Canada's Adventure Couple

Fly to Dubai in Style with Air Canada
Experience Greenland
Sabah Diving Guide: Beyond Sipadan
It’s Aussie by Air New Zealand Time!
Our Most Memorable Moments from Wales in Photos
10 of the Most Unforgettable Winter Things to do in Banff
Spectacular Banff Helicopter Tours with Exclusive Snowshoeing in the Rockies
Experiencing Mandalay: Myanmar’s Hidden Gem
A Good Ol’ Hockey Game: Skating on Lake Louise, the Most Beautiful Rink in the World
Hotels in Banff – Our Top 8 Picks for Where to Stay in the Rockies
Hello Goodbye: Real Life Tales from the Airport
The Best place to go Dog Sledding in Banff National Park

Posted: 21 Jan 2016 02:00 AM PST

A lot of people will say that you must fly one of the Middle Eastern Airlines to Dubai to really do it in style. We admit, we have flown these airlines and have even managed an upgrade or two on them, but I would like to set the record straight, that you can enjoy luxury and comfort on Air Canada. We know because we had the chance to sample both business class and premium economy on our direct flights to and from Dubai from Toronto on the Dreamliner 787..

Deb’s Loving the Air Canada Business Class from Dubai

Air Canada direct to Dubai

Air Canada now has direct flights from Toronto Pearson to Dubai International Airport and it is already hugely popular. As part of the Star Alliance Network, Air Canada is a great option for Canadians and international travellers. U.S. customers can earn MileagePlus points (United customers) on Air Canada flights that serve over 50 US markets. Instead of connecting through the States, you can take a short hop over to Toronto instead of connecting through the busy New York, Chicago, or Atlanta hubs.

We like flying Air Canada. When given the choice (and believe me, we have many) we always ask to fly them. For one it’s because we love gathering points. We are points hoarders after all. But the other is the friendly and comfortable feeling we have whenever we step on the plane. It’s a sense of relief with that feeling of “Ah, we’re Home.”

fly dubai

We flew to Dubai on premium economy with a bunch of other Canadians who spent time together in the Air Canada lounge before the flight. It seemed that everyone in the lounge that evening was flying to Dubai. Even the lounge attendant mentioned that the flight was very popular this evening. Sitting in the lounge is a great way to start a trip. With free food, beverages and premium wifi, it’s the perfect place to relax or catch up on work. You can even have a shower to freshen up if you desire.

Check out: 10 Must Have Items to Make Air Travel Easy

Air Canada Lounge

When boarding the plane recognized each other and gave friendly nods of hello and how are you? 10 days later, we were back on the plane flying home and noticed that everyone was coming back on the same flight as us.

I feel that this could only happen in Canada, but while standing in the departure lounge of the Dubai airport, all of us started talking. We recognized each other from the way there and everyone was smiling talking about what a great time we had in the city. It seemed that all of us were waiting with baited breath to see if we made the upgrade list so we were hovering around the counter.

We flew back from Dubai in Business Class!

Business Class on Air Canada from Dubai

Good news! Everyone of our newfound friends were upgraded to business class and we were ready to enjoy the next 14 hours in style. Since our seats were last minute upgrades, we were all scattered throughout the cabin. Typically Canadian, we offered up seats to each other to let everyone sit together. Within a few minutes, we were all happy and settled in. I will admit, there were a lot of “sorry’s” being said and apologies being made to the flight attendants for our seat changes. But they just smiled and made their changes to the flight plan like nothing happened.

In business class, the flight attendants have a passenger list. When your seat is assigned, they introduce themselves and talk to you by name. Whenever they come around they say things like “Mrs. Corbeil, what would you like for dinner tonight?” Mr. Bouskill, would you like an orange juice or sparkling water before we take off?” It’s really quite civilized.

Being the new 787 Dreamliner, we were very excited to give business class a try. The Dreamliner is a larger and roomier airplane and you can feel the difference the moment you board. Even the economy class has more room than the usual flights, so you can imagine how luxurious business class is. The pods in business class on the Dreamliner are huge. We had full size TV screens, wide seats that recline completely into a bed and the square shape offered a lot of privacy.

Once we arrived, we were given a choice of refreshments and reading material. Dave and I were taking pictures like mad and nobody looked at us like we were crazy at all. I tell you, it’s a Canadian thing. On other flights, we have felt embarrassed documenting business class because we feel that we have to act cool for school. But this flight had a levity about it. Everyrone was in a great mood!

Enjoy: 11 Quick Tips to Make Your Travels Easier

A bit about the Dreamliner

Air: The 787 Dreamliner has better air than other planes. It filters the air inside the cabin and pulls in fresh air from outside. I always suffer from dry sinuses on flights, but not on this one.

If you care about the environment (and you should) you’ll be happy to know that the Dreamliner fleet may be larger, but they are also more aerodynamic their new engine technology reduces emissions and fuel economy.

Windows are 33% larger making the cabin feel roomier. I love the new electronic dimmer control that allows you do dim your windows while still being able to see outside. It’s not just about having windows open or closed, you can now have them dimmed.

Big Windows, Big Screens, Plenty of Food

TV screens. The screens and touch screen system are bigger. Air Canada has my favourite entertainment system out of all the airlines in the world. It’s easy to navigate and there are a lot of choices for TV series, movies and games. What I love is that you can start watching your favourite program the minute you get on the plane and they don’t make you turn it off until the doors are open. I always wonder why other airlines turn off the entertainment system for take offs and landings? (can someone explain that to me?)

About about Business Class

If you have ever flown business class, you will know what I mean when I say it’s hard to go back to coach. We don’t get the opportunity to fly it all the time, but when we do, we relish every minute. Your vacation truly starts the moment you arrive at the airport.

With priority check in, lounge access and priority seating, you are truly treated like a movie star.

While others stood in line at the busy Dubai airport, we breezed through the Elite status lounge and were relaxing in the lounge in no time. The Air Canada Lounge in Dubai was under construction when we were there, so we didn’t spend too much time listening to the hammers and saws at work, but I am sure that it will be ready to go in no time. After all, Air Canada is a new, in demand flight coming into the city. We didn’t have to wait long until our flight and when we started boarding, all the business class personnel boarded the plane first.

Business Class Premium Boarding

When flying business class, you have an overhead entire compartment to yourself. You don’t have to scramble for a spot. There is also plenty of room in your pod for personal items but you really don’t need to stow anything close by. Everything you need is supplied. There is even a care package with lip balm, hand creams, socks and eye masks for comfort.

There is a bottle of water supplied for you to sip on even thought the flight attendants come around regularly with drinks and a very comfortable duvet and fluffy down pillow are supplied to make your sleep as comfortable as possible.

Need help with air travel? See our Seven Tips for Stress Free Travel.

A Bit About the Meals in Business Class

The meals service is out of this world. When dining in business class you feel like you are dining in a five star restaurant. And with good reason, The food in both the international lounges as well as the meal service available in premium economy & business classes on flights departing from Canada are part of the new menu created by Canadian celebrity chef David Hawksworth.

Business Class Appetizers

In business class you are served your meals on white linen and china plates. Your first course is an appetizer choice and tonight we have an Arabic messe place with walnut, halloumi cheese and baba ghanoush. Next came a fresh salad of mixed greens with a small bottle of balsamic vinairgrette dressing and bread. I always dip my bread in my balsamic dressing. Mmmm.

Main Course

Hot meals consist of choices like garlic crusted beef fillet with a thyme shallot sauce, MIddle Eastern chicken, seard cod fillet with tomato and olive ragout or a mushroom and ricotta filled ravioli. By now you are stuffed, but there’s more!

After each meal, flight attendants come around with a cart filled with cheese. I cannot get enough cheese so naturally I always order everything.

And then, it’s time to finish off with the desert of the day, ice cream or seasonal fruit. Yum!

Business Class Breakfast after a night of eating

Usually I eat my meal while watching a movie and then settle into a night of sleep, but while flying in the 787 business class, I couldn’t seem to catch a wink. I loved my choices of movies. I laughed and cried into my duvet.

When I got the munchies, I ordered a hot snack of chicken skewers.

Pleasant Bathrooms

When I went to the washroom (which you never have to wait for in business, I grabbed a chocolate bar and bag of chips. I know, this is starting to get ridiculous. I haven’t stopped eating for 8 hours!

It’s a happy flight indeed!

As I drifted off to sleep in my quiet little corner I stretched my legs and rolled over on my side as you can only do when flying business class. It’s a life of luxury on Air Canada from Dubai and that’s exactly the way it should be. When traveling to and from one of the world’s most expensive and exciting cities, shouldn’t you do it in style? If there is one time that you should splurge for an upgrade it should be during your travels to Dubai. Start your dream trip off right and do Dubai in Style.

For more information on direct flights from Toronto to Dubai visit AirCanada.com
For more details on the Dreamliner See more on the Air Canada Website

Experience the Real Greenland – Video

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Check out our article: Incredible Greenland, The Final Frontier of Adventure Travel

I think that Expedition Leader, Alex McNeil summed up travel to Greenland perfectly in this video. “It’s the spirit of adventure, you never know what is around each corner” That is so true to Arctic travel. The ice is constantly shifting and changing, fjords are opening and closing with each season, and glaciers are constantly calving. On an expedition, no two days are the same. In fact, no two cruises are ever the same. The crew and captain are always switching courses, looking for new opportunities and keeping an eye out for wildlife and scenery. You will spend your days exploring by zodiac, watching the scenery pass by the bough of the ship or hiking along the tundra to stand beside magnificent glaciers. It truly is the final frontier of adventure travel.

Experience the real Greenland

Enjoy: Greenland, The Land of Kayakers. Our Journey through Uncharted Fjords.

We went kayaking, we took the polar plunge, we sipped champagne in hot springs and we sampled the local cuisine. I don’t recall a trip that has stuck in my mind so much as Greenland. I learned a lot, I came away with a better understanding of the Inuit culture and I now have a better appreciation of life in the North. If you are looking for a trip that will give you an authentic travel and cultural experience, Greenland is the place. For us, it was a destination that epitomizes the definition of adventure travel.

For more information on travel to Greenland, Check out Quark Expeditions Arctic Expeditions.

Si Amil Island, Sipadan Barrier Reef

Diving Season: Mar. to Oct. for best visibility

What if I told you there's an unspoiled island, filled with a resident school of Devil Rays that far of numbers any rays seen at Sipadan Island itself? Not only that, but that it's also sprinkled with abandoned World War II buildings and a hilly rainforest to marvel at during your surface intervals?

Welcome to Si Amil!

Only an hour away by speedboat from Semporna, Si Amil's nine dive sites have everything from big pelagics and fantastic variety of sea fans and hard coral to colorful macro and World War II wrecks.

Read: Great Things to do in Malaysian Borneo

Night dives are quite special here as well, with sightings of bamboo sharks and rainbow runners being a common occurrence. Better yet? With all eyes on Sipadan, Si Amil remains one of the last frontiers of Sabah diving.

Insider tip: make sure you ask for a Si Amil Island boat trip at the time of booking, as many dive resorts only plan trips there upon request. I can confirm this from my experience at Borneo Divers Mabul Resort. Speaking of which, if you still want to dive Sipadan, Borneo Divers is one of the few resorts that offer you not two, but four boat dives on a single Sipadan trip for no extra charge.

Divers in Borneo

PHOTO (Sabah diving Borneo divers file): Sabah Diving Photo by Borneo Divers Mabul Resort

Seaventures House Reef

Diving Season: Apr. to Dec.; best in Jul. and Aug.

During my stay at the Seaventures Dive Resort, I was marveled at the incredible marine life and artificial reefs right underneath it. Large schools of yellowtail trevally, tiny cuttlefish, cute juvenile yellow box fish, and giant groupers are some of the daytime residents of this converted oil rig.

You can even see schools of glassfish feeding by the surface from the highest platform of the rig!

At night, a whole new world is unveiled: from elusive red orange/blue spotted flamboyant cuttlefish and schooling pipefish to Chevron barracudas and fat moray eels grace you with their presence. It was fascinating to see such a volume of macro and schooling fish in a single dive.

As I enjoyed unlimited house reef dives during my stay, I can assure you Seaventures is one of the best dive sites in Sabah. Don't miss it!

sabah diving

PHOTO: Seaventures House Reef by Seaventures Dive Resort

Layang Layang Island

Diving Season: Mar. to Aug.; Apr. to May for hammerheads

Also known as Swallows Reef, Pulau Layang Layang is where the big guys go! Think massive schools of hammerheads, reef sharks, dolphins, Manta rays, whale sharks, and other pelagic species within a five to ten minute boat ride away.

Ten different dive sites, most being walls, have a sick visibility as well–up to 60 meters in season. As such, all of them are rated 5 out of five stars by most experienced divers.

Please note though, Layang Layang is unreachable in the rainy season, which typically runs between November and February. Plan your

?diving trip to ?

Sabah diving trip accordingly if you're a pelagic fan.

Enjoy: Malaysian Borneo, An Adventure Lover’s Dream

School of Hammerhead Sharks

Panglima Reef, Mabul

Diving Season: Apr. to Dec.; best in Jul. and Aug.

There's a rare show to watch at Panglima's gentle reef slope. It's just as likely to spot an 80-year-old Hawksbill Turtle and Cockscomb Oyster as it is to see a couple of Chromodoris and Nembrotha nudibranch right next to Crocodile Flatheads.

Really, you just never know what you'll see.

In one dive, I personally saw a few old Hawksbill Turtles; a peacock mantis shrimp being attacked by a few schooling fish; a massive school of traveling trevally, rivaling Sipadan's resident Barracuda tornado; several types of nudibranch (particularly black worm); in addition to the largest crocodile fish I have seen in 70 dives.

I was in awe–how the heck had I never heard about this place?! Now you know!

Peacock Mantis Shrimp

PHOTO (mantis shrimp file): Peacock Mantis Shrimp by Silke Baron, Flickr

Froggy's Lair, close to SMART, Mabul

Diving Season: Apr. to Dec.; best in Jul. and Aug.

Froggy's is commonly regarded as the muck diving capital of Mabul, Sabah. Poor visibility means this dive site is enjoyed by Eagle-eyed macro diving junkies only. Make sure you have a good guide!

Mandarin fish, flamboyant cuttlefish, lobsters, octopus, garden eels, and legions of frogfish are frequently spotted. Speaking of frogfish, this dive site got its name due to the many different varieties, shapes, and colors of its resident frogfish. Quite a sight indeed.

Read about our climb up Mount Kinabalu in Borneo

Clown Frog Fish

PHOTO: Clown Frogfish by Silke Baron, Flickr

Mataking Island

Diving Season: Feb. to Nov.; Apr. to Jun. for best visibility & whale sharks

Unbeknownst to many, an island 40 minutes away from Semporna offers a beautiful combination of both macro and large pelagics–the common denominator of Sabah's top dive sites.

It's easy for Mataking Island to slip under the radar though, overshadowed by its next-door neighbor Sipadan.

Located in Alice channel, the Malaysian-Philippine border, Mataking's 12 dive sites could keep you busy for an entire holiday. Eagle rays, manta rays, whale sharks, grey reef sharks are some of the pelagics that wander the 100-meter-deep channel, attracted by the strong currents in the North. Resident macro life includes stone fish, octopus, ribbon eels, and frogfish.

Just going on a day trip? Hit some of Mataking's top dive sites: Sweetlips Avenue, North Point, the offshore House Reef, Coral Garden, and the artificial reef the Shipwreck.

Love travel? Check out our Epic Adventures page

Whale Shark

PHOTO: Whale Sharks by Klaus Stiefel, Flickr

Any additions to our Sabah diving guide? Share them below

Maria Alexandra Laborde is a twenty-something thrill junkie that has lived, studied and traveled extensively throughout the Caribbean, Middle East, and North Africa. Through tales and snapshots, she shares her knowledge and love for the Arab world on her niche blog Travel The Middle East. Additionally, Maria is the author of LatinAbroad: The Nomadic Translator, where she shares her struggles, inspiration, and advice after traveling solo to more than 20 countries across 4 continents. Follow her adventures on Twitter @latinAbroad, 'Like' her Facebook page & 'Pin' her on Pinterest.

Australia by Air New Zealand

As you read this, we’re flying to Brisbane with Air New Zealand trying out their premium economy class on the way there and their Skycouch service on the way back. Air New Zealand is one of the funnest airlines. I can’t wait to see what their new safety video will be. The last time we flew to New Zealand, Richard Simmons told us how to act in case of an unlikely emergency. There have been several epic safety videos by AirNZ since that time. What will they offer us this time? Check out all the AirNZ Safety Videos at their YouTube channel

Read all about our adventures in New Zealand

Air New Zealand Safety Video

Air New Zealand is part of our favourite airline network; Star Alliance. We’re very interested to see what the AirNZ premium economy class is compared to the Air Canada premium economy and I’m doubly interested in seeing what the Skycouch is like. The Skycouch is a row of three economy seat where the footrest comes out from under each of the seats to create a flat, flexible space to enjoy however you like. Now that sounds cozy.

If Johnny Jet loves Skycouch, I know we will too!

Johnny Jet loves SkyCouch

Read Johnny Jet’s review of Skycouch.

So, After we arrive refreshed and relaxed thanks to the affordable and easy ways Air New Zealand allows passengers to enjoy long haul flights, what are we going to do in Australia?

We love Australia Wildlife

Enjoy our photos of the wildlife of Kangaroo Island.

Well, we have a jam packed schedule of fun end excitement. We’ll be visiting both Queensland and Victoria during our visit. These two very different states are going to offer us some great adventures.

Australia Adventueres

We cannot wait to do the four day 12 Apostles Walk. This lodge to lodge walk is going to be a challenge, but it’s also filled with luxury and gourmet meals at the stunning eco-lodges run by the TwelveApostlesWalk.com

Australia has gorgeous eco-lodges

See our stay at an eco-lodge in the Daintree Rainforest

We can’t wait to do the Story Bridge Adventure Climb in Brisbane, take a hot air balloon ride over Melbourne, go paddle boarding in Noosa and our four wheel drive experience on Fraser Island. Oh Yeah, this is going to be fun.

Hot Air Balloon Queensland

Read about our Hot Air Balloon Adventure in Queensland

It’s only just begun, so make sure to follow along to see what shennanigans Dave and I get into this time. We have 15 days in the Land Down Under and we aren’t going to waste a second. So join us on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter as we share our adventures in real time at the hashtag #AussiebyAirNZ. See you tomorrow!

Our trip to Australia is in partnership with Australia Tourism and Air New Zealand.

Win a Trip to Great Britain

Oh My Great Britain! #OMGB

We are very excited to announce that Visit Britain is giving one lucky winner a trip for two to Bath and Edinburgh to enjoy their very own #OMGB moments. All you have to do is visit OMGB.com and complete the entry form either with your email address or your Twitter or Facebook accounts. You can gain additional entries by sharing your entry via Twitter with the hashtage #OMGB.

See full terms and conditions here.

Need inspiration to enter? Enjoy our favourite moments from Wales in photos.

Exploring Carreg Cennen Castle

Carreg Cennen Castle

Wales is filled with Castles and having Carreg Cennen Castle all to ourselves on our way to Llandeilo was a highlight. A wedding was going on that day and as we were walking down, the bride and groom were walking up. Priceless.

Coasteering in Pembrokeshire

Coasteering: A Major #OMGB moment

Coasteering was invented in Wales and one of the first operations was Preseliventure. They are still going strong and if you want to explore the coast by traversing along the sea, jumping into the water and swimming into caves and waves, this is for you.

See: Coasteering in Wales, it’s not as scary as you think!

Seeing Snowdonia

Taking the train to spectacular Snowdon Mountain

Snowdon Mountain in Northern Wales is the highest mountain in Wales. You can hike up to the top in a few hours, but if you have limited time you can take the train. When you reach the top, you have the option to look around for about an hour, or you can take your time and hike down at your own pace.

Bouncing Around at Bounce Below

Bounce Below

One of the most unique tourist attractions we’ve ever been to was Bounce Below in Blaenau Ffestiniog. It is a giant underground cavern filled with trampolines, ziplines and a via feratta. This part of Wales is fast becoming the adventure capital of the country.

See our video and read about Bounce Below at our post: The Ultimate Playground for the Kid in You!

Discovering Portmeiron

Walking around Portmeiron

Portmeiron is a cute little village modelled after Riomaggiore in the Five Villages of Italy. There are hotels, shops and artists studios in the village located on a picturesque lake. We stayed at the Portmeiron Hotel which was like stepping back in time.

Lobster Safari

A unique safari experience is going out to catch lobster with North Wales Sea Fishing Trips.

Read all about our Lobster Safari at Catch of the Day, A Lobster Safari in Wales

Admire the Coast

Wales Coast line

Wales has a beautiful coast and you must hike along the many coastal trails, get out on the water either kayaking or on a boat tour and admire its beauty.

Serene Moments

When travelling it’s easy to get caught up in running from place to place, but taking the time to enjoy the stillness at sunrise or sunset can help to put your travels into perspective. When we sit quietly on the beach, we realize just how beautiful this world is and how lucky we are to be able to explore it.

Go for a Walk

Going for a walk through any village in Wales will probably lead you to a castle somewhere. If you want your fill of castles, Wales is the place to be!

Quiet Moments

How could we not end with a sunset? One of the glorious things about travel is the opportunity to see the sun set from a different part of the world. The skies were on fire during our time in Wales and this evening was a beautiful moment snapped from our hotel room window.

One of our favourite parts of travelling is remembering moments. It’s the little moments that often stand out. Sure the adventures make for great stories, but it’s often the quiet moments that we remember most. Travel lets you connect to each other, make new friends and find peace and stillness within yourself. It’s about finding moments that will occupy your memory forever and that is what Wales will do for us. We’ll remember each moment there for the rest of our lives.

Our trip to Wales was in partnership with VisitWales and Visit Britain. For more information on #OMGB and how you could win a trip to Britain visit the OMGB Website.

Unforgettable Winter Things to do in Banff

Learn how to pack for winter travel by reading our Packing tips for Winter Adventures and Layering Tips to survive Winter Travel

Heli-Snowshoe Tour over Banff

best things to do in Banff - heli-snowshoe

Helicopter over Banff – Like Nowhere else on earth

If there is one helicopter tour that you do in your life, do it over the Rocky Mountains. Dave and I have had the privilege of taking scenic flights on 6 continents, but our flight over Banff National Park was the most breathtaking tour we’ve ever taken. I believe flying over Banff in winter is what made it special. The peaks covered in snow made you feel as if you were staring at heaven itself. The helicopters that RockiesHeli uses are state of the art with bubble windows and plenty of space to give everyone the best possible views. Add the opportunity to go snowshoeing in the mountains and you’ve got yourself the most unforgettable experience of your life.

Just one of many things to do in Banff

Read more about our heli-snowshoe tour here.

Snowboarding and Skiing

Nothing like snowboarding in powder

A person cannot round up a winter vacation without mentioning snowboarding or skiing. Banff has some of the best ski conditions in North America. Located in the heart of the Rocky Mountains, you can count on a long ski season, with lots of fresh powder, world class runs and fun for all levels and ages. There are three ski resorts located directly in Banff National Park – Lake Louise, Sunshine Village and Norquay. You will never tire of trying out all the backcountry bowls, trails through the glades or gentler runs on the main hills.

See our video and check out our snowboarding adventure at Lake Louise

Take Photo Tour

Checking out the shot with Rocky Mountain Adventures

Banff is one of the most scenic destinations on earth. Bring home your own memories on a photo tour with Rocky Mountain Adventures. You will be taken to the hottest photography spots for photographers, but you can also have the option of learning how to process your photos and optimizing them for print where you can hang your memories on your own walls.

Love Alberta? Check out our Alberta Summer Road Trip

Like this!

Photo captured on our photography tour in banff

There’s great travel to Southern Alberta too: Enjoy seeing the Hoodoos of the Badlands

Dog Sled to British Columbia

things to do in Banff winter - dogsledding

Unforgettable Dog Sledding in Banff

There’s only one place you can go dogsledding in Banff National Park and that is with KingMik Dog Sled Tours. Their team of dogs are fast and filled with pep and zip as they run through the Great Divide Trail all the way to the border of British Columbia. As you are snuggled up inside a warm sleeping bag and zipped into the windproof canvas, you glide through the forest looking for lynx tracks while your guide tells you about the area, the dogs and the scenery. On the way back, it’s your turn to drive the sled and you’ll feel like a true explorer as you mush through the old Trans Canada trail.

Read all about Dogsledding in Banff: There’s video and pictures too!

Hot Springs and Spas

At the Banff Hot Springs

I told you that it wasn’t all about being outside in the cold, there are a lot of things to do in Banff that don’t have to take you through a snowy wonderland. (although who wouldn’t want to?) Banff is home to thermal pools where you can bask outside in a tub while taking in the views. The Banff Hot Springs are the most famous hot pools in Banff, and you can even rent an old timers bathing suit to feel like you are in a bath house of the roaring twenties.

Get a hot tub in your room like this one at Sunshine Mountain Lodge

Most hotels have outdoor hot tubs and our favourite was the views at the Juniper Hotel and Deer Lodge. But Sunshine Mountain Lodge at Sunshine Village has Banff’s largest hotel hot tub located right on the side of the ski hill where after a day on the boards, you can soothe your aching muscles in the tub.

Enjoy the outdoor spas with a view! – Juniper Hotel

Want recommendations for the best accommodation in Banff – Read our post: Hotels in Banff: 8 Great Stays in the Rockies.

Couple’s Massage

Banff is filled with spas and luxury hotels. You can book many a spa through your own accommodation, but we tried the downtown spa Cedar and Sage. As many of you already know, Dave and I have a lot of massages around the world. Our massage at Cedar and Sage worked all the knots out of our backs in a tranquil setting with certified massage therapists. With it’s downtown location, we could stroll the shops and enjoy a coffee afterwards to truly get that sense of peace that one is looking for after a week of so many adventures.

Johnston Canyon Ice Walk

Want to see frozen ice like you’ve never seen before? Take a hike through Johnston Canyon. It’s an easy walk on a well maintained steel walkway where you’ll see frozen waterfalls all around you. Make sure to go to the very end to see the most beautiful of them It’s only a two and a half mile walk taking you to six different frozen waterfalls and a deep pool of swirling water that is reached by walking through a stone arch. You may spy some ice climbers there as well, or you may want to give it a try yourself!

See our Ice climbing Adventure in Canmore, Alberta.

Skate on Lake Louise

Enjoy a couple’s skate on Lake Louise

It’s the most scenic ice rink in the world. Just out front of the Fairmont Lake Louise is the world’s prettiest hockey rink complete with zambonies, hockey benches, and figure skating. It’s free to skate on Lake Louise and the ice is ready and waiting as professionals maintain it with state of the art equipment. You can rent your hockey gear at Wilson Mountain Sports located about 5 minutes away on your way into the lake or you can bring your own. There’s spots for figure skating and hockey so don’t be shy, enjoy some hot chocolate and have either a romantic date with your loved one or join a game of pick up hockey!

Pond Hockey Anyone?

Order a Flight of Spirits

A flight of Spirits

It’s the only distillery in all of Banff National Park. As a matter a fact, it’s the only distillery in a national park in North America. Park Distillery makes smooth vodka and rye right on sight. Direct from the glacial waters of the Rocky Mountains you can be sure that they use the purest water on earth. They offer distillery tours where they’ll tell you most of their secrets and you can sit down and sample all their spirits in one tasting. Be prepared, they go down so well, you’ll be feeling it when you stand up. But you know what they say about great booze, no hangover! The tasting has a mix of pure vodka and rye as well as spiced, and coffee flavour. Everyone in your party will have a different favourite. I’m a purest and loved their straight, silky vodka!

Go to the Back Country

Things to do in Banff - Back country lodge

Sundance Lodge – 16 km from anywhere

If you ever make it to the Rocky Mountains, you must make sure to go to a back country lodge. This is the epitome of things to do in Banff. Why? Because it is where you completely get away from it all. Don’t fret too much about bears or cougars in the winter. For the most part they’re hibernating and if you are a party of two or three, they’ll be more afraid of you than you are of them. Imagine sitting in a log cabin heated by a wood burning stove as the snow falls around you outside. That is pure heaven. Sundance lodge has an executive chef, hot water for showers, solar power and cozy bedrooms. This is where luxury meets rustic living and if you go home and tell everyone that you trekked 16km into the Rocky Mountains to stay at a lodge, you will be the hero of all your friends. You can get to the Banff Alberta Back Country by snowshoeing or cross country skiing.

Relax with the One you Love

Sitting by the fire each and every night

After being outside all day, there is nothing more romantic and calming than sitting by a fire. I don’t know about you, but we could stare at a fire forever. There’s no need to make small talk, just relax, watch the wood burn and contemplate the amazing time you had in Banff National Park. Making a fire each night in our hotel or lodge was a ritual we looked forward to. We would sip wine or tea and do nothing but let the flames lull us to a slumbering state where we were ready to climb into our beds and dream about the next day in Banff.

Banff Helicopter Tours with Rockies Heli

Located just an hour from Calgary and a short drive from Canmore or Banff, Rockies Heli is one of the premiere helicopter tour companies in Alberta. Our helicopter tour was taking us over Banff National Park to witness the famous peaks like Mt. Assiniboine, The Three Sisters and Mount Lougheed, but we also had the added bonus of landing on a peak just outside the park to go snowshoeing where nobody else dares to go. When landing a helicopter on the top of a mountain, you can be sure you won’t see crowds of people during your hike!

The helicopter is state of the art with headsets and bubble windows giving everyone inside great views of the rockies.

A helicopter tour is on our list of the most unforgettable things to do in Banff. See what else there is!

Beautiful Rocky Mountains

It was our last day in Banff and we stopped for our flight with RockiesHeli en route to the airport. We couldn’t believe our luck that our last day just so happened to be the clearest day of our entire trip. The skies were blue with just enough clouds in the sky to create perfect photo opportunities.

Enjoy This Video Journey Through the Rocky Mountains

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After going through our safety check and being weighed, we were escorted to the helicopter where we were strapped in and suited up with our headsets so we could hear the commentary of our captain and talk to each other.

See our Helicopter Tour over Mount Rushmore and Crazy Horse

Dave managed to snag the front seat giving him an excellent vantage point but I felt that my backseat view was equally extraordinary. I could look out both sides of the window and even look ahead as the bubble windows bulged out enough letting me see the side of the helicopter. Our chopper pilot Ralf, made sure that he circled around each sight enough to give each person on each side of the helicopter a birds eye view.

There were so many sights to see, I could have soared through the air all day. Spray Lake, endless mountains, and extraordinary glaciers. It was the glaciers that really took my breath away. I could see deep into the crevasses carved out in the side of the mountain and Ralph flew so close it felt as though we could reach out and touch the peaks.

The beauty of a helicopter tour is that it is never the same. We were originally planning to fly over one part of Banff National Park, but a low cloud came in making it impossible to land. I didn’t mind that we couldn’t land because the mountains peaking out of the top of the clouds made for the most breath-taking views.

Helicopter tours

Check out our helicopter tour over Victoria Falls at our Top 5 Adventures in Zambia

Our flight lasted for about 45 minutes mixing together two of RockiesHeli most popular tours, the Ultimate Alpine Glacier Tour and the Grand Rocky Mountain Tour. The flight was smooth, comfortable and we were toasty warm and safe inside from the winter air outside. But soon it was time to face the elements.

The second part of our tour took us to a peak where we landed high on a mountain just outside Banff National Park. (no helicopters are allowed to land within the park boundaries) We put on our snowshoes and set out on a 30 minute hike through the forest.

Landing in the Rockies

Ralph pointed out animal tracks as we hiked and showed us different viewpoints to witness the Rockies. It was a fun walk through the woods, hiking over a few logs and making some fresh tracks.

The best came when we stopped for hot chocolate and Baileys. This was the spot. The clouds opened up to let the most beautiful landscape unfold before our eyes.

Dave shows off the Rocky Mountains of Alberta

We could have used a blanket had we wanted to, but with our blood pumping from the hike, we felt warm and comfortable as we looked on at Mother Nature’s finest work.

Enjoy our Helicopter Tour of Maui

It was a special feeling to land in a secluded spot at the top of a mountain. Normally when you do a helicopter tour, you take off and arrive only at the launch pad of the company. But when doing a heli hike tour, you get to feel what it’s like to land and take off in the wilderness. It also makes for some pretty sweet photo stops!

Amazing views over Banff

Rockies Heli offers many different helicopter tours over Banff and Canmore. They also have another branch for helicopter tours over the Columbia Icefields near Jasper. If you go to Alberta make sure you take a helicopter tour over Banff. Seeing Spray Lake slice through the snowy peaks of the Rockies is something you won’t soon forget.

See our helicopter tour over the Great Barrier Reef in Australia

Our group!

During our time in Banff Lake Louise, we went on a backcountry tour with fellow travel lover Johnny, of the Banff Lake Louise tourism board. While skiing, he asked us what mountains we thought were more beautiful, The Rocky Mountains or the Alps. We said, that both are beautiful there is no doubt about it, but if we had to choose, it would be the Swiss Alps. But after doing our Banff helicopter tour, we’d like to change our answer. We’ve now seen the Rocky Mountains in a whole new light and our heli hike tour through Banff was definitely more extraordinary than anything we saw in the Alps. So if you ask us again what is more beautiful? Our answer will be, “The Rocky Mountains”

For more information on Banff Helicopter Tours visit Rockies Heli Canada.

Tours start at $195 per person for a 20 minute flight (we’ve done 20 minute flights before and they are plenty too if you are on a budget) and range to $395 for the 55 minute ultimate glacier tour. You can also book private charters and even weddings! There are plenty of upgrades you can do too like Front Seat Upgrade $25 and a 1 Hour Exploration Hike/Snowshoe (Dec-March) $75/person

Mandalay The Hidden Gem

Mandalay's draw must be taken within the larger context of Myanmar. In recent years, the country's economic and political liberalization has led to a steady increase in the number of foreign tourists permitted to enter the country. Today, western tourists certainly aren't uncommon, but frequent sightings of foreigners are most typical in one of perhaps three or four major destinations – for example, Bagan, Inle Lake, and the capital city of Yangon with its Shwedagon Pagoda.

Mist of Mandalay

Elsewhere, outsiders are far less common. Even major tourist destinations will generally see mostly Burmese sightseers, with only an occasional international traveler spotted among them. Throughout much of Mandalay and the surrounding area, I even discovered that I was often a tourist attraction & asked countless times to pose for selfies or other photos with friends and family, just for the novelty of being a westerner!

Mandalay Palace

The most prominent feature of downtown Mandalay are its breathtaking Palace Walls, a huge structure nearly 5 miles in perimeter and surrounded by a moat, which occupies the city's central tract. Contained deep within those walls are the Mandalay Palace grounds, which constitute the buildings of the last royal palace of Burmese monarchy.

Although by no means huge, I would recommend dedicating more time to such attractions than you may anticipate, especially if traveling in the hottest months of April and May, as I did. Temperatures of 112 degrees with a heat index of 115 (46 Celsius) were not uncommon. As a result, a few hours in the heat warrants a cold drink and some time in the air conditioning before setting out again.

That said, I walked the perimeter of the palace two days in a row and loved it each time, getting a sense of this city and its wonderful people on my own terms. The heat was not as oppressive as I had feared.

Mandalay Hill

Not far from the palace lies Mandalay Hill, home to several significant pagodas and monasteries, as well as excellent views of the city and its surrounding countryside. Visiting major pagodas also provides the opportunity to see and interact with Burmese locals in a more natural environment – like you, many come to these temples to relax, spend time with family and friends, and enjoy the view!

An afternoon could easily be spent exploring the various pagodas along Mandalay Hill, many of which see few visitors, despite being located in a central area of a major city. It is almost obligatory to stay and view a sunset from the hill. Unlike many western countries, it is fairly easy to find a taxi driver to take you up, then wait for you or return at a pre-determined time. In my experience they were always punctual!

Beyond Mandalay

As countless guidebooks will tell you, there are a number of wonders to explore beyond Mandalay as well. Most can be reached on a day trip, and I recommend hiring a taxi to take you – they know the area extremely well, can act as a tour guide, and it spares you having to worry about logistics or getting lost. Rates are affordable – hiring a taxi for nearly a full day was about $40-50, and included up to 3 passengers.

One of the most famous sites near Mandalay is the ancient imperial capital of Inwa with numerous historic structures. Getting there entailed a taxi drive, a boat across a river, then hiring a horse and buggy to explore the ruins, which provided for a once-in-a-lifetime experience itself!

After visiting perhaps a half dozen structures, my driver recommended we return to the car and visit the famous U Bein bridge, a long teak foot bridge not far from Mandalay.

U Bein was not only beautiful, it was lively! This is where many Burmese must go to relax on a Friday evening, as we saw plenty of people (nearly all locals) and a slew of beer, ice cream, and other food vendors. The bridge itself is breathtaking, especially seeing traditionally-dressed monks stride gracefully along.

Go Off the Beaten Path

Visiting Mandalay revived for me one of my forgotten joys: traveling off the beaten path and exploring places organically, without a travel book or foreign guide pointing the way. This allows you to meet new and interesting people who are often most representative of a country's diverse social, ethnic, economic, and religious composition.

In my opinion, there are few better cities in which to do it, especially if you're up for a little adventure, unpredictability, and more than a little hot weather!

AboutPhoto Author: Matt, The Prodigal Dog

Bio: Matt is a travel and photography enthusiast and author of The Prodigal Dog, a blog featuring his photos and peregrinations around the world. He loves hiking and has visited over 30 countries — he hopes to visit all seven continents (five down, two to go). He can be found on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

Read the original post Experiencing Mandalay: Myanmar's Hidden Gem on The Planet D: Adventure Travel Blog.

A Good Ol’ Hockey Game: Skating on Lake Louise, the Most Beautiful Rink in the World

Posted: 07 Jan 2016 02:00 AM PST

“The good ol’ hockey game! Its the best game you can name!
And the best game you can name, is the good ol’ hockey game!”

Music and Lyrics by Stompin Tom Connors

Game On!

Ready for our Good Ol Hockey game and Skating on Lake Louise

If you find yourself in Banff National Park in the winter, you must go Skating on Lake Louise.It’s the most beautiful ice rink in the world. I dare anyone to claim a better spot for a game of pond hockey than Lake Louise in Banff National Park. Set at the foot of Victoria Glacier, Lake Louise is an incredible setting surrounded by the Rocky Mountains. Nestled in a corner of the lake is the luxurious Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, and once winter arrives and the ice freezes over, it’s time to skate.

Don’t want to stay at the expensive Fairmonts? Check out our Top 8 Recommendations of Banff Hotels

Skating on Lake Louise

There is nothing more Canadian than skating on Lake Louise and a game of pick-up hockey

Lake Louise is famous for its world-class skiing and snowboarding. Every year they host world cup events and it was home to the Winter Olympics downhill race. It’s as world class as it gets drawing tourist from around the world. But there are other things to do in Lake Louise during the winter months such as cross country skiing, snowshoeing, spas, and fine dining. For your outdoor winter adventures, Wilson Sports has you covered. We met up with Bill and Julie at Wilson Mountain Sports where they suited us up with skates, pucks and sticks for a friendly game of pond hockey on the ice.

Enjoy our Video of Skating on Lake Louise!

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Bill took us downstairs to see his state of the art skate and ski sharpening machine before heading out and told us the story of how his sharpening is so good, he recently had someone FedeX their cross country skies across Canada from Quebec to have his guy sharpen their skis. Now that proves just how good the job is done.

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Chillin’ with Bill from Wilson Mountain Sports

When visiting Banff and Lake Louise, you don’t have to come with every piece of winter sports gear you own. You can rent from Wilson Mountain Sports or buy any forgotten items. Never fear, Bill is here!

Read: The Romance of Lake Louise: The Perfect Couples Vacation Destination

After we gathered all our gear, we took a short drive to the Lake Louise parking lot where we left our trucks and walked along the path towards the Fairmont and the lake.

Zambonies were hard at work clearing the ice and creating different skating rinks for people to enjoy. One skating rink was for people wanting to skate around or learn while the other was for the pond hockey players.

A Wayne Gretzky view from behind the net.

Bill told us that as the season goes on the entire lake is cleared of snow and fit to skate on. Now that would be awesome!

The arenas have mini pond hockey nets so you don’t have to bring your own and it’s the perfect size to play a good game.

It had been years since we’d been on skates, but as Canadians, we grew up on skates, so it didn’t take long to get our legs. Soon we were shooting the puck and scraping to a halt with ease. The only time I fell was when I went to get a puck in a puddle of slush and misjudged the spot where the ice meets the slush and turned right where the show went deep. It was a bit of a wet mess, but luckily the weather was balmy so I stayed warm, even if I wasn’t dry.

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Deb looking like a pro skating on Lake Louise.

Dave looked like he know what he was doing too!

Playing pond hockey at Lake Louise is a communal game. Anyone can join in at any time and everyone is friendly and talks to each other. Nobody felt up to joining the four of us though. I put it down to we were just too darn good. The couldn’t bring themselves to being slaughtered by our team of four shooting the puck back and forth. (okay, maybe I’m exaggerating a little)

Pond Hockey made our list of the best things to do in Banff. Check it out to see what else made it!

Deb playing goalie in front of the Fairmont Lake Louise

Check out another iconic Canadian place to go ice skating: Ottawa’s Winterlude and skating on the Rideau Canal

Taking in the view after an afternoon of skating on Lake Louise

We never did get a proper game going, but it was fun shooting the puck around and taking turns at being goalie. We ended up on the ice for a lot longer than I expected. I had forgotten how much fun it is to skate on an outdoor arena. It’s way better than in the rink where you are forced to skate around in circles. At Lake Louise, there’s so much room. The beginners can stay on one rink in the middle, while everyone has free run to go wherever they please.

If you go to Banff in the winter, make sure to skate on Lake Louise at least once. You’d be doing something truly Canadian.

For gear rental and sales visit Wilson Mountain Sports located in Sampson Mall on Village Road in Lake Louise.

Our trip to Banff was in partnership with Banff Lake Louise Tourism, for more information on Travel to Banff and Lake Louise, visit their website BanffLakeLouise.com

Hotels in Banff – Where to Stay in the Rockies.

Hotels in Banff: Buffalo Mountain Lodge

Buffalo Mountain Lodge

If you want to be in the heart of the action of Banff proper. Buffalo Mountain Lodge is a great choice for a hotel in Banff. Situated just minutes from downtown, Buffalo Mountain Lodge offers free shuttles for guests to go out for dinner, drinks or downtown shopping. We loved building a fire in our room as we overlooked our Rocky Mountain view. Staff provide kindling, newspaper, matches and wood to create the perfect fire for a romantic or cozy atmosphere. The Sleeping Buffalo Dining Room is a great choice for dinner featuring local fruits, vegetable and grains plus hormone and antibiotic free bison and elk raised on their own game ranch. For an authentic Alberta meal, this is the place to dine. By the way, we had deer and elk walking through our backyard. How incredible is that?

See more about dining and hotels in Banff at the Buffalo Mountain Lodge Website

Juniper Hotel

Our room at the Juniper Hotel was to die for with whirlpool bath, wood burning fireplace, and leather couch propped in front of a big screen TV. But its the outdoor hot tub looking at the striking Rocky Mountain view that sticks with us. Juniper sits at the foot of Mount Norquay making it the perfect getaway for families wanting to ski nearby. There’s a trail leading into the woods from the hotel that we took a great little hike on spying a family of deer, and the Juniper Bistro offers delicious home cooked meals straight from farm to table.

Check rates for your next stay in Banff at the Juniper Hotel

Looking for things to do in Banff? Check out The Best Place to go Dog Sledding in Banff National Park

Sunshine Mountain Lodge

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For serious ski lovers, Sunshine Mountain Lodge is the top choice. It’s the only slope side hotel in Banff. This luxury hotel is located at the top of the gondola giving guests the unique opportunity of being first on the hill. With spa service, ski and snowboard lockers, and Banff’s largest outdoor hot pool, Sunshine Mountain Lodge is a full service winter retreat. Their restaurant offers Albertan beef and vegetarian options, and the loft rooms overlooking the ski hill are outstanding. We turned on the gas fire and ate fresh local cheese as we looked over the ski lifts while staff groomed the trails for our day on the hill.

For skiing and information on accommodation visit the Sunshine Village Website

Sundance Lodge

It may not be a typical hotel in Banff, but when visiting the National Park, you really need to get out to the backcountry at least once. Sundance lodge is a cross-country ski or snowshoe in during the winter months, or a horseback ride or hike in the summertime. This 10-room log cabin is nestled on the bend of Brewster’s Creek in the valley of the Sundance Mountain Range. Located 16km from Banff, it takes you away from it all where you can truly get away from cell service, noise and light pollution. You are in the true Canadian wilderness but you’re not roughing it. Your stay offers a personal chef, wood-burning fire, hot showers and solar heating. A great Rocky Mountain escape awaits.

For backcountry tours, trail rides and lodge information visit the Banff Trail Riders Website

Storm Mountain Lodge

A view of Storm Mountain

For the truly romantic getaway, Storm Mountain Lodge is our top choice. Guests stay in private cabins ranging in size for couples to families with a spectacular view of Storm Mountain. The lodge was originally built as a way for the Canadian Pacific Railway to attract more tourists to the Rocky Mountains in 1922. Eight log cabins which are still used by guests today. Storm Mountain Lodge is completely self sufficient with water, power, and sewer creating a sustainable green environment. Our cabin had a fireplace and sofa where we sipped wine reminiscing about our day before dining at their all Canadian menu. It’s fine dining in a forest setting, nothing could be more superb. It’s a bit away from it all and that is exactly the way we like it.

Beautiful cosy rooms at Storm Mountain Lodge.

For more information on the history and accommodations at the lodge visit their website: Storm Mountain Lodge

Looking for Romantic things to do in Banff? Enjoy our post Romantic Lake Louise, a Perfect Couple’s Getaway.

Deer Lodge

Hotels in Banff- Deer Lodge

The sister lodge to Buffalo Mountain Lodge, Deer lodge is located just a short walk from Lake Louise. If you are snowboarding or skiing at Lake Louise, this is a great nearby choice. During ski season, daily complimentary shuttles run from Deer Lodge to the ski resort. Originally built in 1923 as a teahouse, it has grown and expanded over the years to a four season lodge. The accommodation is rustic yet elegant offering fine dining at one of the most noted dining rooms in the Rockies. There is an incredible rooftop hot tub that looks out at Victoria Glacier and new traditional dry wood sauna.

Visit the Deer Lodge Website for rates and packages

Check out our snowboarding experience at Lake Louise Ski Resort

Fox Hotel and Suites

Hotels in Banff: Fox Hotel

Located downtown Banff, Fox Hotel and Suites is walking distance to all the main dining and hot spots. What sets Fox Hotel and Suites apart from other hotels in Banff is the large hot pool modelled after the Cave & Basin hot pools. The original Cave & Basin was Canada’s first national park. We had a two bedroom suite that echoed the perfect ski lodge setting. For roadhouse dining we ate at Chilis Restaurant located in the lobby. When you’ve had a busy day of adventures in Banff, sometimes a quick meal at the hotel restaurant is in order.

For this downtown Banff Accommodation visit the Fox Hotel and Suites website

Num Ti Jah Lodge

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We last stayed at Num Ti Jah Lodge on Bow Lake back in 2009, but we visited it again this trip to take some winter photos of the mountain setting. Num Ti Jah is closed during the winter months, but I wanted to put it in this round up because it really is one of the legendary hotels in Banff. Surrounded by mountains with the Crowfoot Glacier towering overhead the lodge is as rustic as it is historic. Founded by Jimmy Simpson in 1898, you really feel that time has stood still here. If you want to get away from it all, this is the place to be. The main lodge has cozy fireplace with simple rooms keeping with traditional virtue the simple life. The Elkhorn dining room has many elk, bears, moose, wolverine and deer trophy's hanging on the walls but never fear, they were hunted and killed during the early 1900s. But that shouldn’t stop you from sampling some of the elk or bison on the menu!

See more and check availability at Num Ti Jah Lodge

There are many choices of accommodation in Banff. From Inns to lodges and full blown hotels in Banff, there’s something to suit every need and budget. We’ve had the good fortune of testing out several hotels in Banff and can attest that whatever you choose in the list, you won’t be disappointed.

Our latest trip to Banff is in partnership with Banff Lake Louise tourism more information on hotels in Banff, visit the Banff Lake Louise Tourism Website.

Read the original post Hotels in Banff – Our Top 8 Picks for Where to Stay in the Rockies on The Planet D: Adventure Travel Blog.

Hello Goodbye: Real Life Tales from the Airport

Posted: 04 Jan 2016 07:30 AM PST

Dave and I fly a lot. After 7 years on the road, it’s been awhile since anyone has been waiting for us when we arrive home. Our families are used to it. They are actually a bit blasé when it comes to our world travels. We may not have crowds with signs welcoming us home, but each time we land at Toronto Pearson, I can’t help but come out beaming when I see the crowds of people searching for their loved ones. It warms my heart. I often wonder what their stories are? How long has it been since they’ve seen the person that is about to step through that door? Are people coming home for a celebration or is it a tragedy that brings them to the airport?

As a storyteller, I make up scenarios in my mind as we whisk through arrivals and head to our car. Many times their faces are etched in my memory and I hope that they have a happy outcome. I’ve watched people say tearful goodbyes and scream joyful hellos. The airport is one of the most emotional places to be on earth making it the perfect setting for a heartfelt drama.

A Real Life Love Actually

During the holidays I re-watched one of my favourite Christmas movies, Love Actually. The airport scene at the end definitely brings happy tears to my eyes every time. It’s amazing to me that nobody has thought of capturing these real life moments on film before. Until now! The CBC series Hello Goodbye launching this January is a touching series showcasing the stories from people in Canada’s busiest airport. We had the chance to watch a couple of episodes, and Hello Goodbye accomplishes exactly what Love Actually did in the movie, only this time it’s true life.

Remember this scene?

Hello Goodbye

The ten episode series airs Fridays at 8:30pm ET on CBC and runs from Jan 8 to March 10. I like how they hired a professional psychotherapist who operates a practice in Toronto rather than a hired actor. You can tell that host Dale Curd is in tune with the people he’s talking to. He knows what questions to ask without prying too much. Instead he lets them tell as much or as little of the story as they like. Curd’s approachable manner makes strangers open up telling their most intimate stories of love and loss.

Hello Goodbye Host: Dale Curd

Episodes of Hello Goodbye are a mix of stories submitted in advance and stories discovered in the moment on location. Only 20% of the scenes showcased are submitted in advance giving the series a raw and honest feel. I had a difficult time telling the submitted stories and discovered stories apart. The entire episode feels off the cuff and unrehearsed.

The format starts with Dale talking to people about their story. He asks them what brings them to Canada’s busiest airport and they freely let him into their life. It is at this time that we get to meet the people, discover why they are at Toronto Pearson and have them share their personal feelings. It is moving, funny, and heartbreaking depending on the situation. The camera then pulls back to let the travellers and loved ones have their personal moment letting the reactions and emotions play out on their own. What’s interesting is once the moment is over, they don’t follow up with more interviews. The people have either arrived, left, said yes to marriage or sometimes don’t receive the reaction they were hoping for. It is real life after all. As we watch them walk away, we wonder, how will things unfold in the future? We may never know.

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Just like the people I see when Dave and I arrive home on our own, I am left with thoughts about their lives. Will things work out? Will they live happily ever after? Life is unpredictable and one can never know. Unlike fiction, not every story has a proper ending. Instead, Hello-Goodbye captures a moment in time and we’re left to wonder what the next chapter will bring.

What’s next for Dave?

In a world of Kardashians and TMZ videographers chasing down stars at the airport trying to embarrass them with silly questions, Hello Goodbye is a breath of fresh air showing the bonds of family, joyful moments, and grief that one feels with loss and love. It moved me to tears on many occasions. The soundtrack blends beautifully with the story and the truth coming from each person resonates with you long after the credits roll.

For more information on check out the Hello Goodbye website and Follow Hello Goodbye on Twitter and Facebook.

Read the original post Hello Goodbye: Real Life Tales from the Airport on The Planet D: Adventure Travel Blog.

The Best place to go Dog Sledding in Banff National Park

Posted: 03 Jan 2016 06:30 AM PST

It’s the quintessential Canadian adventure, dog sledding in the Rocky Mountains of the Canadian North. If you go to Banff National Park in winter, you must add this to your to do list of winter activities.

We met our team of Alaskan huskies waiting not-so-patiently in the parking lot of the Great Divide trail leading deep into the heart of the Rocky Mountains. Their energetic barks alerted everyone that they were raring to go and couldn’t wait to be let off their chains and left to run freely into the wilderness.

Check it out! The Video of Dog Sledding in Banff NP

KingMik Dogsled Tours is not only the best place to go dog sledding in Banff National Park they are also the only dogsled outfitters allowed in the park and they put on a great adventure. We’ve gone dogsledding before with pure Siberian Huskies and they are the more beautiful dogs of the breed, but they are smaller than the mixed breeds of Alaskan Huskies. Alaskan Huskies were bred to run and when they took off from the starting line, they went with vengeance.

Dog Sledding in Banff National Park, Alberta

Before setting out, Dave and I met our musher Kylie from Australia. It seems nearly everyone that works in Banff, Lake Louise is from the Land Down Under. They already know what most Canadians still need to find out. Banff is perfection. I don’t know if there is a better place in Canada for beauty, adventure, and outdoor activities. It’s attracting people from halfway around the world to live and work here and more and more Canadians are finally catching on!

Not sure about Dog Sledding? Read our article, The Misconceptions of Dog Sledding

Our guide from Kimik Dogsledding Kylie from Australia

Our guide from KingMik Dog Sledding Kylie from Australia

Kylie has been with KingMik for years and looks after the dogs in the off season, so she knew a lot about our team of eight. Two of the dogs – Lexi and Hamish are on the racing team and were out with us for what is an easy training run for them at the anchor position right in front of the sled. The rest – Snapper, Tuzu, Ginger, and Blackie were following our two strong lead dogs Two Step and Bronte.

This made our list! See what else made it on our Most Unforgettable Things to do in Banff.

Cozy and ready to go with KingMik Dogsled Tours in Banff National Park

Wrapped in a cozy and thick sleeping, Dave and I spent the first half of the 16km tour relaxing inside the cocoon snuggled up in the windproof sled. We were toasty warm as Kylie drove the dogs through the fresh snow telling us about the personalities of each dog.

We hit the trail!

Some were young and new to the game while others were old vets that refuse to go into retirement. Whenever Kylie stopped the sled to look at lynx or porcupine tracks, the dogs looked back in frustration wondering why she put on the break. “Doesn’t she know by now that all they want to do is run?”

Traveling to Banff? Check out Ottsworld’s post on What to do in Ski Town if you Don’t Ski

Each sled dog has his own personality.

The Great Divide

The Rocky Mountain scenery is one of the most spectacular locations on earth and out here in the Great Divide, you get to see it in all its beauty. The Great Divide Trail from Banff was part of the original Trans Canada Highway which must have been a hair raising experience for driving crossing Canada. There are twists and narrow turns on going through a high mountain trail.

It is also the spot in the Rocky Mountains where the East meets the West. It’s the pinnacle of the Rocky Mountain Range where the water drains on one side towards the West and on the other towards the East. We’ve been lucky enough to trek now to two of these interesting watershed locations. The first time we were out in the winter witnessing the change in waterflow was when we trekked 100km to the Arctic Watershed in Northern Ontario. It was there that we reached the spot where the water stopped flowing south to the Atlantic Ocean and instead began it’s flow North to the Arctic Ocean.

Deb at the Great Divide!

I am always in awe of spots like this. It seems like a sacred place. It is here that is the water source and from this point is where water spreads to all living things, north, south, east and west.

British Columbia Too!

It’s also a spot where we briefly crossed into the province of British Columbia. If you have never been to Canada before, this is your chance to tick two provinces off the list in one trip! We were there for just a short time but it was pretty cool to cross into BC in what feels like the middle of nowhere.

Time for us to help mush the dogs

Read: Dog Sledding Ontario – Your Ticket to Adventure

Deb takes her turn at the wheel!

After a brief rest for the dogs, we turned around and it was on the way back that Dave and I had the chance to join Kylie and help mush the dogs. They didn’t need a lot of encouragement though, they still had tons of energy, so all we had to do was hang on and enjoy the ride.

The views back were even better than the views heading out and we saw the massive rocky peaks of Banff National Park welcoming us home.

At the end of our trip, we rewarded the dogs for a job well done with a big piece of frozen chicken. They each caught it like a tennis ball and devoured it with delight as we gave them big hugs and pats for working so hard for us today.

A reward for a job well done

They take turns running so after their tour, they get to relax in their kennels while the next set of dogs goes out with the next group. I never knew how much these dogs love their kennels until we went dogsledding with WinterDance and saw the excitement in their eyes when they saw the trucks.
Need a place to stay in Alberta? Check out our 8 Choices for the top Banff/Lake Louise Hotels

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These dogs were the same. For now, their bellies were full of chicken, water and chow. They got a good dose of loving from the mushers and guests and it was time for a nap in their cozy kennel. Ah, it’s a dogs life.

Thinking of doing Winter Travel? Learn from our 8 Tips for Safe and Comfortable Winter Trekking

The dogs take some rest time in their kennel.

For more information on Dog Sledding in Banff visit KingMik Dogsled Tours. For more information on what to do in Banff, visit Banff Lake Louise Tourism for information and accommodation.

While dog sledding at KingMik, we stayed at: Storm Mountain Lodge

Tip to Know for Dog Sledding in Banff:

Bring Goggles instead of sunglasses (or both) your face will stay warmer and you’re goggles won’t fog up.
Wear mittens, a dicky or neck warmer, and warm hat as well as winter coat and waterproof pants. (even though you are wrapped up you do need to get out of the sled once in a while.
Have good winter boots or you won’t be able to drive the sled.
Hand and toe warmers are a good idea as you aren’t doing a lot of physical activity so you extremeties will get a bit cold.
Give the dogs a lot of love. The more you give, the more you get!
For more information on winter travel read our 5 Winter Layering Tips for Winter Travel

Friday, January 22, 2016