that went right (and wrong) that you remember down the road.” (taken from Hostel Dog – Travel Shirts)

Be sure to follow Garrett on Twitter (@hosteldog).

“These off-grid locations range from urban houseboats to suburban lots and gardens, from rural houses and communes to cabins, tree houses, converted shipping containers, and even tents and their ethnic variations, such as tepees and yurts. The people living this way- the off-gridders- might be middle-class environmentalists or right-wing survivalists, victims of foreclosure or long-term pot growers, international business travelers with their own islands or groups of friends who decided to start a community. They move around in buses and four-wheel drives, yachts and houseboats, caravans and Winnebagos, as well as more conventional vehicles.” Nick Rosen (Off the grid, pg. 3)

When I opened ‘Off the Grid: Inside the Movement for More Space, Less Government, and True Independence in Modern America‘ by Nick Rosen, I wasn’t sure what to expect. To be honest, I wasn’t really aware of the whole off-the-grid movement -I guess I’m living a more sheltered life than I thought. My first thought was of hippies trying to ‘escape the man’, but I was pleasantly surprised when I read the above paragraph and discovered that people from all walks of life are making the choice to live off-the-grid.

I loved what this book is not. Its not a tirade on how living 100% off-the-grid is the only way and if you’re not, you’re an idiot. It’s a book on how you can be off-the-grid and still be comfortable. Sure, in an ideal world we should all be 100% eco-friendly, and maybe that is something that will happen one day.  But waking up in the morning and saying ‘Goodbye’ to your current lifestyle and doing a total 180 is not realistic. Waking up in the morning and saying ‘I’m going to look into installing solar panels’, or ‘Maybe I should start that big garden this year’ are steps that are easy and comfortable.

Although I couldn’t bring myself to have a compost-able toilet in my house -as one lady did. I can see myself cutting back on my emissions, growing my own food, using solar panels and eco-friendly cleaning products. I can see myself having a well and generator for emergency purposes, but I’m not sure I could be completely off-the-grid. In other words, I’d be a part-timer.

Join Nick Rosen as he takes his readers ‘along for the ride’ -meeting various off-gridders throughout the United States. The result is an entertaining mix of people, ideas and situations. The idea of sustainable off-the-grid living is strong and I found that my own misconceptions of the off-the-grid movement were changing as I read. It’ll spark some fabulous ideas. All you have to do after reading this book, is to take those sparks and start little fires that eventually grow into massive ones (not literally, people).

Contest
The wonderful people over at Penguin Books sent me an extra copy of ‘Off-the-grid’ to give away! Here’s how to enter.

1. “Like” Spunky Girl Monologues on Facebook

2. Post a comment on the wall about how you would live off-the-grid, or what you would like to change to be more eco-friendly.

3. Tell your friends!

*A winner will be selected on September 9th using a random comment generator program.

Nick Rosen is an author, campaigner and and award-winning documentary-maker. To find out more about Nick Rosen and living off-the-grid, check out his website http://www.off-grid.net or pick up his books, ‘Off the Grid: Inside the Movement for More Space, Less Government, and True Independence in Modern America’ or ‘How to live off the grid’.

Big thanks to Monica from A Pair of Panties & Boxers for inviting me to read and review Off the Grid: Inside the Movement for More Space, Less Government, and True Independence in Modern America.

Edinburgh is easy to love. The compact capital of Scotland, from UNESCO Old Town to UNESCO New, is up there with Europe’s best of the best. While the nickname “Athens of the North” may be a bit much, it’s certainly not because Edinburgh is unworthy of such comparisons.

The decidedly more suitable “Auld Reekie” fits the overall aesthetic of this humble city much better. True, while Edinburgh is hardly “Old Smoky” any longer, the lovable moniker effectively conveys the inherent warmth, conviviality and witty wryness of the Scottish capital.

Photo credit

The world’s largest arts festival, the Edinburgh Fringe, is as indelibly woven into the city’s cultural fabric as bookend Royal Mile landmarks Castle Rock and Holyrood Abbey. What began as a protestant alternative to the Edinburgh International Festival in 1947 is now a behemoth annual event with ticket sales in the millions. So massive and mainstream is the Fringe, some sixty plus years down the line, that it regularly inspires offshoot festivals in parallel – or “Fringe Fringe” festivals, as it were.

If you visit in August and early September, be sure to book your Edinburgh accommodation well in advance. Understand too that many festivals fall under the auspices of the Edinburgh Festival. For prospective visitors to the city then, it pays dividends to appreciate Edinburgh’s phenomenal festival scene beyond the wildly popular Fringe. Check out some other worthwhile events on the city’s extraordinary arts calendar.

Hogmanay

Few places on Earth ring in the New Year like Scotland. Hogmanay, the Scots term for the last day of the year (think “Auld Lang Syne”), is particularly spirited in Edinburgh, where a jovial Street Party actually begins on December 29 and wraps up on January 2. A slew of concerts, cultural performances and theatrical events culminate in a fantastic fireworks display over Edinburgh Castle in front of close to 100,000 spectators.

Photo credit

International Festival

The International, consecrated in 1947 to shake Europe out of its post-World War II doldrums, is the premier arts event that started it all. Eminently respected and revered, the annual end-of-summer event lures a who’s who of international talent to the Scottish capital’s best stages. The refined, classical counterpoint to the Fringe features a first-class line-up of opera, ballet, contemporary dance, visual art, orchestral music and theatre.

Photo credit

Book Festival

Billed as the “world’s largest celebration of the written word”, the Edinburgh Book Festival is fittingly held in the world’s first UNESCO City of Literature. A venerable two-week symposium with top literary talents and eager audiences, the festival features hundreds of events in Edinburgh New Town’s gorgeous Charlotte Square Gardens.

Photo credit

Art Festival

Though a relative newcomer, Edinburgh’s Art Festival is already seen as a welcome complement to Art Basel and the Vienna Biennale. The five-week event features workshops, conferences and a brilliant parade of avant-garde, contemporary visual art.

Photo credit

Jazz & Blues Festival

In typical Edinburgh fashion, the city’s Jazz & Blues Festival is the foremost-such event in Great Britain. Yet another reason to visit the Scottish capital during the first week of August, concerts and impromptu jam sessions feature a genuine line-up of jazz and blues greats. A boon for genre purists, the Jazz & Blues festival makes superb use of the Grassmarket area near Edinburgh Castle hotels, among other city venues.

Located 11kms south of Lake Louise, Moraine Lake is a MUST SEE spot. On a sunny day the blue glacial water shimmers- mesmerizing all those who visit.

With 14 days left in Canada, my round-the-world trip is finally starting to come together. Sure, I’ve been planning this for months- years even. But life has always stepped in and changed things up. For this reason, I don’t do a lot of in-depth planning. What’s the point? Besides, living in the moment can be more fun- after the stress and panic attacks end.

As my time in Canada comes to a close, I find myself reflecting on the past few months. The past year has been full of changes. There have been a lot of highs and a lot of lows. I can honestly say that I’ve experienced more change in the last 10 months, than I have in my entire life.

In the last 10 months I’ve lost a Grandmother, a favourite Great-Uncle, and an Aunt. I’ve had 2 different bosses at work. I’ve experienced painful infections due to stress. I’ve battled with my landlord over throwing out my furniture. I’ve quit my job and I’ve moved. That’s a lot of heavy things, in a short amount of time.

On the flip side… I started Spunky Girl Monologues. I re-connected with a cousin and her family. I traveled to Seattle, New York, and 2 trips to Vancouver. I’ve met some cool bloggers/travelers/writers/photographers. I’ve quit my job. I’ve purchased a plane ticket to Bangkok.

Taking 6 weeks off before my trip sounded SO good in June, but when August rolled around, I was dreading it. I went from being crazy busy to having tons of free time. It was both good and bad. Thankfully I had a trip to Banff to mix things up a bit. Thanks to the lovely folks at Brewster Canada, I took a Guided Fishing Tour on Lake Minnewanka, explored the Columbia Icefields, and enjoy the BEST burger in Banff.

August was also a great planning month for my trip. I made plans with my cousin in Korea to come visit and hopefully teach English for 6 months- I even bought a plan ticket from Kuala Lumpur to Seoul. I also decided to go to the World Expo in Shanghai in October- which meant I needed to drive up to Calgary and apply for a tourist visa. This coming Monday I’ll drive back to Calgary to pick up my passport at the Consulate for China and hopefully there will be a visa inside it! So exciting!!

September is a big month for me. It’s the month that I start my round-the-world adventures.  On September 12, 2010 I’ll be boarding a bus bound for Portland- where I’ll be spending my birthday. After Portland, I have stops in Seattle, Reno, Sparks, and Los Angeles before flying to Bangkok.

I’m excited to begin my trip and share my adventures with you, I hope you’re just as excited to read them!

For almost 10,000 years, Lake Minnewanka was inhabited by Aboriginal people known as the Nakoda people (Stoney Indians- this name was given to them by white explorers). In the early years, the Nakoda people referred to the Lake as the “Lake of the Spirits”, as they believed a mer-creature (half human and half fish) lived in the lake, attacking vessels and killing people. Sound familiar? For similar reasons, the European explorers referred to the lake as Devil’s Lake. Not a very enticing name. However, In 1888, 3 years after the opening of Banff National Park, the lake was renamed. It was Devil’s Lake no more. Instead, it was named Lake Minneanka- ‘Lake of the Spirits’.

Although I have been to Banff, Alberta several times, I had never driven to Lake Minnewanka, until this past week when I was invited by Brewster Inc. to try a guided fishing tour in Banff National Park.

My initial reaction was to laugh. I haven’t gone fishing since I was 12 years old. My last fishing memory is of me sitting in a boat with my Grandfather and brothers on Duck Lake in Montana. I had an aversion to worms, touching slimy fish and cleaning them after they were caught (actually, I still have issues with all three of those things).We would sit on the boat, listening to my Grandfather talk about the big grand-daddy fish in the lake. You know, the one that’s 50 lbs and can never be caught.

“Don’t tell fish stories where the people know you; but particularly, don’t tell them where they know the fish.“- Mark Twain

With fond memories of larger than life fish stories, and a continuing aversion to worms, touching slimy fish and cleaning them, I made the 15-minute drive from the Banff townsite to Lake Minnewanka. Like many lakes in Banff, Lake Minnewanka is a glacial lake, with enough rock flour to give it that blue-green colour that Lake Louise is so famous for (Although not nearly as intense). Standing on the shore near the boat docks, it’s impossible to see the end of the lake as it wraps around mountains. In fact, Lake Minnewanka is the largest lake in Banff National Park, measuring 28 kilometers in length and 466 feet n depth.

As I waited on the docks for my guide to arrive, I had mixed feelings. I was excited, nervous and a little worried. The wind had picked up, a lot. Plus, there was the fact that I have a fear of being in small boats on large bodies of water. I wasn’t going to admit it though, I’m a tough girl and I wasn’t willing to look like a wimp! When my guide, Ian, arrived to collect me I smiled, laughed and pretended to be completely at ease. When I boarded the boat without falling flat on my face, I was like a kid at Christmas!

Our first method of fishing was down-rigging. Ian did a great job explaining the concept, however, as a non-fishing girl most of the technical info went over my head. Basically, the down rig is suppose to present the lure to the fish above the bottom of the lake. A major part of down-rigging is adjusting the weighted line to the bottom conditions of the lake. This meant we were constantly checking the fish finder for our depth and adjusting the lines.

In calm conditions, this is a great way to fish. However, in windy conditions, it can be a challenge. It was windy. As we drifted in the lake, the boat would turn and instead of floating with the waves, we were floating against them. This caused the boat to rock, a lot. In fact, I was nervous about tipping (Remember the whole fear of water, being on small boats thing? haha). If I had been by myself, I probably would have- not like that will ever happen in my lifetime, I wouldn’t be caught dead in a small boat by myself. I felt bad as I tried to figure out where to stand, while my guide was adjusting the lines, checking our depth and righting the boat so we were floating with the waves. After 30 minutes of this, we were awarded our first catch, a lake trout.

It was a small little guy, but I didn’t want to release him (I’ve decided that all fish are men- makes me feel better. haha) in case I didn’t catch anything else. So, we tossed him in the tiny hold with some water and continued further down the lake. As we cruised for calmer waters, Ian spoke about some of the history of Lake Minnewanka. He spoke about the dams. The first one which was built in 1912, was flooded and is now under water (actually the road you drive across the lake to the parking lot is the top of the submerged dam) and has become a favourite site for scuba divers who visit the lake. After WWII another dam was built, as more electricity was required due to the war effort. This dam still stands.

As we made our way around the point, Ian guided to boat towards some Bald Eagle nests. It was an amazing sight. I’ve never had the opportunity to observe Bald Eagles in this kind of environment before. They flew so gracefully through the treetops. I only wished I had a stronger lens on my camera!

After a few minutes of Eagle-watching, Ian took me to a spot close to the end of the lake. We were the only ones past the point and the water was calmer. After cutting the engine he explained that he’s had quite a bit of success in this area, and prepared a fishing pole so he could teach me to do jigging.

I couldn’t help but wonder about the good old days, when fishing meant you sat on a boat, cast your line into the water and waiting for a tug. I stood on the deck of the boat as Ian explained the art of jigging. He explained that I wanted my line to go to the bottom of the lake. I would then tighten my line a little by reeling a bit in. Once my line was taut, I ‘jig’ the line back towards me, then move the rod/line back down towards the water, slowly reeling my line. I would do this motion three times before reeling my line all the way in and starting over again.

With more than a little nervousness, I started jigging, letting my line go the 135 ft to the bottom of the lake. I jigged once, then slowly moved back down and waited a few minuted before jigging again, slowly getting use to the motions. Ian was the one to notice that there was a tug on my line. I jigged up quickly and felt a big pull. I had a fish! The problem was that my line was still 100 feet away. My right hand ached and my left hand felt awkward as I tried to reel in my catch. Ian held my rod and coached me through the motions. The fish was fighting, I was smiling and giddy as a school girl on her last day of school. I wanted to fish, like now! After a few minutes of fighting we could see my fish through the water. He was a big one- well bigger than our first catch of the day. Ian grabbed the net as I kept reeling in my catch. When it was finally onboard the boat, I wanted to do a little dance, I was so excited.

Once my fish was in the hold, I kept opening the lid to look at him, “Hello little guy”. My guide suggested that I not name him. I didn’t. We spent the next 2 hrs fishing in this little sweet spot, where we caught two more fish and threw them back. The weather was fair and I was enjoying myself. There is not a chance in you know what that I would have lasted this long if I had been fishing on my own, or with a friend. Fishing with a guide who knows the area makes a huge difference. I learned things about the lake and area, that I wouldn’t have known otherwise. I saw animals in their natural habitats and awed at their grace. I caught a 4lb Lake Trout!

Whether you’re a novice like me, or an avid fisherman/woman/person… taking a guided fishing tour in Banff is a great option. Both of the fishing guides from Minnewanka Lake Cruise (Ian and Blair) that I met were friendly and professional. They knew the lake, and the sweet spots for fishing. It worth the extra money you’ll spend.

I’d like to thank Brewster Inc. for sending me on the tour and Ian, Laura and Jane for cooking my fish afterward. It was super yummy!

Banff National Park was the first National Park in Canada and the third National Park in the world. At a size of 6,641 sq. kilometers, Banff is one of 4 National Parks that encompass’ the Canadian Rockies (The others are Kootenay, Yoho & Jasper). Over the years I have made several day trips to Banff. I’ve gawked at the Rocky Mountains, snapped hunderds of photos, breathed the fresh air, listened to the birds, connected with amazing people, enjoyed yummy food and more. There is always something new to see and discover, and although Mother Nature doesn’t always co-operate, I’ve enjoyed every minute.

Writing a single post that encompasses all of my favourite things about Banff would be hard. In fact, it would probably turn into a novella. Instead, I’m sharing 5 of them with you.

Cascade River near Johnson Lake

The Cascade River is fed by Lake Minnewanka and flows south to Rundle Mountain where it meets with the Bow River. The colour of the river is due to rock flour. Rock flour is silt-sized rock- generally due to glacial erosion (Banff National Park has 250 Glaciers), that flows into lakes and rivers. When the sun shines on the water, it reflects off the rock flour, which gives the water a turquoise colour.

Big Horn Sheep

Big Horn Sheep are more use to humans than they should be. Like White tail and Mule Deer, Big Horn Sheep can be easily spotted within Banff National Park. If you have a vehicle, a drive to Lake Minnewanka will often prove rewarding, as there is a herd in the area who often graze near the roadside. Although you can get pretty close to them, remember they’re a wild animal. Big Horn Sheep are not the only animals in Banff National Park, the park is also home to Black Bears, Grizzly Bears, Mule Deer, White-tail Deer, Mountain Lions, Silver Foxes, Moose, Bald Eagles, Elk, Osprey and more!

Bow Lake

Bow Lake is one of my favourite spots in Banff. As a glacial lake, Bow is often blue-green in colour- similar to Lake Louise. However on stormy days, the water can often reflect the darkness that surrounds it. Bow Lake is also a great place to spot black bears. I’ve had a lot of luck here, spotting a mama bear and her 2 cubs almost every year. Early morning hours are the best. Bow Lake is located along HWY 93 towards Jasper.

Hoodoo Viewpoint

Hoodoos are not uncommon in Southern Alberta. What is a hoodoo? Hoodoos are spires of rock that consist of soft sedimentary rock top with harder stone. Unfortunately there is not a trail along the riverbed leading to the Hoodoos photographed above- just the viewpoint trail which gives an overhead view. If you’re thinking about doing some back-country hiking, speak with a warden first and make sure the area you’re going to is safe- ie no Bears (Black or Grizzly) hunting in the area or dead animals that would cause a bear to stop in for dinner.

Basin

If you drive along Banff Ave, over the bridge to the lights, turn right and the road will lead to the Cave & Basin. Although the cave area is under reconstruction, hiking along the basin is still open. The Basin is my go-to spot in Banff. It’s location- on the back of Sulfur Mtn- is supreme, and a little stinky! Sulfur Mtn is home to natural springs that flow in several areas of the Basin at the base of the mountain. As the mountain hosts a variety of delicate eco-systems, there are wooden walkways throughout the area for visitors to use.

For more information about Banff National Park visit the Parks Canada website. Entrance into Banff is $9.80 per adult per day.

If you’re a regular reader of this blog, you’ll know that I like to be different, quirky and fun. So, where everyone else is calling this list their ‘Bucket List’, I’m calling mine, ‘Flights of Fancy’. Kind of suits me- don’t you think? After all, I can be a little flighty at times and I tend to be spontaneous and change my mind- a lot.

As I gear up for my round-the-world trip, I’ve started thinking about the places/sights that I’d like to visit and experience. There are so many mysterious and intriguing places in the world. Although I know I will never visit or experience all of them, there are ones that I cannot live without seeing.

*This list is in no particular order.

Kashgar, China
Before my trip to China in 2008, Kashgar had never entered my mind. However, things quickly changed when I observed the treatment of the Uyghur people by the Han Chinese. My heart went out to them and their struggles for equality.

Lhasa, Tibet
Brad Pitt. My initial fascination with Tibet started after watching Seven Years in Tibet- whose didn’t! As I’ve grown older, I’ve come to respect not only the culture, but the struggles of Tibet. When I was in China in 2008, I tried to get in. I wasn’t successful as the protests were still raging at the time.

Ulaangom, Mongolia
In Mongolia, near the Russian border, Ulaangom is one of those out of reach places. I long to meet the locals, wander the market and maybe buy a pair of Mongolian biker boots- I’ve seen photos of them, I want a pair!!

Kathmandu, Nepal
I’m hoping to volunteer at an orphanage in Kathmandu, and hopefully make my way to the Everest Base Camp.

Hyderabad, India
The fact that this city is also known as ‘The City of Peals’ ensures its place on this list!

Mumbai, India
Mumbai -or Bombay as it was originally known- has always had a place in my heart. It conjures up exotic images. If I were to close my eyes I can see the streets crammed with colours, people and vehicles.

Chiang Mai, Thailand
I’ve wanted to visit Chiang Mai since 2005, when I worked at Future Shop. A co-worker had spent a summer in Thailand and we would talk for hours about her travels. In recent weeks my obsession has grown as certain travel bloggers have been clogging my Twitter feed with all things relating to Chiang Mai. Truth be told, I like it. I feel as those I’m there already!

Angkor Wat, Cambodia
Yes, a site that is on just about everyone’s list. I have seen hundreds upon hundreds of photographs. I’m drawn to its history. Nothing says adventure like an ancient ruin!

Thimpu, Bhutan
Also known as Shangri-La, Bhutan is a country that has restricted access to tourists in the past. Although the restrictions are not as severe as they were in the past, Bhutan is expensive. No matter. I still want to -and will- visit Bhutan.

Dhaka, Bangladesh
Built in the 7th Century, Dhaka holds a certain magic. I’ve known a few people who have traveled through Bangladesh, and listen to their stories has only increased my desire to visit and explore.

“We should come home from adventures,

and perils, and discoveries every day with

new experience and character”

- Henry David Thoreau

You may have noticed that this is a rather small list. There’s a reason for that. As I’ve mentioned before, I’m a spontaneous girl who changes her mind, a lot. I could spend hours compiling a list of all the places in the world I’d like to visit and explore. But, truth be told, that list would change. As I grow as a traveler and as a person, my desires, ambitions and goals change. Evolve.

In 3 short weeks I’ll be leaving Canada- finally- and traveling to Asia. My plans are to travel throughout the region for roughly 6 months. What happens after that is unknown, and exciting.

What are your flights of fancy?

View the map!
View Flights of Fancy in a larger map